<p>Hedwig getting killed cast a pall over much of the book for me...poor innocent loyal non-combatant owl. I think I may start a "Hedwig Lives!" association.</p>
<p>Remus had the mark of doom upon him, so no surprise there, ditto exactly one of the Weasley twins.</p>
<p>But Tonks should have lived...baby Ted needed a mother, as both Harry & Tom Riddle demonstrated.</p>
<p>Snape was much as I had expected. Ditto Harry himself being one of the Horcruxes.</p>
<p>I think Rowling regressed in this book, perhaps under pressure of finishing, as some plot points seemed more contrived than usual. And the early middle, when Harry/Ron/Hermione were wandering while on the lam, seemed to drag.</p>
<p>The epilogue confirmed my feelings about most epilogues.</p>
<p>The major plot turning points had been worked out by fans long before -- Snape loved Lily, Harry was a Horcrux (as was Nagini), the last Marauders would die, the death toll would be ridiculously high but wouldn't kill any REALLY important characters, Neville would prove invaluable... Nevertheless, I still rather enjoyed reading it.</p>
<p>Whatever its flaws, I grew up on the series and have loved it since its American debut. The finale has been written since the beginning, also, so I expect it suffered from some of the flaws of over-editing and being completed before Rowling developed herself as the writer of Harry Potter. </p>
<p>I enjoyed it, though the middle was a bit of a drag. I admit it was about what I expected, too, though I thought it was extremely well executed. Never under-estimate how hard it is to sell a story when there are so many spoilers and guess about it around that the reader is bound to expect nearly anything you could throw at them.</p>
<p>I also like that my favorite theory about Neville was partially validated. :D</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to the final movie now. I can't wait to see what Ralph Fiennes does with that final Voldemort scene.</p>
<p>THis was not my favorite Harry Potter. My joy in them always remained in the day to day life of Hogwarts and the wizarding world. But I did enjoy seeing the loose ends tied up, although I think, perhaps, there was a little more going on in terms of the plot than really need be. I wasn't as wild about the Deathly Hallows concept, but that's just me. My favorite part was also Mrs. Weasley's stand -- I could so totally relate. Harry will always hold a very special place in my heart because we purchased the first on vacation when Zoosergirl was seven and the last last night, exactly five weeks before she leaves for college. Went to all the "Midnight Madness" together -- just the two of us at her behest. How lucky am I that my 17-year old daughter sought my company for something that she could have done with her friends? I am so very grateful that we got to spend these years sharing something together and I feel very satisfied with how both Harry and Zoosergirl turned out.</p>
<p>Done..it was worth my 10 hours today.....darling D stayed up all night after a Mom/D trip to the midnight event(we had fun too Zooser). We also mused about turning points as she leaves for school in 3 weeks. </p>
<p>I haven't read the last few, but agree with zoosermom-- S. and I read together each night for many years, thanks mostly to Beverly Cleary, E.B. (and T.H.) White, and J.K. Rowling.</p>
<p>OK, help me out here. Isn't that the Griffindor sword Neville uses at the end to decapitate Nagini? Did they explain how he gets it back from the goblins? Or do we just accept that the sword found its way to the person who needed to wield it like it did for Harry the first time?</p>
<p>The death that bothered me most was Dobby's, though Colin's was pretty sad too. Like Zmom, what I most loved about the books was the wonder of it all when it was new and unexpected fun things were happening all the time. To me Dobby was kind of the best of that, zany, courageous and loyal. </p>
<p>I would have liked just a bit more at the end before the epilogue, sort of a cleansing of the Shire, before speeding them straight into middle age.</p>
<p>We came to the HP books a bit late. A year or so after it was out, I picked up HP on cassette at the library, just before our family vacation, and we all listened to it together in the car. We sat outside our hotel in the car, because we were at a critical point and none of us wanted to turn it off.</p>
<p>When S2 was in 11th grade, he won an important competition and I had to drive him and D to Indiana U for him to perform. Longest trip to that point I'd driven alone. HP to the rescue again - (either book 2 or 3?)</p>
<p>The 6th book came out when we were in Germany, and the local bookstore got some English (British) editions. It came out before the German version, so all of D's classmates were borrowing hers while they waited for the German one to be released. (It was not quite the craze in Germany - perhaps it loses something in translation - but it is enjoyed.)</p>
<p>I cried when Harry used the stone to bring his parents and back to strengthen him, and I cried with happiness at the end. I guess I'm not too literarily sophisticated. :) I just like a good happy ending.</p>
<p>I wondered about the sword, too, Conyat and plan to go back and see if I can find something about that and also who was the Hogwarts Headmaster at the epilogue.</p>
<p>I am bleary with lack of sleep. Did we really have to slog through 200 or so pages of Harry, Ron, and Hermione wandering aimlessly? Didn't catch the problem with the Gryffindor sword -will have to review that when I get the book back from son (who generously allowed me first read). The Severus/Lily connection was what I had expected, but with a bit more history. Mrs. Weasley rocks! And I was rather hoping Voldermort would be taken down or surprised by something Fred and George created. Wonder if Neville is the head of Gryffindor?</p>
<p>p.129 says the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor. </p>
<p>I cried. I even laughed at times. Dobby was the worst. </p>
<p>S is at a golf weekend w/dh and is dying to get back and start reading. I'm glad he wasn't here checking on me (how much longer?) and counting tissues!</p>