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A review by ranee_samaniego
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
5.0
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a heartbreakingly beautiful and achingly magnificent end to the Harry Potter series. It is filled with grief, pain, loss, and despair... and equally with joy, triumphs, victory, healing, growth, and reconciliations. Despite having read this book many times, I am still brought to times of tears and moments of outward laughter.
JK Rowling is so expert at creating an incredible narrative. I never lost interest - I was captivated every moment of this book.
JK Rowling also masterfully completed characters and their arcs. None of Rowling's characters are perfect, but all are so well crafted and explored. Here are some final thoughts / character studies:
-- Ron is so much braver, smarter, and more loyal than he is depicted in the movies. He was the first to offer to go into the Forbidden Forest and try to kill Nagini alone. The locket horcrux brought to surface all of Ron's deepest fears and drove him to act against his character, yet he conquered it all in the end. Rons learns and grows so much throughout the series as well. For example, he, at first, follows the wizarding world's views on house elfs. But, by the Deathly Hallows, he sees them as creatures equal to humans and seeks to save them during the Battle of Hogwarts. Ron also struggles so much with feelings of worhtlessness and compares himself to his successful siblings and Harry. By the end of the series, especially when he destroys the locket, you see that he has learned his own value and worth. Book Ron is a friend I would want to have in real life.
-- Book Hermoine is more sensitive and human than Movie Hermonie. She, at times, panics in tough situations and tends to be more book-smart than street-smart. She is emotional and anxious. But I love this about Hermonie - she is human, sensitive, anxious, and imperfect while still being strong, brave, and beautiful. I see much of myself in Hermonie and love that JK Rowling created such a multifaceted heroine (unlike many of today's novels' heroines, who are often nearly flawless, fast-witted, physically powerful).
-- Ginny is much stronger, bolder, and more capable than she is in the movies. She doesn't let people walk over her and has more gall than her brief appearences in the films showed. She is a powerful witch who also fully understands Harry's need to complete his journey and lets him go.
-- Dumbledor is flawed - but redeemable and understandable, in my opinion. I feel like he gets a lot of backlash, but, in the books, you see that he truly cared for Harry. Dumbledor struggled to share with Harry the truth of his destiny because he loved Harry and wanted Harry to be a child - a carefree, happy child, unburdened by the knowledge of his impending death. True, he doesn't share everything with Harry - and maybe he should have. Yet, his intentions were honorable. He didn't want Harry to follow in his footsteps, blinded by the powerful possibilities of the Hallows. He wanted Harry to come to his own decisions in the right time. Furthermore, Dumbledor provided Harry with comfort as Harry walked to Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest by giving Harry the Resurrection Stone. And, all along, Dumbledor guessed - hoped - that Harry would survive this final Killing Curse by Voldemort. Finally, Dumbeldor apologized - truly apologized for his mistakes in the process, when he had been driven by his own fears.
-- Snape is more gray than Alan Rickman's portayl. Yes, Snape did many brave acts to save Harry throughout the series. But he still tormented and bullied children. He is truly a gray character - neither good (because of his cruelty to others) nor bad (because of his choices to save and protect Harry).
-- The movies simply didn't have time for Percy, but I adore his arc. He was a selfish, rude, pompous, career-driven man who realized his flaws and came to his family's aid at the end. I enjoyed reading his arc very much.
-- Finally, I adore Kreacher. He so desparately longed for love and affection, and, once he recieved some of Harry, he turned fully around. He was caring, supportive, and kind to Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. And, the image of Kreacher leading all of the house elves into battle was so endearing.
Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a magical end to this series.
JK Rowling is so expert at creating an incredible narrative. I never lost interest - I was captivated every moment of this book.
JK Rowling also masterfully completed characters and their arcs. None of Rowling's characters are perfect, but all are so well crafted and explored. Here are some final thoughts / character studies:
-- Ron is so much braver, smarter, and more loyal than he is depicted in the movies. He was the first to offer to go into the Forbidden Forest and try to kill Nagini alone. The locket horcrux brought to surface all of Ron's deepest fears and drove him to act against his character, yet he conquered it all in the end. Rons learns and grows so much throughout the series as well. For example, he, at first, follows the wizarding world's views on house elfs. But, by the Deathly Hallows, he sees them as creatures equal to humans and seeks to save them during the Battle of Hogwarts. Ron also struggles so much with feelings of worhtlessness and compares himself to his successful siblings and Harry. By the end of the series, especially when he destroys the locket, you see that he has learned his own value and worth. Book Ron is a friend I would want to have in real life.
-- Book Hermoine is more sensitive and human than Movie Hermonie. She, at times, panics in tough situations and tends to be more book-smart than street-smart. She is emotional and anxious. But I love this about Hermonie - she is human, sensitive, anxious, and imperfect while still being strong, brave, and beautiful. I see much of myself in Hermonie and love that JK Rowling created such a multifaceted heroine (unlike many of today's novels' heroines, who are often nearly flawless, fast-witted, physically powerful).
-- Ginny is much stronger, bolder, and more capable than she is in the movies. She doesn't let people walk over her and has more gall than her brief appearences in the films showed. She is a powerful witch who also fully understands Harry's need to complete his journey and lets him go.
-- Dumbledor is flawed - but redeemable and understandable, in my opinion. I feel like he gets a lot of backlash, but, in the books, you see that he truly cared for Harry. Dumbledor struggled to share with Harry the truth of his destiny because he loved Harry and wanted Harry to be a child - a carefree, happy child, unburdened by the knowledge of his impending death. True, he doesn't share everything with Harry - and maybe he should have. Yet, his intentions were honorable. He didn't want Harry to follow in his footsteps, blinded by the powerful possibilities of the Hallows. He wanted Harry to come to his own decisions in the right time. Furthermore, Dumbledor provided Harry with comfort as Harry walked to Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest by giving Harry the Resurrection Stone. And, all along, Dumbledor guessed - hoped - that Harry would survive this final Killing Curse by Voldemort. Finally, Dumbeldor apologized - truly apologized for his mistakes in the process, when he had been driven by his own fears.
-- Snape is more gray than Alan Rickman's portayl. Yes, Snape did many brave acts to save Harry throughout the series. But he still tormented and bullied children. He is truly a gray character - neither good (because of his cruelty to others) nor bad (because of his choices to save and protect Harry).
-- The movies simply didn't have time for Percy, but I adore his arc. He was a selfish, rude, pompous, career-driven man who realized his flaws and came to his family's aid at the end. I enjoyed reading his arc very much.
-- Finally, I adore Kreacher. He so desparately longed for love and affection, and, once he recieved some of Harry, he turned fully around. He was caring, supportive, and kind to Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. And, the image of Kreacher leading all of the house elves into battle was so endearing.
Overall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a magical end to this series.