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Post by jode* on Jul 21, 2007 14:45:51 GMT
No spoilers in this post!!
I just wanted to say how lucky I feel that I managed to wait for, aquire and read the book without even a snippet of information about those dreaded spoilers.
I was queueing in Borders for 40 minutes and having to hold my fingers to my ears every time anything was mentioned.
They gave customers the books whilst in the queue... needless to say some people were flicking straight to the last page.
I was scared that some drunk pikeys would get the book just to shout things out.
Anyway, the torment and the agony was worth it. 6 hours of spoiler-free reading.
Will catch up with fellow lowculturers for discussions on Monday.
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Post by Rad on Jul 21, 2007 14:48:08 GMT
SPOILERS AHOY!
I felt smug last night getting to Waterstones at 10, as the queue was ginormous later, but I didn't read it till this afternoon. And I was most disappointed that loads of adults were in costume at the launch, but only two of the kids bothered! Waterstone's handled it really well, employing a really organised queuing system and you got the book as you left so no spoiling. Also, we got about an hour to use the store as a library which was nice.
So, the book...
Well, well, well. Lots of death, then. Oh, Snape. I know we all kind of knew the truth about him anyway, but it was kind of majestic. Loved the little mention in the epilogue, too. Was a bit gutted the Dursleys never really got an ending, and McGonagall was woefully underused, but I did love it overall. Bit complicated, though, in places, especially the bits Michael Gambon will be delivering...
And I looked back over but I can't seem to find where/how Lupin and Tonks died. Anyone?
So, sweepy winners (and I gues I'd better get a new avatar)...
The tasteful lowculture Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows rape grim death sweepstakes
Snape - Rad, schmindie Lupin - Jode* Voldemort - laine
karma away, folks
And a special mention to longsnakemoan who wished Tonks dead. The first death was one no-one could have predicted, but we didn't do so hot on the others that occurred, did we? Blooming 'only two deaths' lying spoilers.
Umm. Now what do we do?
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Post by gravedigger on Jul 21, 2007 15:44:00 GMT
My Good Lord. It actually made me cry. i feel like such a fan girl. Was it me or did the entire thing read a bit like a list of instructions for screen writers? The Kings Cross bit was crying out for a cinematographer. I liked it once I passed about chapter 15, even though the entire thing did make me feel very stupid, not understanding about half of what was going on in Gringotts. But then again, I still don't understand any of the plot of Batman Begins, so it's all relative, huh?
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booers
Su Pollard
Troppo in love
Posts: 262
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Post by booers on Jul 21, 2007 16:05:49 GMT
I'm not reading the posts on here but i just wanted to vent my frustration as I had to come up north for a wedding today and my copy hadn't arrived by the time I left my London pad. I am such a nob for not getting it sent to my mum's place where i am now until Tuesday. Aaaagggghhhhh. I really want to be reading it now. I want to do the opposite of LOLing.
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Post by Nick on Jul 21, 2007 16:26:16 GMT
What happened to all the fun, colourful wizard swearwords they used to use? I counted two bastards, two effings (!!!), a BITCH! and an arse, but there could have been more.
The BITCH! was particularly good, though.
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Post by LoveMusic on Jul 21, 2007 17:45:34 GMT
Finished a while ago.
Beyond fabulous.
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Post by LoveMusic on Jul 21, 2007 17:47:06 GMT
- So funny, i had to flick back to see about Lupin & Tonks, all it said was something about them looking like they were asleep!
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Post by rebecca on Jul 21, 2007 19:53:57 GMT
I think I'm in love with Neville Longbottom. And Snape. 'NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!!' was fabulous! I think I need to read it again, the end just flew past me really...poor Teddy Lupin! I wish we'd found out how Lupin and Tonks died, and who looked after Teddy. And poor twins! One's dead and one's only got one ear. Harry should've called one of his kids Sirius.
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Post by LoveMusic on Jul 21, 2007 20:01:36 GMT
I know - who looked after Teddy? Should have been Harry - as godfather
I've already loaned my copy out to my brothers girlfriend.
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Post by jetsetwilly on Jul 21, 2007 21:15:49 GMT
I loved that. I really did. I was yelping and shouting as I read it, and I was far more emotionally involved with the first death than I thought I would be. I so hoped that JK would include something like the epilogue, and... oh, it was just so good.
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Post by Becky on Jul 21, 2007 21:28:11 GMT
I thought the battle was rather pantomime, in that it all seemed to be looking a bit grim then what do you know, it turns around and everything goes in the good guys favour. The epilogue was very cheesy, and I didn't get, if it was 19 years later, how Teddy was still going to school. Surely he would have left, and if he had left, why was he at Kings Cross. I thought the saddest bit was when Dobby died. Did it say what Hermione had done with Crookshanks while she was off camping? There was a bit which made me think of Mary Poppins, but I can't remember which bit it was at the moment. And the bit where the armour came to life in the castle reminded me of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I was half expecting Angela Lansbury to come into view on her broomstick.
I queued in Tesco from about 11:30. The queue wasn't that big when I got there but by the time it went on sale it was right down the other end of the shop, and its a BIG shop. As I was waiting to pay, there were three chavvy lads with arm fulls of White Lightning or the like saying how they couldn't believe so many people would queue for a book.
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Post by jetsetwilly on Jul 21, 2007 21:32:17 GMT
There was a bit which made me think of Mary Poppins, but I can't remember which bit it was at the moment. Was it Hermione's handbag? She should have pulled a hatstand out of it, just as a nod and a wink. I bought my copy from the little second hand bookstore in my trendy lefty urban village centre. It was more expensive than Tesco or Waterstones, but I was paying for the feeling of smugness and superiority I got when I supported a small bookstore.
