HP& DH Book Discussion

[evanmcbain]

We are probably all really excited that the final installment of our beloved Harry Potter series will be emerging in just hours. I know from personal experience I have been waiting for almost ten full years for this one to reach me. It’s exciting, and I know that once it gets in my hands I’m going to be itching to tell everyone everything, or at least chat with them about it.

However we all must remember that some people may not have the way or means to read it that quickly. Some people can not finish a 700 page book in a day or some people wont be able to get the book this weekend. With that in mind please be respectful to those and the Administration here at Galaxia.

We urge you to use this thread only to discuss HP & the Deathly Hallows. By posting in this thread alone we can limit the amount of Spoiler reading and allow everyone to experience the last book in their own special way.

Please do not bring anything up in the chat unless all people present are ok with it. If you really have an incredible urge to spill your guts try turning your attention elsewhere. POST! MAKE NEW THREADS! Or maybe if you really can’t wait long enough for the bulk of Galaxia to read it search for a chat site where you can openly participate in HP conversation.

By doing this you are keeping the magic of HP alive for everyone. We at Galaxia thank you immensely for your help in this matter.


So now feel free to discuss anything below. Be warned that the remainder of this thread will contain information regarding Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

******SPOILERS BELOW******[/center]

[Centara Zealon]

-No Spoilers In This Post-

Just as a request, when you post, would you please note once more about spoilers? I know I'm not the only one that goes through the recent 10 and just looks at the posts before the titles (I know, so messed up but I sometimes don't bother with titles. They're kind of like restrictions to a certain point, lol.) Just a little request. Thanks! Don't wanna come across someone's post and I don't think anyone else does.

On another note, I didn't get the book last night due to work this morning. Went and waited for over an hour with some friends before I found out that each band, 6 in total, had over 350 people to it. I was the 4th. Having to be in at work at 7 this morning and waiting around last night till maybe 3 am for the book wasn't on my list of good ideas. So I probably will be posting back here later with something to shout about before going back to my book xD

[Ashton Wentworth]

-no real spoilers-

This wasn't written by me, but by me friend and I must say that i agree with him. The only real difference is which death bothered me the most



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

...was, by far, the most engaging novel I've ever read in my life, classics like 1984 or Brave New World included.

Because there were six prior novels to this one, the reader is easily ingrained with the memories of damn near every character in the book. In fact, I can honestly say that I fucking FELT what Harry was feeling the majority of the time. I felt the frustration in his quest to destroy the Horcruxes, the pain, the loss, the suffering, the fear. Everything. And that is the mark of a brilliant novelist, my friends. When you can place yourself IN the book AS the main character, and you can feel the sorrow and the joy, you know you have something, magical (pun intended) in your hands.

Deathly Hallows in NO WAY disappoints. It ties up every single loose end ever put forth in any of the six novels previous. It answers all questions, reveals all secrets, and ends with an epilogue that is so touching and so warm that one cannot help but smile brighter than a thousand suns.

It is action, cover to cover. And the action is in no way erroneous. Every thing, every page turned in Hallows moves the plot along in some way, shape or form. There is no lull, nothing extra. Every word, every line is important.

It is worth noting the there are no new characters introduced in this book - which is awesome. Almost everyone from novels previous either come into play or are mentioned in this novel, even those who were merely mentioned in passing in previous novels. Sadly, however, the deaths of many a meaningful character occur. One such death particularly saddened me, but I shall not spoil it for those that have yet to read the novel. If you'd like to know which death saddened me the most, 'cause your nosy like that, message me.

The prose, THANK GOD, returned to what it once was, and not the easily-adaptable-to-film prose that can be found in Order of the Phoenix. Everything in this novel is amazing. The imagery, the dialogue, everything.

As I said, because there were six prior novels written over the course of nearly a decade, it is hard not to feel saddened that the series is coming to a close. In fact, it's hard not to get a little choked up upon reading the opening statement in the sleeve: "We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter."

