Simply...epic.
So here is the final story.
How can we put 6 years of harry potter magic into words? How could this magical journey be over?
The 7th book came out weeks ago, I am aware, yet I have procrastinated, delayed, (stalled?) reading it. Most of all, I was a little annoyed with the level of fanaticism it has received. I was a little ashamed to be part of the "harry potter fandom"; how much of a conformist was I?
I could no longer delay it, however. After the muffled screams when I desperately wanted to know what happened, fists shoved in mouths, heads that shook with a knowing smile plastered on their lips... I asked my parents to buy it for me.
I started reading the books in 5th grade, when i had looked over a girl's shoulder when she had finished - I asked "was it good?" she nodded enthusiastically. Our generation, my grade, my age- we grew up with Harry Potter, like it or not. Movies came out 2001 (I remember eagerly awaiting - our fantasy world coming to life!) and the excitement only increased.
Fortunately for me, telling you the plot would be spoiling it, and therefore easier for me to review it. Having recently reread the 6th book and researched some criticism on Rowling's books, I can not deny that I approached the 7th with much less excitement as any of the other books. This rapidly faded.
The previous books, at least before the 6th, have followed a rather strict formula; the Dursley's, hogwarts, and at the end, some confrontation of some sort. They were all achingly formulaic, childish, a 300 page mystery- "whodunnit?". After the fourth book, things definetly turned sinister. Yet, as dark and enigmatic as the 4th, 5th, and 6th turned out to be, the 7th stands on its own. Previously, we had known about Harry's safety - after all, there was always the 7th book waiting, harry couldn't die now. The 7th.. well. Let's say every paragraph, every page, every chapter brings something new. Reading at night was a bit scary, too (Yes, from a HP book). Rowling, maybe not the best writer, is definitely an excellent story teller, keeping me captivated until the wee hours of the morning (well..it's only 2:30..). The twists are.. just simply twisty. The seemingly innocent adventures in the previous books come together elegantly, all nostalgically intertwined, suddenly immensely important.
I don't remember when (and nobody else seems to remember) that my teacher said that Harry must die. And that they would probably not return to Hogwarts. Others told me Harry died and laughed at my horror, one told me Jesus came and resurrected Dumbledore and Harry from the dead. Someone's facebook status claimed that Dumbledore was a cyborg from the future with the sole purpose of protecting Harry. One told me "Someone close to harry dies. So close it just might be Harry himself". I must admit. They did a very nice job on not telling me what happened. Do all the people who haven't finished a favor (which must be very few..), make up something silly. There are no 3 word spoilers for this book. It is filled with too much.
You can never be too old, too overqualified in literature for Harry Potter. It is the only book that I would read in one sitting, with my back aching and lack of sleep drying out my contacts; my parents attempted to bother me but failed and did not try again. I don't care how smart you are, how big of words you use. It is a magical, amazing story that has never ever failed to install in me a feeling of wonder after reading the last word.
And in an even less constructed "review" I say: OHMYGODITWASAMAZING. :)
How can we put 6 years of harry potter magic into words? How could this magical journey be over?
The 7th book came out weeks ago, I am aware, yet I have procrastinated, delayed, (stalled?) reading it. Most of all, I was a little annoyed with the level of fanaticism it has received. I was a little ashamed to be part of the "harry potter fandom"; how much of a conformist was I?
I could no longer delay it, however. After the muffled screams when I desperately wanted to know what happened, fists shoved in mouths, heads that shook with a knowing smile plastered on their lips... I asked my parents to buy it for me.
I started reading the books in 5th grade, when i had looked over a girl's shoulder when she had finished - I asked "was it good?" she nodded enthusiastically. Our generation, my grade, my age- we grew up with Harry Potter, like it or not. Movies came out 2001 (I remember eagerly awaiting - our fantasy world coming to life!) and the excitement only increased.
Fortunately for me, telling you the plot would be spoiling it, and therefore easier for me to review it. Having recently reread the 6th book and researched some criticism on Rowling's books, I can not deny that I approached the 7th with much less excitement as any of the other books. This rapidly faded.
The previous books, at least before the 6th, have followed a rather strict formula; the Dursley's, hogwarts, and at the end, some confrontation of some sort. They were all achingly formulaic, childish, a 300 page mystery- "whodunnit?". After the fourth book, things definetly turned sinister. Yet, as dark and enigmatic as the 4th, 5th, and 6th turned out to be, the 7th stands on its own. Previously, we had known about Harry's safety - after all, there was always the 7th book waiting, harry couldn't die now. The 7th.. well. Let's say every paragraph, every page, every chapter brings something new. Reading at night was a bit scary, too (Yes, from a HP book). Rowling, maybe not the best writer, is definitely an excellent story teller, keeping me captivated until the wee hours of the morning (well..it's only 2:30..). The twists are.. just simply twisty. The seemingly innocent adventures in the previous books come together elegantly, all nostalgically intertwined, suddenly immensely important.
I don't remember when (and nobody else seems to remember) that my teacher said that Harry must die. And that they would probably not return to Hogwarts. Others told me Harry died and laughed at my horror, one told me Jesus came and resurrected Dumbledore and Harry from the dead. Someone's facebook status claimed that Dumbledore was a cyborg from the future with the sole purpose of protecting Harry. One told me "Someone close to harry dies. So close it just might be Harry himself". I must admit. They did a very nice job on not telling me what happened. Do all the people who haven't finished a favor (which must be very few..), make up something silly. There are no 3 word spoilers for this book. It is filled with too much.
You can never be too old, too overqualified in literature for Harry Potter. It is the only book that I would read in one sitting, with my back aching and lack of sleep drying out my contacts; my parents attempted to bother me but failed and did not try again. I don't care how smart you are, how big of words you use. It is a magical, amazing story that has never ever failed to install in me a feeling of wonder after reading the last word.
And in an even less constructed "review" I say: OHMYGODITWASAMAZING. :)
