We have said goodbye to Harry. Our 17 year old daughter took time out from her Year 12 study to re-read the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows over two days and nights, then happily went off to see the midnight screening of the Part Two film on it’s first night. Then on Friday we rented Part One and watched it together, followed by a family outing on Sunday night to see Part Two – and all agreed it was a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the saga.
The volumes in our library shelves reflect our growing commitment. The first is dated 1997. I can’t recall whether it was bought in that year or early the next. Word of mouth recommendations, early reviews, a growing sense of excitement that this was something special, better check it out. Son was five, daughter three years old. She wasn’t interested. He lapped up every word. So did I. Derivative said some. Okay, death eaters resemble ringwraiths, a fight between good and evil, a band of three along the lines of an earlier Famous Five and an avuncular Gandolph-like father figure. We loved it all the same. I liked the inventiveness of moving photos and talking pictures, staircases that moved, ghosts wafting down corridors, mirrors reflecting inner-most desires, medicinal chocolate. This was a richly imagined world. But what makes it successful is the emotional core and universal themes it covers – loneliness, friendship, family bonds, fears and desires. Unsurprisingly, I was drawn to the recurrent theme of a the power of maternal love.
The first three books on our shelves, all slim volumes, are single paperback copies. We were going along with the flow, waiting for paperback editions. Absorbing the story slowly, enjoying the characters, letting it all unfold. But we were impatient by the fourth volume. When Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out in 2000 (son aged eight, daughter six) there was no suggestion about waiting for a paperback! We queued on the first day of publication. We were caught up in Potter-mania. Queuing at Readings along with others dressed in wizard hats and capes and funny glasses and wands – though we didn’t ever go that far. Safely home we started reading – and kept reading through the week-end, during mealtimes, non-stop until fatigue forced a pause. Just my son and I. We took it in turns to read aloud. Other family members absent – basketball camp? Can’t recall. A happy Harry Potter memory. We finished it in the two days. Next volume, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2003 we were prepared for our reading marathon – ordering two copies in advance from our local Bookstore so that we could read it in tandem, at our own pace. Meant we could keep reading when the other fell asleep! Son aged eleven. Constant comparison “what page you up to?” He beat me to the denouement, but again we were both finished before the week- end was out.
By the final installment in 2007, daughter (aged 13) had joined in, and we bought three hardback copies on the first day so that all three of us (son aged 15) could read non- stop to the very satisfying conclusion. Lots of “What page? Don’t tell me what happens next!” Another happy Harry memory. Lots of great bonding moments. It was great that the story reached out to all ages. Now that the final film has been released it does feel that the story has finally, finally ended.
We all had different favourites. Mine was the first, The Philosopher’s Stone son liked the second (the flying car I think), daughter The Half-Blood Prince. I missed a couple of the middle films and the father of the house, who got to them after the rest of us were done, missed the last couple. But this has overwhelmingly been a family journey. The carping from the likes of AS Byatt and others misses the point. Sure it is not great literature and I tend to agree JK Rowling could not quite pull off all of the elements of the imagined universe she started – lots of the characters could have been more developed, situations more deeply delved into, relationships explored more intently. And as the books got bigger their literary quality declined. But she had a very impatient global audience to satisfy and the moral power of the story and the liveliness of the characters and the inventiveness of their world shone through for the duration.
The end of the story, faithfully captured in the last scene of the final film seems to suggest that the great battle between good and evil had been fought just to ensure families could keep sending their children off to boarding school – Lord of the Rings meets Mallory Towers!
Well done to all the actors, directors, technicians and everyone else and most of all thanks to JK Rowling for giving us her magical world and hours of shared pleasure.
I am including trailers for the final two films. Some have suggested these captured more accurately the world that JK Rowling was struggling to depict in the final books. I am not sure I agree with that, but I do think the films were great.
I loved the sense of teenage angst and hopelessness and lack of adult support and empathy that is shown in this first part of The Deathly Hallows.
And I loved the special effects of the second part – the protective shield over Hogwarts, wand attacks bouncing off like starbursts, great statues coming moving ponderously forward to defend the line. All great. And Neville coming to the fore. I did think in the books that there were so many great characters who could have all had such interesting trajectories that could not be fitted in to the arc of the story.
Another thing I love about Harry Potter is the diversity of those who have shared the passion. It is great when you discover someone you know form somewhere else has enjoyed this world just as you have. I agree with Amy Davidson’s comments here. And I was delighted to know she was a fan.
And I liked this reviewof the final film from Peter Travers of Rolling Stone.
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Well said. It is a pity somethings come to an end. Even if you understand them or appreciate them better when they do.