Many in my family, love the movies -- yet the novels paint a much more vivid and detailed world, so much so that I almost always leave the movies disappointed. Too much is left out. The world of Harry Potter is filled with many minor characters and side stories... and they all play key roles in aiding Harry in his quest to defeat, you know who. The large number of characters and back-stories, at times, make the story a touch confusing to follow but the mastery that J.K. Rowling demonstrates, is in her ability to make all of these seemingly minors characters/story lines converge in importance. Every piece figures into the final outcome... and for that reason, I think that those that do not read the series, will find the ending a touch convoluted. At times, the plot in the final novel drags -- particularly when Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run. However, I found the last half to be very very good... from the escape from Malfoy Manor, to the return to Hogwarts, to the final confrontation. In this last novel, several characters fall. Some of the deaths are more surprising than others. The introduction of the Deathly Hallows is not only key to the final story, but they also give us insight into the workings of a character we thought we knew. We finally discover the truth about Snape. We see characters we thought weak, stand tall. We see characters we thought faultless become human. We find out if the prophecy rings true... "and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives." Overall a very satisfying ending to a series that I found very enchanting.
*****MINOR SPOILERS PRESENT******
My inner nerd rejoices!
By most-special-k - Posted on July 22nd, 2007
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Over the past week, I re-read HP and the Order of the Phoenix; then saw the movie. I also re-read, HP and the Half-blood Prince. All of this was done in anticipation of the final novel, HP and the Deathly Hallows. My copy of the book had been pre-ordered for some time and thus it arrived at my house around noon yesterday. I read the novel in one sitting.
