Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[alohabear]

What do you think will happen to Harry?
I think Harry should die a hero, JK needs to make it a final book.

This is what JK said will happen....Harry will turn 17. He will be allowed to perform magic outside school, and obtain an Apparition license.

Harry and his friends would be in his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - however, we don't know if he will attend class at all, or if Hogwarts will be open.

Harry will return to the Dursleys one last time.

He plans on starting his Horcrux hunt in Godric's Hollow. Ron and Hermione will accompany him, but the trio will first attend Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Seventh-year students will take NEWTs, the most difficult of wizarding tests.

The last chapter will contain details of what will happen to survivors. The last word is still "scar" (but may easily change).

There will be no Quidditch.

Harry and Ron will never read Hogwarts, A History. Never, Hermione. Ever.

There will be the final, climactic confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. (Harry's going to win, Harry's going to win, Harry's going to win...oh, sorry. That's just our opinion. Sort of. In a not-very-unlikely-opinion sort of way.)
I can't wait!

[scrivener]

i can't wait either. this is going to be a dark and depressing novel. i don't get something in your post, however. is that really stuff she said about the next book? why would she say all that and add that it was just her opinion? since she's the author, hers is the only opinion that matters, right?

and is she speaking in the Royal "We?" super annoying, if so.

[pzarquon]

Please cite your sources (http://the-leaky-cauldron.org/#book:7).

This is a collection of notes by Harry Potter fans of various reveals that have been made by Rowling in various interviews. Some are direct quotes, some are summaries and paraphrasing. The "Harry's going to win" squee was apparently added by whomever cut-and-pasted the notes to this blog (http://www.populationfive.com/2006/12/speculation_thing_that_may_hap.html).

[alohabear]

Please cite your sources (http://the-leaky-cauldron.org/#book:7).

This is a collection of notes by Harry Potter fans of various reveals that have been made by Rowling in various interviews. Some are direct quotes, some are summaries and paraphrasing. The "Harry's going to win" squee was apparently added by whomever cut-and-pasted the notes to this blog (http://www.populationfive.com/2006/12/speculation_thing_that_may_hap.html).well put....they are good guesses to think of tho'.

[DannyWilliams]

Anyone knows the supposed target date on this final book?

The way Half Blood Prince ended I wanna know..........

Does Rowling REALLY kills off Dumbledore and Snape made me go WHAT THE?!?!?!?

[alohabear]

Anyone knows the supposed target date on this final book?

The way Half Blood Prince ended I wanna know..........

Does Rowling REALLY kills off Dumbledore and Snape made me go WHAT THE?!?!?!?rumors say 07/07/07....but who knows:eek:

[DannyWilliams]

rumors say 07/07/07....but who knows:eek:


Strange, tieing in with the movie release of OOTP egh?:D

[alohabear]

On her site JK Rowling announced the publication date of the last book:Thursday 1 February 2007
Publication Date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be published on Saturday 21st July 2007 at 00:01 BST in the UK and at 00:01 in the USA. It will also be released at 00:01 BST on Saturday 21st July in other English speaking countries around the world.

source (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=97)


Can't wait!

[alohabear]

In a few days the world will know how Harry Potter will end. IMO, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has the BEST prediction I've heard So why not this ending? Harry eliminates all but one of Voldemort’s horcruxes. The dark lord’s life is now reduced to this undulating welt on Harry’s own forehead. To kill Voldemort, Harry must kill himself and is about to, as millions of readers recoil in horror and anger, when who steps out of the shadows but Snape to explain to Harry that there is another way that the last horcrux, Harry’s scar, can be removed, but at one dreadful price.

Harry can survive it, but his magical skills cannot. To finally vanquish Voldemort, save Hogwarts and Hermione and Ron, and, in fact the magical world, to say nothing of the J.K. Rowling franchise for decades and generations to come, Harry Potter must give up being a wizard. Not bad, huh? The series ends up with self-sacrifice. Uplifting self-sacrifice, but not the commercially disastrous death of the hero. And readers 100 years from now will still be buying the Potter books or getting the Potter chips injected into their brains, or however people read come that day. We will just have to wait and see......

SOURCE (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19436954/)

[Random]

Hmm. I wonder if JK Rowling is pretty much set for life, after the release of the last HP book.

