Wild About Harry

I have been on a Harry Potter reading marathon since early summer.  After I read the third book, years ago, I decided I would wait to read the rest until the whole series was out, and I could read them straight through. 

So back in June I re-read book three, and then I began reading the new stuff.

And you know, if you are a Harry Potter junkie like I am, that the thrilling stories and lovable characters will get so much into your head that you start identifying with them just a leetle too much, sometimes.  I have dreamed about them two of the last three nights.

This was evidenced to me the other night, when I collapsed on the couch after a long day, and I realized that the remote control was across the room.  And I AM NOT KIDDING EVEN ONE BIT when I tell you that my initial thought was to shout, "Accio remote!"

I should probably get out a little more. 

Last night I finally finished the last book in the series, a feat I accomplished with the help of a great deal of caffeine and a very large box of Kleenex.

If you have never read the series, please do not read any further.  I'm serious.  Big time spoilers ahead, because I HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS. 

*scrolling down now*

*still scrolling*

Seriously, you've been warned.

*humming and tapping my foot*

Nice weather we're having, isn't it?

*still scrolling*

Last warning.

You still here?  Okay.  Let's talk.

I know I'm arriving a little late at this party.  Much of the Potter-loving world has already hashed and re-hashed this book.  But you know what?  I HAVE to talk about this book, because OH MY WORD.  That last one absolutely wore me out. 

Just as Rowling promised, all the ends were tied up so neatly (in my opinion), and all the major questions were answered.  There were still a few things I wondered about, though (and this will be totally stream-of-consciousness, because my mind and heart are still racing).

Even though we caught another glimpse of Petunia Dursley in the Pensieve, I couldn't help but find myself wanting to know how and where the Dursleys wound up.  All along, I suspected the series would end with Petunia somehow re-entering the magic world and giving her life for Harry.  I guess something in me needs the bad guys to become good guys.  I wonder what happened to Dudley?

I'm totally not bragging here (actually, yes I am), but I saw the Snape thing coming.  At the start of this last book, I even went on record with Hubs (who read it before me), saying, "I KNOW Snape is still a good guy."  That was very satisfying, and when we learned that Harry's middle son had the middle name of Severus...well, a big sob got caught in my throat.

Speaking of sobs, the scene where Harry finally got to talk to his parents in the woods, just before he thought he was dying...was that the most heart-wrenching thing you've ever read?  I positively howled, and books almost never make me cry. 

And, I think I may have missed this--who ended up raising Teddy Lupin?  Was it Bill and Fleur? 

And then--oh, then--there was The Kiss.  When Hermione planted that big one on Ron I nearly came right out of my skin.  And I also nearly woke up Hubs and planted a big one on him in celebration, but since it was 1 am, I restrained myself.

Do you think there's any chance for another series?  Maybe Harry as an adult?  Or little Albus and his friends?  I know, probably not.  A girl can hope.

I know I'm leaving out a dozen observations that were coursing through my brain last night.  I was so eager to find out what happened that I probably read it too fast.  I'm actually thinking about re-reading more slowly, so I can pick up on everything I missed last time.

Go ahead--fire away in the comments section and share your favorite and best thoughts about that wonderful world of Harry.  I don't know when I've been so sad to see a book--and series--end.

Comments

[Marta]

Oh agreed. So wonderful. Realizing that Snape had looked out for Harry because of his mother...*sob*! I also finished in the wee hours and was beside myself when Harry tells his son, "He was the bravest man I've ever known."
Seriously, the woman deserves every penny she's earned.

[SUMMER]

Harry Potter is one of the books that are cleverly written. I was hooked on it since the first book came out. I, too cried on that last book. I can't wait for the movies to come out. :)

[Tammy]

Never read a single page never mind the series.I was sad last year when the Series of Unfortunate Events ended!!

[Sarah DeSalvo]

LOL at the "accio remote"!!! I didn't read your spoilers, because I live overseas and so far have only been able to obtain through Book 5. I guess I'll have to wait until I can get back to the States or get someone to send me the last 2 to satisfy my Harry Potter need... but I went through the first 5 in a matter of about 2 weeks or so. I also was dreaming Harry Potter characters, but I never had any of the charms pop into my head during the day!

