Good Night, Sweet Prince
I finally finished the Harry Potter Series. I didn’t get to read it as soon as I'd have liked, due to a delayed pre-order and getting the flu, but now that it's over I am in mourning. I think I'm going to have to have to re-read the series; I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! I am overjoyed at the happy ending for some, and mourn the tragic end of other characters. I am also sad we didn't find out what happened to Luna 19 years later—I hope she ended up married to Neville, working Hogwarts too… maybe helping Hagrid with care of magical creatures, or taking over for Trelawney? I don't know. Anyway, I loved the last book as much if not more than the previous six and am so sad there won't be many more, but I understand J.K.'s reasons and respect them tremendously. Godspeed to all the future Potters and Weasleys and R.I.P, Severus… Love always, Shannonymous
posted by Shannonymous @ 10:54 AM
6 Comments:
From ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY MAGAZINE, July 13th, 2007:
“I’m having a day of mixed feelings: happy because I’m reading the manuscript of a novel that’s full of magic, mystery, and monsters; sad because it will be finished tomorrow and on my shelf, with all its secrets told and its surviving characters set free to live their own lives (if characters have lives beyond the end of a novel—I’ve always felt they do). It’s called THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON, by Lauren Groff. . .I expect to face the same feelings, only stronger, when the pages of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS dwindle down to the final few. Hell, I had trouble saying goodbye to Tony Soprano, and let’s face it—he was a turd. Harry’s one of the good guys. One of the great guys, in fact, and the same holds true for his friends.
The sense of sadness I feel at the approaching end of THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON isn’t just because the story’s going to be over; when you read a good one. . .those feelings are deepened by the realization that you probably won’t tie into anything that much fun again for a log time. This particular melancholy deepens even more when the story is spread over multiple volumes. . .When it comes to Harry, part of me—a fairly large part, actually—can hardly bear to say goodbye. I’d guess that J.K. Rowling feels the same, although I’d also guess those feelings are mingled with the relief of knowing that the work is finally done, for better or worse.
And I’m a grown-up, for God’s sake—a damn muggle! Think how it must be for all the kids who were 8 when Harry debuted in HARRY POTTER AND SORCERER’S STONE. . .Those kids are now 18, and when they close the final book, they will be in some measure closing the book on their own childhoods—magic summers spent in the porch swing, or reading under the covers at camp with flashlights in hand. . .My advice to families containing Harry Potter readers: Stock up on the Kleenex. You’re gonna need it. It’s all made worse by one unavoidable fact: It’s not just Harry. It’s time to say goodbye to the whole cast. . .Which leads to an interesting question—will the final volume satisfy Harry’s longtime (and very devoted) readers? . . .my guess is that large numbers of readers will not be satisfied even if Harry survives (I’m betting he will) and Lord Voldemort is vanquished (I’m betting on this too, although evil is never vanquished for long). . .The Internet blog sites will be full of “this was bad” and “that was wrong,” but it’s going to boil down to something that may will feel and few will come right out and state: NO ending can be right because it shouldn’t be over at all. The magic is not supposed to go away.
Rowling will almost certainly go on to other works, and they may be terrific, but it won’t be quite the same, and I’m sure she knows that. Readers will be able to go back and reread the existing books. . .and rereading is a great pleasure, but it’s not the bated-breath, what’s-gonna-happen-next suspense that Potter readers have enjoyed since 1997. And, of course, Harry’s audience is different. It is, in large part, made up of children who will be experiencing these unique and rather terrible feelings for the first time.
But there’s comfort. There are always more good stories, and now and then there are great stories. They come along if you wait for them. And here’s something I believe I my heart: No story can be great without closure. There must be closure, because it’s the human condition. And since that’s how it is, I’ll be in line with money in hand on July 21.
And, I must admit, sorrow in my heart.”
-Stephen King
What an amazing book and an even moe amazing series o books. You are completely right when you say that you want to go back and start from the beginning. I've heard so many people say that! I've been saying it all a long that Snape was my absolute favorite character and with this last book, I'm absolutely in love. Not only are the reason's for Snape's actions brilliant, but the fact that every little detail fits. And I love the picture you have posted. Phil and I were talking about that moment in the movie and he was telling me that J.K. had commented on that foreshadowing and how at first she didn't want to leave it in. I'm so glad she did. The one part of the book when I really had tears rolling, was when Harry uses the stone and his parents and Remus and Sirius come out and tehy are walking with him to Voldemort. Oh my GOD!!! I was surprised to see so MANY people die, but I guess she had to do what she had to do. I was also a little upset that there were certain little details not included in the book. Like, who is the headmaster now? Who is the Minister of Magic? What happened to Luna? Especially her. J.K. sets up this character and uses her in three books (maybe not a whole lot, but she plays a bigger part than say Dean or Seamus) and then we have no idea what happens to her. On the whole, this book was intense from the very beginning and will be remembered for a very, very long time.
Snape was always my favorite. Even back in books 1, 2, and 3. before I started to see the other side of him, I loved lothing him. Then I just loved the mystery of him. And now...fuck it I'd sleep with the guy. Of course he's dead so, well you get what I'm saying. I said to myself before starting this final book, If Snape ends up being a trully "bad guy" the whole story will be ruined for me. What a fantastik author. I know she has put Potter to bed, as well she should, but I can't wait to see if she ever writes something else. We must hang out soon, Squeak, and discuss in person and in more detail.
Sure! I'd love to hang out... just shoot me an email and let me know who you are, anonymous! =)
You should read her interview on cnn.com. She talks about all the characters and what happens to them much later. She answers some of your questions, Shannonymous. I loved these books and am so sad that I can't read them for the first time again. I miss the wizarding world already. At least I will get to discover it all over again in about 5 years when Thud starts reading the books!
I know!!!! I loved the Deathly Hallows so much! I read it pretty quickly so now I am re-reading for fun! I was devastated by the loss of Hedwig, Dobby, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, and Of course Snape! Every chapter from the beginning something shocking happened! It was amazing...her best yet! Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew so much! I love how Neville and the others took charge and became the rebels at Hogwarts. I was overjoyed that Ron and Hermione finally got it together! I too am sad that the series is ended, but now we can read them as often as we want. At least we've got two movies to look forward to! :)
Post a Comment
<< Home