Spoilers--my review to MSN

[darsynia]

I was profoundly disappointed. While there were some satisfying and interesting segments to the book, overall the editing was shoddy (typo'd or un-caught canon name mistakes, inconsistent punctuation, etc.), the writing was rough and uneven, and there were a myriad of plot holes or unresolved arcs (some of which were promised in multiple interviews by the author to be explained in the final book).

I am heavily involved in the HP fandom and would consider myself an authority on the facts of the series--and what I found most disappointing was the inconsistency in characterization. Characters whose prior appearances have been lovingly described by Rowling turn up dead with no explation of how or why--while other, less integral characters are given heroic death scenes or at the very least, an impression of emotional impact by their fellow characters. Canon facts which may seem to non-Potterphiles as inconsequential, such as Dumbledore's pre-gray hair color, are altered or simply ignored.

Overall, I got the sense of a rushed author with an incomplete sense of the idea that they were writing the *last* book of a series. Many of we fans had been looking to the final book for explanations of open-ended or seemingly incomplete plot devices (the Veil, for instance)--and to reach the Epilogue (referred to by many of us on Live Journal as 'the Crapilogue') without having those mysteries satisfied was... very unsatisfying.

In the end, I feel as though I've been either let down, or that I had been expecting too much--as though I'd attended a traditional wedding that ended in a pie-eating contest.
/end

As for me, I came home and had sex instead of reading the book. WIN. (tmi, I know, sorry :P)

OH, and I forgot--on page 125 JKR or her publishers goofed. Hermione JEAN Granger? WTF.

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Comments

[oops-pig.livejournal.com]

Amen sista!

Also? Sex instead of reading? You rock! Totally don't even bother. You've already read it. At least it'll look complete on your bookshelf!

[kimmers84.livejournal.com]

I've only got 2 chapters left to read...and I'm agreeing with you so far. Granted, I'm not as "literary educated" as some people, but I did take English in college...and I agree..it was rushed. I would have gladly waited another year or two for JKR to have it done perfectly.
Same with the movie...again...rushed IMO(aside from Gary Oldman, I <3 him).

At least I know TSIK won't be filled with holes...haha.
PS: I giggled at the JEAN thing too. So obvious.

[crushing83.livejournal.com]

In the end, I feel as though I've been either let down, or that I had been expecting too much--as though I'd attended a traditional wedding that ended in a pie-eating contest.

LOL. Kinda accurate. Part of me kept expecting someone to say "Hey, you know that photograph leak version? Someone played a little too much with Photoshop! Not the book!" because it seemed too fantastic in parts (and a little like they were channelling "Alias" at times) and some things with canon were goofed.

(But, things get goofed in the AB books (like someone's sexuality, for instance) and I didn't have a cow so I wonder if I'm unfairly judging HP7. Or holding grudges or something.)

[cee-m.livejournal.com]

On the whole, I loved the book. I hated the epi, but that goes without saying. (Could it be any more bad fanfic? Everyone gets married, their kids go to hogwarts, and the kids are all named after dead people....)