Pajiba

Great review, and I fully concur.

My love for Potter makes sense now that I consider I grew up loving the Narnia and Dark is Rising series, I guess, though I'd have to say Rowling's books trump them both.

I loved the series, and I think your review was spot on. Harold Bloom can kiss my ass; Rowling delved into the trove of English literary tradition and came up with one part Boy's Adventure story, one part bildungsroman, and one part fantasy epic. Her writing style isn't the best in modern history, neither was Tolstoy's, if you ask me. Both, however, share a genius for structure, and to me, the Potter books are like a classical symphony - a central theme is established at the outset, and the rest of the series continued to return to, then elaborate upon and delve deeper into, that theme, until we reach a well deserved climax and resolution that resonant with every thing that's happened from the word "go." That kind of disciplined writing ain't easy, and it pains me to see "sophisticated" critics pan a popular books that has not only psychological depth (for all you modernists) but all thematic depth as well (for all you romantics in the crowd). The Potter books represent the only works of fiction I've squeezed into my busy reading schedule in the last two years, and I'm not at all sorry to have made the exception. You've got nothing to apologize for, Phillip, for getting sucked in with the rest of us. We should be so lucky as to get sucked into something like this again soon.

and... a comment full of typos. Sigh.

Woo hoo Landon! As a literature major, I have an especial dislike for Harold Bloom, or "the great phallus" as one of my profs refers to him. HP is indeed something to be glad to have gotten sucked into.

"The Prince's Tale" was my favorite chapter, as it revealed to Harry--and us the readers--the truth that had cemented the entire series (I won't give anything away for those who have not yet finished).

I have one more series for your list, though perhaps more inauspicious: Madeline L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time books.

The conclusion of the series was a painful experience for me. Having grown up with the books -- and having their conclusion fall squarely between my high school graduation and my 18th birthday -- I feel as though there's somewhat of an empty hole where the mystery that is Harry Potter should go. That being said, I feel like JK Rowling wrapped up the series admirably. It was, at least, a satisfying ending. Hey, Dumbledore got a flaw, which endeared me to him even more!

PS: for your list, try the "Sabriel" series. I recommend trying it out.

True, there were promised answers that never came, but there were enough both gut-wrenching and expository scenes to make up for it, at least temporarily, to a die-hard fan.

Interestingly, though, I did not find the ending convoluted. Yeah, the pairing off was a bit... blah... but I, personally, would have imagined those couples living happily ever after anyway. I wish it would have given more information on more characters (see: Weasley, George and Lovegood, Luna), but overall, I approved. The epilogue was written with the first chapters of the first book, so it has the lighthearted feeling of Harry's youth, rather than the more "adult" feeling the books had grown into. And the flash to the future gave assurance that Voldemort wasn't going to come back... AGAIN. It was a lesson that rings of the poems at the beginning, to give the children hope -- that's what Harry does for (son) Albus at the end.
Most importantly, it brought the series full circle.

While I enjoy Harry Potter, I've always felt J.K. Rowling's manner of writing to be a bit...modest, to say the least. She's better than Dan Brown (okay, that's not a very good example. He's pretty much the worst), but I've always had the opinion that she could have written the series much better. To my surprise, though, I think she redeemed herself a bit in the last book - especially in the last couple of chapters. I really liked those.

In terms of the list, I've nothing to add on but one ongoing series. It's the one series that I can honestly say changed my entire perspective on Fantasy writing - on writing in general.

It's called "A Song of Ice and Fire" (Yes, I know, quotations are for short stories and non-published stuff, chill), and it's AMAZING. I used to think David Eddings was true epic fantasy, and I even gave J.K. Rowling that privilege for a while, but after reading George R.R. Martin's novels, I was floored and forever changed. I can't stress enough just how good they were. I'm a huge dork...

Anyway, the books are long, but they are worth it. Give them a read - you're bound to like them.

re: other series to check out, Garth Nix's The Seventh Tower series is perhaps even more enjoyable than his Keys to the Kingdom.

I loved the HP series. Definitely not perfect, but it pulls you in with great characterization.

SPOILERS, SPOILERS, SPOILERS:

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What happened to Snape breaks my heart (and I wish JKR would have put more of him in the book). I was not fond of the last chapter. Too Hollywood/Disney happily ever after ending for me.

Bonnie- word on Wrinkle in Time. I absolutely loved those books.

I think the critic for Time said that the great thing about HP is that these books made us "lose our cool." It's impossible to maintain the kind of cynical, hipster-ironic detachment that characterises so much of our society today when faced with something like Harry Potter. I definately wasn't cool while reading the seventh- I cried like a tiny baby more often than I care to admit.

Dead on review, Phillup. It's something about this book and series, as a whole, that makes you love it even the parts that you're not a fan of.

Not quite sure how the "PS" ended in the middle. But, umm, to make this NOT a useless comment, let me second bonnie's vote for "A Wrinkle In Time."

Fuck all this - Rowling owes me at least a sentence stating that George kept the damn Weasley Wheezes business going.

Right On! I love HP and I am filled with such an incredible amount of bittersweet feelings for the series. I'm glad that it's over and I know the conclusion, but I'm sad that it's over too. I've been reading HP since I was 15 and it's been a huge part of my life.

Phillip, could you elaborate on the two times that: "Rowling stumble in an effort to tie up all loose ends"?

lovely review-i could only revel in rowling's ability to both satisfy and surprise me. if only it weren't for that dreadful epilogue, in which nothing surprised and all we learned were a long string of children's names...

I loved this book, and I fully intend to re-read the entire series from the beginning...this time paying attention to the little things, since so many seemingly insignificant details mattered so greatly in the end. I plan on reading these books with my future children (as corny as that may sound). I am proud to say that, at age 29, my imagination is still intact, and I hope that someday I will be able to instill the importance of preserving one's imagination in my children's minds and hearts. A healthy imagination and willingness to depart from reality from time to time is the only thing that keeps me sane - and smiling - these days.

I've been reading the books since I was in the 7th grade and I'm happy with the ending. I'm sad too, because of all the speculation that's been put to rest, but she left enough in the air that there will always be something to wonder about. My favorite parts were some of the smallest details (the Ravenclaw tower door, for one) but the larger story didn't disappoint either.

I do have to admire JK Rowling overall. She was a single mother living on the dole who managed to become one of the wealthiest people on earth and spark a literary movement that united people around the world from her intellectual property alone. She's a fantastic role model for girls, and she wrote all her female characters as well rounded and strong people. So, the feminist in me loves the books for that reason as well.

"The epilogue was written with the first chapters of the first book, so it has the lighthearted feeling of Harry's youth, rather than the more "adult" feeling the books had grown into."

Now THAT is interesting...and very revealing.

Thannks for taking away that huge sense of guilt that I have for obsessing over these books. I am tired of defending my adulthood when I confess my love for them.

Gotta say that "The Prince's Tale" not only broke my heart but has had me kind of devastated all morning (I just finished reading last night). Even though what was revealed there has been theorized, to see it played out, especially post mortem, was wrenching.

I was actually suprised that there weren't more "major" deaths in the book. Also a little disappointed in no wrap up for our beloved second tier characters but I understand that JKR is thinking of writing an encyclopedia that should wrap up their stories nicely.

What am I going to nerd about now?

Another great fantasy/adventure series is Redwall by Brian Jacques.

Let's not forget credit to badassness that is Mrs. Weasley. The Harry Potter books have the best female characters who are all different but all very strong at the same time.

I do not disagree with the epilogue. Something needed to be done to let it be known that Harry Potter's saga was at an end. I do wish you could have found out more about the other characters and I am curious as to who Victorie is...but what can you do. It wouldn't be Harry Potter without some questions

The epilogue can suck my balls. Should've ended with the last real chapter.

It didn't hit me until later, a few hours after I'd finished, that Snape's last request was to see Harry's (and so, Lily's) eyes. Between that and Dobby, there wasn't a dry eye in my (one-person) apartment.

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My one issue with the ending was that Harry and Ginny named their son Albus Severus. Even though Snape turned out to be good, he still CRAPPED on Harry repeatedly and only protected him because of Lily. I don't see Harry abandoning his fierce loyalty to his dad and naming his son after the man who coveted his mother. AND, let's remember that Snape still called Lily a Mudblood and felt self-righteous for loving her 'anyway.' And though Harry calls him a 'great head master,' he really wasn't, as he allowed students to be tortured.

Soapbox over.

I thought that Victorie might be the daughter of Bill and Fleur. Since she was part of the family.

We can assume that Victoire is the daughter of Bill Weasley and Fleur.

I still can't believe Percy lived. The prat deserved to die. And Neville needed to be the one to kill Bellatrix, with her own wand. But other than that, what a great finale.

LOVED it. My husband and I are among the "uncool" that could not wait for each book to be revealed. We had to buy two copies of Hallows because we knew that neither would be able to wait for the other to finish. Sad that it's over, but a satisfying end to it all. Now I get the joy of reading them to my children and living it all over again. (We've also read to them the Narnia Chronicles.) How I loved A Wrinkle in Time, one of my childhood favorites. No wonder I was sucked into the wizarding world of HP.

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Responding to a few comments -

I saw somewhere that Victoire might be the offspring of Bill and Fleur. Would make sense given the comment about Teddy becoming part of the family.

RE: the name Albus Severus - Snape saved Harry. Yeah, he had his own reasons, but he still saved Harry. And as far as treating him like shit, how would you feel if the only reminder of the love of your life was also the reason she died and, oh yeah, he happens to be the spawn of your high school nemesis. In the words of Chris Rock, I don't condone it, but I understand.

My boss is a few books behind, and yesterday asked me what I thought of the last one. I didn't want to inadvertantly reveal anything, but I felt confident in saying "I was completely satisfied with it." And that's true. I didn't want or need anything else, I thought it was pitch perfect.

Frankly, I can count on one hand the pieces of literature that left me feeling that way.

