Thursday, July 26, 2007

Finally, the silence is broken...

Look left. Look right. Clear the kids from the room. Anyone who has NOT read the new Harry Potter book and does NOT want it spoiled for them should skip this post.

Okay, you already know I loved it.

In Book 6, there was a lot of the same old thing happening. Harry don't do that - then he did it anyway. Partial conversations were overhead that always led people to the wrong conclusion. People were killed? No wait, survived. No wait, someone else? No survived. Like a cat and mouse game throughout the book. Annoying. (mind you, I read it anyway.)

But this one was more like a roller coast ride that you bought your ticket for, got in the car, tightened the buckle and then just held on while is zoomed up and down, then zigged and zagged. Not unlike trying to get to your vault in Gringots I presume.

And now for the spoilers.

Can you believe they killed Harry?

Just kidding!
I must say, the part where Voldemort broadcasts his desire for harry to come out in one hour conjured up visions of the Wicked Witch flying over Oz writing "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky. Seriously, I couldn't shake that image for the rest of that chapter. It made me view Voldemort as much more comical that I should have... in a black billowing cape... painted green...

I want to know how Neville got the sword. Last thing I read was the Goblin had it. Did I miss a page?

If you're going to include an epilogue to tie things up, then what happened to Hermione's parents? So much was made about them moving away and forgetting they had a daughter. Then, nothing.

What happened to the Dursley's?

Ok, let's talk in the comments... I believe Carolyn and Rachel are about to bust...

27 comments:

The T-Dude said...

Yes, loose ends but wonderful. I too wondered about those left in hiding. I guess we are to assume that they never were found and therefore were fine.

I want to know what that lump of crying baby was all about when Harry was talking to Dumbledore. Was that the remains of Volemort's fractured soul? Is that the part that was in Harry or what was left in the Dark Lord?

And frankly, when I'm trying to save the wizarding world, I don't know if I'm going to take the time to save a whiner like Draco -- twice! I guess that's what makes Harry better than me.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Yes - after much discussion on the uber fanatics HP forum I'm on we all decided the baby was Voldy's soul. Remember - the only way to heal that kind of fracture is remorse, which is why Harry offered Voldy one last chance for remorse and redemption.

And Harry didn't kill Voldy - he didn't use the AK - he used Expelliarmus and it was V's own curse that backfired on him.

And remember CoS - where the phoenix brought the sorting hat to Harry in time of need and Harry pulled out the sword. Neville, a hero in his own right, was brought the sorting hat at a time of need (he stepped forward to combat Voldy) and was laughed because all he got was the hat - but Griffindor's strength is in courage. So he got the sword. The goblin I think lost out on his bargain. I don't the sword was really Harry's to bargain away. It belongs to Hogwarts.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

And I so loved it when Mrs. Weasley stepped in and called Bellatrix a bitch and went at her! Yay!

Jim said...

Lyle also believed Neville got the sword form the sorting hat. He said it was implied. That I need to recall that it happened in a previous book that way.

Well, ha-rumpf! I don't wish to assuming. I don't like having to recall things from previous books that I read a year (or years) ago. I have so many other things to remember, like we're out of bread, or to pick up dry cleaning...

But then I did assume the crying lump of flesh was something to do with Voldemort's soul. So I think we all agree on that one.

The T-Dude said...

V's soul, but is it what was left in side of the dark load or was it purged from Harry? I think there is a big difference. If it the remained of what resided inside Volemort, then Harry still has a bit of Voldemort inside him.

I am WAY over thinking this...time for a glass of wine.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

I believe it was the bit that was purged from Harry when he sacrificed himself. That's what I believe.

Did I already tell you guys Rowling might be writing an encyclopedia of the HP universe? I think that would be cool.

Chandra Rooney said...

Rachel is correct. The baby was Volde-in-Harry that was purged. Recall that the entire chapter takes place within Harry, and that the bit was attached while Harry was a baby.

Did anyone else reach that line about "All was well" and turn the page looking for the rest of the epilogue? You know, the scene of Al getting a weggie and Scorpius coming to his rescue.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Yeah - I really wanted a longer epilogue. You know what else I want? A novella of what happened at Hogwarts whilst the trio was traipsing around the countryside. I want to hear about Ginny leading a charge to get the sword and about Michael Corner getting beat up trying to save a first year and Neville being a fine example of Gryffindor bravery.

J't'adore Neville Longbottom!

Chandra Rooney said...

It all begs the question... is this really the last book?

I'm all for Rowling moving onto her next project--she's an author, of course she has a next project--but I think she will return to this world.

(Hasn't she said she's not fond of fanfics?)

Carolyn said...

