NEW THREAD STARTED, WITH SPOILERS. Harry Potter VII [Merged Threads]

[TigChatt]

You know we could always discuss it, as long as we put spoiler on it first and then but the rest that we want to say in white. I'm dying to talk about it too. Connorsmom, I see what you mean about the scar comment, and agree with you on that. But what I don't get is why if she said rewrote it, then WHY wouldn't she make it flow a little better.

*SPOILER*
I would have loved to read about the weddings.

[jedigrrrl]

I finished last night and might start reading it again! I actually have the urge to re-read the entire series.

[PirateLover]

You know we could always discuss it, as long as we put spoiler on it first and then but the rest that we want to say in white. I'm dying to talk about it too.

Well, earlier in the thread it was asked that we stick to a request that was made on Harry Potter boards across the internet not to discuss for 10 days, even with spoiler font, and most agreed. But I did mention earlier in the thread that in the past we've just talked about it with spoiler warnings, but if the majority wanted to wait the 10 days than I would too. Maybe we should've done a poll on that, lol.

[BrerSchultzy]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything is wrong with the books or movies at all. I was just wondering who would stand in a gigantic line waiting for a book at midnight.

If you preordered the book from a book chain NOT called Barnes and Noble, you probably only waited until 12:15. Books a Million had a GREAT voucher system set up, so that even though there were over 2000 people there to get the book, my wife and I sat in the cafe until 12:15, when the line was gone, walked up and got our book.

[GreenBeetle]

My 10 year old daughter finished the entire book in less than 48 hours! She got her copy at 12:01am on 7/21 and finished it yesterday. She loved it and is about to read it again!

[rnin02]

We need another option on the poll! I preordered mine from Amazon, and got it in the mail on Saturday. Perfect for me, since I had to work the whole weekend and waiting in line was not an option.

[dlpmikki]

I didn't wait in line nor pre-order it. There was a bit of last minute competition from some supermarkets as to who could sell it cheapest and I was lucky enough to live near the cheapest option so I strolled in on Saturday morning and picked it up. I didn't have a chance to start reading it until Sunday but it is all finished now and I did enjoy it.

[Mickey91]

I ordered mine on Amazon and had it Saturday morning! I've already read it!

[disneyfan369]

The seventh book was AMAZING!!!!!! I loved it, and it is now my most favorite book. Ever.

[BrerGnat]

The seventh book was AMAZING!!!!!! I loved it, and it is now my most favorite book. Ever.

I am going to wholeheartedly agree with you there.

I was an English major in College. I have read a LOT of books. I have to say, I am amazed at JKR's talent...this is the best book I've ever read, with the best story and writing style. Period.

[ChipnDaleGal]

My daughter and two of her friends were home and reading on the couch before 1 am Saturday morning and read straight through and finished about 1 pm Saturday afternoon. I was still finishing up re-reading book 6, so I didn't start on 7 until about 9 pm Saturday night. I read most of the day Sunday. I have never been so excited and yet so sad to read a book. JK Rowling is an amazing author. She wrapped it all up just beautifully!

[conorsmom2000]

I am amazed at JKR's talent...this is the best book I've ever read, with the best story and writing style. Period.

I have never been so excited and yet so sad to read a book. JK Rowling is an amazing author. She wrapped it all up just beautifully!

Couldn't agree with you both more!!!

[Jeff]

and yet so sad to read a book.

I agree. It is sad to see the story end as I, and millions of us, have enjoyed it so much. My daughter has grown up with Harry and we have loved the series as a family "activity".

I actually put off reading the book until Sunday night. My wife and daughter went right through it starting 12:30am Sat. morning. I was torn between wanting to read and know and not wanting it to end.

I think it is one of the best books of the series. It is hard to put down.

[PirateLover]

I agree of course with the general sentiment... the first thing I thought was "Wow. It's all over. Now what do I do?" And although I have always read almost nonstop for the others, I felt that I especially had to do that because of the fear of someone spoiling it for me, which is ashame really. There was a kid trying to read the book at my camp and this other person who had read an online summary was asking me questions about it and I was just like.. be quiet! Can't you see he is still reading!

[pshokie]

Done. Finished while eating lunch today.

You didn't think I was going to hide did you???????

[krose78]

Has it been 10 days yet? My husband hasn't finished yet. It took him forever last time too and I had to keep Dumbledors death a secret like forever. ...Luckily a friend of mine said he wanted to know what happened but didn't feel like reading the book right now so I got to talk with him about it.

[BrerSchultzy]

Done. Finished while eating lunch today.

You didn't think I was going to hide did you???????

Allow me to reiterate a point I made earlier...thank you.

I can honestly say that, even though you weren't 100% accurate in your forecasting, your information and research and reasoning really helped me get through Book 7 with a better understanding of what was going on.

That goes for everybody here. Thanks for making this such a great thread!

By the way...my wife and I both think this was our favorite book by anybody (and believe it or not, that usurps Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut for me, and Handling Sin by Michael Malone for her). Perfect ending to a perfect story.

