Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I waited a long time to discuss the final Harry Potter book in the hopes that everyone will have read it. So first lets talk about prizes. I snagged a fist full of truly groovy Harry Potter temporary tattoos at the book release party. They've got the number seven in a lightening bolt shape and they're awesome. Also, there are a couple of small Gryffindor colored tassels with the release date on them that are up for grabs. And finally, a couple of the rare and elusive white, glow in the dark Harry Potter glasses. To enter to win one of these awesome HP items please leave a comment on this post. The winners will be drawn and announced on Tuesday, September 25th.

You can read about other Harry Potter books here: HP1, HP2, HP3, HP4, HP5, HP6, HP7.

~ ~ WARNING ~ ~

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows spoilers ahead.

Turn back now if you have not read the book.

You've been warned!

I vowed to read the last Harry Potter slowly in order to savor every moment of it. Therefore I took my time and read it over twenty-four hours. :) It was an incredible ride from the very beginning and certainly it was her best writing ever.

I was happy to be swept along with the trio while they were on the run from Voldemort’s death eaters. I could really feel how hard it was on them physically and mentally with the strain of it finally breaking Ron.

Shocking, but nearly everyone dies. Characters, some of them main ones, were dying left, right, and center. I began to believe with each turn of the page that nearly anyone was liable to lose his or her life. And ultimately, this indeed turned out to be the case. Many readers were devastated that she killed Fred. And the senseless way that he died was even more abhorrent. But I think I understand her reasoning behind the death.

All HP readers love Fred and George. They were the comic relief in the darkest hours. They were bright, smart, and inventive. Everyone loved them. Rowling must have seen Fred’s death as an opportunity to shape the real world of the future. Twenty, thirty, forty years from now the men and women in power running our countries will be the ones who grew up reading Harry Potter. Rowling has planted the seed of Fred’s death as a useless one as a result of war. Perhaps she hopes that seed will grow in the minds of our leaders and help prevent real life wars with real life senseless deaths. Here’s hoping it works.

But the death that broke my heart was Dobby’s. It was the hardest crying I’ve done in all of the series. From the moment we met Dobby we discovered that he wanted nothing more than to save Harry’s life. And in the end, that is what he achieved. I had to be alone when I read those chapters. The door was shut and I laid the book down and cried. Then I cried some more. Heck, the tears are leaking down my face as I write this. What an amazing writer Rowling is to make me feel Dobby’s death so deeply. Everything about it was moving from Harry’s hand digging the grave, to the funeral, to his carving the headstone. My favorite quote in the entire book then must be “Here lies Dobby, a free elf”.

It was a stripping away for Harry of nearly everyone he loved so that when it came to the end he was more alone than ever before. He had to face Voldemort is a final battle that we all new would come. He had to use his brains and his courage and his magical power to defeat an enemy that seemed very nearly unbeatable. That final battle scene was a riveting climax like none other in the series. But Harry still stayed true to himself in the end and tried only to disarm and not to kill. A life lesson indeed.

Some readers were disappointed that the epilogue contained so little information about what happened to them after the war was over and the world went back to normal. But I loved it. I loved that we didn’t get to find out what they did for a living or exactly how Harry and Ginny got back together. I loved that the story stayed true to itself and ended the way of all good children’s books with Rowling’s well-chosen words that essentially translate to “and they lived happily ever after”. Because in the end, after all, this is a children’s book. And certainly the best book I’ve ever read.

Comments

[Meredith]

Felicia, I skipped where you told me to! We are just starting our journey on HP and the kids just finished book #1. They absolutely loved it! Hope you get a lot of comments for that cool stuff, and I hope the last book was great (like I said, I skipped the info!!) Have a great day!!

[Marci]

You sure you weren't in my body reading with me? The whole scene with Dobby - from his death to burial - had me sobbing.

I truly enjoyed this book as well - the feeling of dread I had until the final battle, then relief. The Dark Lord has been defeated.

A wonderful read and when I get a bit of spare time, I want to go back and read them all sequentially.

[laura]

I cried more than my 9 year old daughter! We both loved the book..thanks for your great review :)

[Gwen]

It was a great read & I can't wait to dive in again. This time I'll go a lot slower! Dobby was a heart wrencher for sure. But, I also cried when we lost Hedwig & Professor Moody. And poor Fred, Lupin & Tonks. Those were tough ones for me too. One of my very favorite parts was Luna's bedroom. I could see it so clearly & it really moved me. All in all, I think it was the best of the bunch!

[Laura]

I fell apart when Dobie died and was in a similar state with Fred...but I had never thought about it the way you did as far as what his death symbolized and appreciate the insight. I enjoyed the book overall, though I think I'm the only person who did not need or want the epilogue. I could have just closed the book before reading that part, though ...you are right it is essentially a children's book (do we forget this or what?) and no matter what happens between the start and finish, a happy ending is key.

