Why down on all the characters?

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 179309

> Alla:
SNIP, SNIP, SNIP
> Oh, and epilogue? LOVED. It is sugary, absolutely, but through
> the seven books which I went on this journey with Harry, I felt
> very much that he wants a family first and foremost and that he
> would not be happy without it. I would have feel cheated had
> she not showed it to me - that Harry indeed got what he wanted
> as I felt.

> I loved that all dearly and OMG, books are on my list of the
> books I will be rereading with so many books I love in my life.


Alla, reading some of these posts makes me feel really sorry for
the people who were so disappointed.

I could probably name a bunch of things I was disappointed
about.... let's see, I wanted Mrs. Figg to be the person who
did some magic in later life. I wanted there to be a huge FINAL
scene in which Dumbledore was killed (not in the 6th book! I
was depressed for a couple of weeks!). I wanted Snape to save
Harry from Voldemort at the last minute, and THEN die himself
(okay pretty close). I did NOT want Snape to be in love with
Lily.... that seemed to pat an answer for me.. I thought Harry
was WAY too hard on Lupin..... but of course, he was young and
it was understandable. The camping scenes were enervating,
but I thought JKR was trying to involve us in how the trio
felt (tired, cold, lost, irritable, fighting, unhappy). And
yes, I've already been told by the literary experts on the
list that it's not supposed to be what authors do.. and I do
understand that authorial intent is passe in literary circles
these days..... (so much for the debate about Edith Wharton)..
I guess it's only in Greek tragedy that the authors were trying
to invoke pity and fear so that their audience could purge
themselves of emotion... What else? JKR loves Ron Weasley,
and I can't stand him. I don't understand how Hermione could
ever have been interested in such an immature, insecure
person... but to each her own (and no, I am not, nor ever
have been an H/H shipper).

I absolutely don't agree with the house elves psychology of
slavery stuff at all on a RW political level... I understand
internalized oppression, but think JKR vastly underestimates
how many slaves want to be free..... so I have to suspend
judgment on that to still enjoy the story... maybe it was
all those years of practice switching genders in the books
where only the men were heroes, and all the women were
fainting and squealing..that allows me to ignore some
things that I don't like. I could have done without the
Hallows.

The whole morality thing -- what I don't understand is that
some people seem to think that J.K. Rowling should have been
absolutely consistent and clear about morality in the book --
but who amongst us is always clear about morality? Who amongst
us always acts in moral ways? Whatever happened to giving
someone the benefit of the doubt? (You know the old, he or
she who is without sin should cast the first stone.... yes,
I know I'm misquoting the Bible, and I'm not a Christian,
but I think it's an admirable sentiment.)

I love happy endings..... so I saw the epilogue as "the hero
triumphed and they all lived happily ever after."

What did I really like about the book? Her portrayal of
Dolores Umbridge and the way in which evil people take
over was so right on it was terrifying...

I loved:

the wedding.... the Potterwatch resistance broadcast....
Aberforth and the passage from the Hogs Head into Hogwarts..
Neville's tremendous development as a person, his grandmother
dealing with poor Dawlish and arriving to join the fight, his
pulling the sword of Gryffindor "out of the hat".. how SO MANY
people were integrally involved in Voldemort's demise.....
Horace Slughorn still in his silk pajamas arriving with
reinforcements at the critical moment.... Kreacher's
transformation... and how I actually felt SORRY for
the Malfoys... whoa!..... for a while, although I didn't
summon up any sympathy for Crabbe "what's a die-dum?"..
Minerva McGonagall calling up the castle guardians, and
sending the desks charging down the hall, Percy skidding
into the castle at the last minute (although I am not so
instantly forgiving as his family was).... Dumbledore and
Harry's final talk...

I could go on and on.. don't have the book with me, so this
is from memory...

Susan