Great review, Phillip. I've been reading Harry since I was 13 (when the first book became popular) and I loved having the journey wrapped up in such a satisfying way. I second Victor big time on the Ice and Fire books- fantastically written, in a way that recalls Guy Kay's historical fantasy epics. I'm feeling a bit of a parallel between Ice & Fire and Harry Potter in terms of the time between book releases - when are we going to see the next one?

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@Kristina:

I was highly suspect of the Potter children naming scheme. It confirms that Harry is a dick and didn't let Ginny have any say in the names. "They'll be named after my parents and Dumbledore." "But what about my family. Fred would be a nice name..." "NO! Albus Severus! I want other children to beat him up!"

And what the hell was up with Malfoy's kid? After a family tree of Death Eaters that includes sinister names like Draco, Lucius, Narcissa, and Bellatrix, his family gets kind of redeemed and he names his kid SCORPIUS? That kid is just going to have to be evil.

I assumed that Victoire was the daughter of Bill and Fleur. Harry's son James says that she is his cousin, and since Harry is an only child, it must mean Victoire is one of Ginny's brothers' children; plus, Fleur is French and Victoire is a French name.

**Semi-Spoiler**

And as far as Harry naming his kid "Albus Severus"...I think that it's supposed to show how Harry is set apart from people like Snape and Voldemort, in that he doesn't feel the need to spend his life seeking vengeance on others. It's maybe a little unrealistic to think that Harry would name someone after Snape (I was surprised that there wasn't anyone running around named after Fred) but "The Prince's Tale" did a marvelous job of redeeming Snape as a sympathetic character, and ultimately one that Harry could relate to: a lonely child, unwanted, with gifts that make him seem freakish to other people. It was something that Harry could do so that Snape, still all alone as he died, would be remembered, and be remembered as a better person that most people would think.

I assumed that Victoire was not just Bill and Fleur's child, but named as a subtle hint at the date of her own conception.

shyestviolet!!! YOU are a genius. I did not get the whole looking into Harry/Lily's eyes at the last moment--totally missed the import there. Now I'm all weepy on the inside.

Another vote for the "A Wrinkle in Time" trilogy which is still the best children's fantasy ever written. I love those characters in a way I can't love the Potter gang. They're like family.

Can I just say, I think it's sort of ridiculous to have a review of the Harry Potter book and then not discuss any of the specific plot points or to need to put spoiler warnings in the comments. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read any of my comment.

I need to read this book again, because I loved it at first -- and then I read the epilogue and it soured the whole thing for me. I understand that JK Rowling probably kept it mostly intact for sentimental reasons, but you'd think she'd look at it and go, Damn, I was a shitty writer back then!

I also thought the backstory on Dumbledore was pretty unnecessary and random -- there's NO way that wouldn't have been hinted at at ALL in all the years the Ministry was trying to discredit him. I would have been okay with either the sister or Grindelwald, but not both. I also felt the same way about the Hallows. They ended up being totally useless, which I get was the point, but didn't we have enough on our plates with four macguffins -- I mean, Horcruxes? The Lord of the Rings only took on one magical object in three books, why did JK Rowling feel the need to do so many more?

I second the recommendations for Garth Nix's Abhorsen series, as well as A Wrinkle in Time. I think both of those are better.

shyestviolet : "It didn't hit me until later, a few hours after I'd finished, that Snape's last request was to see Harry's (and so, Lily's) eyes. Between that and Dobby, there wasn't a dry eye in my (one-person) apartment."

Whoa- I'm feeling stupid as hell because I didn't even realize this, and after all this talk of how Harry's eyes were so important!!! Was there a specific part that which clarified this?

I should also say that I LOVED the book up until the Hallows started featuring so prominently. Kingley Shacklebolt's Patronus at the wedding gave me chills, as did Godric's Hollow.

There's been a lot of bitching about the epilogue (here and elsewhere) and while I didn't enjoy it much (too damn Disney), I fully understand why it was there. Rowling is done with the series. I suspect it's there for her sanity much more than for the fans' appreciation of knowing what happens. Although I cannot for the life of me understand what Harry is supposed to be doing for a living. He, if anyone, should teach DADA.

The "A Wrinkle in Time" series is great, and I will put in a second vote for "A Song of Fire and Ice" as well. I'm finishing the last book, and am frowning at the lack of any reports on the next book's release. I'm glad that the next series I'll be starting (Harry Potter) is at least finished.

Loved it, read it in record time. I will now re-read it, though, because I was reading so fast (I needed to know what happened next!!) that I am sure I missed many of the lovely details.

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I was completely wrecked about Dobby. :-(

I loved it, I really don't have any complaints. The epilogue was sort of necessary, showing you that Voldemort was truly defeated, and Harry's forgiveness of Snape.

I also give A Song of Ice and Fire my highest possible recommendation! It is definitely an adult's book though, not a read for children. There are 4 novels in the series so far, with book 5 probably coming out late 2008.

I don't recall Snape allowing for students to be tortured when he was Headmaster. The only thing I remember was that his punishment for Ginny, Luna, and Neville was to send them to the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid, and even Harry laughed at that.

No mention of the cyptic "People gonna die!" poems in the forward. Yeesh.

I have to say that what touches me deepest about the whole thing is that people are reading. The relevance of seven year old american children waiting wth bated breath to devour 800 page tomes cannot escape us. Harry's a sterotypical hero, of course, but Jo herself is my personal one.

I liked the book right up until the epilogue. There were a few plot points that seemed unnecessary and a few that weren't explained to my satisfaction, but oh, well. Then I got to the epilogue, and it kind of ruined it for me. It wasn't what was written in the epilogue--I love happy endings--but how it was done.

One of my favorite things about Rowling is that she creates wonderful book excerpts and newspaper articles to back up the story--couldn't she have done that instead of dropping the sappiness on us? It didn't really feel like an ending at all.

I loved the Redwall books, and it felt like Rowling was trying to do what Jacques does, but in a very awkward way.

Also, on the fluffier, yet way scarier, side of kid's magical fantasy is John Bellairs--"The House With a Clock in its Walls" is one I've read probably ten times since I was a tyke, and it's still amazing.

I'll echo the "Song of Ice & Fire" (by George R.R. Martin) series recommendations. Greatest fantasy series (thus far, since it is not completed) I've ever read.

Wait...I read it so fast, I must have missed this. When did Snape say he wanted to see Harry's/Lily's eyes?

Also, and this is just nit-picking, but the thing that bugged me most (besides the completely unnecessary epilogue--for goodness' sake, did it really need to be spelled out for us that Harry would marry Ginny and Ron would marry Hermione and that their kids would go to Hogwarts? Sheesh) was the disappearance of the basalisk fangs. They make a big deal of going to get them, and that it was Ron's idea, and then they drop them, and pick them up, armfuls of them, and then...what? Where the hell did they go? It's a minor point, but I jsut kept waiting for them to be used (Ron's one good idea), and they never came back. It was in the back of my mind the whole time Harry and Voldemort were fighting.

Still, though, the blemish of the missing basilisk fangs is nothing compared to the blight of the epilogue. I'll have to read the book again and skip the epilogue, and imagine my own fairy tale ending. I'm sure it will be better, and it will definitely feature Harry and Ginny's twins, Fred and Fredericka.

Wait...I read it so fast, I must have missed this. When did Snape say he wanted to see Harry's/Lily's eyes?

Also, and this is just nit-picking, but the thing that bugged me most (besides the completely unnecessary epilogue--for goodness' sake, did it really need to be spelled out for us that Harry would marry Ginny and Ron would marry Hermione and that their kids would go to Hogwarts? Sheesh) was the disappearance of the basalisk fangs. They make a big deal of going to get them, and that it was Ron's idea, and then they drop them, and pick them up, armfuls of them, and then...what? Where the hell did they go? It's a minor point, but I jsut kept waiting for them to be used (Ron's one good idea), and they never came back. It was in the back of my mind the whole time Harry and Voldemort were fighting.

Still, though, the blemish of the missing basilisk fangs is nothing compared to the blight of the epilogue. I'll have to read the book again and skip the epilogue, and imagine my own fairy tale ending. I'm sure it will be better, and it will definitely feature Harry and Ginny's twins, Fred and Fredericka.

To all the people who recommended A Song of Ice and Fire - I fully concur, but I think Philip was recommending children's fantasy series, and I would definately not recommend ASOIAF to children.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Oh, god... every time I start talking about this, I get super emotional. There's a bunch of people my age, from around 17 to 19, who literally grew up with Harry Potter. I started reading Sorcerer's Stone at 9, and now at 18, it's over. It coincides with a lot of endings in my life, and it takes one of the few constants I've had over the years away from me-- the anticipation of the next book.

The way I've been explaining it to people is that I'm still Angry CAPSLOCK Harry, and I have to become the zen-like Harry. It's hard, but I know a lot of people going through it. We're always going to remember being 'The Potter Kids,' and it's going to be one of the things that defines us when we look back.

That said... what a way to go! Snape absolutely broke my heart, when he looked into Harry's eyes. The realization that he was 'that awful boy' Petunia talked about in an earlier book (the first?) hit really hard. I still think that the worst death was Fred... poor George, having to go on without his twin.

I'm babbling now, but... seriously, this book was everything I could have asked for.

I'm glad everyone else in the world thinks the epilogue is a copout, but I guess I'd be more pissed if there wasn't one. I just really wanted to know what happened to Luna! And well, everyone else. But her especially.

And I totally didn't get that about the meaning of Victoire's name until I saw Lee's comment. D'oh!

PROBABLY SPOILERS:

I liked the epilogue. So many things in Harry's life were horrible and went completely wrong, I was happy that he had sort of a snow globe perfect ending.

The children's names:
Considering that Harry was without family for so long and Ginny grew up with a lovely one, I don't think she would put up a big stink about naming their kids after important people in Harry's life. Ginny was never a push over so I would imagine that they talked about the names and agreed on them. The youngest boys middle name made sense to me too. Snape ultimately lived his adult life to protect Harry out of love for his mother. A love so strong that he protected her kid from another man, a kid that he absolutely did not like.

