Why I quit reading Deathly Hallows

[sigma7]

I read fast. Hysterically fast. Always have. Part of having a picosecond-long attention span, I guess. But I gave up on Deathly Hallows a few hundred pages into it. And you know me -- I love spoilers, I love knowing how it's all going to end...but this book just baffles me.

Reading Deathly Hallows struck me as an entirely joyless enterprise. Of course there was going to be death; can't have a proper ragnarok without it. But I'm just a little bit baffled at the body count, at the capricious dispatch of so many characters. Maybe I'm just an ol' softie, maybe I'm just an alien to this universe (a reminder: it's not my goddamn fandom, understand, monkey boy?). But it wasn't a diversion, nor entertainment. It felt like work. Certainly didn't feel like a narrative unfolding. Did feel more like a housecleaning. Or like stage directions for Titus Andronicus (or, if you prefer, Total Recall) -- anyone else we can off for dramatic effect? I'd hate to think that JKR is surrendering to a mathematical illusion of body count lending to gravitas, but it's rote and it's not even properly tense. Part of me was wishing for a Moby-Dick ending -- a battered, bleeding Harry alone on a patch of scoured earth that once was Hogsmeade -- but that's too far, indeed, too easy.

Maybe longtime readers will get more out of it than I will. I sure as hell hope so. There was only one moment that struck with me that I truly liked, something I'd hoped for but didn't expect, in the third chapter. The rest...well, your mileage may vary.

Edit: Okay, finished it. It did pick up some steam midway through, but still, underwhelming.

Comments

[marysiak.livejournal.com]

It just makes it more realistic that people do die, it's a war after all, that's what happens when lots of people throw killing curses around. The number of people failing to die in the past is what's been unbelievable.

Icon is oh so ironic, may have to change it.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

It really is, isn't it? Poor twins.

The return of the prodigal was one of the parts of DH that really worked for me, though.

[marysiak.livejournal.com]

I am smug at totally calling the Weasley twin death in advance. In fact I think most of my guesses at what would happen were right if I could just remember what it was I told the guy when he interviewed me (for Time magazine iirc).

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Well, it appeared in USA Weekend over here -- probably just part of the great corporate structure, though I have a hard time following who owns what over here. I do have a copy and I need to scan it for you at some point; all of the guesses they included were pretty vague (they must've expunged your Weasley-twin bit) and all relatively accurate except for the kid who thought the US military would get involved....

[marysiak.livejournal.com]

I can't remember what I actually told them I thought would happen as seperate from all the other things I thought might happen and never thought to mention when I spoke to them. I'm sure I said I thought a Weasley would die, but whether I clarified that I thought a twin was most likely or not I don't remember. I said I thought we would see Sirius again and I'm sure I said how Snape was totally not evil - but then we all knew that.

Do scan it, I'd love to see it.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

The one thing that does stand out is your lack of Hagrid-love....

I'm home sick today, but definitely tomorrow.

[marysiak.livejournal.com]

Well Hagrid sucked ass in book 6, he was it's weakest point I felt. But he was better in book 7 I think.