In itself, this book is nothing special overall. It has a suitably dramatic and gripping climax, but the problem is that the whole book should have been a climax, not just the last 100 pages. There were moments during the endless camping passages where I was reading on more to find out what happened than in actual enjoyment- they dragged on like a sack of potatoes. I also agree that some of the later deaths were glossed over far too quickly. I also felt that harry going to bed thinking about sandwiches made a bit of an abrupt end to the pre-epilogue story- perhaps some kind of memorial service to the fallen would have wrapped it up a bit more neatly. In response to Bob smith asking why the good guys didn't just fight fire with fire and just kill the death eater's I think it's part of the "Love thine enemy" vibe that runs through the book and indeed the whole series- for example Harry's multiple rescuings of Malfoy.
Despite the weak points, though, this was a fitting end to the series.

Tim , Manchester, UK

well I'am a little disapointed...maybe because this book means the end of Harry's stories!!
The Snape's story is heartbreaking! The suspense at the end is horrible!! But the last chapter is bad...it breaks my own imagination!!
I don't think it is the best of the seventh. I prefer the third!!
I believe Harry Potter will live forever. Nobody could forget his adventures! There are so fantastic and they made dreaming too many young and less young people!

I'am sorry for the mistakes...I'am french!

Laëtitia, Milhaud, France

I think the seventh book of Harry Potter has got a good ending. If it had ended the other way round, then it meaned the readers would have to feel tortured for another few more years or so. It felt a bit empty though without any more Harry Potter to be awaited for. As a whole, I do not like the first few hundred pages of the Deadthly Haloows as it was so slow, but towards the back it was really good. To me it would have been more completed if it was said who was doing what after the nineteen years. We knew only Neville was the professor at Hogwarts. Anyway, I did enjoy reading it heaps.!
Thanks J.K Rowling, you have been giving us the great entertainment and imagination for the past 9 years.

Sirintorn Duangkhot, Bangkok, Thailand

WoW! Harry potter is really fantastic.....I can say that Rowling is one of the best author of all time...I really love the story...I thought that Harry will die in book seven because he is one of the horcrux, but it did not happen...,,,I was so shocked when I've read about Snape in book 7..It fascinated me....Love u Harry....
I love to read it all over again. Harry Potter, I think is really part of my life...I will treasure its story and I will share it to my children in the future...
Excellent Work J. K.....Its really a phenomena!!!!!

Chocoyen, Manila, Philippines

i think the ending was really good. it answered most of the questions i wated to know. i also liked the last chapter where rowling talked about what happened to all o them 19 years later. overall it was a great way to finish although the deaths of the innocent such as fred and snape really were upsetting. otherwise great end

H. Sofie, Perth, Australia

Harry Potter is in my view, the best out of the seven. I absolutly loved it. Although i would have liked a bit more information about what happened to the characters in the 'nineteen years later' part. And so J.K. Rowling might not be the best writer in the world, but she definatly has the best imaginaion. I also think it will be nearly impossible to forget about the Harry Potter books in the future, too many people like them now.

Maggie, Dublin, Ireland

I personally believe J.K Rowling is an extremely talented author and whoever says Harry Potter is rubbish should have a go at writing something so complex but enjoyable themselves. She is unbelievably clever and not only can she grip one generation, she is taking hold of all age ranges globally, I think that in itself is an achievement to be proud of. Furthermore, her characters are life-like and believable and the plot line of every book is subtly linked to the next with added twists along the way...

J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an extremely good read and I believe the woman deserves every bit of credit she gets, she's earnt it! I love her books and am now devastated that there will be no more Harry..

ps: Is Harry's son, James' middle name Sirius?

Jess, southampton,

My children love Harry because it is rooted in this world and this time. For them, the notion that there are chidlren going to Hogwarts whilst they are on the adjacent platform going to their school is irresistable. Unlike Tolkein, LeGuin, Pullman and others whose writing is "better", she is both funny and rather charming with her naive style. She also has a suberb imagination, even if her plots and sub-plots creak and groan under their own contradictions (e.g. the Elder Wand - how did Dumbledore defeat Grindlewald if the wand guarantees the holder will win?) I'm not sure they will truly last as great books though, particularly the middle ones that are too turgid and slow for all except the committed fan. Perhaps in ten years we will wonder what all the fuss was about.

Tim, London,

>>Yes...please take a college literature class, you'll actually be introduced to books with far more substance than Harry Potter.<<

I take a University literature class and her first four books were better than most of the stuff I read, I challenge you to read 'War and Peace' and 'The Prisoner of Azberkan' and tell me which you prefer.