I mean, what is she planning to do afterward? Announce her retirement?

[alohabear]

Hmm. I wonder if JK Rowling is pretty much set for life, after the release of the last HP book.

I mean, what is she planning to do afterward? Announce her retirement?
She's set for life, I'd sayWith a few flicks of his magic wand, Harry Potter has turned Rowling into a billionaire (we estimate she's worth $1 billion). She's one of only five self-made female billionaires, and the first billion-dollar author. If I was JK, I'd retire and count money all day.


SOURCE (http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/26/cx_jw_0226rowlingbill04.html)

[Adri]

I saw an interview with Emma Watson in which she was wondering what she'd do post-HP. She said she (and presumably the other main HP actors) wouldn't have to work again if they didn't want to. I assume JK wouldn't have to ever work again either but I hope she keeps writing.

[Random]

I assume JK wouldn't have to ever work again either but I hope she keeps writing.
But what would she write?

Would she allow other writers to write about the Harry Potter Universe ... without Harry Potter?

[alohabear]

Do Not click on the link if you don't want to have the book spoiled for you.
This is the ONLY real spoiler I've seen. So don't click on this link to see what really happens.....http://www.keithandthegirl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7319
You've been warned!!!

[glossyp]

Despite all the uproar about the early shipping of some of the books, I was surprised to see this at one of the blogs I visit from time to time. More an indictment of the AP's journalistic ethics than anything else. Vodka Pundit (http://www.vodkapundit.com/).

[Adri]

But what would she write?

Would she allow other writers to write about the Harry Potter Universe ... without Harry Potter?

Well, she was talented enough to create a world. Hopefully she can create another world. or perhaps stay in the world she created and just move on to other characters. :)

[Random]

Well, she was talented enough to create a world. Hopefully she can create another world. or perhaps stay in the world she created and just move on to other characters. :)
Yeah, but it won't be as good as her Harry Potter works. I think she peaked too soon for a fiction writer. Anything she write afterward is just second-rate.

[Adri]

Yeah, but it won't be as good as her Harry Potter works. I think she peaked too soon for a fiction writer. Anything she write afterward is just second-rate.

Ah, well. In that case, she can just luxuriate in the high life and be one of the idle rich ;)

[kupomog]

Found out my absolute favorite character dies in this book. Awesome. Thanks JKR http://nohomers.net/images/smilies/headbang.gif

Hoping I can get this early on Saturday, and if not, I hope I can bribe people to take me to the mall before/after the collector's show at Blaisdell.

[pzarquon]

So, who's furiously reading through "Deathly Hallows" this weekend? I know lots of people who are sequestering themselves from TV and the web until they're done, given the fact that there are always jokers dead set on ruining things for everyone.

Did you go to any midnight book sales? I was curious how things went at our local bookseller here in Mililani, but decided I liked sleep better.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/865944813_15f6ca0aa2_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/865944813/)

Here's the latest title stacked up near the entrance to the Costco in Waipio!

[Leo Lakio]

So, who's furiously reading through "Deathly Hallows" this weekend?AF picked it up when our neighborhood bookstore opened at 8 this morning; she read it in 6.5 hours. I'll probably start on it sometime tomorrow, but expect to read it over the course of several days.

[Miulang]

I'm not planning to buy it, but I thought one "review" of the book on cable news yesterday was kind of interesting: since the movie version of the series is still two books behind, will as many people want to go to see the last two sequels if they already know what happened in this final book?

Miulang

[scrivener]

I went last night to the Ward Centre Borders. I didn't pick up the book for reasons I've already explained, but enjoyed the vibe and the crowd. One twenty-something cutie was dressed as a golden snitch, which was cool. There were, for obvious reasons, a lot of Cho Changs in the costume contest. The coolest costume I saw (I didn't watch the contest -- I was reading for my thesis on the lanai) was a dementor, at least seven feet tall.

I've resigned myself to the fact that it's going to be spoiled for me before I get to read it, which won't be until mid-August. Ah well.

since the movie version of the series is still two books behind, will as many people want to go to see the last two sequels if they already know what happened in this final book?
Yes. See The Lord of the Rings, Holes, and Bridge to Terabithia for confirmation.

