DH, of course
I'm sitting here at the highest moment of the Harry Potter universe and I'm an utter loss for words. How do you describe it? Just the reading was an experience as much as a story. It'll probably take me another two reads to come to a true grip on the plot, there was just so much. But it all flowed together so beautifully. And the emotions of this book -- the hopelessness, loss, fear, doubt, hope, sacrifice and triumph -- flow through far beyond any mere story on paper.
But how am I feeling now? Most of all, melancholic, I think. It's hard to believe it's all over. I've been wanting more and wanting more and wanting more since I first popped Sorcerer's Stone into the DVD player sometime in the summer of 2002. Well, five years is a long time, and it's hard to get my head around the fact that THE END came for me about three hours ago. I'm sure there will be wonderful fanfics ahead -- perhaps even another After the End -- but I'm not sure it will ever be the same, not with the central conflict finally and irrevocably resolved.
And I think I really missed out, not having someone to share this experience with. I'll have to make up for that with the movies, even it's just with my sister or cousins. Because, say what you will about the way Hollywood butchered a couple of the movies, DH is going to make an unbelievable film. And it'll be the last Harry Potter moment.
Edited to add: As I was finishing this up, my sister's boyfriend came to me, having heard I'd finished the book, and told he (and she) had been dying to read the story. I had no idea. He said they'd been avoiding the internet to stay away from spoilers and all the familiar fandom tendencies, so I couldn't resist passing them my copy. It'll likely mean I have to go out and by another copy to start rereading (I imagine it'll be months before I get the book back, as they're much more casual fans), but it's well worth it. Just to be able share my casual impressions with someone, to pass on the experience, was extremely uplifting. My initial impressions still stand, but I'm feeling much better about things now all of a sudden.
To be honest, I'm not sure. Like I've been saying, I'm kind of overwhelmed. I'm relieved there's a (for the most part) happy ending, not because I wasn't expecting it, but because for so much of the book it didn't seem likely. And I appreciated all the struggle that went into getting there. It was war and it felt like war, especially in all the hopelessness that pervaded the first half of the book. Ron's departure was a particularly striking moment for me, and I can also appreciate the irony it that it was Snape who led Harry out of that darkest hour.
We learned so much background. It's going to take me a while to come to grips with Dumbledore's story and the depth of his plans. I couldn't help thinking of his conniving in Jeconais' fics as it all came together.
And that wasn't the only time. There were so many fanfic elements that came to fruition in this book. I couldn't resist thinking, ooh, Asli had that right or MelindaLeo was all over that as I was reading. I mean, the seventh Horcrux? How could I not make that connection? I'm sure some will use that as grounds to criticize Jo, but I think that probably speaks more to the brilliant and talented people in our little corner of the fandom. You guys rock.
I'd be remiss if I didn't thank JKR. I was captivated by her characters and impressed with here ability to craft a story right from the start. But I'm truly in awe now that I can see the whole story picture. At very worst, she's the Dickens or Tolkien of our time. And that's pretty good company.
I'm also thinking of everyone in the fandom who has helped take these five years of what could have been tortuous waiting and made it into a fun, exciting experience. Be you authors, betas, betaees or forum posters, be you from PhoenixSong, GryffindorTower, Sugar Quill or elsewhere, I send my thanks. And if any of you actual see this and feel the same, please consider dropping me a line. I don't know most of you nearly as well as I'd like.
-KC
PS: I should have started blogging long ago. Even if nobody ever reads this, just getting this down has really improved my mood.
But how am I feeling now? Most of all, melancholic, I think. It's hard to believe it's all over. I've been wanting more and wanting more and wanting more since I first popped Sorcerer's Stone into the DVD player sometime in the summer of 2002. Well, five years is a long time, and it's hard to get my head around the fact that THE END came for me about three hours ago. I'm sure there will be wonderful fanfics ahead -- perhaps even another After the End -- but I'm not sure it will ever be the same, not with the central conflict finally and irrevocably resolved.
And I think I really missed out, not having someone to share this experience with. I'll have to make up for that with the movies, even it's just with my sister or cousins. Because, say what you will about the way Hollywood butchered a couple of the movies, DH is going to make an unbelievable film. And it'll be the last Harry Potter moment.
Edited to add: As I was finishing this up, my sister's boyfriend came to me, having heard I'd finished the book, and told he (and she) had been dying to read the story. I had no idea. He said they'd been avoiding the internet to stay away from spoilers and all the familiar fandom tendencies, so I couldn't resist passing them my copy. It'll likely mean I have to go out and by another copy to start rereading (I imagine it'll be months before I get the book back, as they're much more casual fans), but it's well worth it. Just to be able share my casual impressions with someone, to pass on the experience, was extremely uplifting. My initial impressions still stand, but I'm feeling much better about things now all of a sudden.
To be honest, I'm not sure. Like I've been saying, I'm kind of overwhelmed. I'm relieved there's a (for the most part) happy ending, not because I wasn't expecting it, but because for so much of the book it didn't seem likely. And I appreciated all the struggle that went into getting there. It was war and it felt like war, especially in all the hopelessness that pervaded the first half of the book. Ron's departure was a particularly striking moment for me, and I can also appreciate the irony it that it was Snape who led Harry out of that darkest hour.
We learned so much background. It's going to take me a while to come to grips with Dumbledore's story and the depth of his plans. I couldn't help thinking of his conniving in Jeconais' fics as it all came together.
And that wasn't the only time. There were so many fanfic elements that came to fruition in this book. I couldn't resist thinking, ooh, Asli had that right or MelindaLeo was all over that as I was reading. I mean, the seventh Horcrux? How could I not make that connection? I'm sure some will use that as grounds to criticize Jo, but I think that probably speaks more to the brilliant and talented people in our little corner of the fandom. You guys rock.
I'd be remiss if I didn't thank JKR. I was captivated by her characters and impressed with here ability to craft a story right from the start. But I'm truly in awe now that I can see the whole story picture. At very worst, she's the Dickens or Tolkien of our time. And that's pretty good company.
I'm also thinking of everyone in the fandom who has helped take these five years of what could have been tortuous waiting and made it into a fun, exciting experience. Be you authors, betas, betaees or forum posters, be you from PhoenixSong, GryffindorTower, Sugar Quill or elsewhere, I send my thanks. And if any of you actual see this and feel the same, please consider dropping me a line. I don't know most of you nearly as well as I'd like.
-KC
PS: I should have started blogging long ago. Even if nobody ever reads this, just getting this down has really improved my mood.