Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

Yesszzaaa. The book's finally here. In the midst of the much hoo-haa from the three major bookstores, namely MPH, Popular and Times, I got my book safe and sound even though I paid the hefty amount of RM109.90. This may be the most expensive book I've ever owned.

I think so lah. Victoria Beckham's autobiography could have topped it, but I can't remember how much I paid for it.

Anyhow, here's my review. Spoilers alert -- just so you know...

And so, seven days had past since I last read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. My broken heart mended, my confusion cleared. I’ve ranted and discussed it at length with a few of my friends and kindred spirits (a HP forum). I even managed to laugh out loud at some of the inconsistencies and plot holes that I discovered in that book. I HATED the epilogue with a vengeance. I shouldn’t have read it. If I had stop at the last chapter, I would have liked the book a little bit more I think.

Anyhow, I have come to a conclusion as to why I am not wholeheartedly happy with the book – my expectations. It didn’t meet my expectations. I was looking for that twist she mentioned in her previous interviews that will top Jane Austen’s Emma. I was looking for the conclusion to the ‘what the Dark Lord knows not’ plot that’s been dragged through the first six books. I was looking for the ultimate show down between Harry and Voldermort, of which I must impress, was a MAJOR let down. Where is the Mirror of Erised? What is interesting about the Veil?

But I find nothing in the book that can satisfy those expectations or come close to it. Instead, we're given a new plot -- the Elder Wand. The one wand to rule them all, so to speak (sounds familiar?). To tell you frankly, I have read better book 7 prediction fanfics written by the fans.

I wanted to know what happen to the wizarding world after the battle. Was there any reform in the ministry? What are the fates of the magical creatures? What about Hogwarts? What become of the trio a few years down the road? Not the '19 years later’ epilogue. Who married whom with how many kids is not what I’m interested in.

But we’re not told anything about it. Not even in the epilogue, which, now come to think of it, ends like any fairy tales of old. Instead of 'and they live happily ever after’, we get 'All is well’ just to make it distinctively different.

And now, looks like JK Rowling plans to publish an encyclopedia to list down what she left out and other back stories that she couldn’t (or wouldn't) include in the last book. Book 8, anyone? Will I buy it? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

The book was ok-ok only lah. It’s still good, but not great. I was hoping for it to be great so it can rival Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings. I say, compared to her last two books, the first five was better, with the Order of the Phoenix (book 5) the best (for me that is).

So, what’s next? Hmmm… I think I go find Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass). It came highly recommended by my fellow kindred spirits.

Should you buy this book? If you are a long time fan who had followed Harry in his adventures since book one, buy it. You need the closure. Just skip the epilogue and let it end at the last chapter, really.