Sarah has finished book 7, and I said a few days ago that I’d wait until she finished the book before posting about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I guess I should wait for Larry to finish it, though, seeing as how he reads this site every day too.
In the meantime, if you have already read the book (spoilers at most of the links), you’ll enjoy this WSJ review. It discusses religion in Harry’s world, and contains absolutely big-time spoilers. If you haven’t read the book, don’t click the link.
There’s also this MSNBC article from Rowling’s appearance on the Today show last Friday. Yes, it contains some major spoilers, so don’t whine to me if you haven’t finished the book and click on that link.
MSNBC was on a roll with the Rowling stories. This one has spoilers, but it also reveals which character got a reprieve from death after having been scheduled to die in the series. I was surprised, but pleased to find that one out.
And last, but not least, Rowling talks about her plans to write the Harry Potter encyclopedia, and spills the beans about what happens after the book ends, as well as why she changed the last word of the final book (which was originally supposed to read “scar.”) Here there also be spoilers.
Here’s a chat with Rowling where she talks pretty extensively about what happens after Deathly Hallows.
I confess I don’t get Pottermania. This is a childrens’ book, right? Why is it so interesting to adults?
I mean, I read the occasional brainless novel for escapism,
but It’s hard to imagine reading 700+ pages just for a fun read.
Taste is subjective, John. Either you like an author, or you don’t.
Science fiction and fantasy books and movies no longer have the stigma they had decades ago. They were the redheaded stepchildren and a cause to insult anyone caught reading them. I can’t tell you how many times friends or relatives would say “You read science fiction?” in a particularly scornful tone. I haven’t heard that in years.
I suspect Pottermania has a lot to do with the acceptance of SF and fantasy as “real” books. Many of the people in line for the book the other week were in their twenties and thirties. A good story is a good story, no matter who it’s aimed at. And the Harry Potter books are a good story.
I am sorry to hear she is going to publish her Encyclopedia. I wish she would do like Tom Clancy does with Net Force, and Don Pendelton does with Mack Bolan, and instead of publishing it, hire a team of writers to use it to fill the 19 years between the end of Deathly Hallows and the Epilogue