If you were like me, and read the early books at a young age, then you truly grew at the rate the characters in the novel grew. Thus, you can readily and easily identify with them and the emotional turmoil they go through. And that's what makes this book so fucking hard to put down. It's as though you fear for your friends and you wanna know what happens next.

There's mystery, suspense, thrill, action, drama, a hint of romance (not overly so as in Goblet of Fire, but just enough to make you smile,) and, most importantly, the final battle to which the entire series has been building.

I will leave you with the following thought:

Whatever film company, producer, director, screenwriter, etc. teams up to adapt this final book had BETTER do the best damn job any one has ever done on a movie or mark my words, I will storm Hollywood, guns a blazin'. This easily outweighs my excitement to see Goblet of Fire when it was going to be released. This particular film REQUIRES three hours or more, and, more to the point, the action contained within the novel will easily keep an audience's attention for three, perhaps three and a half hours. I could give my theories as to who the people behind this movie should be, i.e. Peter Jackson, notorious for his direction of the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy should be behind the camera, as he is known for making long movies. If not him, then I would go with Speilberg, who is a master of fantastical directing.

Anyway, thought I'd post a review.

It is seriously a must read. It lives up the hype with no difficulty whatosever. Rowling knew what she was doing from the start. She has crafted a world, and a character, so appealing and so thoroughly that it will be hard, if not impossible, for any one in the future to do the same. Nothing, in film, television, or literature, that had such a backstory has ever ended more perfectly and more pleasingly. My sincerest appreciation and jealousy of Rowling's stunning creativity and imagination must be noted here. I could never dream have creating something so brilliant, and ending it so perfectly.

Read it.

Overall grade: A+

And I damn near never hand out that kind of grade. Message me if you wanna discuss the book. I kinda got used to doing that in APLIT this year: reading and discussing.

Oh, and no it's not a fucking children's book. They haven't been since Phoenix. Christ.

Happy reading.

- Matt


---That just about sums it up without Spoilers.

[Grace Patterson]

Spoilers ahead.
















I agree entirely with your friend. Before Deathly Hallows, my favorite book was the Prisoner of Azkaban. This beats all.

Anyway, which was the most disappointing/shocking death to all you guys? I have to say that I started crying during Dobby's death.

After Snape's pensieve, I got upset too. I hated him so much throughout the book and felt so bad at that point.

All in all, JK is a genius. She created a world full of possibilities, and the most perfect book series I have ever read. Everything fit together so perfectly, and the epilogue just kept me smiling.

Well actually... after I finished... I wondered one thing. Harry and Ginny's kids get named after loved ones who passed. Ron and Hermione's kids names, on the other hand, don't make much sense. Rose and Hugo? One of them could have been Fred.

[erin]

You know what Statement I agree with from Asthon's post the absolute most...It's not a chldren's book. I agree with the entire statement...but I defanitely feel like they give the book injustice when they call it a children's book.

It makes them sound jeuvenile and childish..where they are not at all. The last few books have been dripping with audult or young adult age scenes, inferences and al around content. Although.. not to say children can read this book. I think that it really doesn't ahve an age that it is intended for...as in pretty much fun for the whole family. I know...sounds cheesy... but really, it is. Although, I would be quite apalled if I saw my six year old cousin reading it... because really... think about it. Especially this last book, The Deathly Hallows, with the content and dark premise. Really, I'm quite glad of this, don't get me wrong. If the bok was meant for children, I probably wouldn't be reading them anymore.

I do think that Rowling did this on purpose. I belive that she kept making the books more mature for two reasons.

First reason: Her characters are geting older. They have larger and more mature problems to deal with. I would have been enourmously disapointed if a seventeen year old was dealing with the same stuff and was feeling the same way as they did when they were eleven. She really made her books grow with ehr characters, which makes them so unique in a way. Unique, realistic, and defanitely more beliveable.

