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Post by Richard on Jul 21, 2007 13:06:03 GMT -5
Just finished it… What a spectacular ending. So many dead. Only one Weasley though. Can’t believe it is one of the twins… Never expected Hagrid to survive. Both Tonks and Lupin died, too bad for Teddy. I absolutely loved the duel between Voldemort and Harry at the very end. It reminded me so much of the battle at the end of Order between Dumbledore and Voldemort. And Neville killing Nagini and becoming Herbology Professor.
Wow, what an amazing story.
God, it’s over now, right. Can’t believe it. Must ponder some more about it. I’m a little perplexed now.
Richard
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Post by Richard on Jul 21, 2007 13:27:56 GMT -5
OK, just showered, a perfect time to think things true.
I completely forgot to mention Snape. Turns out LOLLIPOPS (that's the Snape Lily thing right?) was true. Also, Petunia overhearing that awful boy. So that was Snape!
My fav part of the entire book is by far the final 8 (or somewhat) chapters, when Hogwarts is fighting back. Oh God, can't wait for that to be shown in the movie!
Speaking of that, this is gonna be a tough book to translate to the big screen. But that's a discussion we'll have in 2 - 3 years!
Richard
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Post by Richard on Jul 21, 2007 13:30:31 GMT -5
Oh, and than there is the epilogue. I didn't really care for that, to be honest. I can't remember who's kids are whom and I did find the 'Albus Severus Potter' going a bit too far.
Richard
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Post by blackngold on Jul 21, 2007 20:16:29 GMT -5
So, JKR makes everybody happy. Harry sacrifices himself dies and lives and he was an unintended horcrux. Will have to digest all of this. It's all going to require a second go.
I was so upset during the scene where the Weasley's were crowded around Fred that I completely missed that Lupin and Tonks were dead. Only when they mentioned it later did I say "whoa when did that happen."
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Post by blackngold on Jul 21, 2007 20:24:13 GMT -5
"Oi, War going on" - priceless
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Post by blackngold on Jul 21, 2007 20:42:39 GMT -5
JKR understood that fiction means HAPPILY EVER AFTER
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Post by Cissa on Jul 21, 2007 22:34:08 GMT -5
Well, I just finished the book and I am still in a state of shock and amazement and mourning. There is so much to discuss, but at the moment I'm practically speechless. Brian is still on chapter 31. I'm trying to stay away from him so he won't know what might happen. Of course, he has already seen my red eyes and the pile of kleenex. I have to say that this was a most gripping tale with so many twists and turns. I couldn't believe just how close we were to having the whole R.A.B. thing figured out. And then LOLLIPOPS...I just about lost it...so sweet yet so sad. I knew Snape wasn't evil!!! I couldn't believe that she offed him that way though...it was so cruel. I definitely loved the whole kiss thing with Ron and Hermione and Harry saying " Is this the moment? OI! There's a war going on here!" Too funny Then of course the deaths of Fred, Tonks, & Lupin. I just about died. I think what made it even sadder was the fact that after all his years of loneliness and persecution, Lupin had finally found happiness and then had it all taken away. But the most emotional part for me was chapter 34. I had a feeling that Harry would make it somehow, but it was so hard to read. There was so much emotion in that chapter especially when he used the Resurrection Stone to see his mom, dad, Sirius, & Lupin. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I was glad that Neville got to be a part of Voldy's downfall. Although I wish he could have been the one to kill Bellatrix, I think Molly did a fine job. I couldn't help but laugh when she screamed, "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU B***H!" Go Mrs. Weasley. ;D There are so many other things that I noticed as I read the book, but my desire to finish it surpassed any desire to make notations so I will definitely have to reread it, and reread it, and reread it. LOL As for the epilogue, it was a little hard to keep up with who's children was who's, but it was nice to know that all was well. I particularly enjoyed the conversation Ron has with this daughter about Draco's son..."Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains." and "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Grandad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood." Oh well, the saddest part is that the series is over, but I think that JK did a superb job wrapping everything up...except we still aren't sure where James got all of his money. I guess we are just to assume that he inherited it down through the generations. Also, I guess we were wrong about either Dumbledore or Harry being the heir of Gryffindor. She certainly didn't elude to the fact anyway. Well, it's off to bed with me. I was up reading til 4:00 this morning then I slept til 10:00 and have been reading ever since. I hope everyone enjoyed the book. BYE
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Post by sapphire on Jul 22, 2007 2:30:22 GMT -5
Hiya MUGWUMPS. I finished at about 1:15 am--just minutes ago, so I am still stunned. What a brilliant work Jo Rowling has given us. Nothing I ever imagined could match this story. She truly is a master storyteller and I feel so lucky to have been along for the ride as it happened. Wasn't Dumbledore a complicated man? Although I often stormed about how he owed Harry more information, I always thought it was just JK being a bit fuzzy to carry her story forward. Silly me. It felt like hitting the jackpot to hear all about his past and his tragic family. I am now going off to mourn my lost loved ones, even though they are, as my sister pointed out, purely fictional. As a wise man once said, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"
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Post by blackngold on Jul 22, 2007 9:04:07 GMT -5
Draco confused me a bit in this one. After they get captured and are brought back to the manor, Draco doesn't ID them to his parents. Harry I can sort of understand with the Stinging Jinx and all - but Hermione and Ron? So I figure at that point he has turned over a new leaf given his distaste for the torturing he sees going on around him. Then he shows up in the Room of Requirement all gung ho for Voldemort again. It just didn't make sense to me.
