But, if you're a purist, you may not want to read this post until you've finished the book. I do not give anything away, but I do mention my own feelings about the end, which may give you hints about the book if you know me. Be warned. And, when in doubt, don't read.
I have emerged from a self-induced stupor of all things Potter, and I am satisfied.
I had determined to read books 1-6 again as preparation for the 7th and final installation in one of my favorite book series (book series's? I have no grammatical sense right now) of all time (also includes the Chronicles of Narnia and the Anne books. I would say the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I don't enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy watching the movies, so I can't legitimately call them some of my favorite books, but definitely one of my favorite stories). I started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (book 1) for the 8th or 9th or 10th time when I was in Michigan, and my world grew narrower and more Potter-focused when I got home, culminating in a read-a-thon of massive proportions as I read all of book 7 yesterday. Whole stinking thing. And this on top of a morning spent outside the house with a friend and going to the grocery store (during which I was not reading--thought I should clarify that. I'm not THAT much of a freak, though I must confess i took the book in the car with me and seriously considered finishing the chapter as I sat in the Wal-Mart parking lot). I finally finished the series this morning around 2, and spent at least another 30 minutes to an hour processing all I'd read, despite my tiredness and desire to sleep.
I have now spent a good 3 or 4 hours online this morning reading HP message boards, looking for more--answers to questions I still had, understanding of certain inconsistencies raised on those message boards, divergences from things that were "known" to happen in this book that didn't, explanation to some of the more complex happenings in DH, and some resolution to what I considered an inferior epilogue. The thing that has helped me most was this interview with J.K. Rowling. (Also helpful was this timeline that broke down the...um...resolution of the story, and this tidbit of info about Crookshanks that was good to finally know.) The interview resolved any lingering questions I had, and generally added to the "it's really over" sensation. I think it should be required reading for any Potter fan WHO HAS FINISHED THE BOOKS. As I am not of the die-hard-fan ilk that normally lingers on HP message boards, this interview was a great, all-in-one source of valuable information.
And now, having full sated my appetite, I must return to normal life and attend to my somewhat neglected house and children. At least, for a week or two, when i think I may have to read book 7 again.
2 comments:
Wasn't it fabulous? Rowling is one of the best story-tellers of our time. I read book 7 in about 9 hours over the course of 2 days, and I could barely put it down to sleep or work! "Gloriously satisfying" - those were my first words after finishing. And like you, I'm already itching to read it again. I'll probably re-read 1-6 first, though.
Maybe we can have a Potter gab-fest next time I'm in town!
I decided to post the comment over here. I've been waiting to hear if you've finished it yet. Well, I have to say that it wasn't perfect, but it was fantastic. The more I read the interviews of JK Rowling, and all that she has to say, in conjunction with the books, the more I'm suprised at the depth of this world that she created. She really will go down in history as one of the great writers, I'm convinced. Let's chat later.
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