Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) by J. K. Rowling Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
Book Review: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, as a wrap-up to the series, I have to say I'm disappointed overall although JKR had some good points -- her battle scenes were exciting. Bad points -- plot and character resolutions. I listed all the deaths of the Order of the Phoenix vs. Death Eaters, and I was shocked to say the least at the body count; what was JKR thinking? Totally UGLY -- several deaths which I will not name here to keep from spoiling for those who haven't read it yet; ruined my enjoyment, and my respect for her as an author plummeted. I agree with many other reviewers who say JKR rushed through writing this book. Either that, or she did not think it through, it didn't fit at all with the previous six at all. Last but not least, the EPILOGUE: cheesy from a fiction standpoint, necessary for the poor kids who expected a better ending. I would gladly have waited for a superior 5-star Book 7.Book Review: Going away with style...
Summary: 5 Stars
Yesterday was July 20, 2007, a special day for all "pottermaniacs". It was once more time to wait anxiously for a new Harry Potter book. Only this was nothing less than the last book in the series. It is easy to understand that I was eager to read it, happy but feeling somewhat bereaved at the same time.
In this occasion I didn't have to wait until midnight to pick up my copy of "Harry Potter and the deathly hallows", as 8 pm in Buenos Aires (Argentina), is exactly 12 pm in London. Strangely enough, local bookstores just realized that in time for the release of Harry Potter 7, when all the pottermaniacs had to wait until after 12 pm (local hour in Argentina) for the release of previous books. But I'm digressing :)
What do I think about the new book? I believe that it is a great ending to the series, even though some of the new developments were troubling.I would like to say that I like the way in which the characters grew, and specially how Harry and his friends behaved when faced with extremely difficult choices. I don't want to tell you about what happens, because it will spoil the surprise. Just know that it is worth reading...
From my point of view, "Harry Potter and the deathly hallows" is a dark but great addition to the previous books in the "Harry Potter" series, and it brings a measure of closure to the story we started so long ago. I don't want this series to end, but if that has to happen, it is a good thing that this book allows Harry to go away with style. Highly recommended!
Belen Alcat
PS: Staying up all night in order to read this book was worth it. Now it is time to sleep...
Book Review: If the entire book were comparable to the last 8 chapters...
Summary: 2 Stars
than we would have had a book and story that would have truly done justice to the magical world and characters that J.K. Rowling had created over the years. Let me be clear, the book was not a complete let down, and the major plot lines and questions that had been hanging in the air were answered, all of which were already solved by me after reading the HBP (I mention this because for some the fact that there are no more major twists waiting for them may be a disappointment, but for others that believe in the "other" way there will be, I suppose, a major twist... I just never could see why people saw it that way as the author took the time to clearly set up the plot line over the course of the previous books...). The problem with the book, however, lies in the fact that it takes over half of the book to get the plot rolling under any momentum whatsoever, and once it gets rolling there have already been a number of ridiculously concocted narrow escapes and shallow plot developments.
The first half of the book (after the chase scene, which was the only narrow escape sub-plot that really worked well in the book and seemed very well crafted) seems to drag with no real point. Though I understand some of the author's intentions in this half of the book were to tie up loose ends on sub-plots for characters, none of the sections read well and the book seemed to drag on endlessly in a non-focused manner, which was readily portrayed in the fact that Harry Potter and his usual sidekicks had no idea where they were supposed to start. After things pick up on the plot front, only slightly, more narrow escapes surface, but these just seemed slapped together with no real care in development of them, and made me feel like I was watching a predictably scripted and developed Hollywood action flick with a ridiculous escape angle that wouldn't hold water if it were a bucket; this is something that she has, previously, been able to avoid. I always recognized the narrow escape themes in the books previously, but she did so well to draw her readers into them and engross them into the books that you felt that they were, well possible and even likely - as though it could happen to you.