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Post by Fins on Jul 22, 2007 9:29:13 GMT -5
Wow... still a bit dazed. It is beyond my comprehension how someone can come up with all these ideas and details, spread out bits of information throughout 7 books. That alone just blows me away. What a story. Ok... first. I agree with BnG... JKR does know how to tell a fictional story; good must and always conquers evil. All the main kids lived. As for the deaths, lets see: Mad-eye, Hedwig, Dobby, Lupin, Tonks, Fred.... loads others. You have gotta love Mrs. Weasley- you go woman! The battle for Hogwarts was amazing and can't wait for that to be put into film... same with the Malfoy House and the escape from. Dobby is such a hero... loved the scene at the cottage as it was very touching. Our LOLLIPOPS theory was right on... who came up with that... Phoenix? And the Tiara was a horcrux.... so lets see, there were 7 Horcruxes: The ring, the diary, the locket, the Hufflepuff cup, the Ravenclaw tiara, Nagini, and Harry. We guessed the tiara hidden in the Room of Hidden Things. Weird JKR didn't tell us more about Ron and Hermione's adventure in the Chamber of Secrets. I thought it was interesting that Ron can now speak Parseltongue. I thought that perhaps he was now a horcrux. More later.
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Post by * amanda on Jul 22, 2007 10:12:52 GMT -5
Love that we were right on with Snape/LOLLIPOPS. It turned out just as I expected, though I was sad that Snape died (and interested that right away Harry sensed some sort of sadness over his death, too, even before he knew the story). I was totally off thinking that Harry wouldn't be a Horcrux. ah well. By the way, I'm not at the end of the book yet - was planning on finishing it this morning - but already I have to run off to some things and might not be back til late tonight!!!! anyways, I have yet to read the epilogue. but i did finally turn to the last page (I just finished the chapter of Snape's memory) because I absolutely could not bear to leave my book all day without making sure Harry lives. After Tonks, Lupin, and George, I wasn't sure. I am heartbroken over the three of them. anyways, I'll be back late tonight when I finish.
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ravenfel
Dumbledore's Army
"...you would have done well in Slytherin." - The Sorting Hat
Posts: 148
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Post by ravenfel on Jul 22, 2007 11:19:27 GMT -5
I am totally in amazement over this book. J.K.R. managed to give us all what we wanted.. because Harry did die.. sort of.. and he did live... but.. with regards to Harry.. has anyone else put 2 and 2 together yet and realized that HARRY IS A DECENDANT OF SALAZAR SLYTHERIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Richard on Jul 22, 2007 13:24:52 GMT -5
has anyone else put 2 and 2 together yet and realized that HARRY IS A DECENDANT OF SALAZAR SLYTHERIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is not for certain. We only know that the Gaunts were related to the Slytherins. Marvolo only says the ring of the Peverells has been in the family for centuries. That does not mean that the Peverells were related to the Slytherins. For all we know, one of the kids of the Peverll brothers married the descendant of Slythering, hence combining both bloodlines. If Harry is decendant from one of the other brothers, he wouldn't be a decendant of Slytherin at all. Wasn't it interesting that Harry's blood also functioned as a Horcrux. Due to Voldemort having Harry's blood, he wasn't dead after the AK hit him in the forest. I'm just having diner: in other words the worst fish and chips I've ever tasted. YAGH! Richard
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kats
Head Girl/Boy
Posts: 113
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Post by kats on Jul 22, 2007 15:30:52 GMT -5
Finished. Wow. I have guests coming in ten minutes. I'll be back.
