Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This topic is open for discussion of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling



Book Synopsis:
Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?
The epic finale to an epic series.

Reserved

Reserved

I'm starting this next week :)

Karen wrote: "I'm starting this next week :)"

Karen, have you started it yet? November 1st seems like it was sooo long ago. ;-)

I'll be starting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (FOR THE FIRST TIME!) just as soon as I've had some lunch. It's now after 2p here and I'm starving! :-)

I'm going to guess Karen is waiting for Saturday. :) or not. Can't remember what she said.

❀Tea❀ wrote: "I'm going to guess Karen is waiting for Saturday. :) or not. Can't remember what she said."

Oh, right. Now I remember her saying that, too. I'm not going to wait, though. I'm afraid that if I don't start it today, that it will be another 10 years before I finally read it. "Feeling buoyant" will only last so long, after all.

Jen wrote: "❀Tea❀ wrote: "I'm going to guess Karen is waiting for Saturday. :) or not. Can't remember what she said."

Oh, right. Now I remember her saying that, too. I'm not going to wait, though. I'm afraid ..."

*snorts*
Not to dampen your mood, but my guess is after few first pages your buoyancy will start to leave

❀Tea❀ wrote: "*snorts*
Not to dampen your mood, but my guess is after few first pages your buoyancy will start to leave"

Possibly/probably, but I imagine I'll still feel happy to be reading it finally. :-)

You know, when I finally got my hands on this one for first time, I've read it in one sitting. It took me whole night and good part of the next day. I had to see what'll happen.

I watched the movies this week and will start the book after TT begins ;)

You know, if we keep chatting and distracting Jen, she'll never start reading it :)

lol

❀Tea❀ wrote: "You know, if we keep chatting and distracting Jen, she'll never start reading it :)"

lol!!! I'm eating at the moment. It's hard to read a hardcover book and eat at the same time, though, so I've been refreshing and refreshing and refreshing... lol ;-)

so while you're eating... here is another favourite ;)

lol

Karen wrote: "so while you're eating... here is another favourite ;)

"

lol Karen! :-) (But wasn't Diggory in Ravenclaw?)

So, I've now read through Chapter Fifteen, "The Goblin's Revenge," and I have to say, this story is quite exciting. Sadly (view spoiler)[(very sadly, I cried), Hedwig was killed in Chapter Four ("The Seven Potters") and Mad-Eye Moody was learned dead in Chapter Five ("Fallen Warrior"). Bill and Fleur's wedding was raided by Death Eaters in Chapter Nine ("A Place to Hide"), and the Ministry fell to their control at the end of Chapter Eight ("The Wedding"). Oh! And Ron just got fed up and stormed away in Chapter Fifteen. (hide spoiler)] :-( So exciting, but not good. :-(

I'm struggling to remember happy moments... Well, in Chapters Ten through Twelve, (view spoiler)[a change comes over Kreacher. He begins to act better toward Harry, Ron and Hermione, and is now happy to serve Harry (and clean!) (hide spoiler)]. :-)

The lead up to Chapter Eight was mostly good stuff, too. And then in Chapter Thirteen ("The Muggle-Born Registration Commission"), (view spoiler)[Harry, Ron and Hermione successfully invaded the Ministry and took back the locket-Horcrux from Umbridge. They also managed to rescue some Muggle-borns and help them escape. (hide spoiler)] :-) But their (view spoiler)[own escape wasn't problem-free and they now can't return to Sirius's (now Harry's) house. (hide spoiler)] :-(

I'm really enjoying this story, though I don't think "enjoying" is really the right word for it. But it sure is gripping and thrilling.

Gripping and thrilling are great ways to describe it.

I always find those scenes around chapter 13 nail biting. Even in the movie!

(view spoiler)[ So many sad bits at the start, especially Hedwig. JKR just has to go and kill off so many good characters!! (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Gripping and thrilling are great ways to describe it.

