finally failing to avoid the issue

[perevision]

Watching LJ erupt over the past few weeks I wondered why we're (and I include myself here) so violent about spoilers. Then I read the book, and I watched LJ erupt even more, and I took a couple of days to think about it, and...I formed a possibly unpopular opinion.

Spoilers are so important to this series because the plot points are all we have left. The characters we loved (and loved to hate), the thrill of the pacing and the discovery of this new universe that lives around and alongside and yet away from what we know...it's all faded in the past few books, subsumed by the overwhelming plot devices and fake-outs and OH NOES vs. SQUEE!!!s that stuff the covers and feed the hype. And it breaks my heart to know that the series that captured and involved me so completely has turned into little more than a fireworks display.

I sound bitter, don't I? Maybe I'll post bullet points outlining the bits I found the most disappointing, along with the bits I actually did enjoy (there were some, I promise!). Maybe later.

In the meantime, here is one aspect of the series I AM forever grateful for.... Fandom, I turn this one over to you. Please make it right. You've done it before.

ETA: Some comments below contain spoilers.

Comments

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

As a casual HP fan only (can one be a casual fan?) my take on it was similar, in that I couldn't help but feel there are many books where it wouldn't make much difference to me whether I found out what was going happen - I'd still happily enjoy reading it. I didn't feel that way about this book. If I'd known the plot in advance, I wouldn't have seen much point reading it at all.

[angelthorn.livejournal.com]

Eh? Why, what did you say? And do post about your opinion re. the book. I'm surprised you were disappointed with it, though. I was quite satisfied with it for the most part, except I was a bit cheesed out by the epilogue and the cop-out with Harry's death.

[pere-chan.livejournal.com]

Oh, I enjoyed so much of it! I cried and cheered at many of the right bits. I admit I didn't hate the cop-out; I think the sort of creeping horror of the dying piece of soul during the infodump Dumbledore sequence made up for it. Besides, she'd written herself into a corner--it would have been hard to end the book with Harry dead, unless he was looking on as a ghost.

But so much emotional impact of her big set-pieces was lost, simply because she didn't write with enough skill. And the big soggy chunks of exposition completely ruined her pacing. And, of course, so much of the major twists just didn't make sense! kurozukin_a and canis_m make a much more coherent crit of the book, plus of course, they're hilarious XD

Also yes, the cheese, also known as pasted-on fic probably written at the same time as the second book XD Ok, so our main characters come through all shiny and spotless. Hermione's parents? The social status of house-elves and goblins? Hogwarts still Sorting? (And while we're at it, what's with NOT A SINGLE SLYTHERIN fighting for their school??? Argh) And slightly incestuous relationship between Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley? I don't care if they're technically not related. This is where all the pureblood problems came from! She has such a double standard I swear. Not everyone needs to be paired up like DNA links. That's what fandom is for.

Ok, will go comment on your lj now :D

[angelthorn.livejournal.com]

Hm, I see what you mean. And yes I also wondered what was up with the Slytherins. Weren't there any actual nice Slytherins (then again this was my problem with her ? You'd think Draco at least would be doing something after Harry & co. saved his ass twice >D Or at least have him acknowledge it at the end. So many things she could've written about instead of the "they got married, had babies etc." epilogue.

ITA — the exposition killed the effect of some of the good bits.

And yes I also thought there was something incestuous with Ted and Victoire! >D I had to pause a moment and wonder...wait...they're not related are they? -_-;;;

[courtkneeyo.livejournal.com]

you must be talking about harry potter. weeeeeeeeeee