Teh Potter

[fredericks]

This thing only came out last Friday, right? Jesus, it feels like it's been around forever, what with all the chatter that's been going on about it on my FL. But finally FINALLY I finished. I zoomed through 150 pages or so on my way into work, and savored the last 50 while waiting for the homebound bus this morning. And, you know, I was okay. I enjoyed what I read tons, but I wasn't all sappy or emotional or anything. UNTIL the second to last page, where one little line of dialogue* had me tearing up like crazy. Embarrasing to the extreme, seeing as I was on the side of a busy street in front of the hospital. I tried to play it off and make it seem like I'd gotten dust in my eyes and then texted 1x2foralways. My message paraphrased: OMG, I finished. SNAPE RULEZ!!!!1. And, like, two minutes later she called and we basically fangirled over the phone. Then I started crying again (this time on the bus), and told her I'd have to call her after I'd gotten some rest. Surely the waterworks could be blamed on fatigue, right?

I'm not going to go all hardcore reviewer on the book, but, yes, I liked what she did with Snape. Rowling's comments from the Radio City event last year had me thinking she really was going to do Snape dirty, and I left Deathly Hallows feeling she'd listened to all the cheering fangirls and -boys that liked Snaped and wanted him to be "good". So I sucked up my eyebrow raise in regards to the somewhat out-of-the-blue contents from the chapter "The Prince's Tale" and said a quiet thank you.

I also enjoyed (among other things) the part of the book where Harry and Co. were on the run/hiding while trying to figure out what the heck they were going to DO. The touch of realism was appreciated.

What I'm trying to figure out: is fandom, like, this massive room of monkeys pecking away at typewriters? Because I SWEAR I've read fic and/or come across comments where people say that Snape killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's orders and Dumbledore was more or less a manipulative bastard. It was practically canon for me even before I got my hands on Deathly Hallows. I actually found myself wishing Rowlings had painted Dumbledore as much less benign than she did at the end of things. But mine is not to quibble (I'm tired, dammit) but to love and to search out reviews/comments on my FL and then go to sleep and then to call 1x2foralways and fangirl squee some more. There.

ETA: You know what part really gets me? And not in the teary way, but in a...yeah, okay, let me just share it:

They had descended two more floors when another set of quiet footsteps joined theirs. Harry, whose scar was still prickling, heard them first: He felt in the pouch around his neck for the Marauder's Map, but before he could take it out, McGonagall twoo seemed to become aware of their company. She halted, raised her wand ready to duel, and said, "Who's there?"

"It is I," said a low voice.

"Hello there!," said fredericks's womanly parts.

...

'k, I'm SO going to sleep soon.

*"'Albus Severus,'[at which point my eyes well up and I quiver a bit on the inside]Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." [At which point - break out the bloody umbrellas, because fredericks starts gushing water from the eyes like a goddamn fountain with a nitrous oxide button.]

Comments

Spoilery comments!

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

Good lord; I HOPE fandom doesn't have much to do with canon. Yeah, a lot of people predicted Dumbledore's manipulations (and he HAD to be manipulating and holding back, really), but they also predicted that Harry and Draco were meant for one another. :p

It seems like most of the dissatisfied comments I've been hearing are from fandom people who tried to own the characters for their own, twisted what they were, and then got angry when Rowling didn't step in line with their expectations.

I really liked the end, and I liked that Snape was everything we'd hoped he was. I agree with Harry's assessment, that Snape was incredibly brave, and that his treachery played such a part in Harry's victory made me cheer a little inside. (Harry's revelation to Voldemort that Snape was working for the good guys all along certainly distracted him and gave him a definite sense of uncertainty and desperation.)

Re: Spoilery comments!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

With the monkeys - sometimes you strike gold, sometimes not so such. It sort of fits. Then again, I don't ship those two so who knows.

I think Hallows was the tightest book of the series. Rowlings's style didn't really deviate from her baseline, yet nothing seemed pointless. Even the way she tends to drop momentum to give us pages of (no doubt needed) exposition didn't seem so tedious. It was all money, and that earns major kudos for her and whoever she allowed to edit.

I really liked the end, and I liked that Snape was everything we'd hoped he was.
Very much agreed.

Re: Spoilery comments!

[alicetheowl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really liked how everything tied in, back to the very first book. Awesomely done, on her part. ^ v ^

[sternel.livejournal.com]

Ah, but they weren't so out of the blue, were they. When Harry saw Snape's worst memory -- it wasn't the worst because the Maurauders were bullying him. It was his worst memory because he'd insulted Lily.

And god, I was a damn teary mess when I finished. I can't think too deeply about it because I end up teary, and it's a bloody week on at this point.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

You read Book 6 right before reading this one, didn't you? I didn't realize he'd actually called her a Mudblood, but thought it was a bit of revisionist history. But how did Harry not manage to get one glimpse of his mother during his successful Occlumency sessions with Snape? The taunting incident in the thingamajig viewing bowl aside? Snape only threw like three memories in there, right?

