HP7

[tarotgal]

***NO SPOILERS!***

I just finished reading, less than 24 hours after getting the book in my hand. It took me about 15.5 hours to read in total (I only got 3 hours of sleep last night, and those were hours I forced myself to take).

Wow. I honestly couldn't have asked for anything more.

There were times when I cried my eyes out. There were times when I was struck silent, heart pounding. There were times I JUMPED off my couch, hopped up and down, pounding my fist at the air in happiness (because I had to be quiet as my house full of relatives is alseep).

I think I'll go to bed and take some more time to let everything sink in. Just wanted to post and say I'd read it and I'll be going back on mail & mailing lists but not until sometime tomorrow after I've spent time thinking more about it. So if you sent me e-mail/posted, I probably won't reply until Sun night or Monday night when all my family is gone.

Please remember to post NO SPOILERS in reply to anything on my journal since not all my friends have read it!!!
If you haven't read the book, don't even think to look at my journal/replies just in case someone is mean and posts spoilers. But PLEASE don't :-)

Comments

[symphonyflute.livejournal.com]

It took me 8 hours and 29 minutes, including when people would come down and try to talk to me and when I went to get a piece of bread. I didn't get any sleep or food, which meant when I went to work at 11 AM, I was ready to eat my own foot. The last time I'd ate was 10:30 the previous night when my friends and I got bored of the party and went to Dunkin Doughnuts.

I loved it, but certain things I didn't want to happen happened, and I didn't really love the end. And I hated the epilouge very much: it was like badly written fanfiction.

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I said nearly the same thing about the epilogue. I don't think I'll be reading that part again when I reread this book.

And wow, that was a fast read! Puts my 11-ish hours to shame, though I did take a few meal and snack and one small online chat break in there. And you're managing to function at work? Very impressive. *G*

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

Just finished about 10 minutes ago! And whoa, was it a hell of a ride! I never cried, though my eyes got a little misty in a couple places. More than once I found myself sitting up and saying 'No f***ing way!' Or 'She didn't!'. At the same time, I was pleased to have a lot of guesses and suspicions confirmed. It just tied together the entire book series so damn well.

For the curious, I started reading at 12:20 A.M. Sunday morning and finished at approximately 11:45 AM. Halfway through, I was getting tired (I nodded off once, I admit it) and told my friend I was going to bed, but I just couldn't make myself put the book down and walk away. I carried it into the bedroom and read a bit in bed, telling myself that when I did fall asleep, it would be more comfortable than the chair in the living room. Next thing I know, the book got so compelling that I knew there was no stopping now. And so here I am. *G*

The main body of the story just blew me away. It was easily the most thrilling and downright compelling actual published book I've read in years, probably since I first read LOTR. I am SO glad that I reread book 6 right before this...it really made everything tie together better.

I'm not thrilled with the epilogue, or certain romantic aspects. I've come to terms with most of the pairings, though one will never stop squicking me, no matter how canon it is. And the epilogue just felt really fanfic-y to me. Sure, it was cute enough, but I'll probably just skip it next time I read. My satisfaction with the story was complete without it.

Let me know if you want to talk spoilers sometime. :)

[symphonyflute.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you were talking soley to tg, but I would love to talk spoilers.

If you want to, my email is symphonyflute@yahoo.com

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

I'd say it took me twelve and a half hours. Maybe a little more or a little less. I'm a bit hazy. Haven't slept much. LOL

I agree -- I really couldn't have asked for more, or for a better ending to the series. I have never cried so hard while reading a book in my life. I think the only other time I reacted like that to something fannish was RENT. And I shouted a fair few times, and I yelped and I gasped and I cheered and I swore. There were a few times I'd slam the book closed and just stare into space, thinking I didn't want to read what happened next. Those moments never lasted long.

The epilogue was cute, but yeah. A little fangirly. It's not TERRIBLE, and I didn't HATE it, but it's just a little... much?

My uncle's already taken my book away. LOL He said he's going to walk his dog tonight, do his laundry, and then read. He just bought a book yesterday that he's a chapter into, and his exact words were 'I'm going to chuck it for Harry Potter!'. I have quite the queue of people who have demanded to read it once I was finished. Grabby hands.

Sigh. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm just kind of empty inside now. No more new Harry Potter.

[tarotgal]

I agree -- I really couldn't have asked for more, or for a better ending to the series. I have never cried so hard while reading a book in my life. I think the only other time I reacted like that to something fannish was RENT. And I shouted a fair few times, and I yelped and I gasped and I cheered and I swore. There were a few times I'd slam the book closed and just stare into space, thinking I didn't want to read what happened next. Those moments never lasted long.
Ditto!!! :-) I'm so glad you liked it, too!

I really liked the epilogue. I totally understand the fanfic argument, but for some reason, because it's canon, I didn't mind it at all. In fact, I think I've read it about 10 times now. LOL

I'm just kind of empty inside now.
To imitate Peter in the shrieking shack: *points finger* "Yes! Exactly what I've been saying!"
I know there's PLENTY of fanfic out there, and still two movies (gods, I'm going to be a MESS watching movie 7!) and for fanfic writing it's nice to have an ending. But I still feel so empty- that's the right way to phrase it. One of the reasons I made myself read the book so slowly is that it's the last one and I wanted to take in every detail, every word, because you only have one chance to read the book the first time.

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

Empty...I understand that one. I've felt that same empty ever since LOTR ended. HP hasn't really come close to filling that spot in my heart, but it has been a thrilling ride nevertheless. My heart is breaking for those people for which HP was their numero uno fandom.

I'm glad someone liked the epilogue. I liked a few moments of it, some of the gentle bickering and subtle nods of understanding between characters. But after the rest of the story, the epilogue left me with something resembling a bad taste in my mouth toward the whole thing. It killed the perfect high I had going, and reminded me of everything that I hate most about sappy ship fics. I don't know...I guess I was just hoping for something more subtle, less predictable...some tiny shred of resolution for a great many characters that just were left hanging at the end of the climax. Just...something more. But I'm glad it worked for you.