A Man With An Agenda

It is done. I reread the whole series for the first time since 'Half-Blood Prince' came out. I thought I had done it before 'Deathly Hallows', but come to thinking about it, and while rereading, I realized I had only really skimmed. A little distance has helped me understand this book a little better, not that it is complicated, while Rowling let her books get more sophisticated they never got out of young adult territory--not that that's a bad thing. Much of my initial disappointment with the book stems from the long relationship I've had with the books and which other long-running series simply couldn't match. The ending is still abrupt, but I see that there was very little else Rowling could have done to end the series without writing a lot more, which would have ultimately been distracting.

Harry, Hermione and Ron had decided to leave Hogwarts behind at the end of 'Half-Blood Prince' but the near-impossible mission set for them by Dumbledore gives them the time they need to work out important personal issues that somehow never really got taken care of in-between classes in previous books. Criticize the endless magical camp-out if you will, but I think it provided just what the series needed--time to breathe and provide closure for the majority of this massive world Rowling had created almost by the fly of her seat. I loved the effort spent on basic magical theory, which was totally for us fans who spent far too much personal time thinking about how this world "works". I can believe Rowling had this story mapped out from the beginning - not every detail or character certainly, but yeah, I can see Rowling having the vision of this heroic character growing into his role and the conflict between fate and free will.

I hate to leave on such a half-note, but I'm a bit at a loss on what to say that would be different than the so many other reviewers. Really liked them, will hold on to them and will inevitably be suckered into purchasing the Harry Potter encyclopedia that will provide further details of where characters ended up should such an item ever be published by Rowling.

'Beedle the Bard' proved worth the reading as well.

Also, I don't count 'Cursed Child'. It's fan fiction, no more or less.

Harry Potter

Next (To be recursive): 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Illustrated)'