And So It ends

I started reading the Harry Potter series simply because there was nothing else for me to read at the time. Obviously after reading the first three books in two days, quite the accomplishment for me, I was obviously hooked. So naturally when the release of the seventh book approached I was in an almost giddy state to discover the ending. I even went as far as reserving it, which turned out to be a waste of time due the the incredible volume of books left when I arrived. I instantly began tearing into all 784 pages. Even with a video to produce, more on that later, and church, I was still able to finish it in about two days (bought around 1 p.m. on Saturday and finished around 12 p.m. Monday). And so comes my spoiler free, and short, review.

I only had to really wait one year to find out the end of the series. Even so, it seemed like an eternity. I read the first six books twice, played the OoTP game, and even listened to the soundtracks from the first four movies every time I played my 360. I was geared up to read the final installment in the series. And for the most part I wasn't disappointed. The book is not the longest of the series but somehow seems to tell the biggest story without feeling rushed or crammed in. The story is great, lots of action, great humor, and the over all feeling fits in with the other books.

Now for the criticism. I have two main problems with the book. First, there is a good number of character deaths, but only a few you care about. When I say that I mean that while some of the characters that died have been my favorite I really didn't have an emotional reaction when they died; I reacted to the deaths some time after. It just seemed to me that the manner in which some of the characters died, or how it as told, lacked the emotional impact that should obviously have been there. Second, There were parts that were described in such a way that I found myself having to go back and reread portions to make sure I fully understood them. It may just be me, but some of the really good parts read slower than they should have while I had to retrace the steps in my mind to get the correct order of events, or reread sections.

Apart from those two small problems I think it is one of the best HP books, surpassed only, in my mind, by OoTP.

Now on the the video for church. A couple weeks ago Mrs. Lyon asked me to do a video about our church for the Sword of the Lord conference. "Sure" I said, and as fast as the words left my mouth, all thought of it left my head. I didn't really start working on it until about Friday, two days before it had to be done. Because of this I was forced to work with Windows Movie Maker, which as everyone knows is an experience that can best be described as somewhere between purgatory and working with Pastor Lyon. Even with this problem I was able to finish just in time, and the end result is somewhat acceptable.

OK now for some more HP talk about what I correctly, and incorrectly predicted about the final installment. Since there is going to be spoilers I tried to make it blend in so you would have to highlight it to read the spoilers.

**********SPOILER WARNING**********

First what I was right about:

Snape is good

A Weasley would die

Harry was a Horcrux

DA would play a big role

More than two members of the OoTP would die

Now what I was wrong about:

Neither Ron, Hermione, of Harry dies (permanently)

Neither Sirius or Dumbledore come back in any way

The Deathly Hallows does not refer to Godric's Hallows

Something of Gryffyndor is not made into a Horcrux

**********SPOILER OVER**********