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 Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Website: Official Site
Synopsis: Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible
task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes.
Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows.
But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the
task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and
companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the
inexorable path laid out for him…
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final installment in J.K. Rowling’s epic saga, which has cast a spell of magic and intrigue over most of the world. No matter where you are on the globe, you can always find Harry Potter books and fans.
Whether the series can stand the tests of time and maintain its cult status into the future remains to be seen; this is, according to J.K. Rowling, the true test. Based on current sales and popularity, the series looks destined to become a classic. The universal appeal of the books shows the series is more than mere “children’s fiction", and this final installment serves to further reinforce this.
The nature of the beast means this review will be largely irrelevant; Harry Potter fans don’t need this review to tell them to go out and read this book, chances are they are on their second or third read through by now. Potter-skeptics, who have avoided the 'fantasy' element of the series, however, may benefit.
While the Potter novels are, undisputely, creations of fantasy, they are not cheesy or indulgent in any sense. Fantasy can be as rich and rewarding for the reader as any other genre; the novels can refresh the mind, forcing the reader to let go of reality and surrender to the force of imagination.
So what is it that makes the Harry Potter novels, above all other fantasy series, so special? While it is true to point to Rowling's writing style, and the strength of her imagination, these qualities are standard to many less-treasured books. What sets the series apart, and makes people go that extra mile, is the richness and realism with which Rowling paints her world of wizards and wonder.
This is fantasy, yes, but with a depth and appeal to make you wish it wasn't. How many 11 year-olds wonder, even for a fleeting moment, whether an owl is headed their way with a letter from Hogwarts? In an age of fear and terror, it is easy to see the appeal of the fantasy!
This is the magic of J.K. Rowling’s writing—the world may be artificial, but the characters and the emotions are not. Harry's world and experiences, while fantastical, remain close enough to reality to remain accessible to the reader—it’s a story of real people, thrown into extraordinary circumstances. The depth and intensity of the emotion is the product of a great writer, with an understanding of the human condition, and Rowling must be applauded for this.
J.K. Rowling has not onlylived up to the hype created by her millions of fans (and her critics as well), she surpassed it. Given the intensity of the media speculation, and the suffocating public anticipation, the magnitude of this achievement cannot be ignored.
So much of the fun in reading Harry Potter had been the endless speculation that preceded the release of each book in the series. Sometimes the experience, or the journey itself, is more satisfying than the destination. All of the speculations have now—finally—come to an end.
With all the theories flying around, it was important for Rowling to steer clear of predictability, and she does just that. This book shatters the formula that Harry Potter fans are used too; as Harry is thrown into turmoil and confusion, so too is the reader. In the previous novels Rowling used a specific rhythm of storytelling, but for the last two books, particularly this one, it is very quickly apparent that she has thrown the formula out the window. This is a huge novel (and I’m not referring to the page count), encompassing a story of such scope and personal creative vision that it dwarfs all the previous installments combined.
Here it is. The final confrontation. The very last chapter in the story of “The Boy Who Lived". The last struggle against “He Who Must Not Be Named"; good vs. evil, and love vs. hate. This book contains (most of) the answers to the questions millions across the world have spent the last few years of their lives pondering over, and the answers do not disappoint!
Deathly Hallows is a somber novel, exploring the sadness and harsh realities of life in the grown-up wizarding world. It is about a boy beginning to look at his life, not through the hopeful imaginative eyes of a child, but through his experiences.
Harry now views the world from a different perspective— the perspective of an adult. This is the story of a very ordinary boy that has tragedy thrust upon him; a boy forced to cope with the uncertain truth of his own destiny. Above all else, however, this is a tale that examines the human condition; the trials and tribulations of a very lost young man, leading the final throws of a resistance that seemingly has no hope.
Harry has lost his parents, his godfather, and Professor Dumbledore—everyone he has looked to for guidance has left him. He is left to rely on the loyalty of his friends for guidance. The losses in this installment happen almost effortlessly, with no time for comprehension or reflection. By the time the book is over, we have lost almost a dozen characters we have grown to know and love. Some of the deaths are brutal, even unfair. Major characters are killed in passing. It is an accurate portrayal of the harsh realities of life, loss and war.
Deathly Hallows is a very psychological story, with much of the battle taking place in Harry’s mind. He struggles against those qualities in him that are closest to the enemy he is fighting against.
While Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for the remaining Horcruxes (objects in which segments of Voldemort's soul are encased), they are confronted with temptation and despair. The story stealthily joins the dots in the larger story arc, with subtle references in previous books being brought back into play with far greater significance. The imagery used in the novel is very strong, especially when it comes to the excruciating visions that plague Harry (a result of the connection between himself and the dark lord).
J.K. Rowling has created a world that is as rich as the many worlds of Star Wars, and as detailed as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. It is a world where owls deliver mail, paintings talk, cars fly, and where love is the most powerful magic of all. It is a story of friendship, betrayal, redemption, and discovery.
Once it is all said and done, despite the sadness, we are reminded of why we all fell in love with this saga to begin with. It can only be summed up by quoting the parting words between Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter:
“Tell me on last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
can't wait to see this fil  m |
