askerian: Serious Karkat in a red long-sleeved shirt (Snape_ MarySue)
askerian ([personal profile] askerian) wrote2007-07-25 09:13 am
Entry tags:

Harry Potter sleepyramble...

My spoilery thoughts on yaoi

I'm not even all that much into the fandom anymore, but... well. I had to have it anyway. .____.

-NEVILLE. *SQUEE* how fucking cool is that. I always liked his "could have been the boy who Lived if..." aspect, and [livejournal.com profile] joisbishmyoga converted me from "hmm" to "heee" before the book, but. DUDE. WOW. KICKASS.

-I've been expecting Hermione/Ron since book 2 (classical signs of developing attraction, what with the pulling of pigtails and other cliche patterns of "married" bickering between them) and really not caring, but this book has made me feel that they were more than two archetypes conveniently shoved in each other's arms, but two people in love, who still made mistakes and were still confused and yet still honestly liked and appreciated each other's faults and qualities. And their love did not make them see nothing but teh otp (yay for Ron leaving her behind when he decided to leave, because he was leaving the group and not leaving her exactly, and yay for them still caring about Harry) Also omg finally actually getting to SEE that Hermione loved Ron back and was not just having a bad case of hormones over one of her guy friends -- in the previous books it was easy to see what he saw in her, but I never really saw her seeing him back, just being jealous and possessive when he wasn't looking at her anymore.

-Luna was charming and cute and funny, while still maintaining her "too odd to be normal or make most people comfortable around her" thing.

I loved her bedroom. Socute ;__; She always acts so happy and unburdened, but at the same time knowing that she valued gaining real friends so much... awww. I still remember her understated "sometimes my housemates hide my things" because it sounds so matter of fact but really she was bullied, and before HRHr and Neville and Ginny she really had no true friends. (also, the Ravenclaw common room password kicks ass.)

-... I think Harry had more chemistry with her than he did with Ginny, actually, because he seems to genuinely like Luna for who she is -- whereas we're told that he wants to get in Ginny's pants, but I have no clue *why*. It really comes across as stupid hormones and shoehorned "well um they're OTP because I say so and also lol shes just like Lily and Harry is just like James SOPERFECT YEY" (... i'd call that creepy actually, but what do I know.) Also WTF why do I only remember Ginny in the book as 1) leading Harry to her bedroom to give him his birthday present (okay it was a little sad, poor kids), 2) being randomly jealous and possessive about Cho (that really felt like a OOPS I FORGOT THEY WERE OTP WHAT WITH GINNY RLY NOT MATTERING AT ALL TO TEH PLOT LET ME SLIP IN A SUBTLE REMINDER THAT SHE'S A POSSESSIVE H0R WHO DOESN'T TRUST HIM NOT TO CHEAT) and 3) various moments of Harry whining that she's so pretty and perfect and woe, he cannot touch, only jerk off to her glorious memory. If she's so important to Harry, why -- argh, nevermind. I have nothing against the ship in general, but the way JKR wrote it really sucks. Ginny could have become a real person if only JKR had built onto that "was possessed by Voldie" moment, but for most of the books she really was nothing but a carboard cutout. T_T

-The book really felt VERY LONG to me the whole time they were hiding in the forest. *flops* but the rest of the time, ooohhh plot and action. That was one tense, fast-paced book, or maybe I just read it fast.

-All that stuff about wands and broom-riding and Draco, ahahaha. She's throwing the shippers a bone, isn't she. She's got to be. X3

-I loved the Malfoys, because they're snobby, racist Pureblood assholes who only think about themselves, but -- ahh, even if they've done bad things and have some quite disgusting beliefs, they still really love each other and care and protect each other and awwww. They might have been evil to other people, but Lucius and Narcissa are good parents and it's obvious they count on each other as well. (also lol at the "they think they're gonna get lynched but everyone ignores them" at the end, it's fitting for a family that was so LOOK AT US SNOBBING YOU, PEASANTS at the beginning.)

-... SNAPE. ToT

-I really. Really. Love what happened with Dumbledore. He spent six books being, not a character, but the archetype of the perfect, noble, wise, all-knowing sage, complete with long white beard. He wasn't a person. This book (and okay maybe it started in HBP a bit, but.) managed to kick him off his pedestal of Wisdom Incarnate in a pretty harsh way and then build him back up as a real person, with real faults (not just "cares too much" or "too intelligent for us mere mortals so he had to benevolently watch over us all from above") who made real mistakes... And then he managed to rise back up to being noble, wise, almost all-knowing -- and not perfect, and that made all his wisdom and nobility (and secret slytherin-ness >3) really mean something. It made him human.

