Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. WARNING: CONTAINS THE ENDING and SPOILERS

**Steam** · 27th July 2007, 11:39

So, what did you think?

I finished reading at 2am this morning, had to get up at 5.30am, so I got just 3 1/2 hours sleep.

I reckon it's the best of all of them, wow, so far from the jokey hilarity of the first books.

I thought Hermione was going to die so many times, did Rowling seriously injure her several times just to make us afraid she'd die? I think so.
She's so hot. I would have been very angry if she had died.

But I could see the plot coming a mile away. If you'd asked me to guess what would happen in the final book, this would have been it. Harry having to sacrifice himself, being a horcrux himself, Snape not really being evil, I guessed it all before I started reading. So that was a bit of a disappointment.

It was great to have the chapter at the end, "19 years later", it was great to see how they all ended up.
Amazing that Draco Malfoy had kids and was able to remain free! How is that? I mean, he wasn't really willing to do He-who-must-not-be-named's bidding but he did it anyway, he was as guilty as any of the Death Eaters surely?

Oh, and how did the Sword of Griffindor come to be in Neville's hands at the final battle? Did the other goblins just forgive Griphook, who had done the unthinkable and broken into Gringotts and basically destroyed the whole bank when the dragon blasted its way out? Or did they just take the sword from Griphook, and take it with them to the final battle when they decided to make a stand?

But the final line... what was that about?

The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.

I found it a bit odd. Does it mean something else?

Your views invited.

**phoenixgtr** · 27th July 2007, 11:52

I think the final line was just the basic reassurance that Voldemort was not coming back.

Neville pulled the sword out of the sorting hat, just as Harry did in the Chamber of Secrets. The sword comes when it is needed most.

I enjoyed the book, maybe not going as far as saying it's my favourite.

As for Draco, I was thinking the same thing. I guess he was forgiven.

**Steam** · 27th July 2007, 11:56

Originally Posted by phoenixgtr

Neville pulled the sword out of the sorting hat, just as Harry did in the Chamber of Secrets. The sword comes when it is needed most.

Oh! I didn't get that part. Cheers.

**phoenixgtr** · 27th July 2007, 12:01

Yeah, while the hat was in flames on his head he managed to pull it off his head and the sword appeared. Very dramatic!!

**jrandom** · 27th July 2007, 12:05

I guess the most you can say about the final book is that it neither rose above nor sank below the promise of the previous ones.

Hardly great literature, but I enjoyed it as the brain candy that it is. Harry Potter will go on the shelf alongside the Famous Five and Asterix for my kids to read over the next decade.

**deanohit** · 27th July 2007, 12:31

Havnt read it yet, getting my bros copy in a month. Read a few teasers on the net, but what gets me is its been that long since the last book, that Im going to have to read the Half Blood Prince again to catch up. Am looking foward to readin the Deathly Hallows though.

**SimJen** · 27th July 2007, 12:44

I Hate Harry Potter bullshit.
Best thing about it I suppose is it gets kids reading!
But whats with all these old people reading it? trying to relive a lost youth or something.....buy a motorbike instead! or go for a ride!!!
I can't understand why people queue for days, and agonise over it, then read the fucken thing in 3 hours!!!! surely if its so important you'd take your time.
Im amazed at how the whole world stops for the next release, just to line JKR's already ample pockets with a sub standard piece of literature.
Just before this last torturous release went on sale she was worth $545 Million+ !!!!!
The world is a crazy place
On a side note, Hermione is getting hotter

**Steam** · 27th July 2007, 12:54

Originally Posted by SimJen

I Hate Harry Potter bullshit.
But whats with all these old people reading it? trying to relive a lost youth or something.....buy a motorbike instead! or go for a ride!!!
I can't understand ...

I bet you hate Star Wars and Star Trek too.

**SimJen** · 27th July 2007, 12:59

Originally Posted by Steam

I bet you hate Star Wars and Star Trek too.

Nah loved the original Star Wars and Star Trek when I was a "kid"
Each to their own, just venting a little Anti-Potterism

**James Deuce** · 27th July 2007, 15:11

Originally Posted by SimJen

But whats with all these old people reading it?

Some of us still have a soul and are able to look up at the stars and night in wonder.

But then you own a Gixxer, so you wouldn't know about that.

**jrandom** · 27th July 2007, 15:52

Originally Posted by Jim2

But then you own a Gixxer, so you wouldn't know about that.

[raises eyebrows]

**cheese** · 27th July 2007, 16:02

I really enjoyed it aye. I finished it on wednessday. I read half of it on sat (only got it at 3pm) and went for a ride sunday and read the rest over the next few days. How many people died in the book!!!! Nuts!

Bloody good read I say. My wife got me the first harry potter book as a bit of a joke for xmas about 4 years ago and got me hooked on reading books. Before hand I'd read the occasional magazine or whatever but not really a book reader.

There was talk of a 8th book, but I think it was a tease so that people thought that the book wasn't going to end.

**Street Gerbil** · 27th July 2007, 16:49

I generally like the series but I was disappointed by the ending. Harry goes to his death, dies, and yet returns back. This stinks of the ancient Greek concept of deus ex machina. In my opinion, the fact that he wins the big war and leaves the arena unscathed cheapens his (and others’) past sacrifices. If Harry killed Voldemort and just continued as if nothing happened, was Voldemort really such a big threat? I hate sugar-coating.
Would we believe Tolkien if Frodo would have returned to Shire and continued living happily ever after? No! The central concept of the Lord of The Rings is that great victories require great sacrifices. Frodo had to go because some wounds just cannot heal (George’s ear, anybody?).
On the side note, I think this is exactly what is wrong with Iraqi war. You just don’t win world wars by sending in the contingent of 50000 troops. Wars are won by millions of foot soldiers, not by high tech aircraft or by one wizard yelling “You!!! Cannot!!! Pass!!!”. Perhaps before starting the war, GW should have read some Tolkien.

In my opinion, a much more believable ending would have been something like that:
a) Longbottom kills the snake, but not in a ninja samurai style but perhaps by accident - swinging the sword blindly and accidentally killing Nagini with it. After all he was, is, and shall remain clumsy.
b) Harry realizes that with other horcrixes out of the way, he can finish off Voldemort by fulfilling the prophecy (neither can live if other survives). He formally calls Voldemort to a duel. Voldemort, without realizing how much their fates are connected attacks him with a fatal curse. The curse partially reflects off Harry and kills both instantly. The war is won but at terrible cost.
c) Fast forward 19 years. Professor Longbottom and his wife Ginny are sending off their son Harry to Hogwarts. Neville reassures his nervous son that he will certainly be able to live up to his name - after all he is named after the real hero – the boy who sacrificed himself so others may live.
But then again, if the book was to end like this, I would have complained that the idea was stolen from Tolkien.

That's what I think about it anyway. You may sturt throwing rotten tomatoes now.

------------ EDITED ------
Regarding the 8th book: I've read this morning that Rowlings has announced that all her "deleted scenes" will be released as "the Hogwarts Encyclopedia", which she will start compiling after some R&R.

**SPman** · 27th July 2007, 17:49

Originally Posted by simjen

I Hate Harry Potter bullshit.
Best thing about it I suppose is it gets kids reading!
But whats with all these old people reading it? trying to relive a lost youth or something.....buy a motorbike instead! or go for a ride!!!

Harry Potter is OK, as a light read.

I prefer Terry Pratchett, anyway.

Far more convincing!