That said I feel that Rowling has missed out on an oppurtunity to be immortalised in the literary world, something which could have been accomplished in killing off Harry. Instead she opted to adhere to conventional childrens formula of Good categorically and automatically triumphing over Evil. Despite her adamant assertation that she has introduced 'real life realities' into her books through death ultimately these deaths are meaningful and contribute towards the downfal of something far more sinister. Negates the abundant Holocaust imagery in my opinion.

Benjamin, Manchester,

Tosh. I would only encourage kids back to reading books if they've got decent stuff to read, not this weak tripe... bring back the Playstation!!

OJ, Londonium, UK

congrats cheekey monkey, good use of "i.e." for a 9 year old!

karl, Oxford,

Didn't like the Book 7 at all. It was very slow moving. Exceedingly predictable...as the author said those who died were all we cared little about. There were no surprises no exciting plot turns. It was as if she was playing to the "crowds" rather than being an imaginative author.
P.S I liked the previous 6 books, only 7 was a complete "sell-out" with no soul.

PK Green, London,

>>...please take a college literature class, you'll actually be introduced to books with far more substance than Harry Potter.<<

Problem is that 'substance' often coincides with 'difficult-to-read' or down-right 'boring'.

Rowling has an immense impact on literature because she has shown millions of children that reading a book can be more fun than playing a computer game. And that's worth more than a thousand teachers talking about 'substance'.

Having said that, I didn't like the Deathly Hallows much. It felt like reading a movie script.

Fjodor, Ams, Holland

Having studied many of the classics, I thoroughly enjoyed Harry Potter. No, Rowling's writing may not be on a par with 'the Greats', but she has accomplished something that very few authors can claim to; she has managed to get the cynical 'television generation' to read books and enjoy the process. People who had never read a book, read Harry Potter, and for that accomplishment Rowlings should take her place in history.

Rachel, Taunton, UK

My daughter loves Harry Potter and so do other children around the world, millions of them. I hope the parents are taking advantage of this and start to introduce to their children books written by great authors like CSLewis, JRRTolkien, Gnid Blyton, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Harper Lee to name a few. Tolkien, according to an article about his biography, never intended to write the LOTR books for children. That they embraced the books as their own adds to the magic that is The Lord of The Rings. I read The Hobbit when I was 9 and the succeeding books after that. I still read them every year and feel the same excitement about the adventures and characters. Craig's review is very objective. Rowling is still very young, she has a lot of time to improve her style and evolve as a writer. You cannot judge a book by it's cover nor by the number of copies that was sold. Just the same, that the children get to practice their reading skills is a good thing.

Aiko, Manila, Philippines

GOOD POINTS: Mostly un-put-downable, action packed, excelllent character development, fiendishly plotted with gasp aloud surprises and shocks especially at the excellent climax between H & Voldy.

BAD POINTS: Sagged a bit in the middle during 'the camping bit', glossed a bit too sharply over the deaths of beloved characters for my liking, I wanted more reaction afterwards, and although I liked the epilogue in principle, I wanted to know where the others ended up, what jobs do Harry, Ron and co have, what happened to the other Weasleys & basically how they put their lives back together after the final battle, especially the bereaved.
In short, JKR left me wanting much more, Bravo Jo, 10/10

Jacky Kaugurs, DUB,

Heroes aren't totally good and villains aren't totally bad, duty and love are vitally important, and no matter how bad our behavior might have been if we are willing to change our choices we can be redeemed. Not bad for a "kids' book"! Simple writing doesn't have to mean simple concepts, but I guess that's what most literary reviewers are incapable of understanding.

Robyn Daly, Noosa, Qld

My daughter loves Harry Potter, and miliions of kids around the world I'm sure. I just hope that parents will take advantage of this and give their children other books to read. Those by CSLewis, JRRTolkien, Gnid Blyton, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Harper Lee. As for The Lord of The Rings, according to Tolkien's biography, it was not written for children but embraced by them just the same. So, more often than not, it's included in the many 100-best-books-of-all-times lists. As for Craig's review, it's very objective. I'm sure that if you didn't like the article, you're one of the Harry Potter fanatics who thinks that even the slightest negative comment is an attack on their precious Rowling or Harry. Nobody and nothing is perfect, just learn to takes things constructively.

