The End
It's over, the tears are still streaming down my face, and I can't seem to catch my breath. (And I'm going to warn you right now, as this post does not contain spoilers per se, if you are in the slightest good at intuiting or guessing, don't read until you've finished the book. And my advice to you is this: don't spoil the surprise....it's exquisite.)
I don't know how she did it, but she did. Harry Potter, the book, the character, the world, is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is her magnum opus, and one of the finest experiences I have ever, or will ever, have the pleasure in witnessing...no, in being a part of. I may not ever know why it effects me this way, or what stroke of love or yes, even God, inspired these characters. But I can guess.
What I know is that for the past ten years this story has reached inside of me, touched the parts of me that I keep hidden, the parts I don't like to think about, or acknowledge and...well, there's no other word for it, soothed them. Loneliness, death, fear, all brought to the surface. Those deepest parts of our existence, that binds us to together as mortals, as humans, and the fear of loss, despair, and the unknown....all there, brought out by these characters, these people. And just when you think that you can't believe it, that this story is going to go where most stories about love, adventure and greatness go, to a place of loss and sacrifice, or predictability and anguish, it takes the extra step. It whispers from afar, in a voice of comfort and love and trust, "Shhh, it's okay...everything is going to be all right. Just let it go." And you are left with what comes after: love, loyalty, and above all, faith.
Reading over this post it seems feeble, paltry, and mundane. Words are nothing compared to feelings, intangible and full. And yes I know that some of you will be reading this thinking that I'm being dramatic, or pathetic even. But I don't care. Because if we don't have these feelings, if we don't embrace our crazy impulses, the things we love inexplicably and without reason, then we don't deserve to have them.
So it is with tingling hands and puffy eyes that I wash my face and retire to my bed, hopefully sleep will come soon. But most of all, I depart with thanks.
Thanks, Jo. It's been a blast.
I don't know how she did it, but she did. Harry Potter, the book, the character, the world, is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is her magnum opus, and one of the finest experiences I have ever, or will ever, have the pleasure in witnessing...no, in being a part of. I may not ever know why it effects me this way, or what stroke of love or yes, even God, inspired these characters. But I can guess.
What I know is that for the past ten years this story has reached inside of me, touched the parts of me that I keep hidden, the parts I don't like to think about, or acknowledge and...well, there's no other word for it, soothed them. Loneliness, death, fear, all brought to the surface. Those deepest parts of our existence, that binds us to together as mortals, as humans, and the fear of loss, despair, and the unknown....all there, brought out by these characters, these people. And just when you think that you can't believe it, that this story is going to go where most stories about love, adventure and greatness go, to a place of loss and sacrifice, or predictability and anguish, it takes the extra step. It whispers from afar, in a voice of comfort and love and trust, "Shhh, it's okay...everything is going to be all right. Just let it go." And you are left with what comes after: love, loyalty, and above all, faith.
Reading over this post it seems feeble, paltry, and mundane. Words are nothing compared to feelings, intangible and full. And yes I know that some of you will be reading this thinking that I'm being dramatic, or pathetic even. But I don't care. Because if we don't have these feelings, if we don't embrace our crazy impulses, the things we love inexplicably and without reason, then we don't deserve to have them.
So it is with tingling hands and puffy eyes that I wash my face and retire to my bed, hopefully sleep will come soon. But most of all, I depart with thanks.
Thanks, Jo. It's been a blast.