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A review by jenni_elyse
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
5.0
There are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk.
Each time I’ve read/listened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I’ve cried. I can’t help it. There are so many emotions that go through me as I read this book. I cry because some of my favorite and most beloved characters die. I cry because it’s the end of a story, a story that means more to me than any other story, a story that helped me discover the wondrous world of reading. I cry because of the adventure, an awesome adventure I was/am able to be a part of.
I felt so bad for Harry when Hedwig died. He had no time to mourn her. It was so sudden and there was so much going on at the time. She was his only link to the wizarding world during the summers when he was with the Dursleys. She was one of his only links to Sirius when Sirius was on the run. She meant so much to Harry. I was just so sad and angry when she died. I wish she had just been set free so he didn’t have to worry about her when he was hunting Horcruxes. But, in war, people and animals die. I’m glad Rowling didn’t take the coward’s way out and keep everyone alive, even though I didn’t want to see any of them die. But, why couldn’t Rowling have just spared Harry’s owl?! At least she had a more dignified, heroic end in the movie. It’s the only thing I prefer in the movies over what happens in the books.
Dobby’s death was the hardest death for me. I know Dobby was the “Jar Jar” of the Harry Potter universe, but I loved him. I loved his unwavering loyalty to Harry. I loved all the help he gave Harry over the course of five years. And, I think he died how he would’ve wanted to die, saving Harry. The burial was so tender and so heart-wrenching. I sobbed.
As soon as Lupin and Tonks made Harry Teddy’s godfather, I knew Lupin and Tonks were dead. I knew Rowling was going to mirror Harry’s life with Teddy’s, but with a happier childhood because of Teddy’s loving grandma and Harry.
I love the epilogue. I didn’t find it cheesy in the least bit. Sure, the name Albus Severus is something to be desired and I think it's a bit out of character for Harry to name one of his sons after Snape even with his sacrifice. I also wondered why all their kids were named after people who meant something to him and none after people who meant something to Ginny. Even with that, I still loved the epilogue. I laughed and cried. I wanted to know more, but I love what we get to see and that Rowling has answered questions about more in interviews and on Pottermore.
I loved learning about Dumbledore’s past and family. I knew that Rita Skeeter would have some truth in her book. But, I also knew that she’d have it wrong and make it worse than it really was. After Aberforth and Dumbledore told Harry what happened, it made so much sense. And, it just made Dumbledore seem more human and made my love and admiration for him grow.
I also loved learning more about Snape. We only saw tidbits about his past here and there and they were usually jaded because we saw it through Harry’s eyes and didn’t get the full picture. I loved learning the truth about Snape and all it entailed. Not only did it show us how much Dumbledore understood Voldemort and how much Voldemort didn’t know anything at all, we also got to experience some of Lily and Petunia’s childhood.
The first time I read Deathly Hallows, I just wanted to know what would happen. I devoured it and I lost out on a lot of the detail. With each reread, I notice more details. I’ve noticed that there really isn’t that much camping involved. Rowling just glossed over some of the smaller places Harry, Hermione, and Ron visited. But, they did a lot while they were searching for the Horcruxes and the sword. I also laughed and smiled more during this read because I wasn’t always anxious about what was going to happen next since I already knew.
Deathly Hallows is, by far, my favorite book in the series, although Azkaban is my favorite story. I just loved seeing all my questions answered. When I first read Deathly Hallows in 2007, I had made a list of unanswered questions, no matter how insignificant I thought they were, and I loved finding out the answers. I love the complexity of this series and how much detail is involved in everything right up until the end.
Each time I’ve read/listened to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I’ve cried. I can’t help it. There are so many emotions that go through me as I read this book. I cry because some of my favorite and most beloved characters die. I cry because it’s the end of a story, a story that means more to me than any other story, a story that helped me discover the wondrous world of reading. I cry because of the adventure, an awesome adventure I was/am able to be a part of.
I felt so bad for Harry when Hedwig died. He had no time to mourn her. It was so sudden and there was so much going on at the time. She was his only link to the wizarding world during the summers when he was with the Dursleys. She was one of his only links to Sirius when Sirius was on the run. She meant so much to Harry. I was just so sad and angry when she died. I wish she had just been set free so he didn’t have to worry about her when he was hunting Horcruxes. But, in war, people and animals die. I’m glad Rowling didn’t take the coward’s way out and keep everyone alive, even though I didn’t want to see any of them die. But, why couldn’t Rowling have just spared Harry’s owl?! At least she had a more dignified, heroic end in the movie. It’s the only thing I prefer in the movies over what happens in the books.
Dobby’s death was the hardest death for me. I know Dobby was the “Jar Jar” of the Harry Potter universe, but I loved him. I loved his unwavering loyalty to Harry. I loved all the help he gave Harry over the course of five years. And, I think he died how he would’ve wanted to die, saving Harry. The burial was so tender and so heart-wrenching. I sobbed.
As soon as Lupin and Tonks made Harry Teddy’s godfather, I knew Lupin and Tonks were dead. I knew Rowling was going to mirror Harry’s life with Teddy’s, but with a happier childhood because of Teddy’s loving grandma and Harry.
I love the epilogue. I didn’t find it cheesy in the least bit. Sure, the name Albus Severus is something to be desired and I think it's a bit out of character for Harry to name one of his sons after Snape even with his sacrifice. I also wondered why all their kids were named after people who meant something to him and none after people who meant something to Ginny. Even with that, I still loved the epilogue. I laughed and cried. I wanted to know more, but I love what we get to see and that Rowling has answered questions about more in interviews and on Pottermore.
I loved learning about Dumbledore’s past and family. I knew that Rita Skeeter would have some truth in her book. But, I also knew that she’d have it wrong and make it worse than it really was. After Aberforth and Dumbledore told Harry what happened, it made so much sense. And, it just made Dumbledore seem more human and made my love and admiration for him grow.
I also loved learning more about Snape. We only saw tidbits about his past here and there and they were usually jaded because we saw it through Harry’s eyes and didn’t get the full picture. I loved learning the truth about Snape and all it entailed. Not only did it show us how much Dumbledore understood Voldemort and how much Voldemort didn’t know anything at all, we also got to experience some of Lily and Petunia’s childhood.
The first time I read Deathly Hallows, I just wanted to know what would happen. I devoured it and I lost out on a lot of the detail. With each reread, I notice more details. I’ve noticed that there really isn’t that much camping involved. Rowling just glossed over some of the smaller places Harry, Hermione, and Ron visited. But, they did a lot while they were searching for the Horcruxes and the sword. I also laughed and smiled more during this read because I wasn’t always anxious about what was going to happen next since I already knew.
Deathly Hallows is, by far, my favorite book in the series, although Azkaban is my favorite story. I just loved seeing all my questions answered. When I first read Deathly Hallows in 2007, I had made a list of unanswered questions, no matter how insignificant I thought they were, and I loved finding out the answers. I love the complexity of this series and how much detail is involved in everything right up until the end.