Also, I loved Aberforth, who was bitter and had seen too much and grown in his brother's shadow, and yet he was still strong in his own way that had nothing to do with Albus at all.

(but umm. Kendra Dumbledore. Wut. I had visions of american vampire slayer exchange students. Which umm didn't really work as Albus' mom. XD)

-Kreacher's story awww. ;__; Not sure i'm entirely okay with how fast he goes from HATES YOU to YAY MASTER HARRY *apple pie* even though, yeah, he was pretty starved for lurve, but awwww him and Regulus ;__;

-Um dobby WTF? Harry doesn't think about him even once for the whole book, and then he appears, saves them from Certain Doom, and gets killed in under ten pages, prompting Harry to emo for a few pages and get a Plot-Moving Revelation. MMMMM DEUS EX MACHINA.

-I loved Remus when he appeared. He was awesome, a little battered but still caring, had some emo, but kept going anyway. I loved Tonks when she appeared -- spunky, funny, and a kickass cop-woman. I even liked the thought of them together... before they actually got together.

Because it meant suddenly Tonks became so emo her patronus changed, not over the death of her cousin, but over not being lurved back -- hello sudden obsessive stalker tendencies, and Remus went from "um no I don't want you" to "oh well if you insist" -- no real building at all, and it was presented as OTP. And in this book we only saw a few bad sides -- her being radiant about being married and preggers, him being miserable and her not noticing, which made her come across as the kind of creepy selfish bint who didn't care what he felt because SHE had Her Husband and Her Baby (and who cares about her career, right? Not her), and then Remus was all "omg I made a mistake marrying her" especially since it seemed to come so soon before the official announcement that she was expecting -- was he perhaps marrying her because she was pregnant? Felt like he was doing his duty and didn't really want to marry her, at least not just yet, but he felt like he had to and that made him miserable.

Now if the ship had been presented like that in the book, kind of a bit hurried and with issues, it would have been great, but sometimes it read as if JKR wanted us to think that Tonks' emo over Remus was sooo romantic instead of pathetic, and that Remus' all but biting off his own hand to get the hell away from his marriage was him just lacking confidence in his impending fatherhood, awww but don't worry remy you'd be a great dad.

Then they came and died together offscreen in a totally "umm okay I needed to up the body count and I've been too lazy to write them happy together from the start anyway, so why not" way. And I hadn't been emotionally connected to them, and then Harry just pushed them in the background and I just never gave a damn. Their death got a big "that's nice *turns page*" from me. Bleh.

I suspect there will be fanfic soon, that will fill in the canon cracks and write the ship in a deep, poignant, we-have-issues-and-we-both-hurt-but-we-will-grow-past-them way that will make the ship work, but alas. My interest is good and dead. It should have happened in the book, damn it.

-SNAAAAAPE.

-NEVILLE. LUNA. THEY SHOULD BECOME MINISTER OF MAGIC IN TANDEM. YES. (and have sex. of awesome. because they are awesome. yes.)

-Snape. Okay. Snape. he's my favorite character, and I have so many thoughts about him in this book I don't know where to start.

-- Thank you Rowling because I was so afraid that everyone who saw depths and complexity and layers to that man were just reading too deep into a children's book (and an author who isn't really given to morally nuanced characters) and were going to get a "lol no u silly bint he wuz evil from teh start. u blind r wat." BUT NO. WOOHOO!!
--... So Snape... lived just besides Lily and Petunia's as a kid. UMM OKAY. I could buy that if they were all wizards because they tend to gravitate together, but for muggle-born and people living with muggle-born? The muggle world really is NOT that small. That's a mighty big coincidence there, son. No wonder no one guessed the Snape Lily connection went back that far.
--Aww Petunia being jealous. Made total sense. (while i'm at it, DUDLEY. niiiice.)
--Actually kinda not surprised or all that "aww" about the snapelily being canon. Because it was fanon for so long, and ... the canon isn't that much better or original, and probably even less. It would be a more interesting plot twist if fandom hadn't called it ages ago... so in the end I'm left going "lol JKR reads fanfic lol" even though i'm sure she came to the idea independently. XD
--Snape asking Harry to look at him before he died. God. Snape you fucker, you're making me tear up. T_T
--Lily dropping Snape like that and not accepting his excuses? Dude, they've been friends for how long and she doesn't know he lashes out when he feels humiliated? WTF bitch. >:( I think less of Saint Lily now, and that makes Snape still loving her for so long afterwards with so little resentment less believable.
--Doe patronus. ;_____; (but umm James had a stag and Lily had a doe? .... LOL HOW AMUSINGLY COINCIDENTAL.)
--That severitus thing has just gained 2158407612 points of potential-canon-ity.
--Snape/Harry as a ship has gained 14774251002102115587 points of messy fuckedupness. ...AWESOME.
-- I had more stuff but i can't remember.