What a thoughtful post you wrote today!

[Jenn : )]

I agree with Laura - I very much appreciate your insight into Fred's death. And I also didn't need the epilogue - but I understand why she included it.

I feel like I need to take a break from the final book and then have a re-read. I'm sure there are details I've missed.

All those deaths were fatiguing.... I don't know how children could take it all in.

[Libby]

I must be the only none HP reader, I get all my info from my big HP reader daughter, she loved it to!

[Sweet Spice]

my MIL absolutely loves HP and she called us sobbing to tell our oldest son about Dobby. I agree with you, Rowling has a true gift when it comes to her writing! Thank you for sharing your review =o)

http://sweetspicestory.blogspot.com

[Laura J R]

I was howling by the end of Chapter 3, when he took his leave of Privet Drive. Suddenly, after all these years there was a connection and a measure of respect between Dudley and Harry, and it brought a great lump to my throat to sense that there was unsaid stuff between Harry and Aunt Petunia (Uncle Vernon being a dead write-off). Did anyone else cry at this part? No? Just me then!

I found many parts of it moving, and cried heaps at various points. Lupin's exhilaration at the birth of little Teddy - a metamorphagus like his Mum, not a werewolf as his father had feared, and their deaths were an extra cruel blow that echoed Harry's own journey as an orphan.

Hedwig's death was a shock, Moody's less so but sobering, Dobby's death was, I agree, quite heart breaking, and so movingly written. The whole book was a tour de force, immensely satisfying and thoroughly redemptive, even if Fred had to die (sniff). I had expected that Percy would rejoin the fold. I truly felt at every battle that Harry was gonna get it in the neck and croak this time, you could feel him battling with nothing to lose.

I just loved, loved, loved the whole book and stood in a queue for hours (having flown across Australia from Perth all night) and was close to missing my plane, but I managed to get the first copy sold from Sydney airport as the embargo lifted at 9am local time (I was en route to USA). I then happily read it across the Pacific and finished it after 36 hours (with driving to San Diego in between). I then re-read it more slowly and finally posted it home to Australia to be enjoyed again. This time for the first time on a 'Harry Release Day' we were separated. I normally buy 3 copies so my son, daughter and I can each read at our own pace. This time I bought mine in Sydney, my daughter bought hers in Melbourne with my sister, and my son got his at home. It felt very weird not to be reading it aloud to my daughter (a first)

I (along with my daughter, and her best friends, and my sister and niece) am one of the biggest Harry tragics I know, and I went to platform 9 and three quarters at Kings Cross Station in London to have my photo taken for the girls (they were dead jealous). When we were in Edinburgh I also saw the cafe where JKR wrote the first Harry book!

This is my first visit to your blog - I love your little Harry knits (top pic) and appreciate you taking the trouble to post Spoiler alerts. Its great to be able to discuss it with a fellow Harry tragic. I had my misgivings about the editing of HP6 (the first third needed a heavy prune), but wouldn't have missed this book 7 for the world - and it certainly came up trumps. Yay!!!

Have fun with your competition.

[Samantha]

It's hard to me to pick this book as my favourite because it is so very sad. The fact that we care about these fictional characters so much is what makes this series so amazing.

I felt the deaths came out of no where. There was no big build ups to them (except for Voldemort's I guess) and I often had to go back and re-read parts, even though I was reading it very slowly and taking breaks every few chapters. I did love the change in Kreacher.

[Georgia]

Well said! I certainly was one of those devastated by Fred's death even though I understood what she was trying to say. I had prepared myself for one of the three to die and so it was very difficult when everyone else did--I dug my own grave:) I think all in all, it was a beautiful story of self sacrifice and love. Harry sacrificed his own life to save his friends--as did all the others that really did die for the cause of good. I sobbed when Snape died thinking that Harry would have to die. He truly gave everything to defeat Voldemort. How fitting that Harry's son is named after Dumbledore and Snape (that's when I cried the hardest!). Thank you for your review, Felicia!

[Rachel]

I like your analysis on Fred's death. I thought it was senseless as well. Let's hope that everybody can see how war creates senseless death.

Overall, I'm glad that good triumphs evil. That's the way it should be.

[Katherine]

My husband and I took turns reading HP#7 aloud for a whole weekend so that the four of us could share the story at the same time. Yes, our voices got hoarse and we did feel emotionally wrung out from the deaths of our favourite characters. Oh, no, not dead... they can't be dead!
It was an exciting and fast paced conclusion to the series. Yet, as my sons said, "I can't believe it's over. No more HP books..." That is the saddest part.

