Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows discussion thread (SPOILERS)

JaredL · #1 07-22-2007, 09:21 PM

<u>DO NO READ THIS THREAD IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. THIS THREAD IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ IT TO DISCUSS IT OPENLY WITHOUT HAVING TO POST IN WHITE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED</u>

JaredL · #2 07-22-2007, 09:27 PM

I was surprised by a few things.

Firstly, as mentioned in the other thread the book was really slow in the middle. The first couple hundred pages were exciting and the last couple hundred incredible but the middle seemed to drag on and on.

It was a lot darker and more adult than I was expecting. There was some line about a Merlin's hanging left ----- which referred clearly to his left nut, they said "effin" repeatedly, and Mrs. Weasley referred to Bellatrix as a bitch. I wasn't really expecting that. Plus a lot more sideshow characters died than I was expecting.

On the other hand I expected one of Ron, Hermione, Harry, and I guess including Ginny to die. That none did was surprising given what Rowling had said.

I felt like the perfect ending actually would have been to have Harry die when was AKed, which would then kill Voldemort. They would have to have killed the snake somehow though I guess. I tend not to like happy endings that seem to come out of nowhere and while this wasn't really that I think having an ending that was less completely happy would have been good. Only Fred dying was the real downer.

Dynasty · #3 07-23-2007, 12:06 AM

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The first couple hundred pages were exciting and the last couple hundred incredible but the middle seemed to drag on and on.

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The middle part, which I'll assume starts when Harry, Ron, and Hermione escape the wedding and go into hiding on their own, was great in an unexpected way. The feeling of being a fugitive really came out and it was obvious that Harry genuinely didn't know how to accomplish the mission.

When they were stuck in one of several woods, not knowing how to destroy the locket, not knowing where to search for more horcruxes, and then having Ron leave, I thought for a moment "Could Rowling actually have them fail and Voldemort win?". It didn't seem they could complete the mission they were on. That can't be an easy goal for an author since just a couple seconds thought should tell you the good guys are going to win (even if it means Harry dying).

I didn't expect Voldemort to actually win the war- which is what I'm saying he did when Kingsley Shacklebolt's patronus arrived to announce "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming.". I thought it would be a mostly even battle between good and evil through most of the book. Then when it appears Voldemort is about to win, Harry would save the day. In particular, the Muggle-born Registration Commission and all that's implied with it was a particularly distrubing part of the story.

liquid · #4 07-23-2007, 04:15 PM

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On the other hand I expected one of Ron, Hermione, Harry, and I guess including Ginny to die. That none did was surprising given what Rowling had said.

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What did she say?

mattnxtc · #5 07-22-2007, 09:27 PM

Ill start...What did yall think of the epilogue? It was probably the only part of the book i was disappointed with...I mean heck after 750+ pages..She couldnt extend it out another 20 or so to give us a real "where are they now" situation. I wanted to confirm that Harry and Ginny and Ron/Hermione ended up together but I also would have liked to know what else was going to happen.

I mean lets be honest. Harry wasnt going to ever just lead a normal life, but JK made it sound like he was just a plain old person.

bobman0330 · #6 07-22-2007, 09:33 PM

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Ill start...What did yall think of the epilogue? It was probably the only part of the book i was disappointed with...I mean heck after 750+ pages..She couldnt extend it out another 20 or so to give us a real "where are they now" situation. I wanted to confirm that Harry and Ginny and Ron/Hermione ended up together but I also would have liked to know what else was going to happen.

I mean lets be honest. Harry wasnt going to ever just lead a normal life, but JK made it sound like he was just a plain old person.

[/ QUOTE ]

The epilogue was pretty crappy IMO. It contributed nothing, and the book would have been better without it.

skiier04 · #7 07-22-2007, 09:35 PM

I have said this some other places but I think it would have been very cool to end the book after chapter 34 (Kings Cross).

Instead they went with an incredibly cliche and cheesy ending, which while not unexpected, was a bit disappointing.

jjshabado · #8 07-22-2007, 10:00 PM

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I have said this some other places but I think it would have been very cool to end the book after chapter 34 (Kings Cross).

Instead they went with an incredibly cliche and cheesy ending, which while not unexpected, was a bit disappointing.

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Ending it right after Chapter 34 would have been horrible. Although with a little clean-up after it would have been a good ending. Leave Neville killing the Snake and the whole end battle (slightly-modified since Harry's dead), then end with Ron/Hermione/Ginny drinking to Harry's memory and work in a bit of the overall state of the world. Since the Ginny/Harry relationship was slightly understated it wouldn't have been horrible to have Harry die. After book 6 it was fairly obvious that Ron or Hermione couldn't be killed since it would have been pretty lame.

That being said I like the ending. I'm a sucker for that though. The epilogue could have been better, but I don't mind not knowing about the details of death eaters and stuff. We can assume that what happened after Harry survived the first time happened again.

Supwithbates · #9 07-22-2007, 10:35 PM

this book needed more plot-integral hermione nude scenes IMO

I thought the epilogue was purposefully sparse to allow the fans to imagine what happens while purposefully closing the door on anyone else writing a sequel.

JK Rowling is a smart woman

tbach24 · #10 07-22-2007, 09:36 PM

That ending was way too obvious. I wish JK had been more creative. It was plain in sight for miles. As for the epilogue, I agree with the poster before me who said JK did it to ensure no further HP books. If I were JK I would've ended with Harry's death and continued the series with Teddy in a similar situation as the one Harry was left off in, with a destitute world. That would've been way better and she could've left the reigns to write for someone else.