Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Over the weekend, I finished reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" for the second time.

After seeing "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in the movie theater, Sherry and I had the same reaction: we had to read the book again. And then, once we were done with that, we simply could not stop.

We first read "Deathly Hallows" just after it came out -- it was released mere days before we left on our 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii. Sherry devoured it , finishing it just a few hours after the plane ride. I finished it before we got home. Having read it that fast, we had each forgotten many of the particulars.

With this reading, I was able to spend more time digesting, and I am even more impressed than ever with J.K. Rowling's ability to weave a story about becoming an adult with her own special mythology. She answered natural questions she had left open. (Paul had asked recently about wizards being able to use wands other than their own, since in the first book we learned that "The wand chooses the wizard." Read book 7, Paul.) She gave Harry the chance to examine the humanity of his "father" (Dumbledore) as many young people have to do in order to get past hero worship to disillusionment and finally to respect. She spent time on the relationships that matter, while not sacrificing the thrilling action that was required.

Lord of the Rings was more complex, but it is a good comparison from this reader's point of view because, like Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series is a set of books that I will be able to read multiple times, enjoying the story each time, and finding myself surprised and moved each time.