harry potter the deathly hallows

I do enjoy this ending to the series despite that it drags in the middle before Ron leaves. I guess it gives a good sense of what it was like for the trio, dragging and feeling like their mission isn't going anywhere, but I very much doubt that was Rowling's actual vision.

I think the items I appreciate the most in this novel are about character flaws: we finally get to see that Dumbledore has made big mistakes, that he isn't all good, but in reflection and recognition he's taken steps to make sure he cannot give in to his cravings for power; and, we get to see that Snape has been working against Voldemort as Dumbledore always professed, and we learn why. That said, this doesn't make Snape a noble character either. While he is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Harry because of his love of Lilly, his bitterness toward James prevents him from actually caring for Harry, plus he's a bully to kids, wielding power toward students like the worst teachers.

I always tear up during the final battle. Something about everyone finally coming together to fight against evil pulls at my heart strings. I love that chapter.

Started: 4/19/20; read with Harry Potter & the Sacred Text podcast;

If I'd felt let down by Half-Blood Prince, I positively hated Deathly Hallows on an initial read. I even read it a few months later, and though I enjoyed it more, I still held to my original attitude. It was a movie script in novel form.

Yet, having red it afresh, I find myself full of admiration for the style and tone, the completion of the series and the powerful threads of friendship and loyalty that run through the work. I honestly thoughd I'd be able to sit down and properly examine these books, to really get into my reactions to them. This worked for Philosopher's Stone, but then each work pulled me further and further in so that I was captivated all over again and catapulted through them with all the voracity of someone new to them.

So I've loved it, but have been foiled in my attempt to sit down with the books on an equal, level playing field and truly think about them objectively, without getting swept up in them to the point where I just wanted the story.

When next, then? It's been six and a half years since Deathly Hallows was published, and precisely 12 years, 2 weeks and 3 days since I first started on my journey into Harry Potter (and I came to the party four years late, too). I imagine that the next complete outing will be when my daughter is old enough to take them. We're still under three and grasping with the concepts of pronouns. But in time, it'll come and, unless I get an overwhelming Harry feeling before that I see my next outing of this magnificent series being in young company. Of course, they are now on Goodreads, which was also part of my intent when rereading them. If, and I can't see why I wouldn't be, I am still reading and reviewing here, I'll add comments to my reviews as I reread. Thank you for your accompaniment on my Potter journey.