[kupomog]

Okay now I'm just plain pissed because my fave character's death is completely glossed over and not even mentioned and you just find out later "oh and by the way so-and-so is also dead." That freaking annoys me more than anything. Plus there's stuff related to it storywise that really makes me go :'(

Oh. Yeah. Got it at midnight, just finished it about two hours ago after a nice nappy for the eyes. Overall I'm...not really sure what I feel about this. Barring the fave character thing, this was pretty depressing, yet amazingly exciting. However certain parts seemed sloppy and the epilogue was...not very satisfying. I dunno, really mixed feelings on this book. Another reading and another day will probably help me sort my thoughts out.

[Adri]

I wasn't going to get it just yet but I happened to see it on sale and picked it up on impulse. So I was bad and read the last couple pages and will go back and start reading it from the beginning when I have time.

[pzarquon]

Heh. I, too, grabbed a copy in Costco, just to read the last two pages. Not to ruin it for anyone else, or anything, but just out of curiosity. Curiosity stoked by what is most certainly the biggest singular literary event in recent history.

I only read the first book and part of the second, and think I'll never get through the set. But the phenomenon of Harry Potter has always fascinated me. It's odd to think that, in a sense, it's reached its end. Upcoming films and possible spinoffs notwithstanding.

I'd definitely like to hear from folks who read Deathly Hallows as to whether they liked it or not. Without any plot details or anything, was it worth it? Does the end of the story do justice to the entirety of the series?

[alohabear]

The biggest shock will be when we all find out Darth Vader is Harry's Father too and that the whole series was a dream of Dudley Dursey's after LARGE meal !:p

[Linkmeister]

I'd definitely like to hear from folks who read Deathly Hallows as to whether they liked it or not. Without any plot details or anything, was it worth it? Does the end of the story do justice to the entirety of the series?

Yes. Particularly some revelations about the motivations of characters we (or I, anyway) thought we knew.

[MonkeyMan]

The biggest shock will be when we all find out Darth Vader is Harry's Father too and that the whole series was a dream of Dudley Dursey's after LARGE meal !:p

HEY!!! NO SPOILERS!!!!

:D

[Adri]

It's not my favorite of all the HP books, but it does tie up a lot of loose ends and there were several really nice points. There were surprises but not the kind that left me feeling like the surprises didn't fit in to the existing storyline and the things we had discovered about the characters along the way to this point.

Spoilery question What was up with the flayed baby, though? It was so discoradant with the scene that I'm sure it's supposed to symbolize something but I just don't get it right now without feeling like I'm fanwanking. Oh well, I did read it fast. Maybe it will make more sense when I've reread it.

[kupomog]

I think the baby was meant to be Voldemort's soul.

[Adri]

kupomog: Ah, that makes sense :)

[Leo Lakio]

I mean, what is she planning to do afterward? Announce her retirement?But what would she write?Well, here's one project:
“J.K. Rowling told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira she will most likely publish a Potter encyclopedia, promising many more details about her beloved characters and the fate of the wizarding world beyond the few clues provided in the seventh book’s epilogue.

While Rowling hasn’t officially started writing the encyclopedia, although she’s got plenty of material from the stories left on the cutting room floor over the past 17 years.

“I’ve said before that Dean Thomas had a much more interesting history than ever appeared in the books for me, and you just see glimpses of it,” Rowling said. “But to write it really would take us into prequel territory. And that does take us into Star Wars territory. And that’s not really a place I’m planning to go.

“So there’s always been bits that I knew about characters that didn’t make final cuts because they weren’t that relevant.” ...

Fans will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on Rowling’s next Potter work.

“I’m not going to (write the encyclopedia) tomorrow because I’d really like a break,” Rowling said. “So you may be waiting.”

Source (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/24/big-news-name-of-character-given-reprieve-stated-by-jo-says-she-will-write-hogwarts-encyclopedia)

[dyasu]

I'd definitely like to hear from folks who read Deathly Hallows as to whether they liked it or not. Without any plot details or anything, was it worth it? Does the end of the story do justice to the entirety of the series?
Having been someone who has never read any of the Harry Potter books, I do not think that my opinion will weigh very heavily. However, I have seen all the movies up until now and my girlfriend absolutely loves the series so I will update later with her input once she's done reading. I cheated and looked up online how it ended :P

From my point of view, the way that the series ended was very disappointing. It just seemed to lack a sense of creativity, which made it a very empty and unfulfilling way to finish the story. There was all of this buildup with a lot of background story and mystery... and then the ending was written so simply.