Long-time reader, and this review & subsequent comments have encouraged me to de-lurk.

In terms of post-Potter reading, I recommend Stephen Erikson's series, The Malazan Books of the Fallen; there's absolutely no shame in getting sucked into this series. First volume is called Gardens of the Moon, and the series is worthy of every praise offered to Rowling in this review: the depth of world-building, the intricate strata of plots (mystery, humour, epic, and so on).

Spoilers (obviously)

Harry having inherited Lily's green eyes was a recurring item in most, if not all, of the books. It's not specifically mentioned that Snape wants to see Lily's eyes again, but it's apparent by "The green eyes found the black". It's also mentioned in the epilogue that Albus was the only one of Harry's children that inherited Lily's eyes.

Re: the basilisk fangs, I am assuming they were lost in the rush to get out of the fire in Room of Hidden Things. I was more confused as to how Neville could pull Godric's sword from the Sorting Hat when the goblins took the sword back at Gringott's.

My problem was rushing through in order to find out what happens at the end. I definitely need to re-read now that I know.

Spoilers below, obviously ...

My husband and I spent all weekend reading it out loud to each other. We suffered cracked voices and wet eyes in many parts, and cheers as well (GO NEVILLE!).

I am certain Victorie was Bill & Fleur's daughter.

I second the commenter that said the epilogue was meant for finality, so we know that there won't be another book. It kind of reminded me of Jurassic Park: The Lost World, with the "King Kong" ending, hoping to trump any further sequel.

I also wish we knew more about Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione in the epilogue. I wanted Harry to be the new Headmaster, or the DADA teacher. But he and the others dropped out of school. You can't be a teacher, presumably, if you are a Hogwarts dropout.

"The Prince's Tale" TORE ME UP.

I had one serious plot question:

How did Neville get the sword from the Sorting Hat, when the last time we saw it, Griphook the Goblin was running off with it?

Just a reminder to everyone complaining about the epilogue: It's a children's story! A happily ever after ending, with everyone in comfortable, middle class, heteronormative families, is almost required. And I have to admit the child inside of me was pleased, even as the adult side rolled her eyes. Also, I would think if anyone was going to name a child Fred, it would have to be George, but for some reason he wasn't featured in the epilogue?

Spoilers:
The sword:
Oh and I assume that Neville got the sword the same way Harry did. I don't think the sword was actually in the hat. I think the hat recognized a Gryffindor in need and brought the sword magically to them from wherever it was in the first place. I think that nasty goblin got the surprise of his life when the sword disappeared from his possession.

Did anyone else listen to the audiobook? I have listened to all of them and have loved what Jim Dale did with all of the characters.

I agree that the epilogue was a bit lame but I think it was necessary for us to to meet Harry's son and see that he had forgiven Snape for all of the "minor" annoyances of school and that he had recognized what Snape had done for him.

Like some other people here, I grew up reading Harry Potter. I started at 10 and now at 18, I'm not sure what I'm gonna obsess over now.

Sigh, as much as I loved the book, the ending ruined it for me. In all of the other books, I was surprised at the ending. I don't know if it's because I spent so much time in HP fandom that I read a *lot* of theories and fanfiction, but everything that happened in the end had been so overdone in fandom. Sigh. She always said that no one had guessed the ending and by that she could only have meant the role that the Deathly Hallows (which is still unclear to me, but whatever) because everything else has been talked over and oever again since Half-Blood Prince came out.

*spoilers*

As for the epilogue, apparently it was the very first thing that Rowling wrote (though she updated it a little) and I can't believe she put that in. It's been a long time and her writing improved since then. The epilogue was just crap. -.- It was all about love and normality for Harry, but it was sappy and bad as hell. Couldn't she at least have said what the trio was doing for a living?

And Albus Severus? Really? The two people who were responsible for your horrible childhood (them and Voldemort), Harry? Do you want your kid to be beat up daily? And is James's middle name Sirius? Because he was the only father figure you ever knew. And glad to know Ginny was a part of naming the kids, dude.

With names like Sirius, Remus, Draco, Scorpius, Luna, Minerva, Hermione and so on, is "Albus Severus" really that weird? Besides, it's Harry Potter's son. No one's messing with Harry's kids.

Kaonashi:

I was referring to the Carrows torturing the students. As Headmaster, Snape let this happen.

I understand the very good points everyone is making about naming the child Albus Severus. I personally felt that it was a bit out of character for Harry, but I can deal with the idea of forgiving Snape. Fine. :)

Other unresolved things: I wonder if Draco married Pansy Parkinson? Hopefully she got her wish after years of petting him.

Did anyone else feel like the entire concept of the Deathly Hallows was a bit superfluous? It seemed like they could have just destroyed the Horcruxes, killed Voldemort, and voila! The end. It contributed to our understanding of Dumbledore, for sure, but would we have learned more about other characters if the time had not been devoted to the Hallows?

I enjoyed most of the book. I only have one issue with the book. I would have liked to have seen one more chapter before the epilogue. Perhaps to give many of the other characters some finality.
In terms of the epilogue, I would have to assume either George or Percy would be the ones to name a child Fred. Percy, because he was there with Fred when it happened. Or George for obvious reasons.
Overall, I was content with the book.

*SPOILER*

Why isn't anyone mentioning the tragic death of Hedwig!?

I had to put the book down and walk away. And this was within the first couple of chapters!

Oh yeah, now I am curious about a couple of other things. In an interview Rowling said that one character that she originally planned on killing was saved while she took two other characters instead. I'd like to find out who those were.
Additionally, the final chapter isn't exactly the one she planned. For years she said the last word in the book was 'scar'. Not so much here. Makes me curious in regards to the original ending.

I highly recommend David Eddings Belgariad series and its sequel the Mallorian saga for anyone going into fantasy withdrawal. Eddings has wonderfully drawn and developed characters and great sense of humor to lighten the heavy points.

I forgot my question! It is about how wonderful the invisibility cloak is. If no charms could get through it (blah, blah ...). How could Mad-Eye Moody see through it? Was his magical eye more magical than the cloak?

I second the vote for John Bellairs, definitely one of my favourites growing up.

To seaturtles007: I listened to the audiobook AND read the hardcover (alternating between the two because of long commutes and work), but mostly listened. I listened to the UK version of "The Half-Blood Prince" just before the US version of "The Deathly Hallows" and couldn't disagree more with Jim Dale's performance. I cringed every time Dale spoke any of the character's dialog. The way Hermione would say "Harreeeeey..." Ugh! I really enjoyed Stephen Fry's reading style, although he's a bit too slow and tends to draw things out.

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I loved the book and was mostly satisfied with its conclusion. My problems have already been echoed here; Gryffindor's sword and the schmaltzy epilogue.

But my biggest problem was the fact that, other than Dobby and Snape's deaths, no MAIN characters died. Snape was a big character, and though I would hate to see it happen, I fully expected Ron to die. I really wanted Harry and Hermione to get together down the line instead of Ginny (a character that I never, ever liked for no particular reason). Don't get me wrong, I love Harry, Ron, and Hermione; but I was just disappointed that of the three, all of them lived.

Rowling claimed before the book came out that one character that was supposed to die got a reprieve, and a non-magical person would perform magic. Anyone know who these people are? I keep hearing Hagrid was supposed to have died and got a reprieve, but I heard that was going to happen in an earlier book (5 or 6, I think). Any thoughts?

Thank you bluetara! My assumption was that of course Fred's name would be reserved for his twin's future children. I would have loved to see Neville and Luna end up together and I can't believe that Hermione isn't Minister of Magic or Headmaster of Hogwarts. I guess that JK wanted to leave her audience with a little room for imagination. But still, I loved Neville from the very beginning, I just knew that he was destined for greatness. His life mirrored Harry's in so many ways, I was kind of expecting him to become a leader in Harry's absence which is exactly what he did.

Thank you for the review. I loved the series and cherish what these books have meant to me and my family. In particular, my nephew taught himself to read at four years old so that he could read them to himself and his younger sister. At first, I thought that he had merely memorized what I had read to him but soon realized that he could read parts that I had not yet read to him. We spent the last eight years reading (and re-reading) these books to each other. We are all satisfied with the ending and the epilogue. My nephew opined that it was perhaps a bit too lighthearted given the deepening and darkening progression of the series but satisfying nonetheless. He will get a kick out of the Pajiban commenters' observation that the epilogue was written at the beginning of the series and so reflects the earlier less grave writing style. Thanks again Pajibans! As always, you all have given my nephew, niece, and me much to think about and discuss.

I loved the book.Almost everything ended the way I expected/wanted.I wondered at first about why Ron or Ginny didn't name one of their children Fred, but when you think about it they were the two youngest Weasleys and I assume that one of their older siblings probably already named a child after Fred.

Jennifer, great point about Hermoine. With all her brilliance, it would have been validating for young female readers to learn that she ended up in an important public position. [Not that being a wife and mother isn't important!] Maybe, since she did not mention Hermoine's occupation, we can dream that she became one of those things.

"It didn't hit me until later, a few hours after I'd finished, that Snape's last request was to see Harry's (and so, Lily's) eyes."

Oh *sob*! In my haste to get to the end of this book, I fear I may have missed a few of the finer details. Thanks so much for pointing that one out, I feel a little overwhelmed right now.

As for the book in general, I think it was the sweetest end she could have given. I was expecting one of the 'triumvirate' to be killed off, so was so pleased that she was kind!

"Fuck all this - Rowling owes me at least a sentence stating that George kept the damn Weasley Wheezes business going."

Good point, but in my mind, he so does.

My only quibble would be the epilogue. We spent all that time learning what the characters strengths and weaknesses were, what were the main character's vocations/avocations. Yes, reproducing is an accomplishment but what else did they do?

It was a pretty great conclusion to the series. I always liked Rowling's action scenes in the books, and was immensely disappointed that they could never transfer well to the films because they would have been good & exciting scenes in the movie (I mean come on, Ministry of Magic battle scene my ass).