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Post by Rad on Jul 21, 2007 21:38:50 GMT
I didn't think Teddy was going to school at the end, I thought he was seeing the train off...
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dirtypop
Jane Asher
Only Lee Will Do!
Posts: 207
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Post by dirtypop on Jul 21, 2007 21:44:11 GMT
God I fucking loved it! I'm so glad I was on my own in the house when I read it as I couldn't stop shouting out 'fucking hell!' or gasping as I realised things and then talking myself through them.
I've always said I wanted Harry to die, then when it actually looked like it was going to happen I was fully devastated. I think she did it perfectly - showing that Harry would always have chosen to die if he had to.
I'm ashamed to say there were times when I briefly lost my faith in Snape but he had to come good - I love that man. I still don't get how he managed to fool Voldie tho when he was the worlds best Leglimens. I know Snape was meant to be good at Occlumency but surely not that great.
I'm pretty sure I've missed out on loads as I read it quite quickly in a haze of shock and tear but it was brilliant. Can't believe its all over!
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Post by georgie on Jul 21, 2007 21:50:24 GMT
I loved it, even the cheesey epilogue. I read today she had that written after the first book was done, before she did the other 6. I'm just so envious of JKs imagination to be able to write these stories. I've enjoyed them so much and cant wait for movie 7 now. Cant believe its all over now!
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Post by Becky on Jul 21, 2007 21:52:45 GMT
Yes, the Mary Poppins thing was Hermione's bag!
Did anyone see these 'spoilers'? Its quite funny how wrong they are:
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Post by timydamonkey on Jul 21, 2007 22:56:22 GMT
Is it bad that I was more annoyed that my sweepees didn't die - although I quite like Ron - and hoped they'd have been bumped off between the last chapter and the epilogue?
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Post by Jen on Jul 21, 2007 23:51:01 GMT
Just finished now- only got my copy just after lunch time and have literally read solidly since. 10 hours of reading is going to catch up on me like a bitch tomorrow. I can only echo everyone elses sentiments really -I absolutely loved it and cried like a baby at the end. Although surely caling a child Albus is just mean? I see what J.K means about some people hating it but I loved how beautifully she wrapped it all up. I bow down in Waynes World style to her, she's incredible. I'm rather glad it's over now actually, I can stop obsessing over finding out what happens. Roll on the next two films! Oh, and I have to say, I don't often laugh out loud at Harry Potter, but this bit had me roaring: "How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Mrs Weasley. "Saint-like" he murmured. " What's wrong with him?" croacked Fred, looking terrified. "Is his mind affected?" " Saint-like," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. "You see..... I'm holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?" " Pathetic," he told George. "Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humour before you, you go for holey?"
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Post by timydamonkey on Jul 22, 2007 0:22:18 GMT
I forgot to mention, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Probably my favourite book - I like action, what can I say?
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Post by LoveMusic on Jul 22, 2007 10:56:26 GMT
I thought the battle was amazing, i kept gasping and sqealing to myself.
I had to read the bit about the elder wand swapping in mid-air, the big Voldemort fight bit about 20 times to understand it. I'm probably still reading it wrong.
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Post by timydamonkey on Jul 22, 2007 11:14:11 GMT
I thought the battle was amazing, i kept gasping and sqealing to myself. I had to read the bit about the elder wand swapping in mid-air, the big Voldemort fight bit about 20 times to understand it. I'm probably still reading it wrong. Speaking of stuff I understood about as much as Sirius' death in OoTP (ie. not at all), what was going on with the snake/Bathilda Bagshot thing? Was Nagini somehow inside her body and could animate it then broke out of her neck? Really confused.
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Post by LoveMusic on Jul 22, 2007 11:24:47 GMT
Yes, thats why she couldn't speak and just led him upstairs. Then the snake 'came out' of her
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nixxxon
Jane Asher
This is a two-sets-of-marigolds problem
Posts: 239
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Post by nixxxon on Jul 22, 2007 13:54:09 GMT
Also loved it, and I think it was a satisfying enough wrap-up of the whole story that I'm not yet depressed that it's all over (unless I'm still on a high and it hasn't hit me yet.)
The bit where Harry matter-of-factly whispers to the snitch "I am about to die" had me whimpering - and as if that wasn't enough we had "Does it hurt?" on the next page.
The bit with the wand at the end confused me too, I had to re-read it a few times to figure out how come the Elder Wand recognised Harry as its master.
Why do I get the feeling that after going to see Equus JK Rowling phoned the publishers and yelled "Hold the presses! I have to add in a bit about how Harry's clothes keep falling off every other chapter!"
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Post by longsnakemoan on Jul 22, 2007 15:23:53 GMT
I loved the Snape thing but not that 'Lily was his Twu Wuv' nonsense that made me gag into my tea. It would have been far better if the fucking debt he owed James for his life had been repaid by saving Harry, not because he got frinky for Lily. I did however love it that Lupin and Tonk died because quite frankly they deserved it.
The epilogue was a bit grim, it was basically 'look who procreated' and didn't show anything about what anyone did, how the wizarding world was rebuilt and what happened to everyone. No, it just illustrated that Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny and Draco with his wife had sex a few times.
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dirtypop
Jane Asher
Only Lee Will Do!
Posts: 207
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Post by dirtypop on Jul 22, 2007 15:24:50 GMT
Also forgot to mention Snape's final words 'Look at me' so he could look at Lily's eyes as he died absolutely broke my heart.
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