[Leo Lakio]

From my point of view, the way that the series ended was very disappointing. It just seemed to lack a sense of creativity, which made it a very empty and unfulfilling way to finish the story. There was all of this buildup with a lot of background story and mystery... and then the ending was written so simply.Harry Potter? Or The Sopranos? :p

[dyasu]

Harry Potter? Or The Sopranos? :p
Haha! Actually I thought the way the Sopranos ended was hilarious. It could swing two different ways depending on interpretation. I kind of liked it.

[alohabear]

A Non- Spoiler Review:
A+! Five Stars! JK Rowling has done it again. Not since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has a Harry Potter novel been so good. I would hate to be the screenwriter for this one because to leave out anything, would not do the book 7 justice. You'll laugh, you'll cry and yes, dear readers you will get PISSED OFF at JK a lot( I know I did) , but you'll love this book. This is not a book I would recommend to any young reader under 13 years old, only because of the violence and harshness of it and adult themes.

[Random]

Well, here's one project:


Source (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/24/big-news-name-of-character-given-reprieve-stated-by-jo-says-she-will-write-hogwarts-encyclopedia)
Maybe she should start with a Hogswart student's handbook.

[alohabear]

In Europe they have children's and adult editions of the novel. I wonder what the difference is?

[Leo Lakio]

Maybe she should start with a Hogswart student's handbook.Like a follow-up to these (http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Schoolbooks-Box-Set/dp/043932162X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6168999-0296959?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185687057&sr=8-1), from 2001.

[sophielynette]

In Europe they have children's and adult editions of the novel. I wonder what the difference is?


The only difference is in the cover artwork. As I recall, the adult editions were created so that adults wouldn't have to be embarassed about reading a "kids book" (ie, childish cover) in public (bus, etc). Of course, the name is so widely known, and displayed promininetly on the cover, that it seems pointless now.

[alohabear]

The only difference is in the cover artwork. As I recall, the adult editions were created so that adults wouldn't have to be embarassed about reading a "kids book" (ie, childish cover) in public (bus, etc). Of course, the name is so widely known, and displayed promininetly on the cover, that it seems pointless now.That's it? Why not just take off the Jacket? Has anyone seen the deluxe edition with color illustrations?

[Leo Lakio]

I think the baby was meant to be Voldemort's soul.Kupomog, I think I'd have to agree with you. (Just finished the book today, so I could finally look at this.)

[kupomog]

JK confirms this in a recent web chat, so woooooo.

Here's the transcript of it, Rowling answered fans' questions: http://mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/1156

For that particular spoilered part, search and find "King's Cross."

And finally I get some closure on the death of Tonks (Lupin, as well), my favorite character of the whole series who got such a weaksauce death :(

And for anyone who hasn't really been checking sites for news, check out MuggleNet's front page for many MSNBC links from an interview conducted with JK. You will find out a lot of stuff, such as what character got a reprieve from dying, and which two characters were instead killed off. You'll also learn professions of a few of the characters 19 years later, and just a lot of juicy in-depth stuff.

As for my thoughts:

After a week of letting the book sink in, I feel that in some ways I like it much more than HBP. MUCH more. It took me about a year to really enjoy HBP, DH is already enjoyable to me save for some rushed moments, mostly the aftermath of the battle, and really lame romance stuff that didn't move me in anyway between the kids ("and Ginny was kissing him, and Harry was kissing her back, and it was bliss!!!" :rolleyes:). Badly written and out of nowhere romance played a large part of what killed HBP for me, that and being overall...boring. Now I've got more things to appreciate about it, though.

DH is quite crazy from the get-go with the kids on the run (soooo tense and great) and the awesome build up to the battle at Hogwarts. I really love that side to the book. During that entire battle, I just wanted to pick up a wand and join them in the fight. And with all the death, oh man so depressing :(

The other great part is tying in all the stuff I had nearly forgotten about from earlier books, as well as clearing up certain foreshadowing in earlier books (like Petunia knowing about dementors, and then talking about Lily and that "awful boy," and Harry wondered why she didn't use his dad's name...'cause it wasn't actually his dad).