I always find those scenes around chapter 13 nail biting. Even in the movie!

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, nail-biting is another great way to describe this story. ;-)

I just finished Chapter Nineteen, "The Silver Doe," and (view spoiler)[Ron's back! Harry found the Gryffindor sword, Ron saved his life, and they destroyed the locket Horcrux (hide spoiler)]. :-)

I was planning to read at least another chapter or three, but I'm experiencing some jaw-cracking yawns during this pause-for-updates/notifications-check.

As I'm past the halfway point, I think I'm going to call it quits for tonight. Midnight is less than 30 minutes away, so it's a good time to try to get some sleep. I'll resume my adventures with Harry, et.al., in the morning. :-)

Chapter 19 is awesome and I love the doe ;)
As you haven't read the book before, I'm interested in your thoughts as to who sent the patronus?

Karen wrote: "Chapter 19 is awesome and I love the doe ;)
As you haven't read the book before, I'm interested in your thoughts as to who sent the patronus?"

I have no idea, but I would love to find out that it was (view spoiler)[Dumbledore. That he's not really dead. And that Snape is a good guy after all. (Though I hope for this last mainly just because I don't want Dumbledore to be truly gone.) But since JKR killed Hedwig, my hope that Dumbledore is still alive isn't as strong as it used to be. :-( (hide spoiler)]

But don't tell me if I'm right! (Or wrong.)

My lips are sealed !

Karen wrote: "My lips are sealed !"

Thanks! I just finished the book. I'm feeling blown away and at a loss as to what to say to make up a review. I'm thinking it may turn out to be the shortest one I've yet written for a book in this series.

Here's what I wrote in my final status update, which sums up how I feel quite nicely, I think:

Wow. This book was worth the wait, even if I did extend that wait a further eight years. Despite all the deaths (Why did so many have to die, JKR? Why?), I'm really glad I finally read this story. It wrapped everything up very nicely, even if I did cry in the end (and in the beginning, and in the middle).

And you know? I think I might use that last status update as the opening paragraph of my review. I just can't think of what else to say that would be a better opening...

:) maybe just ponder it for a bit.

You know when, I think in book 4, you questioned (view spoiler)[ how Dumbledore seemed to know everything, but didn't see the end of book 6 coming? That's why I kept saying this book ties it all together and we finally understand that he was dying anyway and what a heroic act to not only save Draco's soul ; and possibly his life and those of his parents, but also to ensure Snape's position with V to ultimastely assist in his downfall.
(hide spoiler)]
My favourite line from the book is when Harry says that (view spoiler)[ Severus was the bravest man he ever knew (hide spoiler)].
I also like that JKR put in the epilogue to end the series and close constant speculation or questions about writing a 8th book

Karen wrote: ":) maybe just ponder it for a bit.

You know when, I think in book 4, you questioned how Dumbledore seemed to know everything, but didn't see the end of book 6 coming? That's why I kept saying thi..."

Yes to all the things you wrote. I agree. :-)

I'm glad to know that Professor Snape (view spoiler)[really WAS a good guy and worthy of Dumbledore's trust. (hide spoiler)] And I'm VERY glad that we got to see (view spoiler)[Snape's memories along with Harry. (hide spoiler)]

I wrote my review. I mostly just lamented all of the deaths: (view spoiler)[Hedwig, Mad-Eye Moody, Dobby, Fred, Remus Lupin, Tonks... (hide spoiler)] I cried in so many places as I was reading this story.

But it was still amazingly good. :-)

You know, I just realized that there is one thing more I would like to know. So not everything was wrapped up in a bow.

What happened with (view spoiler)[the Dursleys? They were taken away to safety. Were they kept safe? Did Harry ever reconcile with them? Dudley showed himself to not be a lost cause when they said goodbye to Harry, after all. (hide spoiler)]

Yes there are a number of things not answered. This interview is quite good as to why:

http://www.beyondhogwarts.com/harry-p...

