Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Book Details
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Paperback, 784 Pages
2009, Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN: 0545139708
Series: Book 7 of Harry Potter

Synopsis
Lord Voldemort is preparing for battle and so must Harry. With Ron and Hermione at his side, he's trying to hunt down Voldemort's Horcruxes, escape danger at every turn, and find a way to defeat evil once and for all. How does it all end?It all comes down to this -- a final faceoff between good and evil. You plan to pull out all the stops, but every time you solve one mystery, three more evolve. Do you stay the course you started, despite your lack of progress? Do you detour and follow a new lead that may not help? Do you listen to your instincts, or your friends?

Review
How can one possibly sum up their reactions to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? Other than raving on for multiple paragraphs about how incredibly awesome it was, especially in relation to the sheer epicness of the entire series - it's impossible. While I'll be the first to admit the book wasn't completely perfect - can you say long winded?, complaints can't possibly compare to what Rowling does in this book. She stands her ground. She makes it real. She never takes the easy way out and absolutely tears our hearts out time and again. And we love her for it.

On my first reading of Deathly Hallows (speed reading really, as I racing through the pages needing to know what happened) I completely missed how much the book focused on Dumbledore's past. Between the the newspaper article about him, Rita Skeeter's book, and the conversation Harry had with Elphias Doge and Ron's Aunt Muriel, we learn more about Dumbledore in this book than all the other books combined. In addition, we experience Harry's internal struggle trying to figure the man he idolized from the man he learns about. Dumbledore becomes so humanized in this book, so naturally flawed, that he matters more here in people's memories than he ever did while alive.

Harry seems to doubt himself more here than in any other book as well, and to me that seems to be a sign of maturity. No longer does he rush into situations without at least considering them first. In many parts he appears to be over analyzing, especially when it comes to what his next step should be and if Dumbledore ever truly cared about him. Harry's growth is to be expected, but who I was more surprised by and impressed with was Neville. His calm and confidence in crisis undoubtedly saved many lives. Who could have known how essential he would become when we first saw him on the Hogwarts Express?

I loved the addition of Bill and Fleur's wedding. I found it reminiscent of soldiers marrying before heading off to war. A celebration of life and love despite the coming battle and inevitable loss. Two other things stood out as wonderful inclusions to the story - Kreacher's change in attitude towards Harry and the Potter house as a memorial. While different in context, each impacted Harry in a positive way before he had to face the inevitable.

Onto the epilogue. This is the major disagreement between Potter fans. I'm actually completely neutral about it. I love it because it gives us a decently satisfying glance into the characters futures. I dislike it because it's so, well, final. It wraps up entire series in a way that says "and they lived happily ever after," leaving absolutely no room for more books. And of course, I want more books. But I also understand that dragging the story out further would most likely devalue the entire series. I guess, what I really just want to know is what did they all decide to do when they grew up? After all that talk about their possible future careers over the course of the series, couldn't I just know that?

Of course, tell me that and I'll just think of one last thing I need to know. Again and again. It's so very hard to say goodbye to this wonderful world.

Rating

Links

J.K. Rowling's
Website