494. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rating: ☆☆☆☆1/2
Recommended by:
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
759 pages, published July 21, 2007
Reading Format: Audiobook
Summary
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final book in the classic series by JK Rowling. The book, and the series, build to a final confrontation between Harry and Voldemort. Only one can survive.
Quotes
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love.”
“Death’s got an Invisibility Cloak?” Harry interrupted again.
“So he can sneak up on people,” said Ron. “Sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking…”
“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.”
“He can run faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo.”
“Cinderella? Snow White? What’s that? An illness?”
“Albus Severus,” Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, “you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”
“There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet. “Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI! There’s a war going on here!” Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other. “I know, mate,” said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”
“Never mind that, what about the Horcrux?” Harry shouted. “D’you think you could just — just hold it in, until we’ve got the diadem?” “Yeah — right — sorry —” said Ron, and he and Hermione set about gathering up fangs, both pink in the face.”
“I’m going to keep going until I succeed — or die. Don’t think I don’t know how this might end. I’ve known it for years.”
“Does it hurt?” The childish question had escaped Harry’s lips before he could stop it.
“Dying? Not at all,” said Sirius. “Quicker and easier than falling asleep.”
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”
“Every second he breathed, the smell of the grass, the cool air on his face, was so precious: To think that people had years and years, time to waste, so much time it dragged, and he was clinging to each second.”
“Here lies Dobby, a free elf.”
“Snape’s patronus was a doe,’ said Harry, ‘the same as my mother’s because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from when they were children.”
“The last words Albus Dumbledore spoke to the pair of us?’
Harry is the best hope we have. Trust him.”
My Take
I read through the entire Harry Potter set with my son Nick while he was in elementary school. It was a pleasure then and at least an equal pleasure to listen to the audio version of the books during my reading quest. Narrator Jim Dale is masterful, creating unique and fitting voices for all of the characters. Author J.K. Rowling finishes the series strong with rising tension, compelling character arcs and a perfect ending. Even if you have previously read the series, I highly recommend trying out the audio version (especially if you can do so with young kids). You will not be disappointed.
