harry potter and the deathly hallows - j. k. rowling, scholastic, 2007
this is possibly the only review i'll be making of a harry potter book, particularly because i hadn't amassed a certain degree of interest as opposed to what i have with a richard matheson story. i wasn't at all, a potter freak, as what my wife would coin me, but rather a reader with an eclectic taste; so it seemed that potter's existence on the literary world was, i'll attest to my account, a dish for a pair of eyes to feast on. although it didn't create much of the similar attraction it had grappled the million or so readers with its tale of wizardry and stuff, i must say that it somehow provided me a sense of exuberance and transient entertainment whenever i open its velvety decorative frontispiece.
harry potter and the deathly hallows is, honestly, a joyous banquet of literary diversion to ogle on. perhaps, an appropriate curtain for the boy who has captivated millions. it would be hypocritical to say of rowling's prose to be elementary, however, such narrative fundamentality was the reason of its initial and ultimate success. harry potter's audience is a mixture of ages; of diverse upbringings; and possibly of a cornucopia of lifestyles.
deathly hallows, while the final installment of the series, has answered the many questions that has plagued the millions (or better yet, the billions) of its followers, it also managed to bring a necessary closure. closure, in a way, of rowling's yearning to end a boy's journey to childhood, and the commencement to adulthood. the book focuses more on what its readers anticipate---probably why rowling chose to satiate the queries her previous books had left dangling on the crevices, rather than an administration of last rites to a story that demands a fitting finale. nevertheless, rowling's last potter adventure bowed on an acceptably high note.
i wouldn't emphasize much on what the plot of the book decides to undertake as it would prompt unnecessary details that may or may not be considered spoilers (in anyway, i'll avoid putting in facts as much as i can). potter's adventure takes off from where the previous one ended, and in such a way that i could, perhaps, associate similarities with lucas' star wars or tolkien's ring trilogy. however deftly woven to form a plausible course to conclude such a fantastic machination. from the whereabouts of minor characters that unexplicably find themselves on the rearview; backstories of mentor-apprentice relationships; to allegiances that we didn't think could transpire. the lack of details on the events leading to the final chapter is one thing i perceive worthy of rash disappointment, but i won't complain.
rowling's reported announcement of her decision to ditch potter's story for a serious endeavor in writing has secured harry's legacy. to many, it could define a desertion of sort. to others, it might meant closure befitting a wonderful tale. for some, it merely suggest that fans of harry potter can now take rest.
