OH MY GOD

Enough answers; a loophole that, although justifiable, I resent; an epilogue I resent all the more. But, to appropriate that disgusting adage, I am sad because it's over but happy that it happened. Massive love.

I am currently reading Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling
Fantasy
759 pages

Begun a decade ago and encompassing six shelf-bending novels, the seventh and concluding volume of the international literary phenomenon that is the Harry Potter saga comes to a bombshell-packed -- and oh so satisfying -- conclusion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, arguably the most wildly anticipated release in modern publishing history.
As the novel begins, Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run from Lord Voldemort, whose minions of Death Eaters have not only taken control of the Minister of Magic but have begun to systematically -- and forcibly -- change the entire culture of the magic community: Muggle-born wizards, for example, are being rounded up and questioned, and all "blood traitors" are being imprisoned. But as Voldemort and his followers ruthlessly pursue the fugitive with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, Potter finally uncovers the jaw-dropping truth of his existence....

Undoubtedly Rowling's crowning literary achievement, this triumphant final installment not only answers any and all questions surrounding integral characters like Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Severus Snape, Neville Longbottom, and Draco Malfoy but also brilliantly deals with some decidedly adult themes -- mortality, faith, duty, honor, etc. -- with a lyrical simplicity that will touch the hearts of readers of all ages. ("Do not pity the dead...pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.") Rowling definitely saved the best for last in this saga; HP7 will exceed the expectations of even the most demanding Harry Potter fan -- a towering, transcendent end to an equally towering and transcendent series.

BLURB

Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

REVIEW

OH MY GOD

Enough answers; a loophole that, although justifiable, I resent; an epilogue I resent all the more. But, to appropriate that disgusting adage, I am sad because it's over but happy that it happened. Massive love.

This was, of course, pre-Hallows revision. I started it expecting to be unmoved but then realising as it went on that, however much JayKay's cramming of details made it more of a recital than a novel, I care about the characters so much it doesn't matter in the slightest. I finished it extremely excited.

BLURB

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series, picks up shortly after we left Harry at the end of The Order of the Phoenix. Lord Voldemort is acting out in the open, continuing his reign of terror which was temporarily stopped almost 15 years beforehand. Harry is again at the Dursleys, where the events of the previous month continue to weigh on his mind, although not as much as the impending visit from his Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Given their last meeting, Harry is understandably confused as to why the old wizard would want to visit him at home.

REVIEW

This was, of course, pre-Hallows revision. I started it expecting to be unmoved but then realising as it went on that, however much JayKay's cramming of details made it more of a recital than a novel, I care about the characters so much it doesn't matter in the slightest. I finished it extremely excited.

The usual convoluted plot and silly characters flow through this book as Rincewind attempts to save the world (or, mostly, himself). Twoflower the tourist and the Luggage accompany him on this adventure before they head home.

I thought the ending was a little sad, with Twoflower and Rincewind splitting up for the first time since the last book. I'm glad the Luggage will stay in the picture, though.

"We human beings. We've forgotten what's worth saving and what's not, or we wouldn't be in this mess." (p.17)

"Strength can always be used to destroy as well as create." (p.28)

"People are meant to worship the gods, not themselves." (p.85)

"Change is the way of the world." (p.122)

"People are afraid of knowledge that is not yet theirs." (p.127)

"Stories are like children. They grow in their own way." (p.180)

"Hate hurts the hater more than the hated." (p.205)

BLURB
Anita continues to try to bring some order to her personal life, while simultaneously confronting a power play by Jean-Claude's vampire master, Belle Morte and attempting to solve a series of brutal killings by an unidentified shapeshifter.

Still porn alas, and the whole bit about the Council disappointingly turns into sex.
Yet another magically beautiful man fancies Anita. sigh, tough gig

BLURB
As Burnt Offerings unfolds, Anita agrees to help track down a possible psychic firestarter. She's also policing the local werewolf pack, though she's split up with their alpha, Richard. Then Jean-Claude, the vampire Master of the City and her lover, needs her help to confront a visiting delegation of the vampires' ruling council. They wonder how he got the power to destroy a council member and believe him dangerous to the hierarchy.

This fast-paced, urban fantasy includes gore, hardboiled mystery and a romantic triangle. The vampires and werewolves are as three-dimensional as the human characters, allowing us to join Anita in wondering who the real monsters are and to understand how her increased personal involvement with them is alienating her from her human colleagues.


I actually found this to be quite moving at parts, bit more depth to the bad guys, which i really enjoyed.

BLURB
When Anita Blake's boss at Animators, Inc., informs her that she's expected to raise 300-year-old zombies from a field of jumbled bones just to settle a land dispute, she's understandably annoyed. But as soon as she arrives in Branson, Missouri, to do the deed, the job gets more interesting. A psychotic sword-wielding vampire starts committing multiple murders in the area, and Anita must call on Jean-Claude, her powerful fanged suitor, for help. As always, Anita prevails over the undead, keeping Jean-Claude at arm's length, clearing the cemetery land of an ancient enchantment, and nailing the vampiric killer in one fell swoop.


There are faeries!!! honest to god faeries!!!

and lotsa Jean-Claude, very little boring Richard.

A short-story format follow-up to her stellar novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Not quite as satisfying, but well worth it. Read Strange & Norrell first, and if finishing it leaves you as bereft as it did me, then crack this one open for your fix.

I admit when I first saw this book I was reluctant to read it - not because of the subject. I like books about magic and history, but because of the size. From the beginning, however, Clarke's writing pulled me into this world in which magic is studied and practiced, used and misunderstood. I especially liked the interactions between Norrell and Strange and the ones between the servant Stephen Black and the faery gentleman with the thistle-down hair.

Will re-read some day. My only niggle is that it's not twice as long.

SAYS IT BETTER THAN I:
‘I found it absolutely compelling. The narrative drive is irresistible and I could not stop reading until I had finished it. The narrator's tone is beautifully judged. It's full of wonderfully deadpan humour and its reticence leaves the reader to make up his or her mind about the characters. I loved all the invented scholarship and was fascinated by the mixture of historical realism and utterly fantastic events. I almost began to believe that there really was a tradition of "English magic" that I had not heard about. The author captures the period and its literary conventions with complete conviction. And a large part of the fun is seeing how an early nineteenth century novel copes with the impact of magic. It's an astonishing achievement. I can't think of anything that is remotely like it.’ CHARLES PALLISER

What a wonderful combination of fiction and history! I loved every minute of this novel. It engaged the reader from the first page to the last.