Reflections on DH (Long and Spoilers aplenty!)

[joyfulstoryteller]

No: HPFGUIDX 172524

Well, I thought I would read through all of the posts already made and reply to them in 
some grand conglomeration of replies, but then I realized that I was continuously about 
100 posts away from finishing no matter how fast I read them!  So instead I am going to 
post my views and note where someone (or many) expressed similar thoughts...

My first overarching reaction was that this is almost my favorite book except for the 
Epilogue (and I'm not alone in that).  Mostly I felt that the epilogue (which was supposedly 
written long ago) didn't reflect JKR's growth as a writer...I don't mind a hearkening back to 
the innocence of the first book, I don't mind (too much) that many characters I wanted to 
hear resolution about were not included in it, but I was hoping that it would reflect not 
only the growth of the characters but the growth of the writer.  I thought that it could have 
been longer, or else that there needed to be one more chapter between the victory and the 
epilogue to tidy things up a bit.

I loved the opening chapter...even though I was leaning toward the DDM!Snape, I had a 
few doubts and thought he might possibly be "in it for himself" so this chapter gave me 
the shivers.  I also liked the way it showed the fall of the Malfoys from a powerful, sleek 
and influential family to worn, frightened and desperate individuals who were sneered and 
jeered at by the other DE's who had previously cowered before them.

I sobbed at the death of Snape and The Prince's Tale...I agree with JKR that Snape is a 
horrible man, but I also believe that he truly learned the error of his ways and paid dearly 
for his mistakes in life (and I was so glad to have him confirmed as DDM! or at least 
LILY's).  I felt in many ways that this chapter also showcased how in many ways Petunia 
was similar to him... prejudiced, looking for the worst and seeing it, holding a life-long 
grudge fueled by jealousy and unfufilled desire.  I always did think that Snape was the one 
Petunia referred to when she mentioned "that horrible boy".  I was creeped-out by the 
obsessive/posessive nature of the young Snape's "love" for Lily Evans, and felt great pity 
for him that it took her choosing to die to save her son, rather than choosing to save 
herself, to bring Snape to examine his behavior and beliefs.

Like many, I missed that "the person who would perform magic very late in life" has been 
Merope in HBP.  It hadn't been clear to me that she really was a Squib, I just thought she 
was too terrorized to bring the proper focus to spell casting.  Plus being 20 or so doesn't 
seem to qualify as being "very late in life" to me, so I was feeling frustrated about not 
seeing some character in DH begin to do magic and I'm still not sure I'm satisfied about it.

How I goggled at Dudley's reaction to realizing that Harry wasn't coming with them into 
hiding!  

Dobby's funeral was a wonderfully touching (and three handkerchief) moment, I loved the 
way they dressed him... a free elf indeed standing up to the Malfoys.  Kreacher's 
transformation was also a joy to read, I was firmly in the Regulus as R.A.B. camp, and so I 
really liked this part of the story. 

I thought that Ron getting the parseltongue for Open was perfect!  He's been shown to be 
an excellent mimic throughout the books, and this was a good use of that talent (plus he 
was finally showing some initiative)!

Someone mentioned that they felt the Fiendfyre cast by Crabbe in the RoR was a bit too 
convienent, and to this I say in my best Jack Sparrow immitation "Hello! Room of 
Requirement!".  The very magic of that room is such that Harry's need to destroy the 
diadem upon finding it might have led Crabbe to cast that spell.

I wanted to know if Lavender died or lived...when last we hear of her she is feebly 
twitching...  I too thought that the deaths of Remus and Tonks were unnecessary, or that 
they ought to have at least gotten more exposition.  

I thought that the Hallows storyline was a bit spotty.  I liked it, and yet there were bits of it 
that I had a hard time believing (mostly the wandlore).

I suppose that the Potters have so much gold because they were descended from a very 
old wizarding family, but we still don't know if James or Lily had careers, and I thought 
that was supposed to be important somehow.  Speaking of careers, why do we only know 
about Neville's?  And does Luna end up with Dean?

I'll probably get my thoughts more well organized as I continue to reflect.  I've read it 
through twice now, so in a few days I ought to be leaping into the analytical fray.

apologizing for any run-on sentences =)

Joyfulstoryteller