So everyone and their mother has read the book.
We’ve finally arrived at our destination (Bergen, Norway) and I’m lucid enough to jot down my thoughts on DH. I’m also dying to read what other people make of it, but now I’m too exhausted to do so. Spoilers ahead.
My general impression - the first 8 chapters were dragging, the rest was rushed.
But for the first hour of my reading, I kept stopping and thinking ‘I can’t believe this is it. No way I’m reading the final Harry Potter book.’ I tend to forget and feel disappointed it is not another book on Snape (I’m still convinced that HBP was one) but on the Trio’s adventures. Some things I liked, some things I didn’t. so, in no particular order:
Dislikes:
1. Repetitions. Action scenes - which were good - interspersed with recapitulation of what’s happened - like the second part of ch. Seven Potters vs. the first part of Fallen Warrior.
2. Harry/Ginny. It’s not that I can’t stand Harry with anyone but Severus *g*, but the relationship was a veritable Quidditch Worldcup of heavyhandedness. For instance Ginny’s birthday gift - I thought it in bad taste.
Whenever Harry remembered Ginny, I had the mental picture of him smacking himself in the forehead ‘Oh, right, I forgot - Ginny!’ Like when Ron is worried about his family in ch.9, A Place to Hide, and Harry reacts: ‘It’s not a problem. (…) It’s your family, ‘course you’re worried. I’d feel the same way.’ He thought of Ginny. ‘I do feel the same way.’ You certainly took your time, Harry.
3. I liked the cowardly, immature!Remus. To me, this is the Marauder Remus, a scared, shy and repressed kid who wants to play with the cool gang, and so fails to see their shortcomings, turns a blind eye on their pranks and cruelties. But one punch from Harry and he’s responsible again? I don’t buy it. Also - pwn’s what you get for staying in the closet, Remus.
4. The Epilogue. What was that?! Alright, I understand that we needed Albus Severus or Harry admitting Snape was the bravest man he ever knew, and that he doesn’t mind if his kid ends up in Slytherin - but the rest of it? It read like first page of a bad fic, in which the author wants to introduce all the new characters, their names, their friends names, their hair and eye colour… I was waiting for the superpowers and boob sizes. She wanted to stress the importance of reproduction, or what? All was good and everyone had lots of kids. The end.
Likes:
1. Jeeves!Kreacher: ‘Master has not finished his soup. Would Master prefer the savoury stew or else the treacle tart to which Master is so partial?’
2. Phantom of the Opera!Dobby. But, does it mean that if you have a house elf, you also get an infallible means of transport? Does it work in Azkaban? *scratches head*
3. The Malfoys seemed to be taken directly from buttfacemakani’s pictures. Mean, opportunistic, but loving and capable of good. And, uh, the Malfoy Manor. White peacocks. Crystal chandeliers. OublietteThe cellar. JKR has been reading too much fanfic again.
4. Bellatrix’s unrequited passion for the Dark Lord. All the sexy innuendos, all the heated looks. And we finally got a glimpse of what DE meetings look like. And Voldie saved Severus a seat! ‘Severus, here,’ said Voldemort, indicating the seat on his immediate right. ‘Yaxley -beside Dolohov.’
5. Harry!Fleur giving Bill ‘a soppy, slavish look that Harry hoped with all his heart would never appear on his face again.’ And the 7 Potters orgy.
6. The Dursleys Departing chapter. Nice closure. It was a nice touch that their safety is ensured. And Dudley. And, oh, I liked Petunia explained, Petunia begging D. to be admitted to Hogwarts, Petunia scorning Snape. I all makes sense now.
7. The Quidditch subplot also got a nice closure - Harry and Draco on one broom. And Draco gripping Harry so tightly it hurt.
8. Snape. Oh, Severus, I think you require a separate post, when I have time and energy to verbalize my undying love for you.
My general impression - the first 8 chapters were dragging, the rest was rushed.
But for the first hour of my reading, I kept stopping and thinking ‘I can’t believe this is it. No way I’m reading the final Harry Potter book.’ I tend to forget and feel disappointed it is not another book on Snape (I’m still convinced that HBP was one) but on the Trio’s adventures. Some things I liked, some things I didn’t. so, in no particular order:
Dislikes:
1. Repetitions. Action scenes - which were good - interspersed with recapitulation of what’s happened - like the second part of ch. Seven Potters vs. the first part of Fallen Warrior.
2. Harry/Ginny. It’s not that I can’t stand Harry with anyone but Severus *g*, but the relationship was a veritable Quidditch Worldcup of heavyhandedness. For instance Ginny’s birthday gift - I thought it in bad taste.
Whenever Harry remembered Ginny, I had the mental picture of him smacking himself in the forehead ‘Oh, right, I forgot - Ginny!’ Like when Ron is worried about his family in ch.9, A Place to Hide, and Harry reacts: ‘It’s not a problem. (…) It’s your family, ‘course you’re worried. I’d feel the same way.’ He thought of Ginny. ‘I do feel the same way.’ You certainly took your time, Harry.
3. I liked the cowardly, immature!Remus. To me, this is the Marauder Remus, a scared, shy and repressed kid who wants to play with the cool gang, and so fails to see their shortcomings, turns a blind eye on their pranks and cruelties. But one punch from Harry and he’s responsible again? I don’t buy it. Also - pwn’s what you get for staying in the closet, Remus.
4. The Epilogue. What was that?! Alright, I understand that we needed Albus Severus or Harry admitting Snape was the bravest man he ever knew, and that he doesn’t mind if his kid ends up in Slytherin - but the rest of it? It read like first page of a bad fic, in which the author wants to introduce all the new characters, their names, their friends names, their hair and eye colour… I was waiting for the superpowers and boob sizes. She wanted to stress the importance of reproduction, or what? All was good and everyone had lots of kids. The end.
Likes:
1. Jeeves!Kreacher: ‘Master has not finished his soup. Would Master prefer the savoury stew or else the treacle tart to which Master is so partial?’
2. Phantom of the Opera!Dobby. But, does it mean that if you have a house elf, you also get an infallible means of transport? Does it work in Azkaban? *scratches head*
3. The Malfoys seemed to be taken directly from buttfacemakani’s pictures. Mean, opportunistic, but loving and capable of good. And, uh, the Malfoy Manor. White peacocks. Crystal chandeliers. OublietteThe cellar. JKR has been reading too much fanfic again.
4. Bellatrix’s unrequited passion for the Dark Lord. All the sexy innuendos, all the heated looks. And we finally got a glimpse of what DE meetings look like. And Voldie saved Severus a seat! ‘Severus, here,’ said Voldemort, indicating the seat on his immediate right. ‘Yaxley -beside Dolohov.’
5. Harry!Fleur giving Bill ‘a soppy, slavish look that Harry hoped with all his heart would never appear on his face again.’ And the 7 Potters orgy.
6. The Dursleys Departing chapter. Nice closure. It was a nice touch that their safety is ensured. And Dudley. And, oh, I liked Petunia explained, Petunia begging D. to be admitted to Hogwarts, Petunia scorning Snape. I all makes sense now.
7. The Quidditch subplot also got a nice closure - Harry and Draco on one broom. And Draco gripping Harry so tightly it hurt.
8. Snape. Oh, Severus, I think you require a separate post, when I have time and energy to verbalize my undying love for you.