Reason two: I also belive she wanted the book's content to grow with the readers. If a reader started reading the books when they were eleven, say. By the time the final installment came out, they would be twenty. But that's only to say if they started on the first book when it was first released. But, even if they ahden't, they would ahve still ahd to wait a few years after the previous book for the final one to come out. After that, they would have most defanitely aged a bit. I doubt that a twenty year old adult would still be reading the same content as they did when they were eleven.

Now, say all of this, Rowling did not fail to keep the familiarity in the books. as in, you still had some of the centedt, thoughts and stuff like that in the seventh book then you did in the first. She did the cleverly, to keep readers feeling familiar, feeling like although the content and thoughts have matured with the characters and readers, things are still visited from the first book in the seventh, maybe in new light. Even in the same light they ahd all the way through, and, in a few cases, revisiting something form the first few installments that you thought you would never hear, or shoudl I say, read form again.

In a whole, I absolutely adored the series. I would not be on this site if I haden't adored it. I really have not a bad word to say about any of the books, besides the feelings that you're meant to feel when reading it, and the complete utter sadness that the books are over. Because, although movies are bieng made, they rarely do the books justice. And, although many of the movies are quite good movies, compared to the books they don'teven pale in comparison. Though, I do belive that the fan of the series will keep the books going for a very long time, however they do it. being roleplay sites like this one, be it fan fics or simply just talking about it or thinking about them. I strongly belive that the Seven book sequense of Harry Potter lives past the final book, and will never die out. Although Harry's story is over, the world that has captivated reader's minds, wits and imaginations for a decade will continue to live on.

Signed,
Sisi. (Erin Emerald)

[Ashton Wentworth]

-Spoilers Head-








He is pretty near Genious. He too felt that Dobby's death was the worst. Me? I couldn't have cared less. I always hated him....for some reason. I just wasn't a house elf fan.
Snape however, really got me. Everything seemed to make just that much more sence. Most of all whenever he was all 'LOOK AT ME' so that he could see Lily's eyes for the last time. Really amazing.

I mean, I understand why everybody died except Hedwig. That, I didn't understand. at all. And the names. Albus Severus? I get it...but thats a horrible name. I didn't like the Epilogue. I didn't think it needed to be there. All she did was open herself up to new book possibilities. While she's said that she's going to write one more thing- sort of a what happens to who kinda thing. I concur- Ron and Hermiones child should have been named Fred. But Draco's kid,I thought that Scorpius was a great name choice.

As to Erin- Oh yea I very much believe that it's no longer a childrens book. She's finished the series so damned well, she doesn't need to have any more books. Sort of like a lot of the trilogys out now....fourth instalments arn't needed.
-Ash

[Centara Zealon]

-Spoilers to come-




I must say, I didn't feel a thing with Snape. Not a single tear came to my eye. i don't know why but I would think it would be because of how evilly he was portrayed the whole series. But I did find myself crying for the last hour and a half that I read.

The moment Fred died the tears began to pour, only stopping every once in a while as I tried to pull myself together. That was the moment I realized it really was all over. Then when I hit the point of Tonks and Lupin's deaths, I couldn't keep it back. The tears were seriously like a broken sink with the water going. Such a shame but true. I couldn't breath it was that bad and I barely could see. At the end of the book I cried for another half an hour until I finally went to bed.

[gillianbrownstone]

*SPOILERS AHEAD*





So.. wow.

I just finished it last night and I totally agree with Ash's friend, Matt. I was thinking the same thing about the movie while I was reading the book. Its going to have to be a 3 hour thing, cause I want to see it all! Not just the biggest important pieces.. Hell. It was all important.

I concur, Dobby's death hit me hard. I didn't cry.. I almost did. It was just so.. heroic, and loyal. So sweet. But I did start crying after Harry read Snape's thoughts in the pensieve. It never occurred to me that Harry might die. Then when I read that.. I was shocked, but it made sense. And I had no idea that there was the possibility of him coming out of it. I cried as he walked past everyone and then spoke to Neville.