[AmyR]

I LOVED the Harry Potter series so much! every since book 1, our family buys one, I read it - then my husband, then my middle son and then the oldest (he gave them up at book 3 - too long : ). And on the last one - I thought I would explode waiting for each of them to get done to talk about it! I did the SAME thing about Snape - I knew he was good and kept telling my guys too! I cried over the last one and that's unusual for me. We were wondering what Harry ended up having as a job - I couldn't find any hint toward that.

[Susan G.]

I saw the Snape thing coming too!! My sister teased me for over a year for believing Snape wasn't all bad. Boy, did I cry when Harry saw his parents, Lupin, and Sirius in the forest. And Fred?? My heart went out to poor George. {Yes I know they are not real people, but...) I also would love to know what happened to the Dursleys.
J.K. Rowling said in interviews after the book came out that Teddy Lupin was raised by Tonks' mother. She also has said she will write an encyclopedia of the wizarding world.
Take a look at the Harry Potter Lexicon at hp-lexicon.org. It has everything in the Harry Potter books. Including stuff like differences in the British and the US versions, word count. J.K. Rowling has admitted to using to check facts while writing her books!

[April]

You know a series of books is good when you miss the characters. I find myself wondering what Harry is up to? How are his kids doing in school?

The whole series is such a great example of good and evil. I can't wait for my kids are old enough to read and discuss the books.

[girlymama]

Seriously - HOW did you get anything else done whle you were reading? I read the whole last book straight through without even stopping to feed my family.

I sobbed when Dobby died. I never even liked Dobby - found him rather annoying - but I was sooo upset when he died. And the Weasley's mourning Fred - more tissues.

For the ultimate closure, check out this article where Rowlings tells you about what happens to everyone after the book - its fantastic! I wished it had all been in the book - like LOTR with its 17 endings ;-)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/07/30/potters.afterlife.ap/index.html

[Beth @ The Natural Mommy]

Oh. My. Goodness, I am glad you are going through this with me! I just finished reading the last book out loud to my husband (IN IT'S ENTIRETY - I started on a whim and then he wouldn't let me stop (the last part of the book I read for FOUR STRAIGHT HOURS until 2am!)

We are both going through horrible Harry Potter withdrawal. We so desperately want more. It's like losing a best friend, brother, and an arm all at once!

We are now watching the movies and it is SO FUN to watch that first movie and see Ginny and scream out "You're going to marry Harry Potter!" and not so fun to see Fred and George and know they won't both survive the series. Oh, and seeing Ron and Hermione bicker and know by the end they'll be "snogging" - I get so tickled!

I wonder how long I'll be able to go before I have to re-read the entire series.

But yes, having the Potter kids go through something like this in their own series? PLEASE?! PLEASE J.K. ROWLING?! OH PRETTY PLEASE?!

[nicole]

I've been re-reading the series myself. I'll be picking up book 7 from my mom tomorrow to give it another go. Overall, I think book 6 was the best of the series. I think it showed the struggles Harry was facing in a much more complex way and that the story itself was more challenging to the reader. In Book 7, I really did not think for a minute that Ron would abandon Harry and Hermione for the final quest. It was just a matter of time. I also knew she would not kill the big 3, but I thought it was all tied up a little too neatly. Where was the challenge in accepting the end? Sometimes the good guys lose, or sustain more losses. I was very glad Snape turned out to still be good--I really liked his tortured character. Rowling does an excellent job of making the reader angry at him, but still wanting him to be all right.
I think there will be another series. The final lines of the book leave it way too open. I mean, "All was well with the world" or whatever is begging for trouble. So, perhaps it will be the littles that the new series is about.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the whole series. I will certainly go back and read them many more times over the years. I wish the movies were better though.

[CarrieZ]

And poor Hedwig!

I want Hermione's purse in a big way. Wouldn't that just be the ultimate solution for keeping up with two kids under 5?

[Prisca]

I'm so happy for you! And sad at the same time. It was such a relief for me when I finished the books up, but then the finality of it settled in. I was let down for several days afterward (I had waited in line at midnight for the last book). The good news is that Harry and friends will always be available to you again via the wonderful books. The bad news is that it still DOES feel incomplete. Have you checked out the great websites for Potter fans? The Leaky Cauldron etc.? Also, some of those sites published Rowlings much more detailed discussions of life after book 7 for her characters. I predict you'll find solace in her interviews. She really had a VERY developed sense of what will happen to H, H, R, etc. Thank goodness for Rowling!!!