Karen wrote: "Yes there are a number of things not answered. This interview is quite good as to why:

http://www.beyondhogwarts.com/harry-p..."

Thanks! V-e-r-y interesting. :-) But I still want to know about the (view spoiler)[Dudley Dursley - Harry (hide spoiler)] relationship. Maybe I'll send JKR a tweet. ;-) But first I should probably read a few other links I've saved of things said "after" the action of book seven.

I'm sure she has been asked before, and probably a lot of people speculate on the answer too!

Karen wrote: "I'm sure she has been asked before, and probably a lot of people speculate on the answer too!"

I'll let you know if I find an answer in any of the other interview links I have saved, once I take the time to read through them.

Great, thanks!

I just wish that she'd go back and write Marauders' time at Hogwarts. Those snippets we got from memories just got me more intrigued :)

I guess that's for fanfic is for

True :)
Any really good HP fanfic you would recommend?

Well, mostly ones I'm reading are m/m so somehow I don't think you'd like them :)

Haha
I wish I was more interested in Romance as a genre because you all read so many different forms of it and I could get into some good book discussions. I'm not sure why it doesn't appeal, I just always find it either saccharine or laughable or boring. I'm sure Freud would have a theory for that!

Have you read James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing?
It's supposed to be next generation. I'm thinking for some time to try it, but somehow can't find courage :P

Looks interesting! I may just give it a go and can report back on if you should try it :)

We're revisiting this buddy read for Tower Teams VI.
Join us anytime from May 12th to July 31st.
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Participating in a Harry Potter buddy read with a member from a different team, or with a member of NBRC who isn't on a Tower Team = 40 points
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Team Sprout - let me know when you are ready to start

Diane, I am going to start tomorrow. Does that sound good to you?

Sure, sounds good.

ok, I'm going to download the audiobook now, so I'll be all ready in the morning before work.

So I read the first 5 chapters tonight as I won't be able to read until late tomorrow.

(view spoiler)[It was nice to see Dudley show some caring about Harry.

I totally forgot I needed tissues so soon into this book.
Poor Hedwig. And Harry didn't even get time to process it since he was fighting for his life.

Then George losing an ear and Mad-Eye not surviving. What a depressing start to the book. Hopefully the wedding will go off without a problem and bring some good news. Which on the plus side it was great that Lupin and Tonks got married.
(hide spoiler)]

Ok, I'm only on chapter 4 so far so I'm going to wait to get through chapter 5 to comment on your post. I'm tempted to look at the spoiler but I won't. LOL

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "So I read the first 5 chapters tonight as I won't be able to read until late tomorrow."

Ok, I've read your spoilers. and YES! I was taken aback at the carnage of the first few chapters. So sad. I'm still trying to get over book #6 and here they go right off the bat.

I so taken aback by Dudley. WOW! Now (view spoiler)[ I'm sad to see him go (hide spoiler)]

Sassafrass wrote: "Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "So I read the first 5 chapters tonight as I won't be able to read until late tomorrow."

Ok, I've read your spoilers. and YES! I was taken aback at the carnage of the first ..."

I don't like to give spoilers, but I'll warn you it will get worse, so have the tissues handy.

ch 6 - 12

(view spoiler)[Well the wedding started off well, but then the DeathEaters crashed. Luckily Hermione was ready for immediate evacuation with all their stuff.

Hermione was partially right about House Elves - you need to treat them well. The difference in Kreacher once they gave him the locket is amazing. I'm impressed that RAB chose to drink the potion himself instead of forcing Kreacher to do it (like Voldemort did).

Lupin should be ashamed of himself. I'm glad Harry told him those things. He has to get over himself and see Tonks loves him and wants to be with him and he needs to be with their child.

I can't believe Umbridge has the original locket. That means we will have to read about her again. Ughhhh!
(hide spoiler)]