-"Will it hurt?" ... wahh harry why do I only start to want to squish you *now*. T.T

-BLIND DRAGON. socool.

-The wand ownership deal was cool, the "harry talks Voldy to death before killing him" less so. It lessened the tense, fast pace and impact of the scene.

-Neville. That calm belief that Harry would come and save them that led to him just accepting and dismissing everything thrown at him by his enemies, and becoming an awesome resistance leader of his own right -- a better leader than Harry himself apparently X3 Harry's developing into more of a "do it myself" loner -- and then charging Voldemort and then drawing the sword of Gryffindor and then chopping off Nagini's head like he's been handling that sword his whole life. Oh. God. *fans self*

If there's a Gryffindor's Heir in the school, it's got to be Neville.

Also, Nev's gran = ♥

-And the famous epilogue.

... I could say it reads like it's been written by an unimaginative 13 year old, it's so unoriginal and cliche I could hurl, and the writing standards are a lot lower than usual for Rowling, which is a lot because Rowling isn't the best writer (awesome storyteller, but wordsmith, not so much), but I won't. u.u (:p) Instead, I will just LOL a lot.

James Potter. Albus Severus Potter. Lily Potter. LMAO WHAT. How unique and original. (and creepily incestuous for James and Lily -- hell, the severyslily bit is also LOLworthy. As to the middle kid, OH GOD THE MENTAL PICTURE WHY. Also yay foreshadowing of another "YOU COULD BE IN SLYTHERIN TOO JUST LIKE ME" kid. Except he wouldn't be; we all know it's okay to have slytherin tendencies of ambition and sneakiness, as long as you're actually not one because real Slytherins are always self-serving cowards, and apart from Severus, who was a horrible asshole either way, the cowardly teacher who replaced him, and the kind of pompous and goes-with-the-current-power-no-matter-my-ideals painting guy, they're all evil to boot. but nevermind.)

That epilogue sucks. It's so childish and indulgent and it's not even well-written. All we learn is that LOL THEY BRED AND NOTHING ACTUALLY CHANGED. We don't know if the world became a better place. We just know they cloned themselves and now the little remixes of their parents are going to rehash canon, and that's such a staple of Sue stories I can't read the epilogue without cringing.

Oh well. The rest of the book had bad points too, but in general it was really rather good.


snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaape. ;;

[identity profile] monique-27.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 09:09 am (UTC)(link)
reversedhymnal (http://reversedhymnal.livejournal.com/), who is just a dear, said that she thought of me instantly when she read: "Ooh, you look much tastier than Crabbe and Goyle, Harry," said Hermione, before catching sight of Ron's raised eyebrows, blushing slightly, and saying, "Oh, you know what I mean...."

And I was all "OMG! I LOVE THAT LINE!! *snuggles it* I thought the same thing! "JKR, why are you teasing me, woman! *scowl (except, not really, cause I'm too busy grinning at the prospect of Trio LOVE!)*"

Then she says: *snicker* I was all, "ROWLING IS A SECRET TRIO SHIPPER WHAT?" except that Harry ships Ron/Hermione, ♥♥ IT STILL MADE ME THINK OF YOU FONDLY, THOUGH!

And I says: "Harry is dumb. We know this from the past 7 books. Not a great thinker, that one. Ignore him. Best decision of his life was making Ron and Hermione his BFFL! *^.~*"

*^________^*

Also: SNAAAAAAAAAAAAPE!!!!!!!!!

