Harry Potter!

If you haven't read the book, don't try to read the post or the comments. I don't want to spoil it for you.

If you have, let's chat! Hilight the text, so you can read what I wrote.

My first thoughts were that the book was overall great. I really enjoyed it. Having had time to analyze my likes and dislikes with my fellow Hogwartians She-DaWagna, She-OckersOcean, my funk-Sohl brotha, my Hollen-rockin' sista, and my Sohl-mate, I've decided that it could never have met my expectations. It's the last of the series, the last she intended to write (or so she says), and there was bound to be a let down regardless of what she penned.

Notable differences, you ask?? Well, I didn't get that "old, warm coat" feeling when I read the first few hundred pages. Having read these articles (yes, all 16), since she didn't follow the Dursely-Hogwarts Express-Quidditch-Christmas-etc., timelines as the last six books did, that might have contributed to the unfamiliarity; however, it was more than that. It felt like another person wrote the first section - no, I don't recall the point where it felt "normal." While she has grown most obviously as a writer (who couldn't after 7 enormous books), it didn't seem "J.K." Nonetheless, I liked the break from tradition, and thought moments of appreciation from Dudley were perfect.

Another difference - much more crass language in this book, particularly from Mrs. Weasley. HOLY COW! I didn't see that one coming. I was disappointed that the important DA characters (Neville, Luna, Ginny) didn't get more facetime. I can see, though, how six teenagers running amok might draw a bit of attention to themselves.

Last, I loved the more dominant role faith played in this book. She quotes Matthew 6:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:26, though not as plainly as I have, and thanks God twice by name. Lots of references to the King's Cross, the after-life, and while veiled, references to where Voldemort would end up.

I would like to have read less running-around-like-chickens-with-their-heads-cut-off sequences, and had a bit more detail in the whole wand description. I also could have used a bit more clarity about the thing making noise at King's Cross, and why Harry wasn't killed, but Voldemort was.

I'm not sure it will end up being my favorite book, but I really enjoyed the resolutions of various plotlines from previous books in this one. Most importantly, I enjoyed this book immensely. While I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end, I appreciate the season of life J.K. Rowling is in. I'm hoping that when she said that she might write an encyclopedia, she meant she would. Oh, and now I await the release of the Half-Blood Prince in November 2008 (even though I said I wouldn't see it after I saw, and was somewhat disappointed by, Order of the Phoenix).