The Deathly Hallows (Spoiler Warning!!)

[Ape]

WARNING!
Do NOT read this thread if you don't want the book to be spoiled.[/size][/b]



I know, whenever I read spoiler warnings I have a hard time not reading on too. DON'T DO IT!
























































I am on chapter 4 right now. Hagrid just died (i think? I didn't read on to see if he made it actually) I never thought he would die, so I never saw it coming.

Edit- He lived! w00t!

[piñata]

Yeah, I thought Hagrid bought it in that scene too. Glad he lived, though.

So, did you finish the book? I don't want to post complete spoilers till I've got someone to discuss them with.

[Ape]

Yea I finished it a couple days after I bought it, but then I forgot about this thread. I enjoyed it, and I thought she closed the series off well enough. Though, I think Half-Blood Prince is still my favorite.

Also, I think most people disagree, but I REALLY liked how the book slowed to a near-halt right after they set off for the horcuxes. I just liked how it felt like they were accomplishing nothing. I think she did a great job of making it feel like they were out in the middle of nowhere with no idea what they were going to do. I liked how in the back of your mind you knew people were dying and Voldemort was taking over, but you had no way of knowing the details. Plus with each turn of the page I was worrying they would get caught.

The only thing that ruined that bit was Ron. He reminded me of Harry from book 5. I was so unbelievably happy when he left. I'm not sure if that is what she meant to do, but I started to hate the book when he started to be an asshole, and after he left I was excited about reading on again.

[piñata]

Goblet of Fire is still my favorite. Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows are about tied for second.

Things I liked: Starting the book right off (basically) with a fairly important character dying. I kind of expected Moody to buy the farm at some point, but I wasn't expecting it that early. It was a very effective way of emphasizing the sense of impending doom that permeates the rest of the book.

Fred and George making jokes about George's severed ear. Nothing can make those guys stop being the Weasley twins.

The way things seemed frustratingly slow during the early stages of the Horcrux search. I'm in agreement with you on that bit, Ape.

Everything Neville, Hagrid and my still-favorite character, Luna, did. They were awesome throughout the book.

The fact that "good" people weren't the only ones to destroy Horcruxes... I thought it an interesting twist that Crabbe helped Harry while trying to kill him.

Dobby's death scene. While it was sad, I'd been getting the impression for a long time now that he kind of wanted to die for Harry, so I thought JKR did him justice.

Learning more about characters that haven't been mentioned since the first book, like Ollivander, Griphook and, yes, Grindelwald.

Snape's death/Pensieve scenes. I thought that was a nice twist that he was in love with Lily.

Molly opening up a can of whoop ass on Bellatrix.

Things I didn't like: Ron being a dick in the early going. You're right on that point as well, Ape... it very much reminded me of JKR's earlier mistakes in book 5.

Xenophilius Lovegood. He was a jerk.

Lupin and Tonks dying. They'd just had a baby, for fuck's sake.

Voldemort's death scene. It seemed the introduction of Sectumsempra, which I thought was a nice, not Unforgivable way for Harry to kill Voldemort, was wasted. It was a total pussying out on JKR's part. In fact, I was disappointed with the lack of mangled Death Eater bodies in general... I've always felt the Order of the Phoenix weren't really taking the war as seriously as they should, and their continued lack of willingness to use deadly force makes me think I'm right.

I also thought that reintroducing Umbridge for only a single chapter and having nothing worse than a Stunning Spell happen to her was a wasted opportunity.

[Ape]

I agree with pretty much everything.

I've never been a big fan of Neville, but I thought the stuff he and the DA did at Hogwarts during the year was pretty cool.

Even though the early horcrux slowness was frustrating while I was reading it, now that I am finished, I think it was actually my favorite part. We were essentially reading page after page of absolutely nothing, but I still just liked the sort of helplessness it made you feel as a reader.

Dobby's death was like a knife to the chest (d'oh.) Even though I figured he'd end up sacrificing himself to save Harry, I still didn't want it to happen.

I liked what was revealed about Snape. I knew he couldn't be completely evil, yet being a complete ass to Harry would be pointless unless there was a reason for it. So the fact that he absolutely despised Harry yet would do anything to protect him pleased me.

I also thought Voldemort's death was, anti-climactic, to say the least. I was expecting so much more when they finally fought eachother face to face.

Xenophilius was indeed a dick.

Also, the stuff that happened in Bathilda's house was crazy.

[piñata]

Yeah, that was a really creepy sequence in Bathilda's house. I couldn't believe the snake was inside her... wonder how they're gonna do that in the movie?