Blog de Puree » Books

A great analysis of the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

paul — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:42:40 +0000

Spoiler alert! Do not continue to read this post if you have not finished reading the final Harry Potter book!

Expelliarmus!

Protego!

Wingardium Leviosa!

Reparo!

Post begins here:

It’s been a month since reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and I have more thoughts on the end of the book, specifically, the controversial epilogueI was intrigued by the fact that Randye and I had different views about the epilogue. We mirrored the differences found in many circles—I viewed it as the perfect serene wrap-up to the turbulent Harry Potter saga, and she saw it and as a fairy-tale ending that was disingenuous to the general feel of the books.

While pondering our difference of opinion, I came across this blog post by Cheryl Klein, an editor at Arthur A. Levine books, and who helped to edit the Harry Potter series. It is a bit dated, but apropos. On her blog, Brooklyn Arden, she addresses the range of opinions on the books ending and gives a great explanation of the end of the final book and how it paid off five essential themes found within the entire series.

Family – He transforms from an orphan outcast to a community-accepted family man.
Maturity – Harry’s namesake for his child shows that he values sacrifice and courage, and is able to rise above pettiness from his past.
Fame – He has finally overcome his awkwardness regarding his fame and chooses to live a simple life.
Choice – He values wisdom. “It is our choices, far more than our abilities, that show who we truly are”
Power, or Where Real Happiness Comes From – The serene ending shows that Harry enjoys being a regular guy, where he can find happiness in every day love and domestic life.

But rather than my trying to reexplain more it here, please check out her post, which I think hit the nail right on the head.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The adventure is over

paul — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:27:04 +0000

It was the summer of 1998 when I first heard of Harry Potter. I was 27.
I was sitting in my car in the parking area for the Cygnet Rowing club in Newton waiting for my rowing partner one sunny Saturday morning, when an NPR radio journalist was giving his take on the Potter universe with a mix of awe and bemusement. He spoke of wizards and witches, quidditch matches, the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone, castles and world of fantasy that transcended children’s literature. Obviously, he was quite smitten by J.K. Rowling’s creation.

I was pretty well wrapped up in other things in my life at the time, until two years later, when I saw the first and second Potter book on a friend’s bookshelf and asked her about them. For half an hour she raved about how much fun and interesting the books were. She is a well read person and respecting her opinion, I picked up a paperback edition of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” That was all it took.

I read the book in about two weeks, putting off my grad school homework in the evenings. When I was finished, I immediately went to a local book seller and bought the first and second book, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” in hard cover. I knew that these books—imaginative, fun and chock-full of useful life lessons for young children—were going to be highly valued and I had visions of reading them to my children some day.

I’ve since moved on to a different rowing club and a new town. Now that I’ve finished the final book in the Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” I have a great sense of fulfillment. (This may also be due to the fact that I read the entire book in one day.) I was enthralled and excited to participate in Harry’s world, pulling for him and his friends at every plot twist. And now that it’s over, I feel kind of empty.

Thankfully, the Potter universe is still quite active. There are two more movies yet to be filmed, there are rumors of an all encompassing Harry Potter encyclopedia that J.K. Rowling may write and there are numerous websites and podcasts where I can get my fill of this magical world.

These are some of my favorite sites:

The Harry Potter Lexicon – The foremost online authority on all things Harry Potter. It’s as good as Jane’s Information Group for all things military or the Oxford Dictionary for correct spelling.
The Leaky Cauldron – Named for the shabby old pub that serves as a “bridge” between the magical and muggle worlds in London, it’s the coolest online hangout for all things Harry Potter and it is a great source for news.
Pottercast – The official podcast of the Leaky Cauldron website, and a great source for discussion, news and other fun things related to Rowling’s books and movies. New podcasts typically go live on a weekly basis.
J.K. Rowling’s official website – The place to go to hear news and information straight from the author herself.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows release date announced

paul — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 01:29:32 +0000

According to the news on the Leaky Cauldron, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2007. That’s a Saturday, so I will be incommunicado until it’s time to go to work on Monday, July 23. Heck, I may even call in sick that day!

At the time of this post (February 1, 2007, 20:17 EST), the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series is currently ranked nunber one in sales on BarnesandNoble.com and number 2 in sales at Amazon.com.

Hands are a wringing, drool is a flowin’ and the chops are a smacking.

Arts and Crafts

randye — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:26:34 +0000

I inherited my Nana’s The New American Cook Book (circa 1941). The hard cover and spine had ripped off with age and use. I wanted to preserve it because of its obvious sentimental value, but it’s also a damn handy cookbook. (If I want a good basic recipe, such as a fruit compote, this book has it — including some interesting recipes for possum and squirrel pot pie. Hey, you never know!) Plus, it offers these nuggets of home economic wisdom.

“The clever homemaker knows that her meals do more for her family than satisfy hunger and please tastes. She has full understanding that the bodies of all members of her family are composed of many chemicals, combined together in such a manner as to form skin, blood, muscles, bones, hair, and all of the other components of the human frame.”

Anyhow . . .

Knowing that bookmaking is a hot new hobby, I figured this would be an easy project. Armed with this Online Book Repair Tutorial, I went in search (and search and search) of project materials.

First I went to Joann’s Fabrics, but they only had s-crap-booking kits. Another shopper suggested an actual scrapbooking store down the way. Onward I went.

Unfortunately, they had ONLY scrabooking supplies. They suggested a paper store, All About Paper, right up the road. Onward I went.

It was a Paper Source wannnabe (a Boston-area paper mecca), but they DID have bookbinding supplies! I found everything I needed. Unfortunately, their variety of bookcloth colors was pretty weak — and nothing neutral.

Since I’d come this far, I wasn’t leaving without making this project happen. So I decided to go for the sassy red bookcloth for the spine, because heck, it’s a sassy cookbook.

So, despite not being particularly crafty, (I’m the messiest gluer on the planet) I now have a rebound volume that will withstand the ages. It ain’t pretty, but it’s preserved!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Almost good as new and it sure beats the rubberband that had been holding it all together.