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Do not read if you have not read the previous
Harry Potter books... Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows concludes the Harry Potter series that millions
of fans around the world have been following and waiting for.
As a new Hogwarts school year is approaching,
Harry, who has been given a mission by Dumbledore and who will not go
back to complete his education, has more serious things to worry about.
First, he has to be moved from the Dursley's home before his
seventeenth birthday, the day he comes of age and when the magical
protection will cease to
work. Then there are the rumors, announced by malevolent journalist
Rita Skeeter, about Albus Dumbledore: the late headmaster of
Hogwarts is not the example he was thought to be. Many elements from
his youth seem to indicate he has some skeletons in his closets...
Although Harry does not want to believe this, he starts to doubt a
man whom he thought close to him but who mainly remained a mystery.
But doubts or not, the task set before him by Dumbledore is clear:
he must find the horcruxes hidden by Voldemort and destroy them.
Hermione and Ron have sworn to help him...
The latest installment in the Harry Potter
series deals with the quest for the horcruxes, and with another,
more unexpected, hidden quest, the quest for the mysterious Deathly
Hallows. What the Deathly Hallows are and if their quest is
legitimate is of course answered in the course of the novel. We also
learn what fate is in store for all the characters. J.
K. Rowling had warned us there would be casualties, and casualties
are indeed to be expected. And as for Harry's fate itself, which has
been the object of many speculations, it is solved in the end,
whether satisfactorily or not is for the reader to say (my personal
opinion with spoilers in the bottom of the page...)
I think that this novel as a whole is a satisfying
conclusion to this great series. Despite a pretty slow beginning,
reminiscent of some scenes from the Lord of the Rings, the
action picks up, making it difficult to set the book down once we
pass the first 200 pages. I liked the fact that J. K. Rowling gave
more depth to some of her characters, and shows that good can be
found in unexpected places, or that it is never to late to atone for
errors of the past. Harry himself, by facing his fate, finally
becomes a hero in the true sense of the term.
I recommend this series to readers who have
missed it, to adults who think these are children's books, and to
those who think they'll watch the movies instead (the movies are
nowhere near as good as the books). Thank you J. K. Rowling for this
wonderful series, for creating these fictional characters we learned
to care about, all these magical places and devices, and these great
plots. Thank you for filling our imaginations with Harry's
world!
Rating:
© Discussing Books, 07/30/2007
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
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I read a couple of reviews from people
disappointed by the epilogue, who thought it was too polished, too
much of a "happy ending" for them. To these I remind that although
adults have adopted it, the Harry Potter series is primarily
designed for children. They don't need to have their favorite heroes killed off
or left to an uncertain fate. These kinds of endings are favored by
adults who become too cynical to suspend disbelief and accept a
"happily ever after"...
I think that the happy ending and reassurances for the future of the
heroes was a nice touch.
I also liked the fact that Snape ended up
being one of the good guys: I was like Dumbledore and unlike Harry:
despite everything, I always had a good feeling about him! |
Critiques