Customer Reviews
continued strength 
2008-08-28
I've read all of the Harry Potter books aloud to my son (who is now 10), and, while we're not yet far into Deathly Hallows, we can see that it will be as fun as all the others. We became engrossed in it from Page One. We're excited to see how the series ends, but we'll miss reading it. It's not only been a good read, but a great experience for us to have together. He could certainly be reading it alone at this point, but we wouldn't miss the shared enjoyment.
great seller 
2008-08-25
Product true to description, good condition, great seller, moderately timed shipping. would buy from again! thank you!
Book Mistake 2008-08-24
My book is missing pages 83-114. I've looked all the way through my book, but it's not there. Has this happen to anyone else?
Mostly satisfying conclusion to the Dark Lord / Harry Potter Saga 2008-08-24
Overall:
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4 stars - A fairly satisfying ending to the Dark Lord / Harry Potter saga -- the ending is a bit weak, slightly cliched and a lot of dead cool characters.
Harry controls the final confrontation with the Dark Lord yet gives the Dark Lord a way out (why?). The Dark Lord's insanity combined with meglomania is his downfall not Harry Potter. It is a cheapening of what one expected from Harry Potter.
The search for the Horcruxes is only really possible due to Hermiene's knowledge of magic and magical skills. Harry does show much character and pushes for understanding the Deathly Hallows but really it is more a plot device than anything else. The Dark Lord is blinded by power (searching for the Elder Wand) when he should be finishing off the opposition with the ruthlessness of hardened, paranoid war lord.
The great losses by the forces of good seem to be trivialized by the epilogue. I was looking for some type of memorial / recognition of the sacrifices made. The life as usual with the references of respect by naming of the various children is touching but not enough.
Characters:
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The deaths of main characters "off-screen" is disappointing and cheapens their loss. Frankly, I cared much more about the characters that died off-screen than the potential loss of Harry's life. It is strange to think the side-characters were more important; I guess the sacrafice they were willing to make for a friend and the side of good is more compelling than Harry's battle with the Dark Lord.
The assault on Hogswort showed a tremendous amount of the internal qualities of the side characters than Harry. Harry raised the you can not do this as I will not have your death on my conscious non-sense again. Harry is clearly missing the point of friendship, trust, sacrafice and need to fight evil/darkness at all costs. Why does Ron and Hermiene have to be Harry's conscience all the time? The characters understand the risk but they also understand what is at stake -- please give them some credit!
Mrs. Weasley: She rocks! It was great to see her step up as it is hinted that she is a formittable witch in the other books.
Snape: He is one of the best characters in a very long time for me. He is very complex and well developed. I did not like how it was all tied back to silent love of a character that is barely developed. If you are going to tied up so much of your life for a lost love, the lost love should be developed in more detail.
Harry: The sudden rash of logistical ability to get the horcruxes is out of character for him. The sudden wisdom to appreciate what Dumbledore had setup is out of character and seems forced just to get the story to a conclusion. It is good that he finally accepts people for being able to think and work as a team (not guided by him).
The selflessness of Harry that the ability to turn down the Deathly Hallows is not done well as it conflicts with his selfness internal discussions. I appreciate that Harry is supposed to be the bright shining light of all that is good but the suddenness of being selfless does not quite work for me; it needed more development as I have found Harry to be very selfish in a lot of ways through out the series.
Ginny: She is a good character that deserves more development.
Dobbie: A good tie in here and lead up to the final battle. A way to turn an annoying character from early on into a real character.
Plot:
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The plot is pretty straight forward as it needs to resolve the Dark Lord vs. Harry situation...does the evil triumuph over good. The race between the Dark Lord and Harry's small group is reasonably well done. However, the Dark Lord would have realized the problem with the Elder Wand before the final showdown.
The Deathly Hallows is an interesting plot device but should have been mentioned in the prior books. It seems like it was added as a way to wrap up the series while the rest of the books show a clear well-developed back story. Note: this is a minor point given the level of complex back story JKR has developed for the other books.
Action:
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The final assault is well done with good pacing. The "good" guys should really have been wiping out attackers more effectively as they would fight together better than typical one-on-one tactics of the Death Eaters...the concept of surpressing fire, area of effect spells and defensive casting would really have helped the good guys. Also, it is a war and killing the attackers is ok...war is hell!
Prose:
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The prose is on par with the other stories.
Summary:
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Overall: 4 stars
Characters: 3 to 3.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Action: 4 to 4.5 stars -- the assault is well done
Prose: 3 stars
YTH Book Review (NEST) 2008-08-23
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
This is the last book in the Harry Potter series. Before the book was released, I had a lot of questions that remained unanswered. I wondered how J.K. Rowling would tie up all the "loose-ends". I began reading this series in first grade, and as I read each book found that the story line became darker because it focused more on Harry and Voldemort, and less on how wonderful it would be to be a wizard. This was sort of disturbing because Harry lived through such horrible events. However, since I wanted to know what would happen to each of the characters, I read the book and quickly began to enjoy myself.