So, I'll give some good feedback eventually. Right now it's is past 5:00 am, and I am in desperate need of some coherency-restoring-sleep. :)

(no subject)

[identity profile] monique-27.livejournal.com - 2007-07-25 16:17 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] joisbishmyoga.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
JKR:
Harry: *is big man Auror! grunt! beat chest! eat meat! have spawn! walk on wife!*
Ginny: *barefoot and pregnant, good little housewife and mommy*

Fandom: w.t.f.
Harry: *is Auror, okay, and very happy to have kids... but maybe I'll try putting my foot down just this once--*
Ginny: *Bat Bogeys all the way to the doghouse*

-----

JKR:
Harry: Name kids! James! Albus! Lily!
Ginny: Oh Harry! You're so sweet and sentimental! I wub you!

Fandom: w.t.f. x2
Ginny: You GOT your James! What about Fred?! Or Uncles Fabian and Gideon?!
Harry: Eep.
Ginny: *Floo calls* Muuuuuum!
Harry: *sneaks out to buy ice cream and pickles and see if there are any Dark Wizards that'll require him to be on duty for the next six months*

[identity profile] bloodyscary.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 10:11 am (UTC)(link)
Nan mais franchement, ils passent tous leur temps, dans ce bouquin, a se piquer leurs "BAGUETTES" !
OMG, JKR, ça suffit les metaphores avec les symboles phaliques XD

Sinon, je suis d'accord avec toi ...
Snapeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !

Et l'epilogue sucks a donf...

[identity profile] tail-fear.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I heard somewhere that she actually does read fanfiction, at least some of it. My sister and I definitely believe it. I haven't read the new book, but the last book smacked of it.

[identity profile] aelinasongmaker.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 01:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't think Ginny was being jealous and possessive over Harry, she just really, really doesn't like Cho. The DA probably associates her with Marietta, since they were friends and Cho defended her, and Marietta's a sneaky whorebitch.

And yeah, the epilogue felt a little like fanfiction. XD But hey, it was closure, which was good enough for a poor obsessive like myself.

[identity profile] aelinasongmaker.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 01:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I want to know where the hell Crookshanks went. >.
(deleted comment)
(deleted comment)

*shivers*

[identity profile] mommyr.livejournal.com - 2007-07-26 03:02 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] everyheart.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaape. <3

Best part of the book. End of story.

'Cept the dragon.

Which was cool.

Reminds me of those wierd salamanders. 'Cept cool.

... SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAPE. -shot-

[and I totally agree with you on Dumbledore. 8D and the ending was pretty pathetic. but meh. and I wish she had done MORE for Lupin/Tonks deaths instead of the 'OHLOOKTHEREBETHEIRCORPSESMOVINGONKTHNX' which sucked.]

[identity profile] inane-romance.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
-fangasms over SOMANYTHINGS-
-whines over Snape with you-

Ooooooh, god! SNAPE. YOU BIG SEXY GREASY BEAST. And there I was convinced he really WAS evil. Bad me. D:

Neville = now with 86% more fangirls.

Luna = ...the, like, bestest thing since the history of win. ;O; I cried so hard when they went to Xenophilius' house, it was all "YOU STAY HERE. ME WANT LUNA. YOU GIVE ME LUNA. LUNA ALL THAT MATTERS. MY LUNAAAAAAAAAA." Which was so pathetic it made me wanna smack him but save Luna. Really, how many times do you see parents THAT desperate over their kids? I mean, I know Mrs. Weasley worries, but she hasn't quite lost it that far yet.

I, in fact, am not believing the epilogue exists. Or at least some of it does. But really, you can't blame Rowling. She's always had the whole thing planned out.

I saw an interview with her in which Rowling said that she'd written the epilogue before she ever finished the Philosopher's Stone, to make sure she'd stay on track with the story she'd originally planned out. So when looking at the epilogue, you have to remind yourself that it is pre!PS writing.

...Remus Lupin, being one of my favorite characters, gets no comment. There's too much for me to say. But I think I was a lot happier with canon than you seem to be reguarding RemusTonks. I also REALLY REALLY liked that Harry, Ron, and Hermione called him "Remus" instead of "Profesor Lupin". Because that's, like,...awesome. And it was so obvious that Remus and Harry luuuuurved eachother, but not in a student/teacher way, or father/son way, or lovey-dovey way. They were equals, and and...uhmm! I can't really describe their love, but it was shiny.