Well, Rowling did already apply for a nd receive a patent on one more Harry Potter title. Whether that is for the encyclopedia or not has yet to be determined. I too was wondering what happened at Hogwarts while Harry and Ron and Hermoine were out wandering around England like Moses and the Israelites in the desert. I also would have liked a lot more about Snape in this book. How did the whole headmaster thing work for him? I loved how he was both good and bad and I cried when I realized his entire motivation was his love for Lily. Sadly, the man died a virgin. Harry, on the other hand...wouldn't he have been tempted to go out and sow some of his own wild oats after saving the entire wizarding world? I'm thinking there would have been some pretty grateful witches out there. I mean, ginny is cute and all, but he was a ROCK STAR after killing (sort-of) Voldemort. I realize that Harry was the christ-like character but I think that after all he had been through he might have had a few butter-beers and gotten laid. No? And, what careers did all the characters choose? Neville became the Herbology prof, but did Harry become an Auror? What happened to the Malfoys? Why kill Tonks and Lupin...leaving yet another orphan? How did Tonks and Lupin die? One minute Tonks is ruching off to find Lupin and the next minute they are lying dead next to Fred. Oh! And speaking of Fred...why not kill one of the other Weasleys? I loved Fred, although, as my friend Vicky pointed out, if you kill off one of the twins you still have the other. I would have rather seen Neville die (sorry Rachel!) or Hagrid.

Carolyn said...

I meant RUSHING not RUCHING.

Carolyn said...

Oh yeah! One more thing...wasn't it funny how Snape helped Harry by providing him with the sword and led him to it with the doe Patronus...but made Harry dive into freezing cold water to get it! So passive-aggressive. Love it!

Rachel V. Olivier said...

I think Harry joined the Chudley Cannons as a seeker after that - maybe had some firewhiskey or butterbeers with Krum occasionally. Then either became a coach or an auror or both.

I think Hermione works for MOM - maybe in the dept of mysteries or something maybe more logical. Maybe she's at St. Mungos as a healer since she was rather good at patching things up (glasses, splinching, wands, etc).

I think Ginny is DEF. an auror since she kicks ass and I bet anything Ron helps out at the store with George and that Percy still works at MOM, or maybe at Hogwarts.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

And I also think it will be cool that years from now kids will play "Harry Potter" just like they play Star Wars or Wizard of Oz or Cinderella. "I get to be Ginny." "No - you're too know it all - you have to be 'Ermionee." "But I want to date Harry!"

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Oh! One more thing - I wonder what would happen if Dudley and Draco should meet.....

Carolyn said...

My kids play Harry Potter already! It's a riot. I remember Brenna coming home fit to be tied that one of her friends always got to be Harry at recess and she never did! Tony also thought that Harry became a Seeker for one of the Quiddich teams...but then he would be even more of a rock star! Is Harry impervious to temptation??
Do you think that JK is going to write a whole new generation of Hogwarts students into a book series, or do you think she is done?

Jim said...

Ok. I think Harry is already so "pure" he would never think of doing anything with anyone except Ginny. See that all you bible preachers telling us that the devil is Harry Potter. He is all about waiting for marriage. What could be more Church-like?

I think Hermione went to work at the Ministry of Magic in the Muggle division... as an entry level intern. By the time she turns 40 she will be The Minister of Magic.

I think Ron took a job in the back warehouse of Fred & George's business. He needed to get out of the glare of the spotlight. He coaches little league quidditch for his children.

I think Percy now works closely with the oversight committee of the MOM. He has seen the worst and guards against it.

Harry doesn't work. He does special speaking engagements and is a consultant against the dark arts. He has been invited to join Hogwarts numerous times, the last time he was offered to be the Head Master. Still he turned it down. He is seeking a quieter life with Ginny and the kids.

Ginny is Carolyn. She leads a quiet life full of humor involved in local activities and has a blog to tell everyone what she really thinks while she smiles benignly...

I think after all they've been through, they seek quieter lives out of the spotlight. Focus on their children and teaching them good values. Clearly they've seen hos important all that can be.

Draco on the other hand wants to be a rock star.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

That sounds about right. I could see that. Ginny as Carolyn -- hmm -- does that mean T-dude is really Harry Potter!

I wonder where he hides his broomstick.

Carolyn said...

Yeah! I love Ginny! Deep down inside she's really a bad-ass, just like me!
And as far as Tony's broomstick goes...well, where he hides it depends on the day, if you know what I mean. Sometimes Ginny lets him play with it, and sometimes she doesn't.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!

Carolyn said...

Okay, I have no idea what that stands for. A little help....???

Jim said...

Don't feel bad, she does that to me all the time. She means, "Rolling On the Floor Laughing Mouth ?? Open." What the hell is the "A" for?

Anonymous said...

Rolling On the Floor Laughing My Ass Off.

The T-Dude said...

Rowling fills in the blanks on what happened after the book ended:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/07/30/potters.afterlife.ap/index.html

Rachel V. Olivier said...

What anonymous said....

Rachel V. Olivier said...

Ah-ha! Great link! If anyone has a problem finding it, just go to the front page of CNN for today's news and it's there.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

And here's the mugglenet link:
http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/1156