Pottz dot net - Web Ramblings

The Final Chapter
Released on July 21, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the most anticipated book of 2007, marks the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter series. In an announcement from the book’s publisher, Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Children’s Books, said, “We join J.K. Rowling’s millions of readers–young and old, veterans and newcomers–in anticipating what lies ahead.”

What a wonderful read!

Sure it’s dark (and too violent for younger readers), but this final installment in the Harry Potter saga is one of the best books in the series. It’s better than Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) — there’s not near as much exposition, far more character development and some real spine-chilling moments — and, I think, as good as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5).

The best part? That nothing seems forced or thrown together. Rowling wraps up her many plot points and reveals the fates of her characters in ways that almost always surprise you, but afterward seem inevitable.

And how she does it is so inventive! Many throwaway moments and whispered remarks from earlier books foreshadow what happens here, and devices that had little importance before, such as Sirius’s flying motorcycle, now play key roles. While creating yet another gripping tale, the author ties her entire epic together with the skill of a true literary master. As for that magic question “Is Snape good or evil?” the answer is… both.

In addition, the book treats its title character with the complexity he deserves. It portrays the (now) young man as disillusioned, full of doubt, overwhelmed — a tortured soul who, though a responsible leader in an all-out war, often seems to yearn to do nothing more than sweet-talk Ginny Weasley.

By the way, regardless of the temptation, don’t skip to the end. It doesn’t work. The answers to all those key questions everyone wants to know unfold throughout the story. Yes, quite a few characters die, but not all in the last chapter. And besides, the joy in reading these books is not learning just what happens, but how it happens, and why.