The only thing that disappointed me besides the epilogue was Peter Pettigrew's death. Because I, sick freak that I am, liked him. If Rowling had drawn out his death just a bit further, or shown him getting at least a LITTLE angry/defiant against Voldemort, I would've...exploded, or something. Because you know he's just a pathetic, weak coward that got bullied into being Voldemort's servant. And I like Pathetic kids, ohyes. ;D

...lol, sorry for spamming your comments with this uncalled for review.
._.

[identity profile] mandy347.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
It felt like Remus and Tonks only really died to give Harry a chance to be a godfather of an orphan just like Sirius was. :(

Epilogue: The Suck. Capital letters. Aside from the obvious questions about jobs and what the hell happened to all the other characters, I want to know if the Hogwarts Houses are still rivals just like before with no progress or change, just the same stereotypes we were warned should stop. And Harry, you silly boy... if you have an object of great power that no one should use, don't toss it aside in a forest for some unwitting person to find and use badly! Keep yourself and never use it, but don't toss it out! Bad Harry. Also, if the goblins went renegade, what happend to all the wizarding gold? Still there in the vaults, unable to be touched or did the goblins agree to come back into service with major changes as to how they were treated? Did wizards learn anything at all about treating non-humans with respect? Argh!

[identity profile] mikkeneko.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
It felt like Remus and Tonks only really died to give Harry a chance to be a godfather of an orphan just like Sirius was. :(

Except then they didn't deal with that AT ALL. I was really displeased by that, actually. :\ Given all the connections/parallels Harry had with the baby, he ought to have evinced SOME concern or at least bloody INTEREST in the orphan baby of his two best friends WHO IS HIS GODSON. But there aren't more than a few lines throughout the entire last part of the book that even mention the kid.

[identity profile] shiryu-yugure.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I was thinking Snape might have been good for most of the books.

Then the big "SNAPEKILLEDDUMBLEDOREWTF" came roaring down and I was pissed.

Then we got the explanation and I loved him.

Harry, in the end, became Sirius, with the godfather thing and both Tonks and Lupin dying. And that killed the magic for me.

The epilogue seemed extremely rushed, but DRACO WAS THERE. At least she didn't forget him. ^_^

HEDWIG. ;_; Am I the only one who still weeps over that pretty bird?

Mad-Eye Moody was the bomb.

And then he went out with a bang. o_O;;

And Fred got done in too. DAMN IT JKR. The twins! D=

I really am surprised that she didn't kill off Harry, though. Maybe I was just being twisted...

[identity profile] selenia-actimel.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
One of the deaths that got to me was actually Hedwig. It was sudden, it was harsh, and the use of 'pathetic toy' gave it and extra cruel twist. I loved it.
Snape... I always believed him... and the Look at me last words made me sob away at two in the morning.
Fred's death just bashed me like a ton of bricks to my head. GOD!
And the biggest tear-jerker for me was, stupidly enough, reading 'Albus Severus'. I don't know why, really, but I started crying like someone stuffing onions in their eyes.
Ah, and yay for Neville! Though I'd never expected it.

FRED :'(

(Anonymous) 2007-07-25 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
FRED! ;'( WHY HAS NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FRED, I was in complete shock over that. Sadly the one time Percy has a sense of humor it distracts his brother :/

Im replacing the epilogue with good fanfiction that I'm sure will be coming around soon, because that was just... eww and the scene between Harry and his kid was cute but overall it didn't *really* give any closure to any of the other conflicts that were involved in the war.

Re: FRED :'(

[identity profile] ketsuke.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm telling you, She thought killing off Fred would stop all the twincest fanfics and fanart!

Re: FRED :'(

(Anonymous) - 2007-07-26 01:39 (UTC) - Expand

Re: FRED :'(

[identity profile] ketsuke.livejournal.com - 2007-07-26 01:47 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] mikkeneko.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I ditto on most points, although -- I don't think it's that unlikely for Snape and Lily to have had childhoods together. Not all wizards isolate themselves in wizarding communities and remember, Snape was a half-blood. I'm pretty sure he lived with his Muggle parent. So it's not unlikely that he would have had contact with li'l Lily, and personally, I thought it made it much more touching and sweet than if he'd just had a crush on her in Hogwarts.