The series has gotten so big that it seemed that any ending she could have chosen would have seemed cliched, yet I think she carried it off quite well enough that it proves she is a better writer than we can assume she is. These books have quite a lot of depth to them, and certainly they grow with age. And honestly, a book like that which entices and hooks children on reading has to be a great book as it seems that literacy isn't so well-valued anymore.

More books:
Anything written by Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, Zodiac)
A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeleine L'Engle
The Eyre Affair series by Jasper Fforde

The first and last selections are a bit more grown-up, by the way, but I am sure that age matters little when it comes to reading.

For people asking what character got a reprive; from what I understand Mr.Weasley was supposed to die somewhere around book 5 and didn't. I can't disagree with that, the Weasley's were Harry's surrogate family, and eventual real family. I wouldn't want to see him lose Sirius and another father figure all at the same time. As for the non-magical person who does magic, I've heard it suggested that it was actually Merope (Voldemort's mother) in Half Blood Prince, but it is still a bit of a mystery.

As for their jobs, well, everyone's only in their mid-30s at the epilogue, plenty of time for Hermione to become Minister of Magic if you ask me. Maybe Ron's a house husband and that's why he had to learn how to drive, so he could fetch groceries and the like. Also (in my head, where these things are happening) Luna and Dean got married and are traveling the world in search of Snorkacks or whatever and George married one of the other Quidditch players (Katie Bell or Angelina maybe) and named his first child after his brother, and he runs WWW with Bill. Again, all in my head, but it makes me happy to think about.

I see that many of you didn't like the epilogue and, while I understand where you are coming from, I thought it was fitting. People are complaining that JKR went back to her light and cheery writing style from the beginning of the first book (and I am intrigued to find out here that she wrote it along with those first chapters!). But why would she re-write the epilogue into a darker style she developed while writing the other books when the epilogue is taking place almost 2 decades after Voldemort's downfall? The darker style was fitting in books 3-7 because Dark Magic was taking over and everyone was in grave danger. In the epilogue, cheesy as it may be, everything really is all sunshine and puppies without the threat of Voldemort. The light-hearted style is very fitting, in my opinion.

My problem with the epilogue is that, like many others here, I wish we could have found out what happened to many of the other characters. Luna, George, the rest of the Weasleys, careers for the trio...

Regarding Harry/Lily's eyes:
CH.32, page 658:
"...When the flask was full to the brim, and Snape looked as though there was no blood left in him, his grip on Harry's robes slackened.
"Look... at... me...." he whispered.
The green eyes found the black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them fixed, blank, and empty."

I too for a second thought "Damn! What was Snape going to tell him?! A few paragraphs later it hit me, he had wanted to see Lily's eyes.

And yes, the only child to inherit Lily's eyes was the youngest son, Albus Severus.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede is also an excellent fantasy series. I reread them in 7th grade concurrently with the first three Harry Potters and enjoyed both series a lot. The Enchanted Forest books are funny and subversive, and the wizards are evil in this series. I think I ended up doing book reports on a book from each series for English class. I miss middle school assignments; now I have to read really depressingly boring textbooks for credit. Thanks, college.

Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small series also is very Pottersque.

Loved it, as for those who think the ending was to happy or sappy, what was JK supposed to do? Kill everyone? Have Harry become a haunted embittered veteran? For Luna to go into porn? WHAT?

jeeeeeeez

re the Basilisk Fangs - Ron and Hermione used one to destroy one of the horcruxes - the cup I believe.

Does anyone else find it highly unlikely that there WON'T be an eighth book? I mean, what Rowling said is basically "never say never" which, when it comes to sequels, might as well mean it's inevitable.

On another, completely spoiling note, what the hell is the deal with killing Lupin AND Tonks? First the unbelievably idiotic and cliched pregnancy, which betrayed both characters and made me want to vomit, and then they die soon after she made them fall in love with eachother and made them probably the most likable characters in the books. We didn't even see HOW they died. It was just thrown in there for a little extra "darkness."

I would like to see some more criticism of the book out there. I do love the books, having read them since 3rd grade, but in both of the last two there were huge flaws and it just feels like everyone is ignoring those in favor of looking at only the good bits. Do we really need another glowing, vague review of this book?

Cait,

Age matters a lot in reading. My daughter is 11; reads at a post-college level. Yet she has the emotions and psyche of an 11-year-old. It's hard finding good reading material that is somewhat age-appropriate.

BarbadoSlim,

I've disagreed with you in the past, but I think you're spot-on here. Maybe JKR should have concluded with a scene of Harry taking his own life, maybe with the heroin needle still in his arm. As far as the "what are they doing?" crowd, why? Is that how you want the books to wrap up, a long, tedious laundry list of everyone's accomplishments?

I felt it was a great ending. Many of the deaths were hard on me personally. Having twins the thought of one with out the other... just heartbreaking. Colin Creevey was what 10 or 11? Tonks & Lupin just had a baby for crying out loud!!

Snape OMG!!! My Snape!!! I could not even breathe when I was reading it. (Alan Rickman I can't even wait)

I think too that all of these people even the very powerful and clever had their issues as everyone does. I think Harry was able to see that and love Sirius, DD, Lupin ect... anyway. And maybe just respect Snape for the 100s of times he got his ass out of hot water. Perhaps for never forgetting Lily.

I love the Tamora Pierce novels!

"re the Basilisk Fangs - Ron and Hermione used one to destroy one of the horcruxes - the cup I believe."

And then the diadem was destroyed by the Fiendfyre that Goyle started. Hermione said that the magical fire was a weapon against Horcruxes, but that she didn't consider using it because it was too volatile. After that, the only Horcrux left was Nagini and Harry himself, so it wasn't a big deal that the Basilisk fangs were lost.

I got mine from the post office yesterday. I would usually devour a Potter book in less than 24 hours but I just opened the package today and I'm not even thinking about starting to read it. I don't even know why because I've been anticipating this for awhile.

I thought the book was good, yes. But it was a few degrees from being great, and it had the potential to be truly great.
I thought some of the deaths were pointless, included just to pull at heartstrings (Remus and Tonks) and some were just cruelly timed (Fred).
But what really bothered me was the length of time spent camping in various forests while for at least 70 pages it just seemed like "Where are the Horcruxes?" "I don't know." "Why don't you know?" "Because I don't know."
The chapter about Snape was wonderful because it accomplished a great deal. If there had been more moments like that, the book would have benefitted. Dumbledore's hidden past seemed a little too quick for me. There had been no hints at this in prior books and it just seemed hastily thought up and executed.
And I hated the epilogue. It seemed to neat and easy.
However, I realized today as I'm preparing to see the 5th movie again that now everytime I see Fred Weasley in a movie (I LOVE the twins) that I'm just going to get sad and think "You're gonna die."

Does anyone else find it highly unlikely that there WON'T be an eighth book? I mean, what Rowling said is basically "never say never" which, when it comes to sequels, might as well mean it's inevitable.

No sequels, but I understand she is planning on writing an encyclopedia which I bet will have information on what everyone ended up doing in life.

I was unhappy with the epilogues lack of information until I remembered that, in the end, this is children's book and "happy ever after" is what they want and in some ways need. Plus it brought the whole series full circle to Hogwarts and children and Harry being happy with a family.

Best line in the book?
"But he was home. Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found a home here..."
~sniff~

My only real complaint about the ending was the names. A lot of what Harry was dealing with was left over from his parents' generation, and so a lot of what happened from Prisoner of Azkaband on seemed to be history replaying itself. Knowing that he named his kids after all the major players of the generation before - well, I wish he'd left the past in the past, you know?

I choose to believe Hermione teaches History of Magic, myself.

I hate all of you, as I currently live in Japan and won't be seeing a copy of the book for a few weeks at least, while you all sit around in your smoking jackets with a snifter of fine brandy and a smouldering cigar, discussing what should be and inevitably is a really great book.

A pox on you all, and a pox on all your houses.

I hate all of you, as I currently live in Japan and won't be seeing a copy of the book for a few weeks at least, while you all sit around in your smoking jackets with a snifter of fine brandy and a smouldering cigar, discussing what should be and inevitably is a really great book.

A pox on you all, and a pox on all your houses.

Posted by: Some Guy at July 24, 2007 8:35 PM
**************************************************

Doode, you're on the internet, USE IT! Torrent the fucker and then buy it (if you feel guilty about).

I have to agree with the lovelies pointing out that after all it IS a kids book/series. A 'happy' ending was needed so the youngsters don't cry for a month - as it is, there is sufficient death and dismay to seriously discombobulate me let alone the littlies.
Props to JK for writing a story powerful enough to drag a generation from their computer games and chat rooms and experience reading.

And another set of books to add to the list - anything by Terry Prachett, but especially his 'Wee Free Men' series. Top stuff!!

-The Sword of Gryffindor would make itself known to only a true Gryffindor (meaning someone who was honest, brave and true - and Neville was all three), and so it was available to Neville when he was at his greatest need.

-The Basilisk fangs were used by Hermione and Ron to destroy Hufflepuff's cup, and were no longer needed when Ravenclaw's diadem was destroyed in the Fiendfyre.

-Dumbledore's past was never brought up in earlier books because 1) not many people were still alive who would remember what had happened, and 2) those that did adored Dumbledore and chose only to believe that he was the greatest wizard of all time - the past that people learned about and believed in was his heroic, legendary past.

-I had absolutely no issue with the Epilogue, mainly because I took its lighthearted, simplistic tone as a sign that life in the wizarding world had greatly improved since Harry's childhood, and that everyone lived in peace and happiness...which is fine by me.

-I always figured Harry would become an Auror, since that was his goal...but without Voldemort and dark wizards, would he need to? He could have become a professional Seeker, both he and Ginny were great at Quidditch. It seems Nevile was the only one to become a teacher at Hogwarts. And Luna? She's editing The Quibbler, of course.

Oh Philip, I'm thinking you should just put a huge spoiler warning on the entire page.

