Whew!! Well, I finally finished the last Harry Potter book. Without giving away anything, many lives were lost, tears were shed, but it ended the way it should have ended.
I've thought a lot about all the Harry Potter books I've read and tried to figure out their immense appeal to me. Although I've said as much, you really cannot boil it all down to the fight between good and evil. Throughout the series and especially in this last book, the author weaves a lot of current issues into her books. Ethnic cleansing and racial superiority regarding the full-blooded wizards vs. the half-bloods (mudbloods) and the muggles. The idea of absolute power corrupting even the noblest of men.
The one thing that struck me the most though was the acute sense of loss that Harry experienced repeatedly throughout the books. The writing was so poignant and mirrored so many feelings that I have felt over the years. I feel the books resonated so much more deeply with me then they would if I hadn't experienced so many losses in my life. As I was mulling this over, I felt quite proud of myself when I saw an interview with J.K. Rowling who said she felt the main theme that ran throughout the books was death and the different ways people approached and dealt with death. She said the death of her mother played a very important role in how she wrote the series.
So long Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and the rest. You've been good friends and kept me company since 1999. I'll miss you. (Oh great, another loss!!)
7 comments:
Interesting. I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books (how can it be that we're friends!), but it's interesting to me to know that death is a major theme given that the books are so popular with pre-teens (and up).
I just finished Harry Potter today, too. I wonder what's next for J.K. Rowling.
Cat59: That's why the books have such mass appeal. There is something for everyone. I think it works well for pre-teens and teenagers because all the fighting and deaths are exciting. Sad yes, but most kids that age can't really relate to the losses yet.
Susan: Welcome to Possumlady Place! I've seen your comments in Julie's blog. For J.K. Rowling, I think I remember her saying that she was obviously going to take a break and relish not having any deadlines for a while. I think, though I may be wrong, that I heard her say something about eventually writing her own story.
Oh, well, Possumlady. I'm two for two now. Not fond of the Simpson's and I never gave Harry Potter a chance. Now that it's all over, I'll join the group and read one.
Possumlady--I am still plugging away. I devoted today to reading HP7 (which my daughter says is how the press refers to the book in London--that's where my daughter is right now). I still have less than 200 pages to go. I will try to write a blog when I am done, maybe compare notes with you!
Oh Mary, I'll still be your friend even though you don't like the Simpsons! Yes do read Harry Potter. But I need to warn you that the first book really is a children's book. I read it when it came out and thought it was sweet but nothing more. Then the second book came out and I heard such good things that I decided to give it another go and I am so glad that I did. They became much more "adult" after that.
KGmom, oh, I like that--HP7--sounds like a top-notch police group like MI5! Best of luck with the rest of the book.
All done now--I will write a blog on it shortly.
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