Some aspects feel rushed like the aftermath of the battle, some are just plain convoluted like the parseltongue thing, some opportunities for epic grudgematch duels were completely overlooked, the death of the characters I mentioned earlier was so obviously an afterthought that it really bugged me, the epilogue read like something I would see from 14,000 authors on FanFiction.net. And I don't know what it is, but good god does the Harry/Ginny romance not move me in the slightest bit, even at the end of this book.

JK also didn't seem to answer a few questions she said would be, but most of those just got answered outside of the book in interviews, anyway.

That said, "The Prince's Tale" is pretty much the best chapter written in any Harry Potter book ever.

DH is a good book with some flaws, but overall it was quite worth the read.

It doesn't beat out OotP for my favorite, though.

[alohabear]

The latest issue of EW magazine is wild about Harry and may give you some answers about DH. Here's the Link (http://www.ew.com/ew/inside/issue/0,,ewTax:946,00.html)

[NoCal Boy]

Just finished. First thing I did was login here to read this thread, which I've been ignoring for the past two weeks!

As everyone else has posted, it's dark, dark, dark compared to the earlier books. Probably more wizard violence and blood spilled in this volume than in all the previous six combined. I liked how the tone "matures" as Harry and friends do. After all, they're (young) adults now. The climactic battle scene kind of reminded me of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones where our heroes actually go to war.

"Spoiler-iotum"!!

Random spoiler-y thoughts:

As soon as it was revealed that Lupin and Tonks had died, I thought it was a guarantee that Harry would live. As their newborn child's godfather, I thought this twist would set up a new sequel series where Harry would be a supporting character, like Sirius, to his godson and new generation of Gryffindors. Guess the epilogue kinda ruled my guess out, but if Rowling decides she needs another billion or so in the bank you know she could write that series about Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione's kids.

I don't know if disappointed is the right word, but I thought that not keeping her promise that at least one or two of the three main characters would die was kind of a letdown. Not that I wanted to see it, but if that was really her vision as she'd stated over the years, kind of seems a concession to keeping the fans happy that all of them survived.

Clever how Dumbledore remained a main character in this book even after he "died". And I had a very strong feeling that Snape would be redeemed somehow, but didn't see Dumbledore's complicity in his own death coming. Somewhat disappointed that we didn't see the Malfoys get what had been coming to them, but I guess she was being careful of too much violence against "kids".

Very disappointed that Rita Skeeter didn't meet an ugly end; perhaps the most annoying character in the series. And memory fails me right now but did Umbridge just disappear from the story after the sequence at the Ministry of Magic?

Overall, an enjoyable read and satisfying end to the series. As with anything with as many fans as it has, it can't be the be-all, end-all to everyone.

[kupomog]

And memory fails me right now but did Umbridge just disappear from the story after the sequence at the Ministry of Magic?

Yeah she pretty much did...was a bit disappointed at that. Although if you'd like to know her fate after the book, JK reveals it in the web chat.

[alohatim]

Wow! I was just in our library. There was a small shelf of books for sale. I bought the Deathly Hallows hard cover in good condition for $1. I am not really a big Potter fan--but I couldn't pass it up.

[cynsaligia]

amazingly, i haven't kept up with the series after reading only the first installment.

rowling revealed recently that dumbledore is gay.
(http://www.newsweek.com/id/50787)

One fan asked whether Albus Dumbledore, the head of the famed Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, had ever loved anyone. Rowling smiled. "Dumbledore is gay, actually," replied Rowling as the audience erupted in surprise. She added that, in her mind, Dumbledore had an unrequited love affair with Gellert Grindelwald, Voldemort's predecessor who appears in the seventh book. After several minutes of prolonged shouting and clapping from astonished fans, Rowling added. "I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy."

bill orally, upon hearing of this, talks about the gay agenda and indoctrination of children (http://mediamatters.org/items/200710250005).

[Leo Lakio]

Whaaaat??? (http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/10/20/dumbledore-is-gay/)