[threeh]

I finished last night. My son and I went to a release party at a bookstore and lots of fun. I don't know if it is my favorite book in the series ( i thinkg I have to re read it) but it was a wonderful way to end the series. Hurrah!! I am sad that Harry Potter is over as a series it has been such a wonderful ride for the last few years. I really got into it after the release of book 5 so I've been a potterhead for about 4 years. I'm going to miss that part. Any how can't wait to start discussing....

[conorsmom2000]

Woo hoo!

Some exciting news from JK Rowling, via an article on MSNBC (from her Today show interview that I posted about)

Please note: This article has SPOILERS! I will use the SPOILER font (highlight to read) - but, if you are still reading the book, please stop reading this post NOW!

I know we had said we wouldn't discuss it yet, and I can delete this if people want, but I thought the info too good not to share. But, you have been warned!!

From MSNBC's Website:

Spoiler alert: This story reveals some key plot points in the final Harry Potter book. So if you've haven't finished the book, J.K. Rowling asks that you not read this story.

For the millions in the midst of the seven stages of mourning for the end of the Harry Potter era, take heart.
In her first tell-all interview since the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” J.K. Rowling told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira she "probably will" publish a Potter encyclopedia, promising many more details about her beloved characters and the fate of the wizarding world beyond the few clues provided in the seventh book’s epilogue.
“I suppose I have (started) because the raw material is all in my notes,” Rowling said.


The encyclopedia would include back stories of characters she has already written but had to cut for the sake of narrative arc (“I've said before that Dean Thomas had a much more interesting history than ever appeared in the books”), as well as details about the characters who survive “Deathly Hallows,” characters who continue to live on in Rowling’s mind in a clearly defined magical world.
Hogwarts, for example, has a new headmaster (“McGonagall was really getting on a bit”), and Rowling said she can see Harry going back to give the "odd talk" on Defense Against the Dark Arts. That class, by the way, is now led by a permanent professor since Voldemort’s death broke the jinx which didn’t allow a teacher to remain in the position for more than a year.
Rowling offered up these details freely to Vieira and the 14 fans who asked her questions at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland on Tuesday. In fact, now that she is now longer burdened with guarding the secrets of book seven, Rowling seemed to delight in discussing her plot choices and clearing up the mysteries that have previously surrounded the books.
The character Rowling couldn’t bear to kill One of the big stories that has been floating among fans for over a year is that one character gets a reprieve from death, while two others Rowling didn’t intend to kill end up dying in “Deathly Hallows.”
“Mr. Weasley, he was the person who got a reprieve,” Rowling said. “When I sketched out the books, Mr. Weasley was due to die in Book Five.”
Instead, another father dies in the end of Book Seven.
Though Rowling couldn’t bear to kill off Arthur Weasley, that didn't mean the other deaths in the book were easy to take. Given the blood bath that is “Deathly Hallows,” the writing of it was bound to be an emotional roller coaster.
But nothing in the entire process of the series was more difficult than writing the scene when Harry, accompanied by his deceased lost loved ones – including his parents James and Lily and his godfather Sirius — walks into the forest with the intent of sacrificing his life in the name of defeating Voldemort, Rowling said, adding it is her favorite passage in all seven books.
“I didn't cry as I was writing (that chapter), but when I finished writing, I had enormous explosion of emotion and I cried and cried and cried,” Rowling said.



“That was partly because of the content — and partly because it had been planned for so long and been roughed out for so long. And to write the definitive version felt like a — a huge climax.”
“The Deathly Hallows” is the climax to the last 17 years of Rowling’s life, a time when she has gone from a single, divorced mother living on public assistance to a happily married mother of three and one richest women in the world.
It’s now time to sit back for a bit and enjoy the life that Harry has given her, Rowling said. And, when she’s ready, there’s always that encyclopedia waiting in the wings.
“I’m not going to do it tomorrow because I’d really like a break,” Rowling said, laughing. “So you may be waiting.”

______________________________________________

So, it means more waiting (and probably a long time!) but I love the idea that she will do an encyclopedia and fill us in on so much!!!

[pshokie]

Allow me to reiterate a point I made earlier...thank you.

I can honestly say that, even though you weren't 100% accurate in your forecasting, your information and research and reasoning really helped me get through Book 7 with a better understanding of what was going on.

That goes for everybody here. Thanks for making this such a great thread!

By the way...my wife and I both think this was our favorite book by anybody (and believe it or not, that usurps Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut for me, and Handling Sin by Michael Malone for her). Perfect ending to a perfect story.

Hmmm...not 100% correct?? How dare you say that! I was atleast 10% correct , 15% if you grade on a curve.

But even in my complete failure, I am glad that I could get people excited and theorizing. So I would like to say both thank you and you're welcome.

I must say, it was fun tossing around the theories.....I will miss that.

So, it means more waiting (and probably a long time!) but I love the idea that she will do an encyclopedia and fill us in on so much!!!

While I like this idea, I am a little cautious/skeptical. Having purchased and read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Quidditch Through the Ages, I can say that while entertaining, they are no where near the level of the novels.

I really hope she takes some time off, re-steels herself, and writes the encyclopedia almost as a series of short stories, rather than facts and figures....

Mind you nothing huge, but say a 10 page story on the "Life and Times of Dean Thomas", etc.