(no subject)

(Anonymous) - 2007-08-04 04:40 (UTC) - Expand

Relief

[identity profile] midnigh-unicorn.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
So I'm not the only one who wasn't blown away by this book. I swear to god, when I was reading all that stuff in the woods I was almost convinced it was a god-damn fanfiction. I was kind of pissed (but that didn't stop me from reading it all in under eleven hours). I really liked the Potterwatch idea, but my favorite part was Molly Weasley.
NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH. YAAAY! Loves.
I didn't like how she handled Snape either, almost as much as I didn't like the Harry/Ginny, which was going good in book five, and then you have the green monster jumping on Harry in book six.
Was I the only one who saw implications of Dean/Luna?
I'm gonna go take a nap.

Re: Relief

[identity profile] sister-dear.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I saw that too. :D But I'm ignoring it in favor of Harry/Luna, lol. (Ginny? Who's Ginny?)

Re: Relief

(Anonymous) - 2007-07-26 01:41 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] ketsuke.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
So, if the rumor is true Rowling reads fanfiction, or at the very least gets some of the plots told to her. . .

You get the feeling she killed off those she did as a "HAHA! I thwart your plans of twincest and Snape/Potter! Oh, and I'm making these pairings canon, so HA!" et cetera?

Obviously, JKR underestimates the perversion determination of fandom.

Also: GAPS EVERYWHERE! What about Teddy? We get him snogging some girl, but. . no details. Nothing much about the Death Eaters left after Voldemort falls. What of all the adults? How pissy was Griphook to have the sword vanish from his keeping? I want to see a goblin temper tantrum!

[identity profile] lorelei76.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
There were spots of brilliance in this last book, but damn, JKR needs a goddamned editor. or 3.

I mean, 5 million chapters (ok slight exaggeration, but it felt like forever) of the heroic trio bein' cold, hungry and generally cranky in the woods - god! And obviously Ron has diabetes - he acts like a raging bitch when his blood sugar level drops. I hope he gets that checked.

SNAPE. I want to take him home and cuddle him (after I give him a good scrubbing, that is.)

Dumbledore. Wow. Just...WOW. I can't decide if I admire JKR for taking such a chance with his backstory.

Why'd you kill Fred, JKR? WHY??? And why kill Tonks and Lupin offscreen? When I got to the part where Harry walks to certain death accompanied by the ghosts of his mom, dad, Sirius and LUPIN, I had to stop and go back a chapter or two to find any mention of WHEN Lupin died.

Oh, and Snaaaaaaaaaaaaape! (I wish he'd died in a suitably heroic way - getting bitten by Nagini was kind of a sad way to die.)

Who else thought that the deathmatch between Voldie and Harry was supremely extremely totally lamely anticlimactic - especially after the kickass fight betw. Mrs. Weasley and Bellatrix?

(Anonymous) 2007-07-26 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, I thought that the Last Duel was deliberately anticlimactic. Remember, Voldemort's worst fear is not just any death, but ingnominious death, which is exactly what he got. Rather than dying in a dramatic and cool-looking way, he gets killed by his own curse after being told that's exactly what would happen if he attacked.
ext_2686: (HP - Neville is fucking hardcore)

[identity profile] stripedpetunia.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Basically Neville (and his gran) were the best part of that entire book for me. There was definitely some self-fanning going on when Neville (bruised, battle-scarred, hardcore Neville mmmm) threw off that curse, pulled the sword out of the sorting hat (hahahaha Griphook got pwned) and lopped off Nagini's head. I kind of wanted him to give Voldy a piece right after that, too. Kind of a lot. Because that would have been awesome, given that Voldemort decided Harry was his mortal enemy when it could have been Neville just as easily (god... imagine if this whole fucking series had been about the genesis of Neville instead... Neville Longbottom and the Deathly Hallows... I want to read THAT).

I ship the hell out of Harry/Luna, though. Did they have some sweet moments in this series or what? That woman can only write romantic chemistry when she's not trying to.
ext_2686: (Muppets - Kermit's gonna slap a bitch)

[identity profile] stripedpetunia.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Also (I have a lengthy rant in my own LJ about this damn book), Rowling's editors need a fucking slap for letting her use that epilogue. I WILL GLADLY ADMINISTER IT.

(no subject)

[identity profile] mikkeneko.livejournal.com - 2007-07-26 07:51 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] sister-dear.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
NEVILLE and LUNA. YES. Loved them before, and now they're even better.

