Author |
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 1:58 pm
Just getting it started. People are also welcome to create spoiler threads by chapters as well.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Friday, July 20, 2007 - 10:48 pm
I've got the book in hand, but too tired to "crack it" open, so was hoping to find some good spoiling here. Doesn't anyone else read the end of the book first? (I have ever since I was devastated when Beth died in Little Women!)
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Krissn
Member
07-09-2005
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 4:32 am
I just finished the book. AMAZING!!
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Krissn
Member
07-09-2005
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:12 am
Ok- I am dying to talk about the book and am in no way tired (despite the fact that it is 8 am my time and I haven't slept) so I'll give a little mini-review. I thought the book had flaws but overall it was a great wrap-up of one of the best stories written in modern literature. I loved how she dealt with Snape, Neville, and the Malfoy's. I felt a little more perplexed on her treatment of Lupin and Dumbledore. Although I can reason that Rowling expected an adult Harry to be able to still respect former heroes despite serious flaws it still saddened me when they lost their shine. I think this does highlight the importance of humanity after all and shows us why our Harry is so unique. I guess I am most disappointed that I never found out how Lily and James got together but I think that is more my love of the Marauders than actual important plot points. There is no doubt that endless references to the LOTR trilogy will continue but I appreciated the heroes' journey. Little Harry grows up to be Frodo Baggins after all. Look forward to hearing other's thoughts and I'll begin the audio so I can hear Jim Dale tell me the tale after I wake up this afternoon (probably at the same time as the BB Hamsters to go to Veto comp).
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Neko
Member
08-03-2001
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:24 am
I've wanted to talk about the book ever since I finished it 3 days ago! LOL I loved the book EXCEPT the epilouge! I would have been happy with it just ending with Harry, Hermione, and Ron in the Headmaster's office. I found the epilouge to be like a bad fan fiction, where people write about their favourite couples getting married and having kids that they ALWAYS name after people's parents. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't really care that Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione got married, and that Ted Tonks hooked up with Bill and Fleur's daughter. I don't know. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. To me, it felt like Rowling finished the book, then got pressured by the publisher to add on the epilouge. It, however, in no way caused me to not like the book!
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Msbullwnkl
Member
08-16-2005
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 8:29 am
I loved the book. I thought the Epilogue was needed. JK Rowling has been "dogged" by the fans and press as to who is giong to pair up. Ever since we get the first hints that there may be a romance betwwen Ron and Hermione. I think also it was important to show that almost twnety years later, everyone had learned how to live among each other. I would have liked to see more about what happened to the previous professors, but I will take what she gave us. I am THRILLED to see the ending with Neville and Mrs. Weasley in particular. I am going to try and get some sleep, then start to red it again at my leisure since I know how it ends. Maybe I won't cry as much this time. Nah, I will be blubbering again, I am sure.
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 9:48 am
Q1. Did these books ever answer the question I have about why of all those purebloods (Malfoy, etc) gave their allegiance to a mudblood (Tom Riddle) and how that came about? Sounds very much like the reign of Hitler. Q2. Did Hagrid ever apologize to Ron, Hermionie and Harry for causing them to be punished in the first book when they helped him with the baby dragon? I have never liked him since, especially since he was the one who carried out their punishment! TIA
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 10:59 am
I think maybe an epilogue was needed by the author so that we WOULD KNOW that it's the end. I like it much better than someone else writing the ending later. AND Much better than killing the characters off so no one else can write about them. Hmm, Krssn, how do Lupin and Dumbledore "lose their shine" and show serious flaws? This worries me, especially in regards to Lupin, one of my all-time favorite characters.
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Krissn
Member
07-09-2005
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 12:17 pm
Beth- Fear not. You will still be able to love them both just as much. They both just have some very human moments. I think my emotions were a little raw this morning but after some sleep and reflection, I think I understand exactly why Rowling made those choices and appreciate the depth she gave both characters.
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Reiki
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:01 pm
I would like an appendix to explain all the loose threads left after book 7. I am also curious to learn who didn't die who she originally thought would.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:28 pm
Still haven't cracked the book open! Since getting it last night, I've been busy doing caretaking for my father, just out of hospital. Could someone share who DOES die? And who got the "reprieve"?
