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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DAisym on July 22, 2007, at 21:09:59
I am sad today. I am sad that the wait is over and the books are done. I am sad that friends I've watched grow up are faded into the pages and some have even died there. I did not have fun reading this book. I read it with dread, like watching a car wreck that you can't turn away from. I wanted to know how it all turned out. But there was too much death - too much. And heroes were made human -- why couldn't the really good guy remain the really good guy? - it was a story after all. Was it essential for us to see that he wasn't perfect? I liked him wise and perfect.
Is it silly, this grief? They were never really alive - just characters who charmed me or who intrigued me. But my grief feels real - I feel bruised and tired. And I have to say it, some of the deaths were so unnecessary. They weren't gallant or even well written. They were an after thought - it felt callous and cruel -- like a footnote somehow. I'm hoping they get their own story at a later date. I'm hoping there were chapters that were edited away and those will appear at some point, to say why and how they died.
I liked the book overall. I predicted lots of it and I was impressed with some of the twists. She let Molly cuss. That was cool. And, I think when I reread it, without the anxiety, I might like it better.
Wow - look at me. I feel like I felt when I read Little Women the first time and Beth died. :( Good thing I'm already in therapy.
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2007, at 19:01:55
In reply to I finished Harry Potter - minor spoiler, posted by DAisym on July 22, 2007, at 21:09:59
I think my favorite was book 4. Someone died, but no one I knew that well, and it seemed to balance depth and darkness just right for my taste.
I knew I wouldn't like 7 as much as the others with Dumbledore being gone. But I too guessed at least two things (and my only prediction was correct).
I'm not sure yet how I feel about the book as a whole. You're right about the deaths. Unlike the other books, the deaths seemed much more unremarked this time. And I thought that it got a bit slow while the characters were doing some personal growth. Although the explanations and information that came out was interesting.
I didn't really think she tarnished the hero overmuch. I never thought the hero was always who he was now, and I'm not sure he could have become who he became if he had always been perfect. It takes a lot of suffering and painful learning to gain *that* much wisdom. And imperfect as he might have been, even at the end perhaps, he was still who he was, and who I always thought he was. Nothing touched that.
I wish the epilogue had been more explicit about what happened to everyone. It still leaves me guessing a lot. :)
(Although Lemony Snicket's final book was far far more open ended, since as he explained, the end of one person's story is the beginning of another's and the middle of yet another's, so that there is really no end at all. Although he explained it far better of course.)
Posted by DAisym on July 25, 2007, at 19:56:49
In reply to Re: I finished Harry Potter - minor spoiler » DAisym, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2007, at 19:01:55
Are we talking about the same hero? For me it was Dumbledore.
and I still feel sad but that might be much more this week then the book. :(
Posted by Dinah on July 25, 2007, at 20:02:46
In reply to Re: I finished Harry Potter - minor spoiler, posted by DAisym on July 25, 2007, at 19:56:49
Of course Dumbledore! :) Who else was there?
My bias is showing.
I'm sorry you're having a hard week. :(
Posted by TexasChic on July 29, 2007, at 0:41:15
In reply to Re: I finished Harry Potter - minor spoiler, posted by Dinah on July 25, 2007, at 20:02:46
~~~Major spoilers! I'm going to talk about what happened in the last book!~~~
I actually felt a little let down with the deaths. I know that sounds awful, but J.K. Rowling said two major character were going to die, and everyone suspected at least one would be Harry, Ron or Hermione. I was also afraid for Ginny, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Hagrid, and Neville. They've been in all the books and are what I consider major characters. Of course, I guess Snape falls into that category too, but the others would have had much more of an impact if they had died. Not that I wanted it that way! I was very happy with Harry & Ginny, and Ron & Hermione together at the end. And their kids are all cousins! It was sweet.
Oh, and the way Snape was shown as good at the end! That was very cool. Poor Snape. And they saved Draco! I was very happy about that. And Kreacher! He redeemed himself in the end too. I cried when the House-elves came out fighting. (Actually I cried through a whole lot of it!)
I also loved the way Neville's Grandmother was so proud of him, when she asked Harry where he was and he responded Neville was off fighting, she said proudly, "Of course he is".
I also liked the unexpected twist of Harry being willing to die was what saved him from death.
All in all, I thought it was fantastic. I'm very glad I started the series and followed it through to the end. Now I'm ready for the sequel and prequel!
-T
Posted by DAisym on July 30, 2007, at 0:25:33
In reply to Bought it yesterday, finished today - Spoilers!!!!, posted by TexasChic on July 29, 2007, at 0:41:15
I just felt that some of the deaths were meaningless - why just announce that such and so were dead? What purpose did that serve?
I liked that acceptance saved him too. And that Neville had a hand in it at the very end, as he was nearly The Chosen One. That was great.
I do hope she writes a sequel but she says she won't. We'll see. Maybe we should volunteer? It can be a Babble writing fest. :)
Posted by TexasChic on July 30, 2007, at 21:06:47
In reply to Re: Bought it yesterday, finished today - Spoilers!!!! » TexasChic, posted by DAisym on July 30, 2007, at 0:25:33
> I just felt that some of the deaths were meaningless - why just announce that such and so were dead? What purpose did that serve?
I read that J.K. Rowling wanted Lupin and Tonk's death and their baby being an orphaned to reflect Harry's early beginnings. It might have been better if she had actually written out the scene of how they died. I had a feeling though, when Tonks showed up and left the baby with her parents, it seemed to foreshadow something about the both of them dying.
> I liked that acceptance saved him too. And that Neville had a hand in it at the very end, as he was nearly The Chosen One. That was great.Yeah, everyone loves Neville. He's the dork we all have inside, overcoming everything and becoming greatness. What's not to like.
> I do hope she writes a sequel but she says she won't. We'll see. Maybe we should volunteer? It can be a Babble writing fest. :)
I read she is going to write a Harry Potter encyclopedia which will tell what becomes of the characters. That's the way I understood it anyway. I still think a prequal is in order, although much of that was explained in this last book. But wouldn't you like to see how Tom Riddle became Voldemort, how Lily and James got together, and Dumbledore's whole history? I know I would.
-T
P.S. Didn't you love the part where right in the middle of all of it, Ron mentioned saving the house-elves and Hermione just went and laid one on him? And Harry going, "Is this really the time???" I laughed so hard at that!
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