I agree- loved what she did with Dumbledore, cuz I think his being less-than-perfect-but-still-good is something that's always been there, but because Harry idolized him so much we never got to see a clear view of it till now.

The Lily getting pissy at Snape thing didn't bother me quite so much, because there was probably all sorts of tension going on behind the scenes that kind of culminated in the big overblown argument that we did see. With the right circumstances, I can accept one or both of them being too proud and/or stubborn to try to repair their friendship in light of the political climate they'd have been living in.

*Nods enthusiastically at your opinions of R/Hr, H/G, and Snape. And the Malfoys*

[identity profile] bookem-dano.livejournal.com 2007-07-25 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I was expecting too much from this book because I was left unsatisfied. I honestly didn't like it, I mean it had it's moments, about as many as the number of fingers on my left hand--- But I built up this hype in my mind that it was going to be completely brilliant and it wasn't.

I couldn't agree with you more about the epilogue, I couldn't believe I was actually reading it on paper. Then I thought 'hey, maybe J.K. Rowling just threw in this cheesy finish, so that nobody will be able to write sequels because, look, Harry's all grown up and old and not fighting evil witches/wizards anymore' but I was just really disappointed with the whole thing. Also I don't really ship HarryxGinny or RonxHermione (though it was obvious Ron and Hermione would end up together anyway)---

It also bothered me that Harry DID turn out to be a horcrux, because though I've read the theory on the net before, I never wanted to believe it because to me it didn't really make sense with the whole prophecy. AND if it's so difficult and complex to make one horcrux in the first place, how can someone accidently make one, even if it was Voldemort?

There was a lot of little details in the book that bothered too, like when Bellatrix was torturing Hermione for like a million years and she kept asking the same damn question a thousand times even though she was NOT getting an answer (and when she did it was a LIE), I don't remember her being that patient--- Seemed very stupid to me, not to keep an eye on Harry Potter even though they were fully aware that Voldy had been going apeshit on anyone who called him and couldn't 'deliver'--- Like why didn't they just kill everyone except for Harry and actually watch to make sure he didn't escape?

I also didn't like how many blackouts there were in the book, it was like Rowling didn't know what to write in those scenes, like when Harry got bit by Nagini and Hermione, though we don't really know exactly how, manages to save the day.

AND AND AND~ when Hermione oblivates those death eaters memories without a hitch even though she's never done it before, and yes, she brilliant and really good at magic, but it seemed a little too convenient to me.

And when the book wasn't moving too fast, it was too slow.

But that's just me being overly picky and finding any excuse I can to complain because I'm horrible when it comes to books, I actively look for mistakes, whether it's in the story itself or typos or anything really. Which I probably shouldn't do, because it's not like I'm some great writer.

I'm also a little bitter that Snape died -_-; and I secretly ship HarryxHermione even though I love Ron to death.

[identity profile] trypton88.livejournal.com 2007-07-26 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
SNAAAAAAAAAAAAPE - Damn that man is LOVE. "Look into my eyes so I can see Lily one last time!" DX I always knew that man was good, even though I doubted it a lot in this book. And why did he conviently have those memories and that bottle and 'oh here ya go Harry, all the answers you'll ever need!'

JKR's Body Count - Snape to tell everyone to stfu [and actually giving them more SnapeXDraco fodder XD] Fred because omgosh twincest is sexy, LupinTonks to show 'Harry is leik in Sirius' shadow yo!' and poor Hedwig because Harry can't tote her around anymore!

Hedwig - Harry's first real magical friend! I cried, especially when he dropped the cage.
Tonks n Lupin - wasn't dramatic enough. Harry adored Lupid like a second godfather! I loved the GO BACK TO YER WIFE BEITCH! bit. Just so much plottiness here JKR never even talked about!
Fred - half the laughs, gone. This makes one question if Harry took his place in George's bed at Wizardly Wheezes. After all, he does have a bit in it, doesn't he?
Dobby - most honest creature ever known to this story. His innocents in that respect made me cry. A little thought and hallo fanfiction, carry away the harrydobby connection plz.

Ditto on Albus/Aberforth.
Not so cool on Albus Severus. Those names don't go together! DX
Ron's got a potty mouth! I don't think 'effing' is regulation for children! ... gets it from his mother, he does.

