HP7 review... come and have a look once you're done...
So - yeah, did my HP7 review... I hope you enjoy it, it took me a while to... uh, well, sort out my ideas. :P
So…. *takes a deep breath*
Harry Potter has been one of the most beloved series of my childhood - fuelling passionate debates (I’m still a proud HHr girl, but we’ll come to that), and providing a world I can delve into to escape the turbulence of my own life - dream of what could happen.
So why did I turn the last page feeling quite bitterly disappointed?
I disliked: (I’m starting with this one - it’s easier. And LONGER)
- Well, the general plotline, for a start. It was… too obvious, if that makes sense. It was too easy - too simple. I think she tried to make up for the fact we (meaning the HP fandom, basically) knew so much by cramming in all these extra plotlines. What the hell was up with the Deathly Hallows? What did that, really, have to do with… well, anything? A lot of the links seemed weak and rushed - all the “ancient” magics that seemed to spring up from god-knows-where… the beginning was really good, but in my mind it kind of got worse and worse towards the end. Like the series did. :P
It was probably worse because of all the leadup - you know, “get your questions answered” type stuff. Everything supposed to be ‘really important’ was way overrated - who died? And Lily’s eyes… hmm… important, but not that much as JKR made out.
- I was also really disappointed with Voldemort and his role in the plot, actually. He’s been a pretty cool villain so far - but did you notice how many mistakes he seemed to make in this novel? How was Harry able to see into Voldemort’s mind so easily? There was so much left to chance, and not really well explained - Harry just kind of “understood” things in a light bulb flash of brilliance.
- Harry/Ginny. There was basically NO lead-up to this, at all, in the novel, and then suddenly in HP6 there’s a “monster in his chest”. Um, yeah right. I call that lust, or, as a friend told me recently, “something even lower than lust”. There was little continuation in this novel either, apart from one kiss and then Harry’s repeated and totally random thoughts of her (normally remembering their snogging). Or Harry was telling her to keep “safe”, something he never told Hermione because he trusted her, understood her and knew she could handle it. And suddenly they are married. They didn’t know each other… at ALL. I suppose I should be relieved there wasn’t much, but I’m not, because there was SO much potential.
- The ending. It was rushed and so horribly clichéd, IMO. I… as I said, I expected Voldemort to put up more of a fight, and I expected much more out of his death. And then the epilogue… ugh, DON’T get me started! To put it bluntly, it read like something a 13 year old Harry/Ginny canon shipper would have written. Way too sweet and completely unrealistic - no post-traumatic stress for Harry, no nothing? He spent the last 7 years under such pressure and grief, constantly embroiled in secret plots… the sudden end would have had to have some effect. And it told us little to nothing - which makes me smell a sequel series. *headdesK*
I didn’t mind/liked/loved:
The realism of the characters has always been the most endearing part of Harry Potter, for me. None of the characters were perfect and yet they tried so hard regardless - innate bravery won through in some, cowardice and hunger for power in others. The highlight of the book? Snape - he’s such an immensely complex character, and the Snape/Lily (oh no. I sense a fanfic tidal wave…) was just another interesting twist. Yes, perhaps he was romanticised a bit towards the end but if you go back a bit further in the series some of his other qualities come into play - his hatred of James, his own hunger for power and knowledge and strength…
But he, definitely, was the saddest death - followed perhaps by Lupin and Tonks. He should be honoured- it’s sad his bravery can only be appreciated in death.
Dumbledore, I guess, also fits this bill - his humanity was refreshing to see… even if his explanations at the end were way convoluted and reminded me too much of the POTC3 scene with Jack and the crabs. Haha. :P = JKR paid more attention to this, but Snape affected me much more.
I became a bit of a Ron/Hermione shipper in this one, actually - the ship definitely makes sense. Well, more sense. Their characters have been fleshed out, and their relationship thoroughly depicted - it’s weird when the sidekick romance becomes the main one of the novel. I loved JKR’s shoutout to the HHr shippers (more like her final word, but whatever) when Ron is about to destroy the Horcrux - I really hope they show that kiss in the movie, because Dan and Emma would definitely have fun with it. :P
I normally wouldn’t be this harsh for other books - but this isn’t any other series, really. JKR set these standards for herself, and its sad that IMO, she wasn’t able to live up to them in the end.
My friend anti_social_ite put this very well - “while I can’t help but feel relieved that it’s over, she has provided entertainment our generation for the last few years, and its also slightly sad. This is the end of an era - hopefully the next will be better.”