I waited to re-read the last couple of pages until I got home for fear that I'd embarrass myself even more. Goddamn that woman and her heroic Snape-killing ways.

I cannot WAIT to see Rickman in the 7th movie. OMG, dude. Made of WIN.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

Well, Snape's better at Occlumency than Harry is at Legilimancy. Harry got a lucky strike in, but Snape pushed him back. Other than that one crack in Snape's armor...

And when Harry did break Snape's Occlumency defense, he was distracted by the realization that his father and Sirius were asshole jocks, so I"m sure there was plenty going on he missed.

I have to go back and reread them all, now.


Oh -as for Remus and Tonks. I don't think it's a beard. :p He resisted Tonks all the way up to the point where he became a father. I think he was, as he always was, frightened and consumed with self-loathing, and Tonks was a chaser. (Not that way). She chased him until he gave in because giving in was easier, and it ended up turning into something really good for both of them. That's the real tragedy of it -- they'd only just started figuring out how to be happy.

And Andromeda is totally raising that boy. I've already seen some (tear-inducing) fic on that. :p

Last Remus/Tonks comment: John Granger posits that Remus and Tonks are actually the Grand Marriage required by alchemy to complete the process of turning lead into gold. :p

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

And when Harry did break Snape's Occlumency defense, he was distracted by the realization that his father and Sirius were asshole jocks, so I"m sure there was plenty going on he missed.
Then again, Snape seemed rather shocked Harry got through his defenses at all. You'd think his thoughts would have been pretty wide open, and Lily would appear to be foremost in those thoughts 24/7. I gave it to Rowlings, but only because I was swept up in the awesomeness of the entire ride.

And yes, the ship that never did sail. Rowlings didn't quite sell me on Tonks/Remus, but who am I to argue with canon?

Remus and Tonks are actually the Grand Marriage required by alchemy to complete the process of turning lead into gold.
k-what?

[quenya-tattoo.livejournal.com]

SPOILERS BE HERE

That last line got me too, since Snape is made of awesome. Though when Fred bit it I had a little trouble as well. Not fair!

Ah well, it was a good read. I am content!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Remus and Tonks (*cough*beard*cough*) passing got to me. I started thinking about their son and then for some reason tried to figure out how in the hell Harry was going to provide for a newborn child. That would be a funny story. If I wasn't on the crack, maybe not so much.

And Snape is made of so much awesome he needs to copyright it.

[anogete.livejournal.com]

That line in the epilogue slayed me. I got teary, too. Then I re-read the memories chapter and wept even more because I'm a little bitch.

I think many people in the fandom were doing the eyebrow raises over the fandom-ish aspects of DH--DEs kicking it at Malfoy Manor, Dumbledore being manipulative, the Snape/Lily thing (even though it had been previously hinted at in the books), etc.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

That line in the epilogue slayed me. I got teary, too. Then I re-read the memories chapter and wept even more because I'm a little bitch.
Bitch, Little - table for two, then. Because, yeah, right there with you.

Wait, what? Snape/Lily'd been hinted at in previous books? In retrospect, using the clues given to us via Deathly Hallows, yes. But I'm not buying that Rowlings planned to have Snape pining over Harry's momdukes from the beginning.

The fandom hive mind is a weird and fascinating thing.

More Spoilers

[mersipan.livejournal.com]

The part that got me was when Harry was walking in the forest talking to his mom and dad, and asked them "You'll stay with me?" and his dad replied, "until the very end."

For some reason, that really got me. Oh and Dobby!! Good lord, I didn't even really LIKE Dobby and when he bit it I was totally crying.

I didn't expect to like Kreacher either, but there ya go.

Re: More Spoilers

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

The part that got me was when Harry was walking in the forest talking to his mom and dad, and asked them "You'll stay with me?" and his dad replied, "until the very end."
That part threw me for a loop, because I pretty much thought Harry was going to take a ride on the Afterlife Express at that point.

I thought Kreacher's conversion from spiteful (yet hilarious) pain in the ass to helpful defender to be quite fast, especially considering the size of the book. But he was a cute character. I wish she'd have had him mumbling under his breath some more.

[enigmaticjess.livejournal.com]

My Lover doesn't like HP at all. So I was not allowed to get all emotional and worked up while reading it. However... IN the beginning, I hated the whole HP thing, too. I was working at a bookstore and it was HP this and HP that, and I resented all those gooebry faced kids swarming into my store and making messes. Then someone sat me down and handed me the first book and just said, "read it."

7 book laters...I wish I knew what had happened to other characters, like Hagrid, or McGonagall. I wish I know how other people faired - if George continued his Wizarding Weazes business without his twin.. things like that.