OMG! Neville! I loved him! He majorly impressed me. But the whole scene in the forrest before he meets up with Voldy. I sobbed.

And the end.. I was smiling ear to ear. I was just so happy! It ended masterfully and it was such a good book! I again, agree with Matt on the fact that this book is one of the best books I've ever laid eyes upon. Sad that its over, but happy things went out the way they did.

Bravo!

[maeve]

SPOILERS AHEAD

I just finished. I feel...gratified.

Let me explain: I love the Harry Potter Verse, I love JK Rowling's imagination in creating it. But a few weeks ago I realized that whether I could actually truly like the books and their plots depended entirely on how well this last book tied up all the loose ends, especially the ones from Half Blood Prince (i.e. why on earth Dumbledore has been putting so much stake in Harry)... and it did. So, reason number one for my happiness, clearly there. Also, Rowling did an absolutely fantastic job at characterization in this book. Harry/Hermione/Ron on their mission in particular: teens having been burdened with more than they should, written as convincingly as few things I have ever read.

Number two, and this is where the major gratification comes in: Snape. Pretty much from the get-go, from book one, he was my favourite character. He has always struck me as the most intriguing, the gray in a (at least in the first few books) black and white world. Throughout every book, I hungrily hung on to every word in any scene involving Snape, wanting to know more, know his history, his life, everything. And piece by piece throughout the books, snippets emerged. I was terrified at the end of Half Blood Prince - not because of what he had done, but of how Rowling would explain it. I was terrified she would simply declare him as having simply been evil all along, sinking him back into a rather 2-dimensional mass. So: I am gratified, gratified because my favourite character got the sort of story I was hoping for.
Snape was the only one I cried for, from when Voldemort killed him (before we knew he was actually good: it already broke my heart that if he had been loyal to voldemort all along, it had all been for nothing)... and from that very first scene from his childhood all the way through to the end of his memories.
I was very disappointed when he wasn't among the people that reappeared when Harry used the stone.
Actually, here is what made me feel a stab of anger at the end: I was so swept away that I expected Harry to rush back to the headmaster's office not just for Dumbledore, but also for Snape (I kind of presumed the portraits' appearances were magical, that a new one would be created as soon as the headmasters died.... ) but there was no sign of him, anywhere, for quite a while at that point in the book.

I am not sure I like the ending. I think it would have satisfied me more had Harry died, and that epilogue DEFINITELY WASN'T NEEDED AS IT IS ONE OF THE CHEESIEST THINGS EVER PUT TO PAPER ... but that may just be because I have a general aversion to happy endings. And don't tell me it isn't happy since so many people died - it's happy enough to be, in my eyes, unrealistic.

I also wish Draco would have come back into play somewhere, rather than just his wand (also: I may have to re-read certain things, but how on earth did Harry EVER figure out the thing about the Elder Wand having chosen Draco as new master? That, to me, was the only glaring open end in the book) ... things were just too perfectly set up with them saving his life numerous times that I was expecting him to come back in a key moment and DO something for their side...maybe not even a key moment, but to see him maybe taking care of someone wounded or.... something.

But that's just me nitpicking, really. Overall, I loved the book. This, and OotP are my favourites, definitely. Long live Snape.

Also: Molly calling Bellatrix a bitch: massively awesome moment.

In closing, possibly my favourite quote from all the books, because it kind of hints at some of the things that have always gotten to me the most:

"But he was at home. Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found home here..."

[gillianbrownstone]

Very well put, Maeve

I agree with the whole Elder Wand belonging to Draco. I know why it didn't belong to Snape, because of the agreement between him and Dumbledore on how he wanted to die.

