Warning: If you have not finished the book yet stop reading because I'll probably divulge something that you don't want to know.
Okay, I loved this book. Loved it! It turned out just as I'd hoped it would. There were several surprises that were good and bad. I loved that Harry and Ginny got together and that Neville was a professor of Herbology.I hated that Tonks, Lupin and Fred had to die. That was seriously sad. I knew that Harry would live and defeat Voldemort. The whole Deathly Hallows thing was certainly a twist. I didn't see that coming. I loved that Snape was vindicated. After reading the series over and over I had split loyalties over whether he was good or bad but I went with my very first impression, that Snape was good and he did everything for a reason. Seriously, I figured he hated James so much because he was in love with Lily. All of the great authors of our time wrote stories about men fighting or disliking each other over a woman. Now that's not exactly the case with Snape but it is a part of it.
One thing I kept thinking over and over was how the book mirrored the rise of Hitler. It did, think about it, Voldemort was working behind the scenes, gaining power,torturing and incarcerating people that were "Muggles" and supposedly inferior.Once he had power he used propaganda to confuse and instill mistrust amongst wizards. He singled out class of people. Why, because he feared them above anyone. His death eaters and scavengers were like the SS, rounding up people. Friends turned on each other and gave them over to the government. It all fits. I could probably sit here all day and draw comparisons. Interesting, isn't it?
I'm glad she kept the thread of friendship, courage, bravery, doing the right and honesty as the constant thread. She also showed the flaws in each character, how Ron could back out on Harry and Hermoine but then come back and save Harry's life. How Lupin would try to leave Tonks pregnant but then go back to her, how Dumbledore was inherently flawed; greedy, power-hungry, but he changed and became a better person, how Harry would save Draco even though they were mortal enemies, how Wormtail saved Harry to his own peril, how Dobby sacrificed his own life to save Harry, how Kreacher became endeared to Harry because of Harry's actions. The list goes on and on.
Some things I didn't like, besides the deaths were how in the middle of the book it slowed down, bogged down a bit, in fact, but I think it all fed into the story. Harry, Ron and Hermoine ran into trouble, were stuck and were bogged down in the search for the Horcruxes. I hated that Mad-Eye had to die and that Umbridge got away with keeping his eye on her door. The evil twisted old hag.
Overall the book also contained humor in the face of danger. I liked she inserted some laughter and jokes mostly by Ron. It kept it from being depressing at times. It showed that to persevere you have to have friends, courage and laughter. Kreacher was hilarious when he grabbed Mundungous and was beating him with a pot. I laughed hysterically at that and then he asked Harry if he could hit him once more. Too funny. Fred joking about being holey was funny too.
I liked how Harry named his kids James, Lily, and Albus Severus. In the end when he said that he was named after the bravest man he knew was touching. {tear}
In summary, I could keep writing but I really don't need to because I think all of the blathering has proved that I loved this book. It is probably my favorite. It's hard to say. Anyway, it turned out great, had some great lessons, stories, twists and turns to it without ruining the story. It even had a conclusion that I liked. Not that Ms. Rowling is supposed to write books that just appeal to me, but it could have been a disaster at the same time.
I'm sad that I will no longer be having the enthralling anticipation that I've had coming up to this last book. All the discussions and debates with friends and family are over. No more midnight parties and staying up until 5 in the morning reading the book (12:30-5:00 am, 9-11, 11:30-1:00, 2-3). Overall, I am so glad that my sister introduced me to these books. They are great beyond measure, something that any kid or adult for that matter should read. With that I'm going to say thanks J.K. Rowling for such an excellent series. I wish you would continue it but everyone's story ends at some point and onto the next great adventure.
