the obligatory DH post
Jul. 23rd, 2007 03:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asimplechordSo, I've been mostly away from LJ since reading Deathly Hallows, and I'm sure some of this has been covered elsewhere, so if you can point me to the appropriate discussion, I'd appreciate it.
Overall, I liked the book. At a few points, I felt like I was reading something I'd read before, but that's what I get for reading so much fanfic, right? How many different ways could the trio hunt Horcruxes that didn't involve Grimmauld Place and camping all over the UK?
I didn't care for the Deathly Hallows as a plot device any more than I cared for the Horcruxes, but at least there were only three of them.
Enjoyed the Dumbledore background, even if it was delivered in a cumbersome way. *Really* liked Aberforth. I feel vindicated by Snape's memories, seeing that Dumbledore really WAS as manipulative as I thought he was. Using people "for the greater good" is still using them.
I'm not going to argue about Snape's death. I always assumed he would die in the end, partly because of the way JKR talked about him and partly because it's easier for Harry post-war to not have to deal with Snape being both a hero and still *Snape*. And he had to die in a way that would make Harry willing to see his memories and believe them, rather than blowing them off because they were *Snape's*. I just wish we had seen more of Severus before his final departure.
I expected a Weasley to die. And I'm not surprised that one of the twins was the ultimate victim. What bothers me more than the simple fact that Fred was killed was the circumstances. Percy had just returned, and to focus on HIS grief, HIS presence, seems shallow and minor. He'd been gone for years, and he was less than approving of FnG before then. Yes, yes, it's to highlight his remorse. Doesn't work for me. I'd think that George's grief (or maybe Molly's, but she gets her own with Bellatrix later) is more significant. So for George to not even be there? *shakes head* Nuh-uh. At least the reaction Harry sees later is all George, unable to let go.
Not impressed with the epilogue. We already could figure out that Harry and Ginny would get back together. We didn't need the cute little scene (with our neglected hero now a perfectly well-adjusted parent himself) at King's Cross with Albus Severus (total overkill).
Two major questions:
1. Is it the magic of the Sorting Hat that allowed Gryffindor's Sword to appear for Neville, even after Griphook made off with it at Gringotts? Or was it somehow back in the castle because Gringotts was under the control of the Dark Lord?
2. I am confused about the Invisibility Cloak. (J, too, because she asked me this while I was still wondering.) In HBP, we see Draco Petrify Harry on the Express while he was hiding under the cloak. But in DH, the cloak is impervious to being summoned or hexed. Please to be explaining? I am recalling the HBP thing from memory, so maybe there's a detail I'm forgetting?
ETA: OH! And here's another thought. If the Potters really are descendents of Ignotus Peverell, could Harry have come by Parseltongue on his own, not a gift from Voldemort?
ETA2: Also discussed with J: what was the point of the "no Unforgivables from you, Potter" in HBP if Harry was just going to cut loose with Crucio in DH. With no repercussions, apparently?
Overall, I liked the book. At a few points, I felt like I was reading something I'd read before, but that's what I get for reading so much fanfic, right? How many different ways could the trio hunt Horcruxes that didn't involve Grimmauld Place and camping all over the UK?
I didn't care for the Deathly Hallows as a plot device any more than I cared for the Horcruxes, but at least there were only three of them.
Enjoyed the Dumbledore background, even if it was delivered in a cumbersome way. *Really* liked Aberforth. I feel vindicated by Snape's memories, seeing that Dumbledore really WAS as manipulative as I thought he was. Using people "for the greater good" is still using them.
I'm not going to argue about Snape's death. I always assumed he would die in the end, partly because of the way JKR talked about him and partly because it's easier for Harry post-war to not have to deal with Snape being both a hero and still *Snape*. And he had to die in a way that would make Harry willing to see his memories and believe them, rather than blowing them off because they were *Snape's*. I just wish we had seen more of Severus before his final departure.
I expected a Weasley to die. And I'm not surprised that one of the twins was the ultimate victim. What bothers me more than the simple fact that Fred was killed was the circumstances. Percy had just returned, and to focus on HIS grief, HIS presence, seems shallow and minor. He'd been gone for years, and he was less than approving of FnG before then. Yes, yes, it's to highlight his remorse. Doesn't work for me. I'd think that George's grief (or maybe Molly's, but she gets her own with Bellatrix later) is more significant. So for George to not even be there? *shakes head* Nuh-uh. At least the reaction Harry sees later is all George, unable to let go.
Not impressed with the epilogue. We already could figure out that Harry and Ginny would get back together. We didn't need the cute little scene (with our neglected hero now a perfectly well-adjusted parent himself) at King's Cross with Albus Severus (total overkill).
Two major questions:
1. Is it the magic of the Sorting Hat that allowed Gryffindor's Sword to appear for Neville, even after Griphook made off with it at Gringotts? Or was it somehow back in the castle because Gringotts was under the control of the Dark Lord?
2. I am confused about the Invisibility Cloak. (J, too, because she asked me this while I was still wondering.) In HBP, we see Draco Petrify Harry on the Express while he was hiding under the cloak. But in DH, the cloak is impervious to being summoned or hexed. Please to be explaining? I am recalling the HBP thing from memory, so maybe there's a detail I'm forgetting?
ETA: OH! And here's another thought. If the Potters really are descendents of Ignotus Peverell, could Harry have come by Parseltongue on his own, not a gift from Voldemort?
ETA2: Also discussed with J: what was the point of the "no Unforgivables from you, Potter" in HBP if Harry was just going to cut loose with Crucio in DH. With no repercussions, apparently?