How did it come to belong to Draco? Because Draco had decided to kill him? Didn't Ollivander say something about the wand knowing, and something about respect.. blah blah blah? Maybe the wand knew Draco had planned to kill Dumbledore, but Snape came in and did it instead? But did Harry know Draco was supposed to kill Harry? I forget so easily.

Someone help.. lol

And yes, also about Draco. I too wished he would have come back into play as something other than just sitting at a table with his parents in the great hall. What the heck?

[Ashton Wentworth]

Ahh, see my favorite line would have to of been "He moved quicker than Snape when confronted with Shampoo" so glad to see somebody else agrees with me about the Epilogue.

I'd originallyy thought that I understood how the elder wand belonged to Draco, but now I've thought about it to much and nothing makes much sence anymore. I've never pegged harry to be the brightest of people, that Ron and Hermione might have figured it out and told him, but she never wrote that in.

As far as Draco goes, that was a huge let-down. There were so many place, most of all in the last two books, that could have been his turning point to join the 'good' side. Yet...he never did. I don't get why he didn't....

[gillianbrownstone]

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!



Maybe she'll have a new book about Draco! LOL

Eh.. its a thought. But wouldn't it be interesting to see things from his point of view, and see how his life progresses? She kind of summed up the trio's future events.. but Draco's, not so much.

[maeve]

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Yeah. It's less about him actually joining the good side, and more about him moving out of the 2 dimensions into having a conscience and perhaps doing something...humane. Especially since it seemed like that's what JKR was building up to since HBP and through a lot of DH.... failing to kill Dumbledore, being mistreated by Voldy, consistently being in Harry's debt.... etc.

Same with Narcissa - true, she had her moment when declaring him dead, but it seemed brushed over quickly; something that could have been done a lot better. And Lucius simply streaking through the crowd to find Draco at the end - well, that was completely uncharacteristic.

I must admit though that the bit involving Draco and the respectful nod was the only part of the epilogue I liked. It kind of brings out the... interwoven destinies of Hogwarts students, if that makes sense: just like the marauders and Snape and Lily's (etc.) destinies were inevitably intertwined, so are those of everyone we as the readers went through Hogwarts with.

Also, Scorpius is a hilariously kickass name.

[Centara Zealon]

Spoilers!!!

You know, even after discussing it with another one of my friends who isn't influenced by any harry potter sites or anything anyone else has said about the book, we have concluded that it will take master research into that book to figure out how Draco came to own the wand. -nod-

As far as Draco joining the good side, I must say it was quite disturbing that he started to head that way but she should've gone all the way or none at all. Quite disappointing actually but nothing we can change.

And I must say I'm still quite disturbed about the epilogue. That definitely wasn't her style and it wasn't good either. She could've done much better given a larger amount of time to write it. I think the only thing I liked was the name of Draco's son. Quite the name even fi I wouildn't name my kids that, lol.

[evanmcbain]

SPOILER


I tried to figure out the elder wand as well, and I sorta came out of it like this:

When Draco rushed into the room he disarmed Dumbledore. Dumbledore was using the elder wand and therefore the enchantment that was on the wand was beaten via the disarming. Granted Draco didn't kill him, but he was able to beat the Elder wand via duel. When Snape killed Dumbledore it was already an agreement on both parts, and not a defeat. Unlike Draco's involvement with the wand Sanpe and Dumbledores was planned.
So even if the dueling didn't make the wand Draco's he was the last to be engaged with the wand which would make it his.


And on another note...eh I kinda didn't mind the wishy washy ways of Draco and the rest of the Malfoy lot. When you think about it they really never were on either side. They are a selfish lot who look out for their best interest. An interview with JKR a few days ago proved that. She stated that the reason Draco wasn't in Azkaban after the war was because he was able to talk himself out of involvement with Voldemort. I dont think he went drastically to the good side or bad side because he only did what was worth the most power to him and his family. But eh....thats just my opinion. Draco was always a coward in my opinion, and his involvement in DH only proves that.