Pretenses aside, I am undeniably a Potter Kid too. In grade school, my classmates and I raced to outrun and outread one another to the next book, rubbing our puffy eyes the next morning at camp to brag that, yes, we totally read CoS in 1 hour. My parents never understood and I didn't want them to. JK Rowling created an incredible world for me and she never missed the chance to detail Harry's world to the last Ever Flavor Bean, nor did she put in any less effort to tie up stray, seemingly random scenes into supremely satisfying finales. I'm only sorry to say that my enjoyment this last book is tainted with my "grown-up" education in cynicism.

SPOILERS.
Just something I enjoyed: I was a pretty sure proponent of the Snape loved Lily theory, so I noticed that in the one of the earlier chapters, Harry couldn't bear to look Mrs. Weasley's eyes because they were the same shade of brown as Ginny's. I loved that.

And for the supposed randomness of Lupin's death... I hated how Rowling didn't build up to it in the slightest, except to try to tragically crash into our already depressed psyches. I think she just wanted have the original Marauders (and Lily) in a final reunion for, um, Harry's "death."

i feel like i grew up with harry; i started reading the books when i was 11 (harry's age in the first book) and now that the series has ended, i'm only a bit older than he is in the last book. i absolutely love this book...by far the best out of the HP series; it certainly has its flaws, but the ending is just so goddamn satisfying. the epilogue wasn't necessary, but i'm glad it was kind of vague - i'd prefer to imagine how everyone ends up the way i want them to end up. oh, and snape definitely redeemed himself - he had some of the saddest/best quotes of the entire book. i lost it when dumbledore comments on snape's patronus, saying,

"After all this time?"
... "Always." (or something like that, i'm quoting from memory)

I agree that Snape was asking to see Lily's eyes as he died, but I felt he was also asking Harry to look at him and see the real Snape - hence the memories for the pensieve.

Other books for the young 'uns:

Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorson- Garth Nix (freaking awesome)

Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky- Terry Pratchett

Anything and Everything by Tamora Pierce (her Alannah books absolutely got me through elementary school)

Beauty, Blue Sword, Outlaws of Sherwood - Robin McKinley

Enchanted Forest books - Patricia C. Wrede

Re: Harry Potter-
I didn't mind the epilogue except that what with naming all of the kids after other characters, I had a hard time keeping straight who was who. And George and Luna?!?!?

I didn't expect this book to be as powerful as it was. I didn't think Rowling would be able to pull it all together and frankly, I didn't think I cared enough about the characters to get really emotionally involved. Man-oh-man was I wrong... two days later I'm still taking it a bit hard (I just graduated college as well so the whole 'endings' thing is coming on strong)

I totally whooped and hollered when Neville came into his own. I love love love that boy.

i haven't read through all the comments, so forgive me if i repeat, but it wasn't even the epilogue that sort of soured it for me, it was the last chapter.

when harry went to sacrifice himself, i thought for sure he was going to die - and that felt like the end of th ebook. it almost read like she intended harry to die and changed her mind at the last minute, letting him choose to actually come back. it felt like a rather clumsy deus ex machina, and i'm not sure if you can have ti both ways - harry sacrificing himself AND coming back to kill voldemort in a blaze of glory (and yeah, i get the whole resurection thing, but it still seemed a bit clumsy).

anybody else get that?

I absolutely loved the book and had the most perfect weekend of the summer, reading it in the garden, with a bar of chocolate handy! I think JK Rowling did an admirable job of tying up the loose ends. I felt the epilogue was a neat Happy Ever After contrivance, even if it did not, and could not,answer even half our burning questions about the characters' futures.
As for other children's fantasy - anything by Diana Wynne Jones is wonderful reading. She too offers schools of wizardry (pre-Harry Potter) in her Chrestomanci novels, aimed at younger readers, but something like Fire and Hemlock is a satisfying read for older children and adults alike, particularly if you have a nodding acquaintance with the old English and Scottish border ballads. She deserves a much wider readership.
Thank you JK Rowling for all the years of good storytelling you have given us. How amazing to think that for one weekend, people all over the world were immersed in the same book, and how wonderful it is that we can all talk about it together now.

I agree with those that said the last little mini-chapter/epilogue thing wasn't really needed. It read like the last chapter of some fanfic.

I will say as someone who grew up loving the Narnia books, Harry Potter has been like a little slice of childhood. The kind of books I read under my covers with a flashlight. It's been wonderful to feel that way again.

YES SPOILERS

"i lost it when dumbledore comments on snape's patronus, saying,

"After all this time?"
... "Always." "

I had to go back for that. She's done that several times. Stage a significant moment without telling you what's going on. Like, "okay, sooo....he sent that doe to the forest.......and?" Then two or three chapters later Harry explains it to Tom and "wait, lemme go back......OH GAWD!" I didn't pick up on the eyes either and saw someone mention it at veritaserum's forums. "Oh! OHHHH!!" These things can get past me, but the best verrklempt moments, for me, tend to happen when revisiting. The Salon review of the first book mentioned Harry first seeing the Mirror of Erised and just seeing that bit quoted choked me up. "He pressed his hands to the glass. 'I'll come back'". Oy! Dobby and Kreacher inspired both the sad and happy kind of losing it. Even fuckin Oliver (Major) Wood apparated in!

The news of a likely encyclopedia is very cheering, since I think it'd be silly to try to write another novel for the sake of it when the drama is over, but that veil was still kinda left open to interpretation. "Cause it's a MYSTERY! Get it, kid? We don't know what it is!!"

The Baltimore Sun, while going for the stunt early review (Yes, yes NY Times, no one has to read it if they don't want to, and you legally bought it after someone tipped you off that someone was illegally selling it, but, it WAS a stunt) may have put the maligned epilogue the best. She gave him what he'd always wanted--a family. Just a nice, normal family. Give the children triumph. 'Hell with anybody wants to hate on that!

Spoiler:

Harry Potter is Jesus Christ. The whole self-sacrifice thing? Coming back from the dead? Either it's a cliche in fantasy by this point or a point of the genre (Gandalf, Aslan, Obi-Wan etc). But yeah, I liked it. Good stuff. Could have done without the epilogue. And I'll add another reccomendation for the Song of Ice and Fire.

I cried through "The Prince's Tale". I'm not one to cry at books, movies, ect. but it was easily the most heartberaking thing I've ever read. The whole (idk what to call it) heaven thing really kind of blew, but other than that the book met all of my expectations. I even enjoyed the epilogue for the most part.

Spoilers, of course...

Did anybody else hope Luna would help George get over his grief? No? Just me, then?

How cool was it when Mrs Weasley went nuts at Bellatrix? I had to read the paragraph over again - I thought "oh my gosh, did someone just say bitch in harry potter???" But I really appreciated the fact that Molly got to show her bad-arse side. I know some people were upset that Neville didn't get to kill her, but he showed his bravery and skill in being able to pull the sword out of the hat and kill Nagini - the second-last horcrux. So I didn't mind.

SPOILERS!!

I really enjoyed this book. I was completely satisfied, yet devastated at the same time that the Potter-universe is over. I've never really liked the films that much, but now I'm looking forward to them just so that I can stretch out the experience.

I had one question (that may be evry obvious) at the end, in the epilogue, when Harry looks at his watch that used to belong to Someone-or-other Prewett (or something) what is that meant to refer to?

also, can someone please direct me to a Harry Potter forum that is good? I'm having trouble finding one that isn't still filled with spoecualtions and spoilers.

Also, my series to add to the list is called the OBERNEWTYN chronicles, by Isobelle Carmody. She is an Australian author, so I don't know if the books are easily found in the States, but give the series a go: they are so awesome, and I need people to share the awesomeness with. Also, second the vote for His Dark Materials trilogy - awesome.

I am actually really really sad that its all over now!

I'll preface everything else I'm about to write with the assurance that I did love this book. I don't remember ever crying so hard in a book as I did from The Prince's Tale straight through to King's Cross. I'm talking constant tears running down my face, and I didn't want to stop reading to go get a tissue. Also, Neville came out like a champ, and having Mrs. Weasley call Bellatrix a bitch was fantastic. That being said, looking back on the book, there are a few things I'm wishing for. More than just an explanation of what the characters are doing, I want to know about the wizarding world as a whole. What changed after Voldemort was killed? An entire community essentially had to be rebuilt, and I'd like to know a little bit about how that happened. I wonder if I wouldn't have preferred the book to be weighted a little bit differently, so there was slightly less lead up to the big battle at Hogwarts, and slightly more of the aftermath. Also, who raised Teddy (Tonks and Lupin's son)? Harry was his Godfather, but it seemed unlikely that he'd raise a baby at 17. Sigh...I guess there are some questions that will remain unanswered. But I also kind of loved the epilogue and its lighthearted dialogue...of course Ron Confunded the driving test examiner.

I had all these somewhat insightful, interesting things to say, having just finished the book, but then Kolby had to go and say them all.

I will add that I think Neville's journey throughout the books was pretty well done. He starts off as not much more than a punchline, the awkward kid in Gryffindor who can't seem do anything right. As the books progress, we learn that his parents were famous Aurors who suffered a cruel fate at the hands of Voldemort. He see him mature and find his niche in Herbology and he starts to leave the awkward doofus behind. By the last book, he's lived up to this parents' name, becoming every bit the hero they were (and yes, I would gladly have traded 50 pages or so of the Hoorcrux bitching for more glimpses of the student rebellion at Hogwarts).

As Rowling reminds us repeatedly, the sword of Godric Griffyndor can only be used by a true member of the house, one who embodies the spirit of bravery and heroism that unites its occupants. By the end, Neville is more than worthy of that tradition (and remember, he was the other candidate in the prophecy for the Chosen one), and when he reaches into the sorting hat, as Harry did before him, he finds the weapon he needs to lay waste to his enemies.

I've avoided the spoilers, put my friends on notice, I even skipped reading this review and it's subsequent comments. I bought my copy of DH Saturday morn, and it's been sitting on my dresser, staring at me, for 4 days. I just can't bring myself to read it. Why?

I don't want the ride to end.

Is that wrong?

SPOILERS... I guess...

