Hogwarts, Up or Down

[DetUudslukkelige]

So you're staying at home with the door locked until you've finished reading it, right? 

That, and I'm going to drive to the bookstore to pick it up with a blindfold on and earplugs in. That'll make sure they don't get the chance to spoil it for me, one way or another...

[karlhenning]

Well, so how many had finished reading it before Sunday dawned? 

[Harry]

Did not even had time to buy it, let alone read!

[karlhenning]

Hmmm.

Harry Potter and the ruthless retail giants

[Steve]

Well, so how many had finished reading it before Sunday dawned? 

I had mine finished by 8AM Saturday... 

[Greta]

Just finished here today. Really intense in places, and some beautifully written chapters. She did a great, great job, amazing how complex  the plot is, the scope of the world she created.

There's actually a lot of social commentary in Harry Potter, for a children's book, it deals with some heady stuff, direct references to the Holocaust and the Nazi regime and a 9-11 ring to the closing battle.

Great ending and close to the series, if a little cheesy, should make a really neat movie.

[KevinP]

It was only a couple years ago that someone explained to me that Harry Potter is NOT the name of the author.

My wife started reading them so I have seen the movies on DVD since.

[DetUudslukkelige]

I have read the book twice now. I finished it at 10:00 AM the day it was released the first time, then took it at a much more leisurely pace, finishing it two days later.

I have heard a lot of criticism of the Epilogue, and I am torn. Without giving away any plot details, I'll say that on one hand, I think it was well-written and not so cheesy as some would say, however, I do wish it would give more detail about what each of the characters would go on to do with their lives - for instance, only one main character's profession is revealed, that I can remember. I suppose, though, that is more a problem with my expectations than with what she wrote.

As for the rest of the book, I think it was well-written and it certainly ended in a way that I think will please the most people possible (not everyone, granted). I know there were people who were really hoping that Harry would/would not die (Not saying which, just in case), and that everything would fit into their own ideas of how literature should work, but I think in the basics it's just about as good as it will get. It's got a good amount of tragedy, but it still gives the idea that things are probably going to work out in spite of that tragedy. The plot and character development is obviously well planned and thought-out, to top it off. It seems to be a culmination, rather than just an ending.

[Larry Rinkel]

I do wish it would give more detail about what each of the characters would go on to do with their lives - for instance, only one main character's profession is revealed, that I can remember.

She has intimated in an interview that an encyclopedia filling in such details may be forthcoming, at some indefinite date in the future.

[karlhenning]

She needs a break now, but why throw away a future opportunity to bank millions more?

[pjme]

Never felt any urge to read the Potter stories.

However, my eldest sister (62 now) took up English again (evening school) some years ago,and reads the Potter books as some kind of fun exercise.

[longears]

She needs a break now, but why throw away a future opportunity to bank millions more?

Well, after a few billion one stops counting millions. 

[DavidW]

I read the novel in one day, loved it!

For those that have read it, you might enjoy this tv-without-pity style recap (i.e. plenty of snark), I thought it was funny.

http://diogenes-sinope.blogspot.com/2007/07/potterdammerung-mega-spoilers.html

[DavidW]

Hmmm.

Although we'd had some good times at Hogwarts, deep down we weren't wild about Harry, and the freedom of finally confessing this secret to each other made us feel like co-conspirators.

That author somehow equates the popularity of Harry Potter with everything wrong with declining interest in reading novels.  Rowling didn't do that, the tv did it, and that's not news, it's very old.

And then he points at the collapse of diversity of books at newspaper stands and what not-- that was amazon changing the business model and driving smaller chains out of business.

And what about the dozens of other brilliant fantasy authors who could take them places that little Harry never dreamed of?

Most sf/f/horror authors that are top of their league are #1 Times bestsellers.

Karl, this article is so retarded.  This silly critic is just having a temper tantrum because Harry Potter is popular, and he doesn't like HP.  I can't believe this is the Washington Post. 

[DavidW]

Hmmm.

Harry Potter and the ruthless retail giants

That does suck.  This has actually been going on for a long time-- the 40% discount the big chains offer on bestsellers that drive small stores out of business.  If it makes you feel better, I checked my copy out of the library.

[DavidW]

I have heard a lot of criticism of the Epilogue, and I am torn. Without giving away any plot details, I'll say that on one hand, I think it was well-written and not so cheesy as some would say, however, I do wish it would give more detail about what each of the characters would go on to do with their lives - for instance, only one main character's profession is revealed, that I can remember. I suppose, though, that is more a problem with my expectations than with what she wrote.

I agree, the denouement of such an epic series should be as important as the climax.  The epilogue was a great let down in that regard.  You need to explore the consequences of what happened, Rowling failed to do that.  The novel should have been a hundred pages longer to really bring closure to the story.  She had time to do it, she finished that novel years ago.  And if you check out certain dates in the book, it seems that she wrote at least part of it years ago.

[karlhenning]

. . . I checked my copy out of the library.

Excellent, David! 

[orbital]

I went to the bookstore and just out of curiosity took a copy and read the last page.  I am in the know 

[karlhenning]

For those that have read it, you might enjoy this tv-without-pity style recap (i.e. plenty of snark), I thought it was funny.

http://diogenes-sinope.blogspot.com/2007/07/potterdammerung-mega-spoilers.html

Oh, this is rattlin' great good fun!

[Mahlered]

I read the novel in one day, loved it!

For those that have read it, you might enjoy this tv-without-pity style recap (i.e. plenty of snark), I thought it was funny.

http://diogenes-sinope.blogspot.com/2007/07/potterdammerung-mega-spoilers.html

Ahahaha! This is fantastic! It was hard not to laugh out loud when I read it - I had to curb that because I was reading at work, and I work in a library. Thanks for linking!