Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Harry Potter, #7)

by J.K. Rowling

Jim Dale (Narrator)

Don't miss the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's bestselling Harry Potter series!
Source: http://www.booksontape.com/book/158322/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/

• ISBN10: 0739360418
• ISBN13: 9780739360415
• Publish Date: 21 July 2007 (first published January 2007)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Listening Library
• Edition: Library ed.
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 21 hours and 9 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

All was well.

[sa090]

I DID IT! I finally finished my reread of Harry Potter. Granted, I was taking my very sweet time with it, but it is how you finish that matters.

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I was facing a possible reading slump after I tried a couple of books and ended up dropping them, but this book definitely saved me in that regard. Given that I already know the story from both my first reading of the book and the films, I got to notice other things about the characters. Mostly, they’re personalities and developments. For instance, up until the infamous jealousy comes back, Ron is likable for once for me, and he’s not acting like a dumbass. Yes, yes, the locket affects him more than the others blah blah blah is an argument, but I’m also talking about the previous years and treating your “friends” like shit is never to be excused. That aside, he does have some good moments in this book which I was definitely glad to see.

Finally going to visit some of the frequently mentioned locations was also interesting. I came into it after years, and after watching the film series (+ Fantastic Beasts) multiple times, so I hoped that I’ll be seeing new things I previously missed in the books. Because of my age when I was first reading them and the fact that English is not my first language, but I’m thankful and very happy to see that I didn’t miss a lot. I did enjoy the history of the Dumbledores a lot more than I did previously, and this started some theories in my mind, which I hope will be capitalized on in Film 3 of Fantastic Beasts.

I find this book series extremely difficult to talk about, given how popular it is. I enjoyed seeing all the secrets get revealed, the character motives get out in the open and how some characters got their mettle tested in many different ways. The torture part that Hermione had to go through was always one of my favourite parts of the book, it’s horrific for sure, but I really enjoy seeing her fight against it. Molly Weasley delivered the payback for that one so all was definitely well.

I don’t know when I’ll be rereading the Cursed Child, but I most likely will to see how an older me feels about it.

Final rating: 4/5

[moraa]

***FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, I CANNOT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS AUTHOR***

Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?

4.5 stars

This was sadder than I remember. And yet it filled me with so much joy to read the words "I've had enough trouble to last me a life time" and "All was well".

I am in tears.

[ross91]

WTF happened?
When this book first came out I was hugely disappointed.
And now, 11 years later, I am in love with it.
Why????
How??
I don't really have an explaination.
I loved it.

And Neville is AMAZING.

[Djilan]

I just can't.. I wanted it to be over and continue forever at the same time. 7 books, 2,5months living and experiencing Harry Potter's and his friends world. And now it's over.. Sad times...

[Beth C.]

So awesome to finish this series with my daughter 3

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

What is there to say about a book which speaks for itself?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a very different adventure than the rest of the books in the series - as it should be. Times have changed, and so has Harry. It is important for the reader to know that going into the book. This is not just an adventure through a mysterious hidden chamber beneath the halls of Hogwarts - this book bears several heavy themes. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is not exclusively a children's book - it is more.

Rowling doesn't disappoint. I don't think she could if she tried. She is right on mark with her details, as always, and her characters continue to grow and change. Perhaps the greatest and most remarkably change we see is in the character of Neville Longbottom, who has finally found his voice. We always knew he was in Gryffindor for a reason... and Rowling finally reveals that it is for reasons greater than standing up to his friends.

I have read discussions about the relationship between characters, and how Dumbledore's childhood friendship was not about a quest, but more personal in note. While I see where these presumptions may have been drawn. I do not think that was Rowling's intent at all, and it saddens me to think that people have chosen to look for scandal in the book, rather than experience the magic that is already there.

In short, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows presents everything avid readers of the book could have wanted, and then some. Yes, the ending may be "disappointingly happy and cliche," as I have also read in various places, but in that, I believe Rowling has left us another piece fo advice - our futures are what we make of them. We can choose to see the world in its corrupted state and pity our existence in it, or else we can see the beauty between the lines, and revel in it.

((x-posted to my blog: The Literary Phoenix))

[Berls]

It's been a while since I reread this - and I haven't reread it as much as the others - so it was a real treat. Cried pretty much as much as I did the first time lol

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a fantastic conclusion to the story of The Boy Who Lived. Tying up all lose ends of what happened on the fateful Halloween night and has the reader looking at some of the beloved characters in different and sometimes disconcerting light.


