Do not read this post if you have not finished HP7 and care about such things.
I am warning you. Seriously. Don’t read on! Well, it’s not really a big spoiler, but… don’t read it!
I finished a few moments ago and I can’t stop crying. Weeping, I’m weeping. I am mourning the end of something beautiful, a fantasy world that will never be the same, a story that is done. I just don’t want it to be over. Real spoilers are in the comments.
I was so glad Snape was good, and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny lived, and Voldemort was defeated, and we got such a sweet look into the future. But the story will never be the same. I can’t wait to share it with my girls.
i was so glad about snape too. this was the first book i wasn’t actively snooping for spoilers ahead of time. i just wanted to enjoy it…well, i read the epilogue at midnight, then went to bed and actually read it this morning. i’m not one for surprises, even though there were plenty.
What a wonderful book! I could hardly think of a more perfect answer to the many people who have attacked Rowling as a pagan writer.
Wasn’t it just gorgeous!? Oh my goodness, the emotion poured into this book is just incredible! I am feeling smug about my belief in Snape, I must confess, and in my prediction that Voldemort really had to kill the part of himself that was in Harry, not Harry himself. The epilogue was so sweet, funny, and poignant: a perfect balm to ease jittery minds after all that tension. And I totally agree about the justification of Rowling. The blatant theological overtures, and the references to Lewis’ and Tolkein’s and L’Engle’s themes should quell any snide remarks about paganism, even though there will always be those who cannot get past the setting/means.
More spoilers (from a lurker, but I have to talk to someone about it!)
I am still trying to process the whole thing. I was in shock when Hedwig and Mad-Eye died so early, but I didn’t break down until Dobby died (and tearing up thinking about it). I was so happy to see all the redemption in the story–Kreacher and the Malfoys especially. I like how she made Malfoy bear witness to it all and to feel remorse for it so that he will not continue the cycle. And Mrs. Weasley! Didn’t you just love her? That was one battle I knew the outcome of before it started! I hated that Fred died; I thought she was done with the twins when George lost his ear; I wonder if she just put all of the Weasley’s names (except Ron and Ginny) in a hat and pulled one out. I could never hve decided to kill one of them. And Tonks and Lupin! Truly the last stand at Hogwarts was a story of true love and heroism, and one of our own Christian faith as well. Love, sacrifice, courage, redemption…AND I’M CRYING AGAIN!
Yeah. I think that Harry vindicates Snape by naming his kid Albus Severus and obliterating the class distinction between houses was absolutely breathtaking!
I loved the story, but it was exhausting (especially to read in a single day) as it was really just one long climax (with momentary crescendos in the excitement).
Ditto, Seth. M. and I had a good conversation about that yesterday. We don’t see Harry grow much in his wizarding prowess, but he certainly grew in the area of his prejudices, and the fact that he didn’t just acknowledge that Snape was good, and Dumbledore’s man, but forgave and understood him enough to name a son for him, and call him the bravest man he ever knew, was, indeed, breathtaking!
I really, really hope I’m not the only one who caught the Scripture quotes in Godric’s Hollow. As soon as I saw the second one, I nearly immediately knew what was going to happen. :)
Until I read the last book, I placed Rowling in a class just below the likes of Tolkien and Lewis, great literature, but not likely to make it to “classic” status. I’ve officially changed my mind. The last book, and how seamlessly it wrapped up the first six, was breathtaking. I was most moved when he was trudging to “Golgotha” with his dearly departed bearing his burden for him. Beautiful. And I can’t wait to share it with my children too, Kristen.
I finally got to finish the book just now (11:14 sunday night). I got a late start last night and then there was church and life etc. What a great ending! I caught the Biblical references as well, and was also correct in my suspicions that Snape really was a good guy. I figured one of the Weasley twins would go- but was surprised at Tonks (figured Remus was a goner.) I also was astounded that Hedwig was killed so early on in the storyline.
Shane (hubby) just finished reading the Sorcere’s Stone for the first time and is starting Chamber. I am really glad that I re-read all the books immediately prior to the new one, because it had been a while and I had forgotten about the whole Horcrux thing.
Someone however said that “Someone who has never done magic before will do so in this book.” and I don’t think I noticed anyone new being magic- anyone care to enlighten me? I figured it would be Aunt Petunia or Dudley.
And oh- my favorite line from the whole book? On the very last page when all the kids on the Hogwarts express are staring at the parents on the platform… Ron saying “It’s me. I’m really famous!”
Now I can go see the new movie and not worry about someone spoiling Deathly Hollows for me.
Speaking of Dudley, I really liked all the resolutions that came about in the book. It was really written with the fan in mind (in fact, Book 7 sometimes reads as glorified fan fiction). Small moments like Dudley at the beginning and Malfoy’s curt nod at the end were little satisfactions the helped make the book fulfill everything I wanted from it. I wasn’t in the least bit sad that the series was ended as I turned the last page because Rowling completely* satisfied me.
*NOTE: The only thing I could think of wanting to know was Harry’s profession in the epilogue.
I finished it this morning–alone, because up until last night in the wee hours Gaines had been reading it aloud, but I couldn’t make it and fell asleep. And in a way, I’m glad it was a private moment, because I was weeping when Lupin appeared in the forest…thinking about his son growing up without him but yet knowing why he died.
