Disappointment Was: Deaths in DH WAS: Re: Dumbledore (but more Snape)

[gary_braithwaite]

No: HPFGUIDX 177517

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

> <Snip> 
> I'm curious. Did those of you who hated the last book find *anything*
> at all to like or admire about it? Humor? Suspense? Terror? Grief?
> Remorse? A real villain instead of a cardboard one? A flawed mentor
> instead of a perfect one? Harry's ability to see certain characters
> (Snape and Draco in particular) more clearly--finally? Anything at
> all? Forgive the cliche, but I found the book an emotional roller
> coaster ride, full of surprises, moving from laughter or excitement 
to
> almost unbearable grief and back again (and occasional moments 
killed him
> <Snip> 

Gary B. -

Carol, DH is a book that I am deeply ambivalent about especially after 
I had time for a second reading.  Unlike its predecessors, it does not 
improve with re-readings. 

Its strong points are brilliantly written scenes, scattered 
throughout, such as ch 16 with Harry and Hermione at the end together 
arms around each other listening to the xmas music in the cemetery; 
the aftermath of Dobby's death and Harry's decision to bury him 
without using magic; and the walk through the woods to met LV and his 
presumed death.  A nice touch with his cousin after so much has gone 
between them.  An affecting backstory for Snape (who gets his final 
release by literally giving away his painful memories)as well as for 
Dumbledore.  A certain ruthlessness with the sudden dispatching of 
Hedwig, Moody, Dobby, Snape, Fred, etc. which gave the book an 
atmosphere of unpredictability.  A recognition that Harry must die for 
him to succeed (well, almost die).  I cannot wait for her to move 
outside of the confines of "children's literature" to see where she 
might go as a writer based on this evidence.

Where the book has short comings is a basic story line that has gone 
off track -- these poor kids wandering about for chapter after chapter 
are supposed to be the hope against LV and his allies?  Where is the 
support mechanism?  Where are the adults?  Kingsley and any other 
survivors of the OofPhoenix?  Where is Dumbledore's plan?  Snape? So 
much depends on bizarre accident -- a major instance, Harry happened 
to be at the scene to witness Snape's death where he gains the 
information necessary for his walk.  Oh, the seemingly worthless 
inheritance -- if Dumbledore was worried about Harry's mind-link to 
LV, why couldn't he just share information with Hermione to feed Harry 
as needed.  If so worried, why did he take Harry with him after the 
Horclux in HBP?  Plus the convoluted set of events/situations that 
allow Harry to survive his two confrontations with LV and generate 
much discussions on the internet (as the cliche goes -- have your cake 
and eat it, perhaps).  Ch16 is followed with the strangely written ch 
17 where Hermione breaks Harry's wand?  Sorry that writing is a little 
too...

As the clever creator of this universe, Rowling is entitled to finish 
her story in her own way.  However, there is an in-your-face quality 
to the epilogue which seems to express her feelings about fan fiction 
(actually she is right -- 99.9% of it is bizarre if not ... well, I am 
lost for the precise word here) as well as other of her readers.

Gary B.