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The Potterdammerung
Yes, I have survived it, mostly by staying in the wilds of Maine last week.
I bought my copy from Bookstacks in Bucksport, where you would be fairly lucky to see one other patron at any given time, let alone roving packs of trolls shouting spoilers through megaphones. (They do have a rather large cat, but Leo is more inclined to sleep in the window.) Andy charges cover price, more than a bigbox store with a discount scheme, but it was well worth it to avoid any madness (and to support the store and the kitty.) Against his wishes, he had to hold a midnight release party, and he said that he had sixty people in the store. Bookstacks isn't much larger than, say, a mobile home, so the place must have been bursting. I went at about 10 AM: sleep is more important.
It was breezy and somewhat chilly on Saturday, so I spent the day stretched out on a chaise, reading HP by the lake. My husband interrupted every couple hours to ask "NOW what happened?" By cocktail hour, it was all over. End of an era.
SPOILERS UNDER CUT, DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.
The short version - Harry Potter: Like Jesus, In A Way.
I won't stay that JKR is one of my more cherished authors, but she does write an engaging yarn, and the book kept me turning pages. Of course, one impetus for moving along briskly was a constant fear of who was going to get offed next, and whether it would be someone I really cared about. It was VERY sad when Hedwig got cursed! :(
As with any book, there were weak spots - Harry spent a lot of time being moody and grouchy, and their reactions to wearing the Horcrux locket made me think too much of the One Ring. The subplot with Lupin and Tonks and the baby was nice (sad in the end) but didn't add much to the narrative; likewise with the wedding. The Deathly Hallows, and the Invisibility Cloak's relation thereto, felt retconned, since there wasn't a whisper about them in any other book. I also had some trouble working out the Musical Wands situation. Remus and Tonks' deaths were surprisingly "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" for such major characters.
But, there was plenty of good stuff. Neville coming into his own made me stand up and cheer. He and Luna would make such a delightfully daffy couple. The Malfoys' desperate play against Voldemort was an interesting touch - Draco didn't sell out the trio, nor did Narcissa betray Harry's resurrection. Bellatrix was a complete lunatic, and given Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal in OotP, this should be great fun in the eventual movie. Also, Molly Weasley kicking ass was awesome. (randomly, some folks were apparently complaining that Hermione washed Ron's underwear and that this was demeaning to women. People have no sense of humor, honestly.)
The book did confirm my pet theory that Harry was the seventh Horcrux, and that he would have to die. I admit I did not expect to see him come back to life - I thought maybe Neville would have been the one to do in Voldemort - but, archetypally speaking, David has to be the one to slay Goliath, I suppose. Not that I expected otherwise, but it was a little disappointing to see the last book also conform to the formula of "Harry has a quest, Harry gets in trouble, Harry resolves most/all of trouble, and Dumbledore explains it all" of the other six. Then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm divided on the Snape issue. I did like that JKR kept it hanging until the very last moment where his loyalties lay, though he must have been carrying one enormous torch for Lily Potter. Then again, Lily was Snape's childhood love, so that does tend to make a big impression. It's also surprising that she deconstructed James Potter so much; based on the last two books, he seemed to be an unlikable asshole. Maybe the idea was that Lily straightened him out.
The coda at the end with all the kidlets was sweet, and I did like it, even if it felt pastede on yey. I would not be at all surprised if JKR had written it to make her intentions plain on who was going to be ending up with whom, wrapping everything up with a bow and a gift tag, thank you very much. Maybe it was her way of saying, "Guys, I've let you play in my sandbox and I've been very nice about it, but this is it."
All in all, a good read, entertaining and fun. It's been a great ride. Now I am going to look forward to the next entry in the Temeraire series, and I will try not to concentrate on how shitty the movie adaptation of "The Dark is Rising" looks.
I bought my copy from Bookstacks in Bucksport, where you would be fairly lucky to see one other patron at any given time, let alone roving packs of trolls shouting spoilers through megaphones. (They do have a rather large cat, but Leo is more inclined to sleep in the window.) Andy charges cover price, more than a bigbox store with a discount scheme, but it was well worth it to avoid any madness (and to support the store and the kitty.) Against his wishes, he had to hold a midnight release party, and he said that he had sixty people in the store. Bookstacks isn't much larger than, say, a mobile home, so the place must have been bursting. I went at about 10 AM: sleep is more important.
It was breezy and somewhat chilly on Saturday, so I spent the day stretched out on a chaise, reading HP by the lake. My husband interrupted every couple hours to ask "NOW what happened?" By cocktail hour, it was all over. End of an era.
SPOILERS UNDER CUT, DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.