To make matters worse even when the plot gets rolling the author still can't give up her fancy to add as many narrow escape sub-plots to the book as she possibly can which just seem far too unrealistic, even in the wizarding world. Sadly, it is because of these ridiculous narrow escape escapades the author makes the once formidable opposition to Harry Potter, that she handily crafted in the first six books, seem like a hair-brained dolts, nitwits, and completely inept characters, making you wonder why it took six books to finish them off - the way they act in this book even the eleven year-old Potter could have taken them on and defeated them, without wizard training.
Another bad move by the author came when she readily used ideas in the major plot line of the book from other books as if they were her own, a few of which would be the books that make up the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. While she has always cleverly referred to other, outside sources as inspiration to her works in the past, including both real world and fictional references, she never directly took from the major plot lines and incorporated them into her works - until now. As I am not trying to divulge the story or spoil anyone's enjoyment of the book I can't go into detail, but I am sure many of you will sniff out what I am talking about immediately. I was severely disappointed in this aspect of the book, and it, along with the poorly developing plot and ridiculous narrow escapes made me want to put down the book for good several times, but, like the rest of you, I had to finish what I started, and I plowed through until I reached...
the gem of the book that lies within its final 8 chapters. Without trying to give too many details I will say that she holds the major twist of the books as a whole, the one I alluded to previously and had already predicted, until these chapters, as well as the scenes that truly made trudging through the rest of the book worth it. The final battle scenes held up to the expectations that they were given by the readers, and they were a joy to read. The final chapters of the book encompass the flavor and feeling that the last book should have held throughout - the sense of urgency, the feeling of finality, and the overwhelming dread and horror that faced each and every character that we came to know and love if they failed... if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named won... prior to these wonderfully written and gut-wrenching scenes in the finale you never would have known how urgent the situation really was, and how real the fear of The Dark Lord claiming the world was within each of them.
I can't say that I am completely disappointed with the book, but, unfortunately I left thinking that, overall, the series went out with a whimper and not the bang that I expected. Walking into the book I fully expected that when I reached the end I would hate it - it would mean that Harry Potter's world was finally closed to me forever - and that I would be begging her to write one more book, but, in the end, I found the opposite to be true. I was glad it was over, and I was glad I had finished reading about Harry Potter's world. Maybe this was the intention of the author in creating this final book in her series, but if so I certainly believe she could have found a much more creative and challenging way to do it then making her final book in the series the weakest book of all.
Book Review: JK Rowling does not disappoint....too much.
Summary: 4 Stars
Rowling does a tremendous job with this book. Though some criticize this book as being the darkest of the series, it is not as bad as it is made out to be. While there is killing, and a good quantity of people die, it's not as if Harry Potter has suddenly turned into the latest action movie, filled with wanton destruction. You see crucial character development, as you learn what Harry and his friends are made of, and see what they are willing to sacrifice to defeat He-who-shall-not-be-named. In between you see the awkward romances, the constant (and completely expected) bickering, gut wrenching scenes, and the sometimes unintentional comedy/bravery that defines these latest Harry Potter books. Most of what happens in this seventh book is allueded to in the previous Six. Most of you can probably guess what happens in this book.
Don't be so sure of yourselves. Rowling keeps you guessing almost until the end about what will really happen. Skipping straight to the end will tell you what happens, but not why it happens, and this book is all about the journey, not the destination.
That journey does seem to take an overly long time to resolve, however. What begins and ends as a fast paced tale does bog down a bit in the middle. It's hard to discern why the characters are doing what they are doing, and that part of the book could have been sped up a bit.
Personally, I would have also liked a bit more resolution as well. Rowling does a tremendous job of building up to a climax... and then the book ends quickly. By no means do we just fade to black, but a couple of more pages of resolution would have been nice, to encompass more of the supporting characters.
I got this book and could not put it down. I started reading as soon as I got back from the store, and I'd have to say, this is in my opinion, the best Harry Potter book, and a fitting end to the series.
Book Review: My favorite
Summary: 5 Stars
The history revealed about Snape, Dumbledore, and Harry's parents helps enrich the book, which focuses on Horcruxes, wandlore, and Harry's search for the truth.
The sappy epilogue is happy enough to comfort those still shaken by the many deaths.
If this is not enough, Mrs. Weasley says a bad word! ;)