Well, I managed to finish Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday before I stumbled across any spoilers to ruin it for me. It’s amazing to think that, after all these years and all this time spent with Harry (we listen to the books on CD in the car in a continual loop) I now know Harry’s entire story. Here are my spoiler-free thoughts, in no particular order:
1. The beginning of the book is a little slow, but picks up almost immediately;
2. The death count is high and painful;
3. The book, once it gets going, is a roller coaster ride full of unexpected twists, turns, and developments;
4. It felt a little weird to read about Harry and the gang’s exploits WITHOUT the backdrop of Hogwarts;
5. Most, but not all, questions are answered, and only a few strings dangle at the end;
6. Hermione is the greatest example of a kick-ass heroine I can think of for little girls to read about and emulate;
7. Harry and Ron are true heroes;
8. The book is an amazing, fitting, and emotionally satisfying end to the series.
Anyone else out there finished it yet?
On the music front, I picked up Prince’s latest release, Planet Earth, and it hurts me to say this but, well … it’s kinda disappointing. Pop lite. Sort of a snooze. Not the funky fun of last year’s 3121. *SIGH* I’ll have to listen to it a few more times to be sure, but I’m thinking this may not be one that’ll make it onto the MP-3 player. Ah, well. Doesn’t matter.
Prince will always reign, IMHO. Purple Rain sealed that deal years ago, don’t you think?
How was your week?
I hardly ever buy CDs these days. There doesn’t seem to be much point since the CD player in the car has been appropriated by the kids, and the only CDs they will authorize are the Harry Potter books. There was a brief period where they let me listen to Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and maybe, if I was really lucky, a little Beyonce or Prince (he is, currently, still Prince, isn’t he?), but those days seem to be centuries ago.