So…. *takes a deep breath*
Harry Potter has been one of the most beloved series of my childhood - fuelling passionate debates (I’m still a proud HHr girl, but we’ll come to that), and providing a world I can delve into to escape the turbulence of my own life - dream of what could happen.
So why did I turn the last page feeling quite bitterly disappointed?
I disliked: (I’m starting with this one - it’s easier. And LONGER)
- Well, the general plotline, for a start. It was… too obvious, if that makes sense. It was too easy - too simple. I think she tried to make up for the fact we (meaning the HP fandom, basically) knew so much by cramming in all these extra plotlines. What the hell was up with the Deathly Hallows? What did that, really, have to do with… well, anything? A lot of the links seemed weak and rushed - all the “ancient” magics that seemed to spring up from god-knows-where… the beginning was really good, but in my mind it kind of got worse and worse towards the end. Like the series did. :P
It was probably worse because of all the leadup - you know, “get your questions answered” type stuff. Everything supposed to be ‘really important’ was way overrated - who died? And Lily’s eyes… hmm… important, but not that much as JKR made out.
- I was also really disappointed with Voldemort and his role in the plot, actually. He’s been a pretty cool villain so far - but did you notice how many mistakes he seemed to make in this novel? How was Harry able to see into Voldemort’s mind so easily? There was so much left to chance, and not really well explained - Harry just kind of “understood” things in a light bulb flash of brilliance.
- Harry/Ginny. There was basically NO lead-up to this, at all, in the novel, and then suddenly in HP6 there’s a “monster in his chest”. Um, yeah right. I call that lust, or, as a friend told me recently, “something even lower than lust”. There was little continuation in this novel either, apart from one kiss and then Harry’s repeated and totally random thoughts of her (normally remembering their snogging). Or Harry was telling her to keep “safe”, something he never told Hermione because he trusted her, understood her and knew she could handle it. And suddenly they are married. They didn’t know each other… at ALL. I suppose I should be relieved there wasn’t much, but I’m not, because there was SO much potential.
- The ending. It was rushed and so horribly clichéd, IMO. I… as I said, I expected Voldemort to put up more of a fight, and I expected much more out of his death. And then the epilogue… ugh, DON’T get me started! To put it bluntly, it read like something a 13 year old Harry/Ginny canon shipper would have written. Way too sweet and completely unrealistic - no post-traumatic stress for Harry, no nothing? He spent the last 7 years under such pressure and grief, constantly embroiled in secret plots… the sudden end would have had to have some effect. And it told us little to nothing - which makes me smell a sequel series. *headdesK*
I didn’t mind/liked/loved:
The realism of the characters has always been the most endearing part of Harry Potter, for me. None of the characters were perfect and yet they tried so hard regardless - innate bravery won through in some, cowardice and hunger for power in others. The highlight of the book? Snape - he’s such an immensely complex character, and the Snape/Lily (oh no. I sense a fanfic tidal wave…) was just another interesting twist. Yes, perhaps he was romanticised a bit towards the end but if you go back a bit further in the series some of his other qualities come into play - his hatred of James, his own hunger for power and knowledge and strength…
But he, definitely, was the saddest death - followed perhaps by Lupin and Tonks. He should be honoured- it’s sad his bravery can only be appreciated in death.
Dumbledore, I guess, also fits this bill - his humanity was refreshing to see… even if his explanations at the end were way convoluted and reminded me too much of the POTC3 scene with Jack and the crabs. Haha. :P = JKR paid more attention to this, but Snape affected me much more.
I became a bit of a Ron/Hermione shipper in this one, actually - the ship definitely makes sense. Well, more sense. Their characters have been fleshed out, and their relationship thoroughly depicted - it’s weird when the sidekick romance becomes the main one of the novel. I loved JKR’s shoutout to the HHr shippers (more like her final word, but whatever) when Ron is about to destroy the Horcrux - I really hope they show that kiss in the movie, because Dan and Emma would definitely have fun with it. :P
I normally wouldn’t be this harsh for other books - but this isn’t any other series, really. JKR set these standards for herself, and its sad that IMO, she wasn’t able to live up to them in the end.
My friend anti_social_ite put this very well - “while I can’t help but feel relieved that it’s over, she has provided entertainment our generation for the last few years, and its also slightly sad. This is the end of an era - hopefully the next will be better.”