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.)

[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.

[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!

[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.

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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.