What the hell is with everyone complaining about the epilogue? Whining about it being "unnecessary" and such forth... wtf? That's the whole fucking payoff, you gits! Yes, there are things in there that did not NEED to be spelled out, but how many times did Harry say, over and over, he wanted to just have a nice, normal life? To be happy? To have a family?

And you expect her to write the whole goddamned series and never put in a scene where he GETS THAT ONE WISH?

Man, fuck all y'all.

The epilogue is what the whole blasted thing has been about - Harry getting to live the life he wanted. Friends, family, security and comfort, and no one trying to take it away from him, no one trying to mess it up.

And no, before anyone says it, it would NOT have been enough to leave it "implied." Harry deserves - we deserve - that payoff.

And, for the record, I didn't notice a discernable difference in the writing style of the epilogue and the rest of the book. Rowling's prose has always been servicable at best, and I'm certain she revised the epilogue for diction and flow before she included it - I mean, seriously, come on, people. Rowling's pedestrian writing style has earned her contempt from a world of critics whose senses are attuned to the realm of literary fiction, where you don't have to write about anything as long as you do it with panache. Frankly, I could do without the bon mots of so called literary fiction; I like that Rowling cast her lot with structural depth, not rhetorical flourishes. Who cares if the prose is uninspiring? There's something larger at work. And the people complaining about the epilogue have ENTIRELY FUCKING MISSED IT.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**
Okay, so i'm brand new to this forum style stuff, but i had one question and one answer i think might help:

To JJ McClay;
"Also, who raised Teddy (Tonks and Lupin's son)? Harry was his Godfather, but it seemed unlikely that he'd raise a baby at 17. Sigh...I guess there are some questions that will remain unanswered."
Although tonks and lupin died, the book said something about the baby being with tonks parents. I know tonks' dad got captured, and i think killed, but im pretty sure the mum/mom of tonks was still at home. i vote she raised him, kind of like neville and his grandmother, as both his parents died.

Okay, and a question i hope someone can answer:
in the "heaven" esque scene, at the completely white train station, there was a crying baby thing that harry wanted to help but dumbledore kept repeating that "there was nothing we CAN do". What was that thing? a memory? a symbol? i got so confused by that it almost ruined my understanding of what sumbledore was trying to get harry to understand.

And just in general conclusiveness with other people here: i really loved the ending. I know it was very "disney" but it was cute. And even though it was crap rowling only really discussed neville and draco, at least she gave us the okay that they were still alive and well and in the lives.

i hated how everyone kept dying. After being told only two characters would die, i kept not believeing that people (e.g mad eye) actually died. even after harry got the eye from the ministry. and fred dying? TOTALLY unneccessary and evil. grrrr. at least one-eared george survived. and was able to make a joke.

and lastly, totally agree with the others who brought up the very likely fact that ginny got little to no say in her and harry's kid's names. Kind of hilarious.

Saying that I have a problem with the epilogue doesn't mean that I don't want Harry to be able to have a normal life with the family he always wanted. I just wished it had been better written, given us more information on other characters, and told us about the rebuilding of the wizarding world. Instead, we just got to see Harry's kids, all named after dead people, running around. I was left wondering if they planned on having more so they could name kids after Sirius, Remus, Tonks, hell, maybe even Dobby.

My only other problem with the book is that she completely shafted Ginny's character. JKR went on and on about how Ginny was Harry's equal and a very powerful witch, but she didn't do anything. Even Trelawney had a more memorable battle scene. I figured we'd get some stuff about when she was possessed by the diary and she'd have some valuable information to give Harry, but that wasn't even brought up. I'd have loved a chapter on the rebellion at Hogwarts, perhaps in exchange for one of the chapters where the Trio wander through England, sniping at each other.

And here's a random question: Anyone else wonder if Ariana Dumbledore had been raped? She left it vague enough that little kids wouldn't pick up on it, but I definitely got that impression.

As if you didn't know by now: SPOILERS

Kaija: it's my understanding that the little baby-like being in king's cross/heaven was what Voldemort would become when he was defeated and killed without showing any remorse for his actions. Harry refers to it in his battle with Voldemort at the end: (p. 741) "Think, and try for some remorse, Riddle...It's your one last chance...it's all you've got left...I've seen what you'll be otherwise...Be a man....try...try for some remorse..."

I read it pretty quickly and finished on Sunday so I just started it again to read it more carefully (clearly I am one of those that has loved these for a long time) and I seem to remember Dumbledore or someone saying something about remorse and how that was the only way now that Voldemort could redeem himself even in the tiniest way. However, I need another reading to confirm this.

I wasn't really bothered by the epilogue. I quite enjoyed it actually. I think it's still the idealistic youth in me that wants to see a happy ending. I'm glad I still have that part of me. I do want to know what happened to George and Luna, but like many have said I've created my own endings for them.

kaija: i'm just guessing, but i think the baby thing in king's cross was the piece of voldemort's soul that was in harry.

I tried to read the first Potter book and was bored to tears. Mostly its because I read a lot of fantasy and, to me, felt that I had already heard this story before. However, I do think most of the movies are cute. But since the premise of the story is unavoidable, I feel I can reccommend some other series: anything by Tamora Pierce and Lloyd Alexander.
If you have children that are still young and have just recently turned to the Potter world I reccomend the Land of Elyion books by Patick Carmen. They are written for younger readers but are quite delightful.

Excellent review, and thank you for no spoilers. I know better than to read the comments before mine as they will be FILLED with them. I won't get my hands on Book 7 until the middle of August, so I'm going to be careful of what I read online.

Yay Kolby -- exactly what I was going to say.

In regards to the naming... It's not like Albus Severus was called 'Albus Severus' every time he was referred to. His name is Albus -- a big name in Harry's life, yes, but also Ginny's! "Severus" is his middle name -- what the Serious Parent uses to say "I mean it!" Snape got a middle name; James got a first -- it's not like Harry's insulting his father by giving his second son 'Severus' as a MIDDLE name. And for whomever said that Sirius was the only father figure Harry had -- what about Dumbledore?

Also, yeah -- shouldn't George get to name his kids Fred? And would he want to? It's honoring Fred, but it'd be kind of awkward to call your son or nephew after the name of your dead brother. And why aren't we insult Ron for not naming a kid Fred? I mean... he's the guy's brother, just like Ginny was his sister.

But NEVER YOU FEAR, everyone! JK said that she is very likely to, in a few years, write an encyclopedia to answer those burning questions about who worked where. She said there's a new headmistress, since Minerva was getting on in years. But who thinks Harry would be a good headmaster?! He may be a powerful wizard, but teaching's never been his thing. And all the trio is a bit young for such really powerful positions. They're prolly workin' their way up the ladder, eh? :)

Surely JK's next book will be what happens in the intervening 19 years. Take a rest, spend some of that money, and then get to work. I'll supply the napkins.

And again -- Remorse = the only way to heal a broken soul, according to the books on Horcruxes that Hermione takes from Dumbledore's office. So, the writhing thing was the fraction of Voldemort that is left -- his completely un-help-able, inhuman remains.

PS -- JK tried to give Ginny more. She and Neville and Luna attempted to get the sword, remember? And first chance she got, she scurried off to join the battle, and, with Luna and Hermione, was holding off Bellatrix.
She couldn't be added to the trio simply because Harry likes her and we want to see more of her; she had to work in the confines JK wrote for her -- a year behind, for example, and thus younger -- or else we might be complaining that she randomly got a ton of adventure without any reason for it.

Yeah, I would've liked to have seen more Ginny, but in a way I guess it was kind of fitting. I did have to remind myself that she had a good role in Phoenix and then even bigger in Half-Blood cementing her as a badass, but it still came back to Harry's "I've gotta do this alone" followed by "not without US" from Ron and Hermione. Harry held to what he said about keeping people out of danger if he could help it, and indeed agonized over it through the rest of the story. Plus Ron warned him to not fuck with her head. Even with the omniscient narrator I don't think you're ever around anyone on Harry's side unless he's there. That's been the consistent style, so you never know much more than Harry, and Harry's deliberately cutting himself off. But it's still telling that yet again Ginny was being told to stay out of the way and ran into the thick of it with Hermione and Luna.

It must have been deliberate to make it so isolated for a while as you get into the mindset of the trio. "Oh, yeah, Hogwarts". You get the sense they're running around without time to think and completely lose track of themselves. And then I think, "well, we're getting along in the pages, so...what about the Horcrux quest?" and Ron says, "hey, where the hell are you going? Aren't we on a mission here?. Aw, screw this". And then Dumbledore and Snape have to get them back into gear with the sword. Nonetheless I thought it was interesting to get them aimless in the middle, where the previous three books took forever to just initially get going. I shot through Chamber and Azkaban then stalled in Goblet for a few months when it refused to move.

(silly) Question. In the epilogue, Ron
says he Confounded the driving examiner, because he forgot to check his side-view mirror , and would have failed (they really are strict in GB). Rupert Grint, who plays Ron in the films, failed his driving test for that reason. He said so in an interview for the film "Driving Lessons."
So when people say that JKR wrote the epilogue in advance, I have to think she did some tweaking. That was an inside joke, right? Or was it a sorta-freaky coincidence? I snorked my lemonade when I was reading this; I have to know:P

In an MSNBC interview, Rowling admitted that she had originally intended to kill Mr. Weasley, back in "Goblet," but she couldn't do it. He got the reprieve.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the "Oz" books. They were the first fantasy books I read as a kid.

If the watch question has not been answered, it was the watch that Molly Weasley gave to Harry. It belonged to Fabian Prewett, Molly's brother. Molly gave it to Harry because they gave Ron a watch when he came of age, so they gave Harry one, too.

I can imagine the conversations Harry had with Ginny in naming their youngest child:

HARRY: I'd like to name our boy Albus Severus.

GINNY: Don't I get a say in this? Our first two children are already named after your parents. What about not naming our baby after someone who isn't dead?

HARRY: I figured you wouldn't mind since I after all saved you from a basilisk when you were 11 years old, saved your father when he was bitten by a snake...and oh yeah, defeated Lord Voldemort several times, thus saving the entire wizarding community and pretty much the world.

