We have had quite the Harry Potter week! We got the book on Saturday and finished reading it on Tuesday. Yesterday (Wednesday), after we took Mr. Math Teacher and Grandma to the airport, the kids and I went to the "big city" public library for a Harry Potter party. Then, we went to see the new movie.
First, the Harry Potter party - totally fun! The kids had a blast. They both entered the costume contest, but Wild Man couldn't give his name as Albus Severus Potter because that is from Book 7, so he had to be "A Relative of Harry's". Ga'Hoole Girl made a clock (real clock works) with a CD and a clock mechanism. It is supposed to be like the Weasley Clock, so she has it sectioned into things like "home", "school", "dance", "mortal peril", and "death". (There are a few others, but I can't remember them.) There was a wand-making station and both kids made wands (although they also had the wooden ones that Mr. Math Teacher carved for them a couple of years ago). They also had a ton of food - pizza, cookies, juice. It was a very good use of an hour and a half.
The movie - "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
The kids' assessment: a rip-off. I'm not quite as harsh, but I must agree that it was less than satisfying. First, the good stuff: The actors continue to do an excellent job. The special effects were excellent. The set and costumes were also excellent - it really felt like what Hogwarts is supposed to feel like. The not-so-good stuff: The plot was very thin and forced. Obviously, they had to cut a lot out from the book in order to make a movie, but they cut out so much that the movie seemed to be racing along. Unfortunately, they gave such short shrift to some important plot lines that they seemed understandable only because we knew the movie. Mrs. Figg was also very poorly done. She was supposed to be this little old lady who was very frazzled and talked quickly. Instead, she is very hesitant about everything. In addition, she lightened up the beginning of the book. In the movie, the beginning was more dark than it needed to be (partly because of the lack of Mrs. Figg). The fight scene at the ministry was also thinner than it should have been. People kind of showed up without much explanation. And, at the end, Harry is supposed to be very angry, but, in the movie, he is just sad. I don't think we're going to bother purchasing this movie. It's probably OK to rent when it comes out on video. Let's hope that "The Half-Blood Prince" has a better transition to the screen.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling has done an excellent job in this last book. We read it out loud from Saturday to Tuesday. It is well-paced and kept us interested throughout. There was, indeed, a lot of death, but I was very glad that Harry and his closest friends survived. I really liked that the mission could not be accomplished without all three friends contributing - and Dumbledore knew this, so he gave each of them something that they would need. I was a little worried when Ron left Harry and Hermione, but was thrilled when he returned. Hedwig's and Dobby's deaths were rather devastating. I was glad, though, that Dobby died saving Harry - that was a great scene. Throughout the early part of the book, very little is said of Snape. I had become convinced that Snape was indeed completely evil and a Death Eater. What a surprise, then, to find out that Snape had been on the side of good the whole time (well, at least since Harry was a year old)! The scene in which Snape dies and gives Harry his memories was very touching. I must admit, though, that the entire concept of Snape loving Lily his whole life was a total shock to me. But, it tied up lots of loose ends and explains Snape's turning away from Voldemort.
The theme of redemption and sacrifice continues throughout the book. Harry's facing Voldemort without fighting back was a great scene. It is certainly not an allegory of the Christian story (as in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), but is a clear picture of love overcoming evil. Harry is willing to die in order that the rest of them might be saved. Of course, others died in the fight against Voldemort as well. I was especially saddened by Tonks' and Lupin's deaths.
I very highly recommend this book, but not till after you have read the first six. I recently re-read books five and six, which I found very helpful in order to understand the events of book seven. This book is very dark, and there is a lot of death. It is probably not appropriate for the under-8 crowd. Wild Man is nine and did very well with the book. We have had several very good (and very deep) discussions about the whole Harry Potter series. I have to say that Ms. Rowling has done an excellent job in finishing the story.
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