[HPforGrownups] Sadness in books (was Tolkien vs. Rowling)

[Katze]

No: HPFGUIDX 32227

Elizabeth Dalton wrote:

...<munch>...
> 
> I love Tolkien's work, but, like Ealasaid, I don't re-read it often. There is so
> much sadness in real life already. I need a reminder of what's good about real
> life-- friendship, courage, hope, kindness, and justice. Pain is too easy to
> remember already. I hope I'm wrong about where Rowling is headed with the HP
> series. If, in the end, I'm right, it will be hard for me to even re-read the
> earlier books, knowing where the story is headed. This series will become
> another that I re-read once every 10-15 years or so, rather than one I pick up
> when I need a pick-up, so to speak. Brilliant, but too sad to read more often.
> And I would regret that.
> 


I also feel very weary about the rest of the series. I actually wish I
hadn't read book 4 until the entire series was out, simply because of
the angst that I felt when I was done reading it. It's almost too easy
for me to see a dark sad ending for this series and that upsets me. 
There is a vague sense up hope at the end of 4 (Harry feeling better,
the twins making their shop) but that is all that I can find that is
uplifting in the book. I don't see 5 or 6 being any better. And, since
I'm a believer in the final battle scenario, I don't see 7 being bright
and happy either. The last chapter might be, but I guess it depends on
how you see the books and characters to decide whether the chapter was
uplifting for you. Simply stated, if Harry is dead, it doesn't matter
how many happy, flowery words she uses, the ending will not be happy for
me. Even is V is gone, and good has been restored. I'm very worried that
she's going make Harry a tragic hero, and either kill him in the process
of the killing V, or strip him of everything wonderful in his life at
the end, much like Elizabeth was saying about Frodo. I'm planning on
reading the book on a Friday, so I can have the weekend to grieve, if
she does the tragic hero ending. 

Wishing the same thing as Elizabeth, that some clever list-member can
convince me not to worry...

-Katze