And oh, the aching longing. This book points more than any others to the renewed life that awaits once we “go on”…just thinking about it makes me glad– Rowling is just brilliant, and I’m glad I could be alive in the day when she wrote this great tale, though I so wanted it to continue…
The Dane– I was thinking the same thing– what was Harry’s occupation?! Will she ever tell us?
JKR has said previously that she might write an encyclopedia of sorts about the characters’ pasts and futures and some magical history… I’d love that. I felt like NOT telling us what the trio are up to leaves that door open.
Oh, and the ending? I want to be Mrs. Weasley when I grow up. :)
I absolutely freakin’ LOST IT when Lily said “You’ve been so brave.” and when Dumbledore acknowledged that Harry was selfless and a better man. And when Dobby died.
Read the entire thing aloud to my husband. My throat hurts.
What happens to Luna?? That and Harry’s life’s work (after Voldemort) were what I felt missing.
Luna married Malfoy. Obviously.
Manders, I AM Mrs. Weasley.
SmocknMama, you’re now officially my hero.
TOTALLY. It was a great scene, and the momma bear in me was cheering loud!
I loved that Mrs. Weasley really showed her stuff in the end, but really, until that scene, I never really liked her. She’s a rather oppressive force across the stories—an over-bearing mother who, though meaning well, ultimately pushes her children and husband away and toward subterfuge. You can appreciate her love for her children but at the same time it’s pretty easy to see how suffocated her family might feel—especially Ron and Ginny—and how it wouldn’t really take all that much to turn the children toward resentment (especially in either Ron’s sullen case or Ginny’s willful one). Mrs. Weasley walks that line between loving her children and provoking them, and walks it none too gracefully.
She isn’t my model of motherhood, but I think she has to be that overbearingly maternal for the sake of Harry. It takes a mom like that to “adopt” Harry, especially from the distance of the Burrow. If Hogwarts were a day school (the whole series would be ruined, but) and he could spend regular time with a family, they would be able to be much more low key.
That’s fair. I still wish she’d have toned it down a bit. I would have found that kind of atmosphere stifling – as I’m sure the Weasley kids do (even if Harry’s happy for any kindness being the abused orphan and all).
You know it’s funny. So much of what you all are saying about Mrs. Weasley. Because I have always really, really liked her. Granted, she is NOT the model of motherhood, but I totally understand her.
Here she is, a mother of 6 without much money, a husband in a job that does not really have any “future” (meaning – not a lot ladder to climb to continue to care for what he loves and for those he sees a need) and she makes sure that there is always food, hot food, on their table. They don’t have a nice house, they are cramped, they have to have/buy used goods and not worry about “keeping up with the Joneses”. While trying to balance all that is involved in raising a large family (because large family logistics are very, very different) with many boys – and yes, boys are different – and then doing all this during a time of great turmoil and strife all around them. She shows them a great amount of love. She is a very good manager of her home and what she has to work with. She loves them all very deeply and she does show it with every ounce of what she does for them and makes for them. Oh, I could say so much more about her.
Me: a mother of 6, married to a “man of the cloth”, a minister – a job that does not offer much of a ladder to climb, we are cramped in a three bedroom house (that we rent), we buy a lot of used goods. And we were attacked directly through our children (by other family) and have spent the last four years worrying and working out legal matters to protect our children. So I get that mother bear instinct in her throughout the books, not just the ending (but I loved that fight most) but the difficult balance of making sure your children are safe and knowing that a great deal of that responsibility is yours while understanding they are individuals of their own and need to have some length on their leash as well as independence. when to lengthen that invisible leash and when to let go of it completely is a very hard thing to decide when there is alway eminent danger waiting just around the corner. My husband lost his job because of the decision we made to “pull a Mrs. Weasley”: get away from our children and cause them/us no more harm!
[This is almost a direct copy of a post I am working on for my blog.]
See, I don’t mind Mrs. Weasley because I know women who make her look tame by comparison (like, they wouldn’t have sent their 11-year-old kids to Hogwarts, period, because it wouldn’t be safe). :) I do wonder, though, if that’s why Charlie went off to Egypt, so he wouldn’t have any risk of his mom cutting his hair at all, haha.
fyi, Rowling has revealed what she held back in the epilogue, including what the trio are up to: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/19959323/ You can also watch the video of her interview.
I saw that! I was super excited that I was right about Harry and Ron, but I expected Hermione to become a healer at St. Mungo’s. Oh well!
I would just like to add that I have been in that room where JK Rowling was sitting in the photo with the kids! Edinburgh Castle- what a cool locale to do an interview (and to tour if you ever get the chance! I will have to watch on Sunday for the Dateline show.
*sniffle, sniffle*
We just finished. Have been reading it aloud all week. When his parents joined him in the forest, we totally lost it. Neither could read.
Hey- I may have figured out who FINALLY did magic at a later age. Did any of the books ever mention Trelwaney actually doing magic (other than the couple of prophesies- do those count as magic anyway?) She has a mention of floating her crystal ball out the window in the Deathly Hallows, and that is the only time I remember hearing her do anything truly magical.
Just finished my second reading of the book- it was as good as the first time around!
We finished it last night. (I was reading it aloud to Hubby and the boys.) Oh, wow. *sigh* Wow.
(And Smocknmama–love your Mrs. Weasley analysis.)