Lowly’s Book Blog

It seems that everyone in the world has read this book, or plans to read it, or is on a waiting list for a borrowed copy. And they will read the book regardless of what any reviewer says.

In fact I’m not even going to attempt a plot summary. I think everyone knows about the young wizard raised by non-magical relatives who is whisked away to a wonderful boarding school full of young wizards. Harry’s arch-enemy, Voldemort, is out to destroy Harry in every book of the series, but somehow Harry and his friends prevail.

I’ll just say that the book is even more than I expected. At the end of book 6, I would have predicted that I knew the plot of book 7. Destroy the Horcruxes, with all kinds of danger and action in the process, and then one final battle with Voldemort. But the finale was far more than I expected. The introduction of the Hallows set up a wonderful dilemma for Harry which added drama and tension to the text.

Everyone seems to have a different opinion about the deaths. Several of them are very sad. But I believe they give the story an edge of realism. I doubt the book could retain its credibility if Voldemort and his army was destroyed while everyone on the side of good survived happily ever after.

And then there is the last chapter. I thought it was important to include the epilogue for two reasons. Firstly it will make it very difficult for publishers to press Rowling for more Harry books. Secondly, it helps vanquish Voldemort completely. Good has been victorious, and the victory was for the long term.

Some have called this book ‘Days of our Lives’. But I think just the opposite. Well done, Jo Rowling and enjoy a lovely long holiday while you dream up your next book. Thank you for the years of pleasure you have provided for so many of us.