This series got an entire generation of children READING. It should be commended just for that alone. For myself, it was the first book/s in many, many years that I Lost myself in. And for that, I'll always hold them dear to me.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I stayed away for a little while as well, mainly because everyone kept talking about it. And the first couple of books struck me as enchanting if simplistic; then again, once I realized they were being marketed as *children's literature* I shut up my brain and enjoyed the ride. I like the way in which Rowlings writing became more mature and slightly darker as her characters (and readers) aged. I'm reluctant to leave it behind because, like yourself, I'm curious as to what happened to the characters of the world. Good times.

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

This be your message in full form (I have to post this because it was just too darn cute!):

"OMG! I finished this morning while waiting for the bus home. OMG! I started tearing up like crazy. OMG! SNAPE RULES! I'll call you this evening. OMG!!!!!11111"

This is one of the reasons why I love you. (:

Also, I noticed that you had as many exclamation points as 1's. Also very cute!

Anyway...that part made your girly parts tingle too??? I practically fangasmed when I read that.

One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."
Yeah, that line got to me too. My Snapey!!!! ;_;

Okay, okay, yes, I know he's not mine, but in book-world, I'm sort of in love with his character. There, I admitted it. *blush*

Yay for fangirly squeeing! Twas a most fun conversation tonight. Can't wait until the 17th!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I'm just imagining Alan Rickman acting this out and going into serious fangirl spasms over here. I honestly wasn't too big on Snape until the movies came out. How can you not squee over Rickman's voice?? It's like God's gift to libido's the world over!! Cannot wait until this stuff comes out on the big screen. :)

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know!!!! Alan Rickman...oh, man...I'm so in love with that man. You've heard about his role in the upcoming Sweeney Todd movie, I'm sure? CAN'T. FREAKING. WAIT.

Oh, and I wanted to ask you...though I feel kind of bad asking this. Where is the closest IMAX theater? Is it somewhere in the City? If it's close, do you mind if we go see OotP when we meet up? If you didn't like it that much to see it a second time, I totally understand. Just let me know. (:

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing it again. The IMAX is at Lincoln Center, which is a couple of stops away from Port Authority on the 1 or 9. Once we get closer to the 17th we can figure out what time we'd want to see it.

Rickman's in Sweeney Todd? Who does he play? And, man, the only real reason I want to see Perfume now is because Rickman's in it. The man needs to get started on the audiobook market because, yeah, I'd so go for it.

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

Awesomeness! :D

He'll be playing Judge Turpin, the really creepy judge who sentenced Todd and is in love with his daughter (not sure how familiar you are with the play and its characters). I know he's going to pull off the creep level like woah, and I know I'm going to find him ten times sexier because of it. Speaking of Rickman, I need to make a few icons of him.

Ooh, Perfume! I've got that at the top of my Netflix list. 'Tis a must-see, for sure.

The man needs to get started on the audiobook market because, yeah, I'd so go for it.
I agree 110%. I wonder if there's someone to whom we can suggest this? *thinks*

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I caught Sweeney Todd when it played on B'way a little while back, with Patti LuPone and Mike Cervantes. It was a good production and I'm surprised it didn't last longer.

And you just gave me an idea for a LJ post. *grin* I'll put it up later so I don't feel like I'm spamming my FL.

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

Oh, how neat!! I bet it was awesome. *jealous :P* I'm surprised it didn't last longer either! I wish it would have.

Ooh, really? *bouncy* Can't wait to see what it is!

Actually...

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

I was thinking...instead of going to the movies, if it's nice, would you rather go to the Central Park Zoo or something of that nature? Just let me know!

Oh, and also let me know if you think my ideas are lame...I know they can be. :P I don't want to do something you don't want to do.

Re: Actually...

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Your ideas aren't lame. Let me think a bit about what we can do and we'll powwow? Have you seen HP already? Maybe we can go to the Natural History Museum? or the Guggenheim? Or the Museum of Sex? I've always wanted to be to those last two and have never actually gotten around to it.

Re: Actually...

[1x2foralways.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great plan!

I have seen HP, but I've always wanted to see it in Imax. Perhaps for HBP next year ;)

Museums sound like an excellent idea! I'd love to go to any of those. (: We'll decide that day, as you said. :D

[candicelbj.livejournal.com]

I *just* commented to someone that this one line got me, and that I was okay, holding everything in until I read it and that was the line.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

It's such a sappy line too, but omg it hits you right in the heart.

[atraxia.livejournal.com]

i just finished it. i think i need to reread the end.
i was a tad disappointed w/ the ending though - after getting to know all the characters for the past 10 years - i really wanted to know what everyone ends up doing - luna, all the weaseley's etc. just a few more details.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

The epilogue was pretty slap-dash - I found it amusing the way the characters kept referring to each other by name repeatedly during conversation - but I figured she wanted a way to shut fans up when they started with the "what happened to them down the line" questions. And I heard she's coming out with an Encyclopedia of the HP world that'll answer all the detail questions about what happens to the characters after the end of Deathly Hollows.