I feel the book would've read better if you didn't read the previous five books (though, of course, that is a very rare scenario) and I find that I like the book better if I over-analyzed it and supposed that the author did EVERYTHING on purpose. My favorite chapter is the last chapter, or more specifically, the last bit...
Harry looked at him, startled; the idea that anything as normal as a wedding could still exist seemed incredible and yet wonderful.
"Yeah, we shouldnt' miss that," he said finally.
His hand closed authomatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.
J. K. Rowling's writing skills are definitely getting better, though, as she is getting her character...shall we say...more depth? Her book is much more psychological and her style reads quite differently from, say, the first three books. I'm not saying it's better or worse, just commenting on that. She did a remarkable job of keeping the story's detail straight, unlike Frank Baum of OZ who abandoned the munchkins (sp?) by what? The third story? Bits of detail logic (as in supplementing the plot) seems a bit awry and overall the central plot and setting seems a bit worn around the edges, but that could be the fact that the book is well on its way to becoming a classic (at least among childr--er--people who are children at heart. Hem.). The pacing of the book is a bit odd at times but after my lessons in classic literature I will never take chronological linear time progression for granted ever again, and therefore I have nothing to complain about.
Also I noticed that all her characters seem to be gravitating toward the considered "norm" for muggles. As in all the characters are becoming decidedly more human. As in people are finally doing things such as showing impatience, weaknesses, fear, or doing things such as pleading, crying, or falling in love (or having a crush). I wonder if the frantic pairings are a result of Rowling becoming alarmed at the number of slash fan-fiction out there. Overall, I'd like to think that all this, out-of-characterish humanization is Rowling's attempt to show again that, despite of all their magical powers, they're really very human and not so different from you or me. And I'd like to think she did it on purpose, too.
Good read. Not brilliant, but strong enough to live up to its five older siblings.
Whoa I managed to give a book review without giving out much of spoilers. Think I should apply for a job writing book reviews for newspapers? lol
1 comment:
I think the pairings have always been in her mind (though i like your theory ;), as well as showing that "despite of all their magical powers, they're really very human".
It's like in the first chapter when the muggle prime minister is all "hey, you got magic, why don't you just get rid of the evil dude?" and the other minister says "the other side has magic too". It all evens out and comes down to basic human emotions, which will be the centerplot of book 7 probably (considering Harry's 'power' is Love)
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