HARRYDRACO.... hearts -just no words! They're canon now. Pansy? Ginny? Stop making up characters, silly. SCORPIO... XD why is that name so sexy?

So much more one could say, but now endrant.
+J+

[identity profile] rayemars.livejournal.com 2007-07-26 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
I think I'm of the few people who liked the epilogue--it wasn't a masterwork or anything (and where was Luna? ;_;), but Rowling had made it clear that the story would end with Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione, and it gave enough glimpses of the people I was interested in (mainly Neville and Draco I am never getting over "Scorpius," hee) that I was fine with taking the "And then they lived happily ever after tada" cliche and leaving it at that.

But, I'm also not a writer for the series and not that invested in the world of it, so I know that helps.

Really, the only part of the book I hated was when the Slytherin house left en masse. I can sort of understand it, because if we're to believe all Slytherins have Death Eater leanings then I doubt any of those kids would have thought that Voldemort would spare their parents and families if they defied him, but still. I don't give JKR that much credit due to her previous track record.

(no subject)

[identity profile] rayemars.livejournal.com - 2007-07-27 19:16 (UTC) - Expand

Snaaape T___T

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/tekko_/ 2007-07-26 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Dude! What about Fred? D: She never mentioned a whiff of what happened with George afterwards (and ew *gags* Lupin and Tonks were totally thrown together [babe says she saw all the Lupin/Sirius fics and was like 'AH NO HERE'S A CHICK' and whatnot] and Albus Severus? Ugh. Poor kid)

...The Snape/Lily bit made me emo but - it really doesn't seem likely that they'd be -right next door- to each other. Thinking about it now Snape wasn't full-blood but still - Harry didn't see any of the kids he knew from his school/block/whatever so wtf?

NEVILLE. LOVE LOVE NEVILLE. And Professor McGonagall. I LOVED her taking on Snape in the hallway (Snape T___T) and trusting Harry (though half the time he didn't know what the HELL he was doing and she had to go '*Ahem* Weren't you looking for something?' whilst he stood stupefied in the Great Hall) and in the book prior running out to Hagrid's aid (Hagrid. You don't run into a swarm of giant spiders. You just..don't.)

I really don't see the Harry/Ginny thing :/ Maybe it's the whole 'ew, that's your best friend's little sister' and only being able to see her as like...10 from the first book but yeah. No.

...The Doe T_________T DAMN YOU SNAPE FOR MAKING ME CRY.

...And that's all I can think of right now *wibbles off*

[identity profile] kajarisz.livejournal.com 2007-07-30 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
And just how lame was that post death kind of experience? Am I the only one who sees some Lord of the rings shadows with the locket, and those armchairs at King's cross .... totally Matrix.

[identity profile] kiyakotari.livejournal.com 2007-08-07 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
I found very intriguing the way that, reading through the book, it became very, very obvious that J.K. Rowling has become more and more influenced by the movies and the actors who play the characters in them. Even to the point that physical descriptions of the characters themselves have started to shift to fit the actors, rather than the other way around.

I find this phenomenon of authors/writers being influenced by physical or visual representations of the chracters they're working with very fascinating, as it's something I've been toying with in my own work. Seeing such a blatant example of it left me amused.

[identity profile] bootoye.livejournal.com 2007-08-11 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with you that Snape became the fave character again in the end. I kept advocating his loyalty since HBP. I was very upset that he went out like that! I think he deserved a fight scene!!
You must admit though that unrequited love is poignant and makes for good emo stuff and romantic fluff^^

I think that Draco showed that he was not all EVIL SLYTHERIN in the infamous Crabbe-death-scene

In the end Harry got what he wanted the most A Family. Ginny was the only choice for this because she was safe. Luna might have most likely encouraged him to go on adventures or to become and auror.

I felt Draco's son's name more corny than Harry's.

call me nostalgic but as the epilogue to a children's series it fit in very well. They all lived happily ever after. If not then it would not be a children's book and JKR would not get significant sales after the release of the last movie!

Generally though I agree with your assessment of the book, it was fast-paced (too fast-paced)

I firmly believe that this last book, except the epilogue, was written for adults (those who had started reading as children from the beginning)

Oh yes, I almost forgot! The Severitus scenario has been given credibility. Lily loved Severus for most of her time at school and maybe they never stopped being friends at all...

I might re-visit the fandom^^ Thanks

Page 1 of 2