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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) |
Ahhhh, I love that feeling you get when you can check something off of your to do list. I can finally do that for all 4,100 pages of the 7 Harry Potter novels. (Yes, it's an EXACT page count; please withhold all comments regarding my nerdiness, I already know.) It was a thrilling ride, and I have to say that I was missing out on something great whilst I was refusing to read them simply because they are popular. (Again, refrain yourself from making the dweeb comments.)
This book picks up right where the last left off, with Harry newly returned to number 4 Privet Drive days before his 17th birthday. He is grieving the loss of Dumbledore and is also trying to figure out how to accomplish the mission of destroying the remaining 5 horcruxes Voldemort has created in order to attempt to achieve immortality. The action in this last book starts right from the get-go when 6 members of the Order of the Phoenix ingest Polyjuice Potion to make themselves identical to Harry so as to hopefully confuse the Death Eaters as to which Harry is the real one while they attempting to move him to one of the Orders' safe houses. There is a massive airborne battle between the 2 groups, and the ever-growing list of casualties continues to grow.
The majority of the book is spent following Harry, Hermione, and Ron as they try to figure out what and where the horcruxes are, as well as how to go about destroying the one they already posses. Throughout their travels, this little group also learns (by means of the items that Dumbledore bequeathed the trio in his will) of the possible existence of the "deathly hallows" - a trio of objects that allow the beholder to overcome death itself. Now their search is expanded to include those items as well. This little band of friends accomplishes a few pretty amazing feats, not the least of which is ***spoiler alert*** breaking into Gringott's bank, rescuing a dragon, and attempting to steal a valuable item right out of the ministry of magic. ***
One of the ideas that runs throughout this novel is that there is a shadow cast upon the reputation of Dumbledore. Harry genuinely questions the character of his greatest mentor, and it's a struggle that Harry must deal with throughout almost the entire story. Also, the idea that either Harry of Voldemort will have to die in the end is brought to the forefront of the story as the end draws neigh. There are also seeds of discord sown into the tight little group of the three friends as tensions run high. It's interesting to see how all of these intricately woven ideas exhibits themselves through the story to provide the reader with a fantastic piece of literature to enjoy as we watch the tensions build and the ensuing war finally take shape.
As expected, this is the most "adult-oriented" book in the series, and it tackles some really intricate ideas.. It was really really exciting to see all of the loose ends get neatly tied up as the book (and series) drew to a close. Ms. Rowling did an extraordinary thing with this entire series by being so intricately detailed. i could really see that she had the whole storyline drawn out before she even wrote the first book. It is evident that she knew what she was trying to accomplish from the very inception of the books. It's hard to accept that the series has come to a close, and that there is no more for me to enjoy, but it was a great ride while it lasted, and I hope this isn't the last we hear from such an amazing writer.
Cheers to you Ms. Rowling!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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