GINNY: (muttering under breath)

HARRY: Albus Severus it is then.

Whoops, I forgot that Albus Severus is the middle child. Lily is too young to attend Hogwarts.

Sorry, posted this in the wrong place.

I have inhaled these books from their inception, and I am an active member in fandom. While this book ultimately achieved what the last book in the series was meant to achieve, maintaining Harry's innocence while fulfilling of the prophecy and NOT killing Voldemort (vanquishing him with a paltry spell), the book, IMO, was tired. The contrivances were endless, as she tries to marshal the trio from plot point to plot point. I'm not going to list them here, this is not the place, but in several key instances I wondered if Harry had taken stupid pills. The book succeeds as the final installment of the concept, but it fails utterly as a book.

(Spoilers)
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I rather think that the whole point of the Deathly Hollows was that the wizard/witch in possession of all three items made them rather invincible (in theory since no other witch/wizard had ever had possession of all three save the Peverll (sp?) brothers). At the end Harry was in possession (except the ring that he left in the forest) of all three Hollows. In my opinion the fact that Harry did not want to merge the Hollows and become all powerful but rather leave the ring to be lost and perhaps be buried with the elder wand (ig I understood his comment to Dumbledores portrait correctly) on his death is a testament to his character and his desire to help the "greater good" of the wizarding world by not allowing these objects to ever fall into the possession of Voldemort type again.

I could be wrong, I'm wrong a lot, just ask my husband.

I loved the epilogue. Loved it. I can't believe the stir about these kids names - who cares? It was a lovely end to an amazing series.
My kids have grown up with this series, and I have watched them enjoy it, and I have enjoyed them myself. It was hard to say goodbye to them, but what a wonderful end.

Marianne and Victor, I agree with you both. The epilogue wrapped things up in far to neat a package for my taste--I always thought the ending should be a bit dark, considering there have been so many deaths. Also, the writing has never been particularly great, but Rowling can certainly tell a tale. I rather thought she lost her way with the characters over the past couple books, but this last one redeemed the series for me, to my great relief.

***spoiler***
Though I wonder who would read down this far and not already have seen plenty of spoilers....

I'd like to give another Hoorah! for Neville. As soon as Voldemort brought out the Sorting Hat (though it seemed odd that he did) I thought, "Now Neville needs to pull the sword of Gryffindor out of it." So maybe that part was predictable for me but I loved it anyway. Neville rocks.

I'm so glad that I am not the only one who did not enjoy the epilogue. I brought it up in conversation with others who had finished and was told to stop being so cynical. But other than those final few pages I did really enjoy the final book.

A nomination for a good series to add to the list is the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. Probably more for the kids (I was in the target age when it was released over 15 years ago) 'Tomorrow, when the war began' was probably one of the first books that I couldn't put down. While the series may have stumbled towards the end, those first three books got me excited not only about reading but also about politics and human rights.

spot on. i absolutely fell in love with this series when, one fateful day in my freshman year of college, i fell ill with the flu and my best friend on campus loaned me the first couple HP books to pass the time. i'm so glad she insisted; until that point i'd been adamant that no book could be as good as the hype made it out to be.

i thought they were just as worthy of all the hype as they could have been, if not more so. i've spent six years with harry potter, and read this last piece of the story with sadness that it was ending, but happiness at even having it to begin with. true, we didn't get some answers. the ending was a bit treacly. some characters' deaths felt a bit tacked on. but seriously, i'd like to see somebody else write a seven-book, thousand-page, multi-layered story with a world so astonishingly real and multi-faceted as rowling has done. she's done an amazing job and upon closing the book, my first words were 'thank you.' she's given us something amazing that we can cherish for years to come, and i won't begrudge her a few little plot quibbles here and there. bang-up job, i say. simply amazing.

also, as for fantasy/epic/whatnot stories and series, i'd recommend the gormenghast novels by mervyn peake. astounding writing. it takes awhile to get going, but my is it ever worth it.

An HP issue but not of the book. I read Roger Ebert's review of Phoenix and was pissed. He said where is all the wonder and magic of the earlier movies? He has been sick for awhile, does anyone else think he should have read the damn book before reveiwing the movie? He said the movie was too dark but, ugh it was not supposed to be Toy Story 3...it is a book of good and evil...I am for Roger to close the balcony for good.

Sharon and Landon posted my thoughts perfectly book wise.

Sharon, the part in the woods of their frustration was over done but that was the only issue I had. Seemed like she wrote this for the last movie so there was an obvious part to drop.

Landon, I agree on the epilogue, it is what the series was about, so kodos to JK.

I for one as a man in my late 30s could not believe that anyone could get the world reading again, at least not like this. To be in Naperville, Illinois and see all those there for a BOOK, JK should be proud of herself.

This book should be the easiest to turn into a movie, but it should go the 3Hrs to get it right.
I am sorry to see it end, I will miss it and I get to hang my hat on the fact that my boys are not old enough to read it yet...so I will get to relive it with them.

As for a series...while I know they are not children's genre...I love Clancy and Dale Brown (not Dan).

SPOILER

I'm nearly done my second go of the book, and I'm still totally in love with it. Yes there are some weak points and the plot can be a little convoluted at times, but I echo a lot of people when I say that I found it totally satisfying.

"I laughed, I cried" is such a cliche, but I really did do both (maybe a little more of the latter). Dobby and Fred's deaths were devastating, but the thing that got me the most was definitely "The Prince's Tale." I love how it only quasi-redeemed Snape: yes, he was on the good side, but not out of morals or principles, but out of plain, heartbreaking, unrequited love. We see that Lily may have broken his heart, but she saved his soul in the end.

And I know it's totally random but although he's always irritated me, I cried even harder when Percy refused to leave Fred's body, and I know it doesn't make sense for a brother's death to give a person a sense of humour, but in my head, Percy DOES ditch the Ministry like he said and he's the one who continues WWW with George.

Because I am a pathetic geek, I came back to let those of you who were wondering know that JK said, in an interview with Meredith Viera, that Harry and Ron (as adults) revolutionized the Auror Department in the Ministry of Magic (so Harry DID become an Auror), and that Hermione was high up in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She didn't say anythign about Luna, so I'm still choosing to believe she's editing The Quibbler.

FUCK YEAH SABRIEL!!!

Did anyone else get a very strong allegory with Nazi Germany in the actions of Voldemort's followers' "new order" led by Umbridge etc.?

Just as Hitler's followers latched on to his madness to perpetuate their agenda of racial purity, the Dark wizards & witches who served Voldemort initiated roundups of Muggles, ran investigations into family heritage (proving "pure blood" status) and deportation of undesirables.

That the Malfoys, as primary representatives of this group, were uber-Aryan blondes, was (I think) no coincidence.

Rowling's championing of acceptance and the value of ALL despite race, heritage etc. was one of the main things I loved about the books.

Here's the thing about the epilogue: A lot of adults hate it and are bitching about it, but keep in mind that the books were always meant to be for kids. Even in 2007, with all the pain and suffering in the world being beamed into their homes 24/7 on CNN and the damn MTV trying to turn them all into whores by the time they're 12, kids still need to know that "They all lived happily ever after."

Count me as one dad who was glad to read it too.

Finally finished it 2 hours ago and have been completely floored ever since. PHENOMENAL finish to the series. I started reading it back when Chamber of Secrets released in paperback so I've been with it a while. This was the ending I've been waiting for that Rowling has hinted at since Goblet of Fire. Absolutely incredible. I found myself yelling at the characters while reading and cheering at certain points. I don't do that when I read. But I did for this book. And the tears came hard and strong at the end I have no problem admitting. Hell, the came strong all the way through the book. It was also the funniest book I think in the series. I laughed hardest when Ron says "So what's new with you?" after he and Hermione emerge from the Chamber of Secrets.

I don't know how this can be a movie and come in under 3 hours but whoever they get to direct (and more important, adapt the script) better be a freaking genius because if this movie gets screwed up there is going to hell to pay.

Question about to cover: (SPOILER)

Is that supposed to be Harry and Voldemort both reaching for the Elder Wand after Harry cast Expeliarmus?

I REALLY wanted Neville and Luna to get together...... Neville deserved a bit of lovin'....

Books 1 to 3 were really imaginative and appealed to children and adults alike. Books 4 to 6 had complex themes and plots, appealing to a slightly older group of readers. Book 7 was very disappointing, and I could tell that Rowling rushed it. Anyone who disagrees is wrong, in my opinion. The loose ends felt very tacked on, although there were some good scenes, such as King's Cross and The Prince's Tale. However, it was really convulsed. Don't deny it; this book will remain the ugly duckling of a fantastic series for all time.

Email me if you think I'm missing something, because I'm not much of an expert.

Re: What Harry does for a living -- My guess is that he doesn't have to work. He was already quite well off with the Potter family fortune and he came into the entire Black family fortune when Sirius died.

Loved the book; it was a fitting end to the whole series. Including the epilogue, in which Harry finally gets the family and the peaceful life he'd been long denied.

Per Bartap's comment above:

As Rowling reminds us repeatedly, the sword of Godric Griffyndor can only be used by a true member of the house, one who embodies the spirit of bravery and heroism that unites its occupants. By the end, Neville is more than worthy of that tradition (and remember, he was the other candidate in the prophecy for the Chosen one), and when he reaches into the sorting hat, as Harry did before him, he finds the weapon he needs to lay waste to his enemies.

The same could be said of Ron Weasley, who briefly fled the fellowship/quest he shared with Harry and Hermione, yet returned to save Harry's life, retrieve the Gryffindor sword and destroy the locket. Of the three central characters, Ron was clearly the weakest and most bumbling...yet nonetheless found it in himself to be a hero when heroism was required. Ron also was the one who suggested using the basilisk fangs to destroy the remaining Horcruxes at the end of the book, to Hermione's and Harry's delight. And does anyone else see a parallel between Harry, Ron and Hermione in the HP series, and Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring?