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Post by * amanda on Jul 23, 2007 0:34:53 GMT -5
Finished. Highly recommend not finishing this book at 12:30 am on a Sunday night before work... now I can't sleep! What a ride. I can't quite let it go. First of all, JKR = Shakespeare. Sophocles. and thousand of nameless, faceless writers and oral storytellers who defined centuries. She's up there. Brava! Secondly, this novel was beyond epic. It was Masterful. Sublime. Crafted a breathtaking story with incredible detail. She has a rare and beautiful talent. Now before we start appointing her Mistress of Magic and engraving her initials to our forearms, I do have to bring it back to earth a little with a few gripes. a) I had a hard time with the Malfoy family storyline as well. a reread may help. b) we don't know the details of what happened during Tonks' and Lupins final moments, not to mention a bit more about what was going with the DA. I guess it wouldn't have propelled the storyline along that much, but, curiosity overcomes me. c) I shamelessly wanted a few more sparky Ginny/Harry and Ron/Hermione moments. I feel the relationship buildup from the past 2 books was anticlimactic (although again this is a personal selfishness because again, I concede, it wouldn't have helped the story that much.) d) The epilogue. What? This didn't do much for me. The Albus Severus was borderline cheesy but another part of me loved it. I thought we'd learn what Harry was doing but I think we are to assume he enjoyed an early retirement? I no longer want him to be an auror (love the last bit of the last chapter) but why not teach DADA? (what happened to that post, anyways?) What about ginny and ron and hermione? What happened to the weasleys, other than Ron and Percy? What about George? I didn't get who raised Teddy, wasn't it supposed to be Harry? Did they ever do their 7th year at Hogwarts? (I still feel odd that they didn't in this book...) I think I will just need to reread to have true closure. However, since JKR left so much hanging.... it almost opens up a sequel, doesn't it? And Harry's scar: all is well = happily ever after? ...or not...? I will post more on what I loved later. In short: I agree with all of you.
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Post by Richard on Jul 23, 2007 2:39:16 GMT -5
Amanda, I didn't get who raised Teddy, wasn't it supposed to be Harry? His Grandmother is the only family left alive, as his parents and his grandfather died. So, it's like Neville... And he was snogging a girl with a sort of French name. Bill and Fleur's daughter? ? I think I will just need to reread to have true closure. Me too, I still don't believe it's over... .... it almost opens up a sequel, doesn't it? And Harry's scar: all is well = happily ever after? ...or not...? Yeah, that was a weird final sentence. It's almost as if Hary expects his scar to hurt again meaning Voldy is back... Steve van der Ark had a nice suggestion for fanfic: Neville year 7. All the stuff that happened at Hogwarts. The torutures / obscure lessons / Snape stuff. And his second suggestion: a new epilogue..... I hoped it would be more narrative, instead of all the dialogue. First of all, JKR = Shakespeare. Sophocles. and thousand of nameless, faceless writers and oral storytellers who defined centuries. She's up there. Brava! J.K. Rowling is MIGHT! Richard
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Post by Fins on Jul 23, 2007 6:38:25 GMT -5
Was the thief that stole the wand from Gregorovitch actually Grinderwald?
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Post by * amanda on Jul 23, 2007 8:20:19 GMT -5
"Oi," (to steal one of Ron's words) I'm paying for my weekend of HP this morning! Richard, thanks for sort of completing my thoughts. a quick reread of my post last night tells me it wasn't overly coherent. I was convinced that if Harry was a horcrux, and the horcrux part of him was destroyed, which it was, his scar would disappear. But then it didn't. So when I got to the last paragraph, I was certain the last line would say it was tingling and we'd be in the sequel business. But since it didn't, I wonder if that was JKR's way of saying "happily ever after." I think we missed out on not knowing more about the 7th year at Hogwarts for Neville + friends. Although, then again, I'm not sure I'd want to revisit the death and torture and destruction as plenty of that did soak through in this book, not sure explicit details of torture at Hogwarts would help us any more and may be a leeettle too disturbing. So we got a lot more than I dared to hope about Dd, Snape, and Lily, which I am pleased about. But still a lot of things we speculated for years go unanswered. I think that's what JKR wants, however. I wonder if she may post some more complementary info on her website. Also, a great companion book, in place of a new epilogue, might be a nonfiction about the DA written 19 years after the end of DH. It could go into more about the histories of some of Harry's most loyal friends, more details about their 7th year, more on the battle of Hogwarts and how Lupin, Tonks, etc. died, and some info on Harry's post-battle life as well. P.S. who adored Peeves' song at the end? Peeves really grew on me.