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Reiki
Moderator
08-12-2000
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:42 pm
Beth, Wikipedia has a pretty good synopsis of the book along with the dead list. Here is that link: Wikipedia - Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallow I haven't read the book yet. Haven't even ordered it yet. I'm not generally the type who reads the last chapter of a mystery to learn who did it, but with this book I needed to know who makes it to the end.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 5:56 pm
Thanks, Reiki, for the link to Wikipedia. I looked over the "dead list" (what an odd name!), and I must admit that there are 2 deaths that I find very disturbing. I think I will need to read the whole synopsis before I take on the book. I am feeling in a very vulnerable place right now.
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Krissn
Member
07-09-2005
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:02 pm
spoiler space Surprisingly, I think little Dobby's death hit me harder than any other. That whole scene had me sobbing. The entire book is about one's relationship to death so while you can read the wikipedia death watch, I think it is handled beautifully and sensitively.
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Dolphinschild
Member
06-22-2006
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:11 pm
I read the Synopsis in Wikpedia too last night and with readying Dobby's death I did the biggest gasp of "OHNO" and I feel most disturbed by too. I know I will ball my eyes out over Dobby.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:15 pm
Wheee I got the book today.
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:21 pm
out of the whole list, that was the one that bugged me the most.
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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:22 pm
I guess we're still supposed to do non-spoiler first sentences, right? So here's mine....now here's what I really wanted to say. Reading the "death list", the two that hit and hit hard were Hedwig (don't laugh) and Lupin. Hedwig because I had never even considered it for one moment, and also in talking about going to the Harry Potter pre-release party last night, the big draw for me was meeting the live owls up close and personal. I stood in front row about a foot away from one and gazed into its beautiful eyes at 10:45 PM last night and felt like I could absorb its aura. So to read that Hedwig is whacked in the first part of the book....well, now I think it will be a while before I read it, maybe quite a while. And Lupin for some reason was an absolute personal favorite....also the last of Padfoot, Moony and Prong. Bad enough to lose Padfoot (did the book really explain why that was necessary, as Jo said?), why oh why did we need to lose Lupin too. I am really depressed.
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Dolphinschild
Member
06-22-2006
| Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 7:29 pm
Oh yeah Beth4freedom, I forgot, that was a big shocker for me too (Hedwig). I am going to ball my eyes out through this book.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 12:50 am
Just finished reading it, loved every bit of it. I loved the epilogue though I'm one of those who wants to know how it turns out years later. I managed to avoid every spoiler and even skipped my usual reading of the last page. Well worth the wait!
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Dolphinschild
Member
06-22-2006
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 1:23 am
I got my book this morning, but had a headache all day and my eyes wouldn't let me read. So hopefully I will get to read tomorrow 
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 5:25 am
Finished it at 2 am, that was just 6 hours ago. Am using my non-spoiler sentence to complain about my middle-aged tendency to insomnia. LOL I love the way the book ends, was very satifying and wrapped up all loose ends nicely, except... I am still upset that Rowling never mentions his grandparents. They should have only been in their fifties, sixties during the course of the book. You would expect them to be alive unless something extraordinary had happened. Not to mention James' brothers and sisters if there were some, also cousins, grandparents, etc. After all, all the pure-blood families are related, right? While Hedwig's death was not close to being the most important or upsetting, it was probably the biggest shock... least expected.
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Schoolmarm
Member
02-18-2001
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 6:52 am
I have the British edition. 607 pages, but the print is tighter. How long is the American book? FRED's death hit me the hardest. And I loved the epilogue. Reiki...what loose ends? I think she tied most of them up quite well. LOVED the chapter called "The prince's story" (the one with Snape's memories). Was it called that in your edition?
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Alisons
Member
01-10-2003
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 7:24 am
spoiler space Yes, the Snape memories chapter was also called "The Prince's Story" in the US edition and the book here had over 750 pages. I plowed through the whole thing and cried hardest at Dobby - I am really mad at her for killing him off. I was also very disturbed at Hedwig, especially that she was mad at Harry at the time of her death. Sucks. Did I miss what happened to Kreacher? Just about every major character had a role in bringing down V, and I liked that aspect a lot. The epilogue was totally unbelievable to me. So after all that, Harry rides off the to the suburbs in a minivan and becomes a soccer dad? Good for him, BUT..... I thought that about 200 pages of that book should have been edited out. I have thought that about the last three books. She got famous and they stopped reeling her in. Shame.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 7:45 am
spoiler space . . . . . . .. . . . Just about every major character had a role in bringing down V, and I liked that aspect a lot. SO TRUE!!! And I love that at the end Voldemort killed himself.. it's a fitting way for evil to die.
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