The short version - Harry Potter: Like Jesus, In A Way.
I won't stay that JKR is one of my more cherished authors, but she does write an engaging yarn, and the book kept me turning pages. Of course, one impetus for moving along briskly was a constant fear of who was going to get offed next, and whether it would be someone I really cared about. It was VERY sad when Hedwig got cursed! :(
As with any book, there were weak spots - Harry spent a lot of time being moody and grouchy, and their reactions to wearing the Horcrux locket made me think too much of the One Ring. The subplot with Lupin and Tonks and the baby was nice (sad in the end) but didn't add much to the narrative; likewise with the wedding. The Deathly Hallows, and the Invisibility Cloak's relation thereto, felt retconned, since there wasn't a whisper about them in any other book. I also had some trouble working out the Musical Wands situation. Remus and Tonks' deaths were surprisingly "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" for such major characters.
But, there was plenty of good stuff. Neville coming into his own made me stand up and cheer. He and Luna would make such a delightfully daffy couple. The Malfoys' desperate play against Voldemort was an interesting touch - Draco didn't sell out the trio, nor did Narcissa betray Harry's resurrection. Bellatrix was a complete lunatic, and given Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal in OotP, this should be great fun in the eventual movie. Also, Molly Weasley kicking ass was awesome. (randomly, some folks were apparently complaining that Hermione washed Ron's underwear and that this was demeaning to women. People have no sense of humor, honestly.)
The book did confirm my pet theory that Harry was the seventh Horcrux, and that he would have to die. I admit I did not expect to see him come back to life - I thought maybe Neville would have been the one to do in Voldemort - but, archetypally speaking, David has to be the one to slay Goliath, I suppose. Not that I expected otherwise, but it was a little disappointing to see the last book also conform to the formula of "Harry has a quest, Harry gets in trouble, Harry resolves most/all of trouble, and Dumbledore explains it all" of the other six. Then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm divided on the Snape issue. I did like that JKR kept it hanging until the very last moment where his loyalties lay, though he must have been carrying one enormous torch for Lily Potter. Then again, Lily was Snape's childhood love, so that does tend to make a big impression. It's also surprising that she deconstructed James Potter so much; based on the last two books, he seemed to be an unlikable asshole. Maybe the idea was that Lily straightened him out.
The coda at the end with all the kidlets was sweet, and I did like it, even if it felt pastede on yey. I would not be at all surprised if JKR had written it to make her intentions plain on who was going to be ending up with whom, wrapping everything up with a bow and a gift tag, thank you very much. Maybe it was her way of saying, "Guys, I've let you play in my sandbox and I've been very nice about it, but this is it."
All in all, a good read, entertaining and fun. It's been a great ride. Now I am going to look forward to the next entry in the Temeraire series, and I will try not to concentrate on how shitty the movie adaptation of "The Dark is Rising" looks.
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I hadn't seen the bit about people complaining about Hermione washing Ron's underwear, but that's silly. That scene is meant for the humor: Hermione is totally practical - she's been assigned the chore of the wash, and she's completing it, and naturally the underwear is part of the wash - while Ron is totally mortified. It's yet another amusing contrast for their characters.
Perhaps I missed it, but have we yet seen any reason to actually like James Potter, other than him being on the right side in the previous Voldemort war?
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I get the impression that James Potter was popular and something of a golden boy, but that doesn't mean he didn't have an unlikable side.
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I just had this image of Hermione bent over a tub washing Ron's underwear ala Mary Jane Watson, in the whole Spider-Man debacle a couple months back.
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Well if their married life is anything like their school life, he tried to wash the clothes before, but turned everything orange and brought it to life, and Hermione came home, said, "Oh, Ronald," and rescued him before it ate him and the family owl. So now he sticks to making dinner and packing lunches, due to Molly Weasley-approved years of training.
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I like your interpretation of the epilogue. From what I've been hearing, it hasn't gone over very well with some people (myself included), but then, it's not our book. JKR is entitled to end it however she sees fit and to tell us to bugger off if she wants too. ^^
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I dunno if I agree with the James bit. I do, if you a) take Harry's assumption that "We are 17, we are full grown adults and know right from wrong 100%", b) take one person's biased opinion of him as fact, and c) believe the people we are or knew as young adults were solidified. I knew some bad people in HS, but I wasn't perfect myself, so I am willing to give James, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and Snape leeway. Until they are creepy stalkers. :D
I don't think James was either a saint or a sinner. My reading of the book was, Harry built his parents up, understandably, and they turned into real people.
Lupin and Tonks happened so fast and furious, it barely hit me. I think I sniffled for a moment about Remus, then Colin died and I lost it.