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Post by sjr0301 on Jul 23, 2007 9:12:46 GMT -5
Okay, WOW!!!! Got the book delivered to my door on Saturday and read from 1:30pm straight through to 10:15 pm. My son was a chapter ahead of me for much of the book because I had to stop a couple of times to get food for everyone. And he kept screaming , NO!! everytime something major happened, so my daughter and I had to keep telling him to be quiet.!!!! Anyway, I was sooo wrong about LOLLIPOPS, and Snape and Harry being a Horcrux. Not surprised about the Harry dying and living bit because of her remarks about being a Christian giving away the story; but it was still difficult to read when he knew he had to die and I wasn't sure he would live after all. Very interesting that he actually had the choice to go on or to go back and finish Voldemort off. I have to re-read immediately to really decide what I think about it, but as a whole, it was a magnificent conclusion. I think it will make an incredible epic movie in the hands of the right director and screenwriter (Cuaron or Guillermo delo Toro from Pan's Labyrinth come to mind) I was so surprised that Hagrid lived and think now that he is the one who got the repreive. And Fred!!! Loved Molly at the end. We finally got to see that her powerful character was matched by her magic. Plus, Ron finally came into his own and played a truly major part in helping Harry. The destruction of the locket was awesome. And Dumbledore! Grindelwald! It's amazing how each of the elements of the three hallows are mentioned or hinted at in Book 1. The Cloak, the Philosopher's Stone, which is the mirror of the Resurrection Stone, the brother wands, etc. What I missed from it and wanted to see at first read: Fawkes did not come back; seeing Ginny and Neville try to steal the sword; Ron and Hermione in the Chamber of Secrets; the attack on the Ministry and Scrimgeour's last bit of bravery. Also, re Harry being a Peverell descendent, I think we are supposed to take it that Slytherin and the Gaunts are descended from the second of the three brothers, the one with the Resurection Stone and that Harry and the Potters were descended from the third brother who had the Invisibility Cloak. So Harry would have been very distantly collaterally related to Voldemort and the Slytherins, but not a descendant. And there would be no descendants of the first brother because he was murdered for the Elder wand. Who else was totally shocked by Dumbledore's youthful infatuation with the Dark Arts? That was totally unexpected. And I loved Aberforth. He was cool, although still a bit jealous of Albus to the end. So - what job does Harry have, if any? What job does Ron have, if any? What jobs do Hermione and Ginny have, if any? Does Percy become Minister of Magic? What were James' and Lily's professions? Why were Harry's eyes important? Did I miss that, or was that just the bit with Slughorn in Book 6? And did anyone else find Percy's sudden remorse a bit ... well, sudden? I wanted him to be shown feeling horrible, just for one second in the Ministry. And Umbridge having the locket!!! Now that was brilliant. Okay, I really must get to work.
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Post by blackngold on Jul 23, 2007 11:29:52 GMT -5
I think the whole thing with Percy was a bit odd. I think JKR wanted this to happen but really didn't have a good place to put it in the book. I was expecting him to be reconciled by the time of the wedding. That would have given him one book to break with his family and one book to be stiff necked about being proven wrong. When it didn't happen at the wedding, I just sort of dismissed that plotline. When it pops up at the end of the book, it's just jarring. By that time, I didn't really give a damn one way or the other about Percy. She built up all this momentum and tension and then takes a break to tie up a minor (so minor it's practically miniscule) plot point.
One other thing I liked about this book was the return of the Ron Weasley we knew and loved from books 1 and 2. Instead of being a tag-a-long afterthought, he is driving some of the developments in the book. I loved that he abandoned them and came back. I loved the destruction of the locket scene. One of my overall favorite scenes comes right after that after Hermione has told him off in the tent. Harry says, "Best you could have hoped for, mate." Ron replies, "At least she didn't send those birds after me." And Hermione supplies the punch line, "I haven't ruled it out yet." Makes me smile.
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