Regarding Nancy's observations of the Nazi-like obsession Voldemort and his followers had with racial purity: There's another historical parallel to be found in Rowling's revelation that Dumbledore himself once subscribed to similar views. The Nazis' racial attitudes were heavily influenced by the eugenics movement of the early 20th century, a movement that, as Michael Crichton points out in the afterword to his novel State of Fear, had many adherents among the political and social elites of the era...including Winston Churchill, who ultimately became the Nazis' most bitter and determined opponent. Just as Churchill rallied opposition to Hitler in real life, Dumbledore did the same to Voldemort and Grindlewald in the book.

And let me second the cheers for Neville and Mrs. Weasley. When Molly charged Bellatrix screaming "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!", I was having gleeful Sigourney Weaver flashbacks from Aliens. And I freakin' cheered when Neville chopped off the head of Nagini.

One minor quibble: Why wasn't Snape on the wall with the rest of Hogwarts' deceased headmasters at the end?

Feeling dumb for asking, but did Harry or Voldemort cast the Aveda Kedavra? I have read it a couple of times and it seems to me that Harry knew he had to kill Voldemort and Voldemort knew he had to take away Harry's wand. Were the roles reversed and this time it was Voldemort who used Harry's stand by Expeliarmus? It says something about Voldemort's spell ricocheting back at him and the elder wand flying through the air as Voldemort falls over dead.

I was waiting until my husband finished reading the book but I figured my fellow Pajibans could help.

1. As someone who reads the last page first, and then goes back and reads the last chapter before actually reading the first one, the Epilogue helped keep me from finding out how it ends. Yes, I know a few names of people who survived, but not everyone. I liked that. I then started from the beginning to find out how it got to the end.

2. Coming from a Jewish family, where the tradition is to name children after dead relatives and close friends (as an honor), I found the naming of the children to be quite normal and very sweet.

3. I, too, was confused about Neville pulling the sword out of the hat, but on rereading the book, I caught JK's comment early in the book about only a true Griffindor can pull the sword out of the hat in their moment of need. Griphook had to be pissed, though.

4. I liked how a lot of stuff from BOOK 1 was used in BOOK 7. Nice bookends to the story.

5. I'm amazed that so many people don't "get" the deathly hallows. Harry possessed all 3 when he battled Voldemort, which is why Voldemort couldn't kill him. The deathly hallows give you power over death. Harry had the cape, and the stone (even though he dropped it, it was still his at that point), AND he had the allegience of the elder wand. Even though Voldemort held the elder wand, it didn't work for him and the spells wouldn't hold, because the wand believed it belonged to Harry.

SPOILER!

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I just wanted to touch on the issue of Harry using the disarming spell to vanquish Voldemort. Remember, in one of the first chapters of the book Lupin berated Harry for using it against Stan Shunpike and cautioned him against letting it become his trademark. In the end, the spell allowed Harry to both protect himself and vanquish Voldemort, and allowed Rowling to preserve Harry as an innocent of sorts -- one who couldn't commit murder even when facing his most dangerous and hated enemy.

SPOILER!

...as a follow-up to my previous post, I think Harry almost came to feel sorry for Voldemort after seeing what he would become (in the 'train station' with Dumbledore). When he asks Riddle to try for some remorse, he is offering one last chance at hope for a soul so destroyed it's *ALMOST* past the point of no return. In doing so, he's also proving himself to be 'Dumbledore's man, through and through' one last time.

I am a huge fan of the HP series and as a children's librarian I got to help plan, execute, and have a massive midnight party. I never feel the need to apologize that my expensive education has not wrought a more "elite" literary taste (though yes, I've read all the classics too) because children's literature is my job. (And children's literature is producing some amazing things right now).

To add to your wonderful list, I would suggest The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. It is still in production, but the most recent book, a few months ago felt very final.

I didn't wonder where the basilisk fangs went...I wondered how on earth Hermione and Ron were carrying them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but these fangs supposedly carry a poison so deadly it can kill the soul within a horcrux- yet you can carry one around without even a pair of gloves? I can assure you that there's no way I would want to have something that deadly slung under my arm as I ran along...what happens if I trip and get pricked, for heaven's sake? Also, while I appreciate that Neville was suffering at Hogwarts in order to keep Dumbledore's Army alive, why was he the only one with the scars and bruises? Ginny was being just as insubordinate, yet nowhere do Harry or Rowling mention physically noticeable results- and couldn't Neville have just used his amazing herbology to heal himself anyway? LOVED Molly Weasley's duel with Bellatrix, btw. My shock upon reading her saying the word b**** was just what I needed to have me cheering along. It was definitely the dirtiest word I can imagine her ever saying. Many other parts of the book were awesome, but for me, the mental image of Molly with her wand won the day. Also, does anyone else wonder whether the hole in George's head grew over with skin?

I don't know why everyone's got their knickers twisted over Harry naming his kids after his family. Ginny's got 6 older brothers for Merlin's sake. I'm sure they've already hit them all. Also - pretty sure George would have dibs on the name Fred.

As a random FYI - JKR is semi committed to a follow-up. She says it'll be like an encyclopaedia on the Potter-verse.

And to KOLBY - Actually she's said Luna is the wizarding equivalent of a naturalist. Whatever that's meant to mean..?

Kara: Actually she's said Luna is the wizarding equivalent of a naturalist. Whatever that's meant to mean..?

I seem to remember when I lived in the UK that naturalists were like nudists. Or maybe she just means she's like a hippie. Perhaps a Brit can help out with this question.

No, wait, what am I saying. I think their word for nudist was naturist.

Too much wine imbibing tonight.

A few thoughts here: First reading, I hated the epilogue. But when I read it again (twice in 4 days. What a geek), I liked it a bit more. Love the line where he tells Albus that Snape "was the bravest man I ever knew".

Jumping backwards to Harry's birthday, am I the only person who wondered if Ginny was about to give Harry The Ultimate Gift for his birthday? It came across that way to me...

Oh, and have no fear: After reading it, I went to bed and dreamed that Harry and Ron became professional Quidditch players. Pizza Dreams mixed with Potter gives strange thoughts.

I wish she'd given more details on what everyone did later. I mean, come on- who didn't know Harry and Ginny would hook up? And Ron/Hermione? Duh. But still, I'd like to follow up with Luna, more on Neville (my hero!)

Oh, and I want to know what happened to the Dursleys. Especially Dudders.

Sigh. Now that it's over, I have to wonder what I'll read when I get depressed.

Oh,my. What to say? I have no problems with the epilogue, unlike so many others. I was the last in my family to read it, and all I would allow anyone to tell me was that "the epilogue is happy." I needed to know SOMEONE would be alright.

I hated that Fred, MadEye, Hedwig, and Dobby died and I REALLY hated that both Lupin and Tonks died, so soon after having Teddy. Should have known when they made Harry godfather.

I am a 40 something mom and I adore all these books. Everyone in my family has read them, and I expect, will re-read them for some time to come. I am just so sad that this ride is over.....

Second the vote for Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series......Well, think I'll go start on book 1 again.

Loved it, but wasn't so sure about the epilogue...

I'm recommending the Garth Nix books - 'Sabriel', 'Lirael' and 'Abhorsen' - because they are waaay underrated.

And Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' - because you HAVE to read them before the movies start coming out in December!!!

If anyone is interested in reading some truly high quality so-called children's books (either for yourself or your kids) I highly recommend Madeleine L'Engle. Start with "A Wrinkle in Time", "A Wind in the Door" and "A Swiftly Tilting Planet" and go on from there. You can't go wrong.

Why does everyone jump to the conclusion that Ginny had no say in the naming of the children? We don't get James or Lily's middle names so there is plenty of room for Weasley family contributions, and who's to say she didn't suggest "Albus Dumbledore"? Both were obviously part her life, too, helped save the man she loved, and were heroes of probably the biggest battle of their lives. Look at how many kids a generation later were named just after a popular movie comes out.
Many times throughout the book women provide a thoughtful and insightful strength without needing to show off to prove their importance (McGonagall & Mrs. Weasley come to mind...) The girl was never a pushover, and I refuse to believe that she became one in the end.

I'm surprised no one has commented on the scene where Ron stabs the locket horcrux. Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione were awesome. Also, Draco was a complete pussy in the last two books. That irritated me to no end, because he was supposed to be Harry's rival. I would have liked at least a description of his wife in the epilogue. And at least Albus Severus isn't as bad as Scorpius.

One minor quibble: Why wasn't Snape on the wall with the rest of Hogwarts' deceased headmasters at the end?

Wouldn't that be because those are paintings of past headmasters? It's not like anyone had time to tack up a painting of Snape after he left.

actually, at the end of book 6, dumbledore's picture just appears in the headmaster's office when mcgonagall becomes temporary headmistress, right after dumbledore dies - so that still doesn't clear up why snape's painting isn't there.

also, does no one care what happened to KREACHER?!

Snape was not headmaster when he died. He had been sacked. That may be why his portrait did not magically appear on the walls. It may take a few days for the powers that be at Hogwarts to determine that Snape is worth a portrait. Besides, it would have made for an awkward scene for Harry to be able to talk to Snape at that moment and say that he was wrong about him, when it's the only moment when Harry gets to talk to Dumbledore.

Tina:
Absolutely we care what happened to Kreacher, he was fine, and even better, he was leading the House Elf Brigade in the final battle scene!
Or did you mean after all that? I would assume he still "serves" Harry, though Harry has likely tried to free him. I'm thinking Kreacher wouldn't much cotton to being freed; hard enough for him to have to come around to being on the side of the Mudbloods and blood traitors, right? ;)

Am I the only one that lost it when Hedwig died? I actually had to take a short break to bawl my eyes out.

Snape was not headmaster when he died. He had been sacked. That may be why his portrait did not magically appear on the walls. It may take a few days for the powers that be at Hogwarts to determine that Snape is worth a portrait.

That's actually a pretty good conjecture...although it would seem grossly unfair for Snape to be denied a place along with the other headmasters of Hogwarts, under the c