jumb said:
Yeah, but there's a bunch of stupid fan-kids, some in this thread, who wouldn't be happy with anything. Also saying there will be a fraction out of millions of people who don't like something is hardly makes you nostradamus.
Probably one of my favourite posts. While I have much respect for some of these posters, it seemed that some of them were simply too determined to hate the book if A didn't happen to character B, or character C didn't get with character D. Personally, I judge the book on the overall rather than on one or two scenes. Also, anyone else who was hoping for male/male, etc relationships was being a bit unreasonable in their expectations.
At the end of the day, while it's more mature than
Philosopher's Stone, it's still a kids series. It may have been fluffy in the last FIVE pages, but we need to remember that people from the age of maybe 10 to the age of 80 (I had a lady this age call up at work and ask about details of the release) read these books and that sometimes it is important to have a moral. I didn't think the epilogue was great, but overall I loved the story. I can also see the point of the epilogue, as it's a huge change from Harry's first trip to Hogwarts in
Philosopher's Stone, and it's important to know that he got to be a part of a loving family, which is something that for a long time he didn't have. Meh, I like fluff and true love stuff, because it's feel-good kinda stuff.
For some other points... I don't think the Malfoys were as ambiguous as people are saying. Draco didn't tell Bellatrix that it was definitely the trio that Greyback had captured. Lucius Malfoy was clearly unhappy with how things were going, and since
Half-Blood Prince, it was obvious that he and Narcissa were just trying to keep the family intact in current circumstances (such as Lucius being a Death Eater for about 20 years).
He and Harry weren't antagonistic towards each other during the epilogue. In fact, they acknowledged each other (though not warmly), which is a clear indication of a truce of sorts, if not mutual respect.
That was probably the biggest one. From this point it will be random comments.
Lupin and Tonks! </3 I love Lupin's character and was very upset when Harry was a dick to him, and I've always liked Tonks. And since
The Order of the Pheonix film, I have a serious crush on her.
Fred Weasley! </3 I love the Weasley twins. They rock everyone's socks.
I would have liked to see a bit more Snape.
I would have liked to see more of the Dementors, though they definitely got a pretty good go. I have a Dementor action figure in my room. It rocks.
I hate Umbridge with a passion and want to give her a poke in the eye with a blunt stick... twice.
Dumbledore's dark past was satisfying because it gave him more depth.
Gryffindors were not painted as never being able to do wrong (as Beccy suggested). Sirius was always seen as being a bit (or a lot) of a dick, and James was a bit cocky. No one, not even Lupin, claimed that either of them was perfect. What made me think a bit was how like his family Sirius was in all ways but the one that mattered most to them (the pure-blood obsession).
I'm a tad disappointed that Slytherin house walked out, but I can't complain that much. Harry and co were never particularly nice to them, so I don't see why they would stay for the battle. Plus, as someone mentioned, Phineas Nigellus summed Slytherins up pretty well.
I loved Dudley's exit. At least Harry finally got some love from part of that family.
LOL at Vernon going to shake Harry's hand and then swinging his arm like an idiot because he couldn't make himself do that.
There was more, but I can't remember it. Will post more later.
I also intend to give the series another go at a slower pace. I read the in book huge blocks after being exhausted from the launch (the line did not end!!!!) in an attempt to avoid spoilers (which really didn't come up at all. Thanks to people who took the hint after their first bans or even after the request not to ruin it. I do appreciate it), so I probably missed a lot or didn't process it properly. Looking forward to getting there again eventually.