While reading Deathly Hallows I could not help but notice some similarities to two other classic novels; one being the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Tale of King Arther's Excalibur. One of the Horcruxes that Harry, Ron and Hermione must destroy is a locket, with each taking turns wearing it to be sure of its safety. While possessing the cursed token, they who wears it begins to experience morbid thoughts and becomes very paranoid. This reminds me of Frodo's relationship with the One Ring, and Ron's behavior has a hue of such nature. I even saw a glimpse of Sam in Harry, while he is not the sidekick of the book he manages to keep his cool and his companion on the quest at hand. Even, when the locket had to be destroyed Ron had difficulty proceeding with the task, as did Frodo upon reaching the Fires of Mordor.


This leads us to Excalibur, To break the spell upon Horcuxes one must either use venom form a basilisk or the force of a very powerful sword once owned by Godric Gryffindor. Harry and Ron discover said sword in the water while in the Forest of Dean and must dive in the fringed water to claim it. As Only a true Gryffindor could achieve claiming of a valued sword, only the true King could pull Excalibur from the stone, with the impression that it would only be used in good.


And that's what this book was, a good read and an excellent ending to a series ten years in the making.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

The last time I did a re-read of the Harry Potter series, I left out Deathly Hallows, and so a review is required this time round, rather than just a re-read post. As I was re-reading Deathly Hallows this time, I realised that I'd only read it once before; there were so many details that I had completely forgotten, and most of my memories of the story were from watching the movies, so it was really interesting to rediscover certain elements again.

I was a little wary before picking it up because I remember feeling disappointed the first time round because of how much time Harry, Ron and Hermione spend doing nothing. It felt like nothing was happening for a really long time, whereas in the other books, even when nothing was happening in regards to the major plot, there were always lessons, Quidditch, or confrontations with Malfoy. There was always something happening. But in Deathly Hallows, there's a lot of time spent moving from place to place, trying to work out what they should do next, when I wanted to get the plot to get moving and see how things would go. This time round, I appreciated how little the three know and how that affects them all. There is no real plan, it's all guess work backed up by the information Dumbledore gave Harry, but no real certainty. I loved how Ron and Hermione seemed to worry about there not being a plan, and how Harry started doubting himself, feeling like he wouldn't be able to finish destroying the Horcruxes because he just didn't know what he was doing. The pressure is on, and he's really starting to feel it. It's because of this, although awful, that I really loved the bust up between Ron and Harry.

I didn't enjoy as much Harry questioning Dumbledore and their relationship. I don't see why Harry thought Dumbledore would have shared his whole family history with him. It wasn't really any of his business for one thing, and it was in the past. Plus he was his teacher. Sure, Dumbledore was a mentor/guide to Harry as well, but I just don't understand why Harry thought Harry should have told him his whole life story. I could understand why these feelings were cropping up, because he was feeling so lost and so much was being revealed about Dumbledore's past because of Rita Skeeter's book, but not why he felt he deserved to know everything. This is just me disagreeing with Harry, though, not a problem I have with the book.

When things get going, though, boy do they get going! The deaths are so hard to deal with. Dobby always gets me, always. He is the most bravest little guy, and god, I love him. But Fred, Lupin and Tonks, too... too much, just too much. And poor Colin Creevey! It was like being stabbed, and then having the knife twist and twist with each death. I absolutely loved the epic Battle of Hogwarts, it was just so incredible! And can I just take a moment to say how wonderful Snape is? I still hate the guy, there was no real need for him to be so cruel throughout the other books, but protecting Harry this whole time for the woman he loved... that's just heartbreaking, but so, so beautiful.

I found it surprisingly emotional this time round when Harry realises he has to die, because I already knew he actually doesn't. But I think it was down to how Harry was feeling, walking towards his death. The first time I read this book, it was all about what I felt and thought of what was happening, and now I can appreciate how the events affect the characters more. It brought tears to my eyes when Harry used the Resurrection Stone and brought back his family, it was such an incredibly emotional scene; knowing he had to die, but having the people he loved and who loved him with him in some form to keep him going. It's just wonderful.

I also think I understood a whole lot more this time round when it came to how Harry survived, with his conversation with Dumbledore. I think I was either far too emotional to really get it the first time round, or it's because I'm older now, but I finally got it. And I absolutely loved seeing Dumbledore again, that he got his appearance, and got to impart more advice and guidance. That was just such a wonderful, wonderful touch.

I was really bloody disappointed with the climax the first time round - Voldemort was defeated simply because of a rebounded spell? What?! But I think with understanding more about wands in general and the Elder wand, and how Voldemort completely screwed up, it was kind of brilliant this time. I loved it! And the epilogue was pretty awesome, too!

I finished my re-read this time round with a feeling of sadness, but satisfaction, and also excitement. The story isn't over yet. There's still Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the story will continue with that play. I just need to get ahold of some tickets! Deathly Hallows was a brilliant finale to the Harry Potter novels, and I'm always going to love them dearly.