[Sarah]

I sobbed my eyes out when Fred and Dobby died. Sobbed!

I love that teeny tiny HP sweater! So adorable! :)

[mariss]

The email you wrote to me about HP awhile back made me feel better about being disappointed by the epilogue. In life, we don't find out everything, we're not omniscient.

I thought you summed it up well, and bawled as well when Dobby died, and especially when Harry wanted to dig that grave himself. Nothing like some hard work to get the aggression and heartache out after a loved one dies. And when everyone helped him at the end...awww!

I love that JK. She is amazing!

[Karen Young]

I had to leave a comment because I love Harry Potter. But, I turned back before reading your discussion and views on the book as I haven't read it yet.

Karen
Bluemuf

[Sarah]

I found Dobby so annoying that I didn't mind when he was killed -- which is possibly awful of me, but he's fictional, so I try not to let it bother me -- but I still cried at the funeral scene. It just touched me that much.

Kreacher made me so happy, though. I laughed and cheered whenever Kreacher made an appearance.

I hated how Tonks and Lupin died. I understand why they had to die, but the fact that they seemed to be thrown in like an afterthought bothered me.

My favorite part was when Mrs. Weasley jumped Beatrix, calling her a bitch. It was so rad!

I thought parts of it were a bit convenient, but all in all, I really liked it. Woo!

[Era]

The worst for me was Fred. Man, I'm crying right now thinking about poor George, all alone after a lifetime of companionship. What is he going to do without Fred? It totally broke my heart, above all the others.

I thought it was interesting that both Lupin and Tonks died, leaving Teddy an orphan, to be pseudo-adopted by the Weasleys. Does this ring a bell? Hmmmmm.

And I couldn't believe that Mrs. Weasley yelled "bitch" during that fight scene. I think it was the only real curse word in the entire series, and I was totally shocked! I'm wondering why JK chose to do that.

Anyway, I'm glad to get a chance to share my feelings, everyone has been so hush hush about it online, which I totally appreciated because I didn't read the book until Labor Day and I was petrified that someone would spoil it for me. I refused to let my family talk to me when I was reading it (they had all finished it by then) because my mom has an annoying tendancy to give things away unknowingly (I tried to explain to her that even the slightest word could give me an idea of the fate of one of the characters).

Thanks Felicia!

[divadea]

Nice review. I actually made the book last about 4 days :) And I didn't cry until the epilogue. My favorite bit was the Mrs. Weasley and Prof McGonagall woman power finally getting mad.

[tinkerblue]

I loved it. I read it twice in the first week. The first reading I started on the Saturday morning and read until I was done. I screamed and yelled and laughed and cried. I expected members of the Order to die - Moody was not a surprise. I also expected Lupin to die, as his friends James and Sirius did before him.

I was not expecting Dobbys death. I cried. I thought a member of the Weasley family would meet their end, but wasn't sure who. I was kind of disappointed in the way it happened.

I'm glad Severus was redeemed in the end. I always "liked" him. Well I like Alan Rickman playing Snape.

I am one of few of my friends who liked the epilogue.

I'm sad the series has ended. But I'm anticipating the movies.

[Pam]

OH, Enter me please!!!

Yes, the final book was quite the ride wasn't it! While I could have done with less of the "neverending camp-out", I thought it was well-done. I cried when Dobdy and Fred died but I was sobbing during the walk in the woods and Snape's death/rememberance of Lily. This whole time I just knew he couldn't be that bad and he would redeem himself in some way.
I like the epilogue too. I'm of those that would have always wanted to know more about what happened, still do.

[moogancreations]

I have to say that hedwig dying was probably the most moving part of the book for me.
They had such a strong bond from the beginning and served as harry's one and only friend during those long summers at privot drive.

[Bethany]

I love your little sweater, which I assume you made from the Charmed knitting book? LOVE IT! I have never read HP! GAsp!!!

[Shin]

I was so glad it had an epilogue at all. Usually children's books don't. Quite happy to read that everything was well, well after Voldemort was defeated. So nice to read your bookreview.

[michelle fitzgerald]

I am so happy you posted this now. When most to the blog world was talking about it I had to just not look. I didn't get the book until it was at least a week old and then had to share it with my daughter and since I have three small children, it took me a bit longer to read than most folks. So I apprecitate getting to join the party now! I loved it so much that I have been ruined for reading ever since. I just can't find anything that comes close to being as good a book and as my sister put it, as satisfying. I agree that her writing was really great in this one. I wish there were perhaps a few less deaths, but Rowling has never made this a rosy world that Harry lives in. Thanks for your fun post!

[lera]

You read it nice and slow over 24 hours. LOL

I had to skip your review, because I haven't read it yet. Well, I haven't read any yet, but still don't want to spoil it.

