HP7 - Spoilery babblings

[feliciakw]

Um, wow.

Just finished HP7 tonight. Then I had to pull together a meal for some of Geo's work compatriots. So I didn't get to post while I was still on my high.

But wow. That was one wild ride.

So much has already been said about it, my favorite points already pointed out by others. There's just so much to love about this book. And most of the moments I love are character moments.


I went into this with what I now call the Hoban Washburn Effect. This is the mindset that says, "You're all gonna die. And if you don't all die, then I'll be happy for those who are left standing." So I didn't cry my eyes out the way I did at the end of HBP. With HBP, I was only half expecting it, and that wasn't until I started reading the book. With HP7, it's the final cosmic battle between Good and Evil. There will be casualties.

That's not to say I didn't cry. I cried when Ron took of his shoes and sock and put them on Dobby's feet at the graveside. I cried off and on throughout the battle at Hogwarts. Often those tears were accompanied with laughter--tears (of appreciation? Understanding? Thanks?) for the enthusiasm of those going into battle, laughter through the tears for the tactics of the battle. Trelawny throwing crystal balls at Fenrir, for example. Or Kreature leading the house-elves. Or McGonegall marshalling the troops--and the desks. Tears when Harry opened the snitch.

Then there were moments that were not made of tears, but were heart-clutching moments (as in I clutched at my heart)--Lupin and Tonks laid out in the Great Hall, for example. Or when Hedwig was no more.

One scene that will stay with me is when Harry saw the painting in Luna's room--Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, with "Friends" encircling it in gold script.

So much of this book is so cinematic, and yet, given my disappointment with the movies, I fear it will not live up to my imagination. But I totally want to see Daniel Ratcliffe do the final duel with Voldie.

And how disappointed was I that the Trio didn't take to calling him Tom Riddle? Very, very disappointed. I suppose the argument could be made that he was more reptile than Riddle by the end, but still, to call him by his common name would have been so wonderful.

Potterwatch was a stroke of genius.

If I listed all the things I liked about this book, I'd be rambling all night. One thing that wasn't a "bad" thing, but does take me getting used to whenever I get involved in something like this, was the "quest" structure of the book. More than a straight narrative, this had bits and pieces, episodes that don't seemingly relate to one another, but do. In these kinds of stories, I always have to flip back to refresh my memory on how something happened, or at what point the characters did this, that, or the other. It's not a straight cause-and-effect type of thing; it's much more rambling and twisty and turny. Admittedly, I've not read a lot of fantasy in my time. I'm more of an action/adventure/mystery person, where the narrative is more or less linear. So I'm not saying I didn't like that aspect of the book; it just took some getting used to, I guess.

And I should probably get to bed now.

Having blown through the book in five days, I might have to re-read it soon.

Good stuff.

Comments

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

I loved Potterwatch and Luna's ceiling painting. *hugs Luna* This book was so overall dark and grim that the heartwarming moments and the bits of delightful humor were all the more brilliant and precious in contrast. McGonegall and her battalion of desks made me so happy! CHARGE!!