Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILERS)

[bee]

It's weird mutagen - I thought the bodycount was really low. I'm not gruesome or anything, I just expected more to die in such a climatic battle. Especially some of the students - you'd think a few more that Harry knew would be overcome.

Good on wee Colin.

[Deleted]

I was always pretty indifferent to Neville, but the way he stepped up in the trio's absence at Hogwarts and then got to pull the sword out of the hat made the book for me. Awesome.

Overall I really liked it, although the camping/search for the Horcruxes went on a bit long. And I did snicker every time someone referred to the biggest baddest most magical wand ever, in all seriousness, as "the Deathstick." It sounds like something a four-year-old would name their wooden sword.

I'm surprised none of the teachers went out in the big battle, and sorry we didn't get to find out how some of the other secondary characters ended up.

[livviebway]

I liked the book, what a high death count though! I have to say, though, I had been predicting that one of the twins would die and probably Fred (though obviously just guessing there!) and everyone was telling me "No no, she couldn't be so cruel!" so when that happened I was sad, but also feeling justified.

The other thing I saw coming was the thing with Snape's patronus. I remembered an interview from several years ago where someone had asked about Snape's patronus and boggart and Rowling had said she couldn't tell because it'd give too much away. I had a scene imagined in my mind where, on their quest to find the Horcruxes, Harry and co. get help from an unknown patronus that turns out to be Snape's. When this occured in the books I thought, "Doe. A doe goes with a stag, thus Lily. Who would have Lily as their patronus? Snape." And I was right!

I was a little surprised that she did go the "Snape loved Lily" route (even though I followed its logic for the patronus thing) because that was something fandom latched onto so early, but it worked. And the speculation that "that awful boy" who Petunia overheard being Snape was right! I just find it so cool that by the time we get to these last books people were able to guess so much correctly.

I was sad about Lupin and Tonks, but less than I expected to be. I was never hugely fond of Tonks and Lupin annoyed me in this book. I was much more moved by Dobby's death, which shocked me because I never liked Dobby!

And funny, after all the speculation about his death, Hagrid made it through. And Lucius! Who expected him to live? (And I confess I was pleased because this means more Jason Isaacs, who made me far more concerned with Lucius' fate than I ought to have been). I was pretty pleased with the way the Malfoy plotline worked out. Draco never did the big redemption about-face, but was still mostly redeemed and it was interesting to see how she showed that even his family came down to love for each other. Also, I liked Draco and Harry in the epilogue. Not friends, but cordial.

I did think the epilogue was kind of cheesy, but I figure it was just a big long way of saying "and they all lived happily ever after." And frankly, after everything Harry and his friends went through, they deserved it.

[Mutagen]

I agree with whoever liked Draco's storyline. It wasn't a nice, clean redemption but it made sense (and was a good source of dramatic tension... I thought Draco was going to rebel and sneak Harry out of his parents' house after Fenrir caught them).

ETA: Wow, total crosspost!

bee said:

It's weird mutagen - I thought the bodycount was really low. I'm not gruesome or anything, I just expected more to die in such a climatic battle. Especially some of the students - you'd think a few more that Harry knew would be overcome.

Now that you mention it, that's true. There was little mention of Seamus or Lee Jordan (I keep almost saying Lee Marvin, ha ha) or the usual suspects. Maybe I was struck by the pacing of the deaths, considering Mad-Eye Moody kicked off in like, the fourth chapter, and the deaths kept happening at regular intervals after that.

As for Tonks/Lupin, I hate to say it but... I never really cared about their relationship, primarily because Tonks didn't make that much of an impression on me. Don't get me wrong, I was sad to see them go, but also kind of nonplussed that their marriage and family life was discussed with such urgency. Yawn.

Marching Penguin:

I was always pretty indifferent to Neville, but the way he stepped up in the trio's absence at Hogwarts and then got to pull the sword out of the hat made the book for me. Awesome.

Yeah! Neville TakesNoShit Longbottom! When he decapitated Nagini that was a major hell yeah moment for me.

Overall I really liked it, although the camping/search for the Horcruxes went on a bit long.

Totally. Rowling almost did too good a job of conveying that they were wandering around aimlessly.

And I did snicker every time someone referred to the biggest baddest most magical wand ever, in all seriousness, as "the Deathstick." It sounds like something a four-year-old would name their wooden sword.

LMAO!!! I have to say, all the time they were going on about the Most Powerful Wand Ever, it was a struggle not to go to the Freudian place.

[lemuralley]

Man, that was one of the more fun reading experiences I've ever had! I was just so damn excited the whole time, and kept stupidly grinning as I tried to take it all in (is it wrong to want to throw things at your husband when he thoughtfully asks every hour or so of reading time if you need/want anything to eat or drink? I mean, I appreciate the sentiment, but dude, don't distract me!).

The weird fascination Aberforth had with goats! The cavalry of desks charging down the hallway at McGonagall's command! The giant "SCREW YOU" to Harry/Hermione shippers, and the corresponding wankstorm! Oh and I love the "Deathstick," though I fear a deluge of euphemisms from Lemur Guy after he reads THAT.

So, this movie's gonna be, what, six hours long? And they'll have to hire back everyone who was ever in any of the others? Especially Sean Biggerstaff? I squealed when I read that Wood was there.

[Deleted]

Whew! I finally finished. The damned UPS people waited until 5pm to deliver, and by that time I'd been to the local Safeway and bought a copy. I... liked it. I'm glad I was right about Snape being good and having a deal with Dumbledore. I kinda sped read it so as to avoid spoilers, so I'm gonna have to read it again slowly to fully get everything. It was a fun reading experience.
I like the epilogue if only that Harry went through so much crap so he deserves to have the family he was robbed of. That and it's primarily a kids book, hence the cheesiness. Hopefully she'll describe the other people's lives in her encyclopedia. Please please please JKR, write the damn encyclopedia! Now!
I did choke up at Fred and Dobby. *sob*

[whatever]

Hot damn! I just finished it. It was 9 kinds of awesome - I'm deducting one because of the smarminess of the last chapter.

Wow. I was surprised Lucius lived, too. I never saw Narcissa as evil. Yes, she obviously supported her husband, but she wasn't pure evil like Bellatrix. And in the end, saving her family was what mattered to her. I'm glad Draco lived, too.

"The Prince's Tale" chapter made me want to take Severus home and cuddle him for hours. The poor guy never had a chance in life. And Dumbledore kept using him, and Harry, and everyone around him. I still don't like Dumbledore.

And hells yeah on Neville killing Nagini! That was great. In my mind, he and Luna got married and had lots of fat babies.

Maybe I just missed this because I read too fast - but how did Dumbledore get the Elder Wand? Did he inherit it because he was a descendent of the Peverells?

[Deleted]

Whatever, DD got the wand from his duel with Grindelwald in 1945.

[thesurlymermaid]

didn't he get it in his duel with Grindelwald? That's what I assumed.

[ladymadonna]

I am a pretty fast reader, and I started it this morning and I'm STILL only 3/4 of the way through. [cartman] I hate you guys. [/cartman] I blame my husband and my kids who clearly have no concept of how important this book is to me. I AM glad to hear that Snape is good, because I knew it all along.

Damn speed readers! I are not stoopid! I can read good and fast! *flounces off to read the last 1/4*