Casual Reader – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling

• Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Author: J. K. Rowling
• Genre: Children’s fantasy
• Score: 4 out of 5
• Amazon link

This book, the epic ending to seven years of Harry Potter at Hogwarts, is long. It’s so long that halfway through, when our trio were wandering aimlessly around the countryside without a clue what they were supposed to be doing, I couldn’t understand why I was still reading it.

Then, of course, the second half got ten thousand times better and the perseverance was rewarded – as was Harry, Ron and Hermione’s. There are two great things I love about this final book. Firstly, the story is good. It’s drawn out, and I’m convinced the book could be a lot shorter, but the story is captivating to the last.

Secondly, the ending leaves you wanting more, without being irritating. It’s testament to the world that JK has created that you are left with a million questions – but they aren’t horrible plot holes, they are just about the characters we are leaving behind.

How did Fred get on? What happened to Weazley’s Wizard Wheezes? Did Hogsmeade recover? What was Teddy’s childhood like? What was the ministry like when it got back to full strength? Did Harry become an Auror? Did they even need Aurors anymore?

Just question after endless question, but all from a good place – an imagination fired.

Quotables

…the shop windows covered in paper spiders, all the tawdry Muggle trappings of a world in which they did not believe.

“Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was,” said Harry. “I’ve been trying to tell you that for years.”

“I prefer not to put all of my secrets in one basket, particularly not a basket that spends so much time dangling on the arm of Lord Voldemort.”

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”