(BTW, I got the Moo cards today! THANKS!!!!)

[michelle]

I loved the book. I knew either harry or you know who had to go, maybe both. Doby was heartbreaking and the part where harry knew he had to die and marched into the forest was a tear jerker too, so brave facing death head on. I was saddened by fred's death and I thought Harry would have raised tonks and lupins son. Godfather and all.
I can't beleive I know people who have never read the series!

[sadira]

I loved it!! I thought she did an excellent job wrapping everything all up...I cried the hardest at Hedwig's death though. I couldn't stop...I was amazed at her flippant killing of one of my favorite little characters...I have a little Hedwig that hangs in my library, and I can barely look at her...And, I love Harry confronting everything alone in the end because that's exactly how so much of life really is...sigh.

[kristin]

i had to skip over the HP book spoilers, but i LOVE the goodies you posted, and picked up the first two books to read tonight (i know i am SO far behind)!! HUGS!

[tracy x]

i have closed my eyes up until this point as i have three HP books to go -
but i had to pop in to say
love
your
blog
found you via monkee maker and have just purchased some of your goodies over at Etsy x
off to make a cup of tea and have a look at past posts and critters.
back soon
tracy x

[Yazmin]

Wow. I'm crying and I haven't even read the books. (I had plans to borrow a set, but my friend moved out of state, so I'm buying my time to go to the library and check them out.)

Even knowing what I know, I'm sure they will be a fantastic read. You guys are absolute proof. :)

[Brigitta]

I told you Snape wasn't all that bad, didn't I ;-)

[Bunny]

Cute tiny sweater! I loved all the Harry Potter Books. I had a hard time not letting the details slip out after reading the last book. I am glad my sister had already asked someone to tell her everything so I could talk to someone about it. Thanks for visiting my blog.

[AJ]

I admit that I haven't read the book. I've had it sitting here. Instead, I flipped to the last few pages. *sigh* I should have read it all, but oh well. But thanks for your review, I didn't know that Dobby died. :(

[Dee Light]

I haven't even started my book!!! Is that sad or what!!! I bought is when it came out, but just haven't had the time!!!

But your little goodies are sooooo cute.

[Jennifer]

I agree with you on all counts about the last HP. Dobby's death hit me really hard too. I also was affected by the deaths of Lupin and Tonks. I liked how we got a glimpse of the future, but not the play by play of how they got there as well. It leaves more to the imagination, which is a fitting way to end such an imaginative journey.

[Angela]

I have to agree with you about most of the book. Dobby's death was the hardest (though Hedwig's death and the loss of his broom so soon in the book should have been a clue as to how much was going to be stripped from Harry) and I was astonished that it was one the twins. But, the deaths weren't gratuitous. They had a purpose and they were used effectively. What a great way to end the series -- and what a long, strange trip it's been (to paraphrase the Grateful Dead).

[[email protected]]

It was a fantastic ride! I was not disaapointed at all. Although I was very sad about Fred. I just love the whole Weasely family.

I felt the ending was good too. They honored their heroes by naming their children after them so that no one would forget. Beautiful.

[tricia.reilly]

Loved the book, loved the whole series. My nine y.o. daughter and I still laugh about the twins.

I was absolutely beside myself with tears about poor old Dobby. They flowed even faster when Harry was digging the grave. Oh the overwhelming humanness of it all! Still didn't quite get the flayed baby in the 'waiting station' sequence with Dumbledore but loved the whole thing.

YES PLEASE! Enter me too.

[Linda Richter]

Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog! I adore your creatures!!

[Lea]

I can't believe I missed this post!!!! I first found you because of your Harry Potter post when the last book came out!

I love what you wrote. Felicia, I cried the most when Dobby died. I sobbed. And I cried all through Snape's death and the memories. He was probably one of my favorite characters. I knew all along that he was trustworthy, but I just couldn't figure out why Dumbledore was so sure... now I know and it so made me cry and I read those pages over and over and over, and could go back and read them again right this minute!

I didn't like Lupin, Tonks, and Fred's deaths, nor Colin's or any of the others, not at all, I understood them, but didn't like it. Your analogy of why, for future generations to see the futility of war, is the first thing that makes sense of their senseless demises. What I didn't understand was Hedwig. It is the only place in all seven books where I felt like JK just dumped him to get him out of the plot. Any ideas?

I too loved the ending. It made my imagination race and ask a million questions. But I too finished so satisfied and when I think of all that has transpired in my life in reading and waiting for the next book over the years... wow.

I got to meet JK Rowling when she signed my Prisoner of Azkaban book in 1999!!!!

Thanks for sharing this with all of us. I so love how you bring such detail and delight to all that you do!

[karla nathan]

Heck, I am crying again now just thinking about the perfect happy ending.