Harry's skills as a wizard and his endurance are put to the test when he is attacked by Death Eaters at Weasley's home. Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to find and destroy a series of horcruxes which contain different parts of Voldemort. They learn many things about Dumbledore during their journey and learn that he had a complicated life. Their journey eventually takes them back to Hogwart's where the join forces with Neville, Luna, Ginny and others who battle against Voldemort in a final confrontation. In the end, it is Neville who proves that he is a powerful wizard too.
The book had a lot of twists and turns, but in the end good triumphs over evil. We know that Harry finds some well deserved peace and happiness, and that Ron and Hermoine were destined for each other. We are left to imagine what the next generation of wizards will be like. Can you imagine what it would be like to be Harry and Ginny's child? I think this might make a good book...or two.
The 7th and the Last 2008-08-22
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Deluxe Bloomsbury UK Special Collector's Edition. THE FINAL CHAPTER: The pub date of the seventh and final Harry Potter book has been announced, and the rumours are already circulating - what are the Deathly Hallows? Who will make it through to the end? This special edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is for any major fan of the series, offering a luxury jacket and binding, this is set to make the perfect present for any muggle! SYNOPSIS: His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.' With these words "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" draws to a close. And here, in this seventh and final book, Harry discovers what fate truly has in store for him as he inexorably makes his way to that final meeting with Voldemort. In this thrilling climax to the phenomenally bestselling series, J.K. Rowling will reveal all to her eagerly waiting readers. PRODUCT DETAILS: Black cloth-bound boards with gilt lettering, gilt-stamped JK Rowling signature & gilted page-ends; pictorial onlay; full-color harlequin endpapers; sewn-in satin ribbon placemarker; unique typeset, illustrations and paper quality all make this a valuable addition to any collector's library. Ships well-packaged and protected.
rating Jim Dale's performance 2008-08-18
Rather than review the book, which I find to be generally outstanding and a satisfying end to the series, I'd instead like to review Jim Dale's reading of it.
This is my second "reading" of The Deathly Hallows, but my first foray into audiobooks. I thought it would be good filler during a road trip and beach vacation when I would be unable to actually pick up a book. Now home from that trip, I can't stop listening to it.
Dale's pacing slows me down and allows me to appreciate details I probably skim past while reading at my usual steady clip. His inflection draws you in, brings Rowling's rich world out of the words, gives a wink and a nod during the fleeting happy moments, and sets you on edge as tension rises. He provides a distinctive and appropriate voice for each character, bringing life to their personalities.
The one rather major exception I take is with Hermione's voice; the younger women's voices in general sound a bit strained, but not distractingly so. Hermione's parts, however, are spoken with a whiney inflection that elongates the last syllable of words and gets high and squeaky at the end ("Haa-rryyYYY"). Rather than making her sound reproachful or thoughtful, as I'm sure is intended, it makes her sound a bit dim-witted, almost like a thoughtless stereotype of someone with a disability. Emma Watson (Hermione in film), in contrast, manages to enunciate each syllable while simultaneously spitting out the words like the intellectual bullets they usually are.
To sum it up: while drifting off into his otherwise excellent reading, it's jarring and distracting to suddenly have such strange portrayal of a character who speaks with such frequency.
HP fan. Love the book 2008-08-18
Like many I wouldn't have wanted the series to end, but all good things apparently do
Good, but not great... 2008-08-16
My husband and I have listened to all J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books on tape, and have loved them all. We finally got a chance to hear Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on a road trip this summer. While we enjoyed it, we thought that it was good--but not great.
The late Albus Dumbledore had charged wizard Harry Potter to seek out and destroy horcruxes. Harry is allowed to bring his closest friends, Ron and Hermione, with him on this dangerous mission. Dumbledore bequeathed each of them a gift, but without any instructions on how they are to be used. Harry receives a snitch, Ron an illuminator, and Hermione the children's book The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The trio decide to forego their final year at Hogwarts in their quest to accomplish Dumbledore's assignment. Their achieving success is especially important as Lord Voldemort now controls both the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts.
I found the plot was too long, too involved, and too spotty. At 21 hours, it was often difficult to keep things straight. There was just way too much going on, and much of it wasn't necessary to the story. The Deathly Hallows was definitely darker than the previous books and I missed the emphasis on Hogwarts. On the plus side, we learn much more about the history between Lily and James Potter (Harry's Parents), Professor Snape, Lupin and Sirius Black. Also, reader Jim Dale is a master and perhaps the best narrator alive. His dozens and dozens of voices are just amazing.
While I felt there were some problems with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as a whole, the series is definitely a classic for children and adults alike. It has already been announced that Rowling will publish a book called The Tales of Beedle the Bard in December. Maybe it will give Harry Potter fans who are going through withdrawal a little bit of a fix.
jennya 2008-08-13
This was a great ending to a great series. I loved all 7 books in the series and this was an exciting ending to an epic story.
There were tears but also great triumphs that make it worth reading over and over again.