[Heidi]

I was a little disappointed that we didn't find out more about the characters' futures at the end. All we found out, really, was that they married and had kids, which was important to show that they had truly succeeded, long-term, by defeating Voldemort, but I would have liked more. It would have been nice to see how George carried on, for example. Or to know where they lived, what their jobs were -- I had a hard time seeing Hermione as just a mother, when I pictured her going on to crusade for elf rights or something. She was so ambitious and passionate all through the series, that I was surprised not to find out how she channeled that energy in her adult years. But reading the CNN article that Girlymama posted helped. :)

One of my favorite parts was that Neville and the DA carried on a secret rebellion at Hogwart's. I kind of wish we could have seen more of that somehow instead of wandering around aimlessly in the woods with H, R & H for so long. I was happy to see the return of so many Hogwart's alumni for the final battle too. And I loved that Neville got some glory! He's one of my favorites, so I was pleased to see him grow up into a capable wizard.

I also really enjoyed the Dumbledore backstory. He had been portrayed as so wise, so nearly-flawless throughout the series that it was a relief to have some humanity finally given to him.

I finished reading the book in August and I still get tears in my eyes when I think of certain parts of it. I was so sad to see the series end.

[GiftGuru]

Sister, ok, seriously and truly....the Harry Potter phenomenon is truly fabulous. I have read every book, seen every movie. The last book was bittersweet, so anticipated, yet there are no more after this.So sad. It was good to find out that Snape was actually good. I had been wondering for years. Then to know that Ginny is Harry's main squeeze...it's too cute !!!
LONG LIVE HARRY !!!!!

[Emily R]

I cried when Fred died. I bawled when I found out about little Albus's middle name. Where did Luna end up? Someone told me once that JKR had posted somewhere more details about the wrap-up, but I can't remember where. I want to start from 1 and go all through, but the Snape thing being settled will take out some of the glee and discovery, I'm afraid.

[Lisa]

I *heart* the Harry Potter series. My two big issues with book 7 is:
1) House Unity had been preached forever. It's not who you were born as, but the choices you make. Yet in the end, the only "good" Slytherin was Snape. So basically your future as a good-for-nothing-evil lot is decided when you are 11? As a mom to four (and a woman in my *ahem* 40s), I know that 11/12 year olds are not set in stone. Bad kids can become good young adults and vice-versa.
2) The epilogue was just...lacking. On the surface it was too tidy, too shallow. Yet something seemed dark about it. I could not figure it out until I read this - http://tkp.livejournal.com/70244.html#cutid1 - In terms of prejudices, little has changed from book 1 to book 7...

[Suzanne]

Here's the J.K. Rowling interviews that are a must read:

Leaky Cauldron Web Chat Transcript:
Leaky Cauldron Web Chat Transcript

Dateline NBC Interview:
NBC Interview

[Vidhya]

Oh, how I bawled my eyes out reading the last book!( It was at 3 in the morning!!!) Finishing the laast book was like loosing a good frnd!!! Cant help from wanting more of HP.

JKR should probably write somehting on HP's children. Reading the afterlife of HP has given me some peace!! *sniff*sniff*

[Shauna]

Such a great ending to a great series! (Unlike the Series of Unfortunate Events, I must add, which unfortunately had a lame ending that seemed thrown together.) I heard that Rowling's next project will be an encyclopedia of the series. I just read an interesting interview with her earlier this week as she discussed the Christian themes in the series, especially the last book.

[Jeni]

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said! I'm a weirdo, too, because I feel like I actually KNOW these people. And I knew Snape was really good, too - otherwise why all the trust from Albus?

I wish it could all continue...I miss them already.

[Summer]

Yeah I cried several times reading the last book. With Dobby's death and Harry walking to his death. That scene was crazy emotional. It was a fantastic read. Did not disappoint.

[Danielle T.]

The thing that killed me the most was Snape's death, when he begged Harry to look directly into his eyes. He wanted his light sight to be that of Lily's eyes! Even now it makes me tear up!

[Danielle T.]

That should've been his LAST sight. I had tears in my eyes and didn't see my mistake!

[Cassi]

I also loved the series, but wanted to know so much more about their futures. I hope she does do a series on the younger ones. Or even a book of short stories involving some of the side characters. I love Fred and George. Oh how I cried when he died!

[Jessica]

I too felt bummed that the whole series is over now. Have you seen this clip? Its a Harry Potter intervention that is pretty funny. *warning* there is a bad word toward the beginning, in case there are little ears around your computer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmnyWlQDnns