for the future me

during, and after reading the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling is, by far, the cleverest writer of the most addictive book series ever. her wit, her humour, her ability to create a world in seven books with details that construct a whole big story, and her patience, perseverence and creativity that she had during the 16 years which she did so, is just so amazing. people often wonder how Harry Potter fans can be so crazy abt the whole affair..i used to be one of them too..but after picking up my first Harry Potter book, which is the Chamber of Secrets, after which i read in order (and sometimes re-reading cos there's just too much to rmb and easy to forget), i immediately knew what all the hype was abt. J.K. Rowling brings the reader to her world with her simple and lively use of words. there's not a dull moment in any page, for while there is a main event going on, there will always be another, or several, smaller side activities going on to keep the school life real, and their adventurous life more exciting. every time i embark on reading a HP book, i was transported to the magical world and intrigued by the happenings and turn of events, and there is this irresistable urge to go back to the book whenever i was interrupted, and a surreal hangover after, say, a night of satisfying reading. takes a while to return to the Muggle world, haha.

oh well, gna give my thoughts on book 7. i'm not gna say it's a spoiler, cos it's like, what, almost 3 weeks after the release of the book, and the whole world (ok, i mean the world of HP fans, really) would have read it. (and who reads my blog anyway???) it's in point-form, cos i still have a hangover and i can't organise my thoughts. haha.

- firstly, i was rather shocked that Rowling killed Hedwig so early in the story..though we all expect and know it's going to be the book with the most deaths and sacrifices..but still..poor Hedwig! but then, without any regard to theor magical powers, how old do owls live, anyway?

- then came the death of Moody..which i had a wild suspicion for awhile, like some of the characters in the book, that he wasn't dead..that he was just in hiding..and this suspicion gradually eased out and was almost forgotten until it was confirmed on the door of Dolores Umbridge. argh, that evil toad..

- the helpless and frustrating journey of the search for the Horcruxes was really a test of her descriptive writing of the surroundings, and i had no doubts in saying she's really a natural. for the numerous books before, where the new chapter begins or when the story needed a breather, there would be the realistically detailed description of the surroundings.

- never knew so many uses of the Patronus until this book..not only could it drive away dementors, it could even pass messages from its caster and even provide warmth in a room full of dementors..

- that the 4 best friends, the 4 creators of the Marauder's Map, were finally reunited in death in this book, as with all the major characters in the previous generation - Dumbledore, Lily Potter, Severus Snape, Mad-eye Moody, Grindelwald, and of cos, the most important of all, Voldemort..

- i almost cried on the separate occasions of Dobby and Fred's death, for they were there in all 6 books, with minor yet entertaining roles in the darkening progress of the story. especially Dobby, since Harry had carried and buried him and all that. though Rowling also touched on abit on Fred's death, that George kneeled by his head, and the separation of the story's most colourful and favorite brothers made it all the more depressing.

- the most unexpected and probably the biggest turn of events in all 7 books, is undoubtedly, Snape's memory that explained everything. though the hatred for him immediately extinguished, i still could not accept this character fully..for some unknown reason. maybe it's cos of what Fred had joked, that shampoo repelled him..cos before that i only assumed he had oily scalp..but never stopped to think if he ever washed his hair! haha..

- my impress at Hermione has never been so clear and deep as when she planned their escape at Luna's house. like Ron said, she really is a genius! omg, her thinking had been so quick, yet so complete, that i could slap myself for forgetting the obvious reasons for the precautions she was taking..until she explained. ahhh..she has replaced Ron as my favourite character in the series. haha. not only for her intelligence, which has expanded from books to real-life situations and the ability to observe so well, but also her loyalty to Harry, keeping her promise and never abandoning him in the most dire and fruitless of all situations.

- i must say i was a tad disappointed at the ending..cos i had heard spoilers that Harry will get married and have 2 children, and i chose not to believe it..cos it was simply too..plain, boring, and un-J.K.Rowling-ish. but turns out it's true, but he had 3 and not 2 children. the thing abt Albus Severus and how he looked like Harry seemed too cheesy to me too..but who am i to judge? -shrugs- was quite confused at the James-Albus-Lily-Rose-Hugo-Harry-Ginny-Ron-Hermione scene at the platform..like with the mention of each name i'd stop to think who that is..and it gets a little frustrating at times..but i decided it's not that important..haha.

- kept a list of the Horcruxes and people who died while reading the book, and now that i look back at it, i realise i'd written the 7th Horcrux as Voldemort and not Harry, cos like, it was only revealed in the very last part of the story..amusing..

- why King's Cross?? and what's the thing that was curled up and whimpering?? really the bit that was not explained at all in this book..and there's no count on the next to..obviously.

- the fact that Harry survived agn and agn is getting rather expected..it's taken for granted and it was the final outcome..i was half-expecting that J.K. Rowling would kill Harry in the end, though. but of cos that would more likely render her murdered and condemned by her very own hoard of fans.

- wonder if anyone realised, but talented as she is at casting spells that saved Ron's and Harry's lives time and agn, reading ppl's faces and guessing well what is going on in their heads, and having thinking that surpasses the ordinary speed, Hermione was very often casting wrong votes during their journey. she had objected to going to Grimmauld's Place (but was overruled, for the better), stamped out Rita Skeeter's version of Dumbledore's life altogether (which was later proved true), agreed to go to Godric's Hollow (though it was inevitable), refused to believe in the Deathly Hallows (until Ollivander convinced her)..i forgot if there was anymore. but we all know everyone makes mistakes..even Hermione! and no one can deny that whenever she had her beaded bag, she was unbelievably well-prepared. is it a girl thing? haha.

- so happy that Kreacher has turned good. that was probably one of more uplifting points of the story?

ok..that's the end of my terribly jumbled-up thoughts on the book..took so long cos i had to make sure that i was definitely reading an e-version of the original book, and that took awhile. then i was busy moving to hall, and that took another while. then school started, so i took some other whiles. but there! i finished reading the book in erm..less than a week. too slow rite? :(