Aiko, Tokyo, Japan

I think all harry potters are scary i am 9 years old
do u think i will be old enough to see it do u think i will be scared?i.e. the film?

cheekey monkey, norwich, uk

I think all harry potters are scary i am 9 years old
do u think i will be old enough to see it do u think i will be scared?i.e. the film?

cheekey monkey, norwich, uk

the deathly hallows is an amazing book. rowlings's way of depicting the end of the series is a mut read for all and especially potter fans. the book covers all the past 6 events in which harry faced voldermort. it emphasises on the fact that good always beats evil. she has made sure that she enlightens all the charecters mentioned in har last 6 books. it has thouroughly caught my attention. hope the same to u'll too :)

meghana, bangalore, india

i was 32years old when i frist pick up my frist harry potter book. never in my life had i read a book from cover to cover. i was engolfed by the word in the book. i could not get enough.i just finished harry potter and the deathly hallows.i cryed and cryed and then cryed some more it was undoutably the best book i loved it and love j.k rowling for opening the world of books to me.

kris, rialto, u.s.a califorina

I think this book was excelent. Though at times predictable and I think killing off certain favorite charaters were unnesacary I think she did a really good job. My mom dad and I all fought over whose turn it was to get the book and my 11 year old brother eageraly awaiting his turn too. I think that she is a author for children and adults alike. I really like the fact that she doesn't include a lot of the "adult content" and puts it on a level that kids can understand but their parents like just as much

Lnicky, Kansas,

The only good thing I ever got out of reading, trying to read, Proust, was that someone had put a good recipe for cup custard in the back!!! I have read all the classics. Harry Potter is pure fun. I am 87!

Miss May, San Francisco, California

So Mr. Harry chose the correct path, at great peril and pain. As well did many other worthy characters. I send my cheers. May we all reflect more before we speak, then light weighted words mean as the were intensioned


we see an up and comming crowd making a new Hogwarts school year seem most likleyl

J.T., dallas, dallas/ TX

I was disappointed with the review of Amanda Craig on Jk Rowling. I actually get the impression she is a columnist who has not even read the final Potter book. All of the previous subplots that were so "maddening" to her, were answered and tied together. Even her assumption that only 1 character the reader cared about died, is bogus. What amazes me is how this columnist with the bare limited ability to write a poor article can so openly criticise a novellist of genuine talent.

Charlie, Sydney, Australia

Now that the series is complete, I have this question. With the Death Eaters throwing out death curses like they were paper airplanes, why didn't the good guys do for the baddies in return? I know that throwing the death curse has some bad effect on the one throwing it, but why couldn't Harry's allies just stun Valdy's crew and then whack 'em up the side of the head with a 16 lb. sledge or something to pop 'em off and end it there without having to worry about them coming back to kill someone else?
It seems thy would just stun the bad guys, the bad guys would then escape and return to kill another good guy, with several repeats to the cycle.
As it was the bad guys were knocking off the good guys and the most they had to worry about was being sent off to wet paper sack prison.

Bob Smith, Orem, UT

To bring our children back to reading, to me, is a wonderful accomplishment. To find children sitting on the floor in book stores reading brings a tear to my eye. Thank-you Ms Rowling for all you have done for this generation and the many to follow.
My first grandchild will be born in November 2007 he will enjoy as I have enjoyed Harry Potter, now I am nearly 55 so maybe the generations are not that far apart due to your magical down to earth writing.
Thank-you

Anne Jackson, Victoria, BC, Canada

>>"the best i'd have to say.... the whle story meaning all of the books is the best probably that has ever or will ever be written ever"<<

Yes...please take a college literature class, you'll actually be introduced to books with far more substance than Harry Potter.

Sean, Los Angeles, California

I agree with Kirsten Brownrigg about the epilogue - it was way too weak and probably even unnecessary for all Rowling really did with it. What happened with in the proceeding 19 years after Harry vanquished Voldemort? Come on, I've already read seven books like any faithful fan, reward my efforts a little bit.

Sean, Los Angeles, CA

I loved this book! She is genious and I never expected what happened with Harry supposed to die and all.... I had tears in my eyes when I read that.... I'm just sad that the series is over... :(

Jennifer, Rock Rapids,

My comment to Amanda Craig who so quickly dismisses Rowling as a rider of substance: Are you richer than the Queen? How many number one best sellers have you written. Why are critics like yourself not household names?

Jerry A. Goodnight, Drexel, NC

This book took a totally different turn for Harry Potter and the whole series. An amazing book that readers will love and cherish. LONG LIVE HARRY POTTER!!!!!

Alexandra, Fort Worth , TX

J.K Rowlings is a superb writer no matter what the so-called experts want to say about her. The Harry Potter series is so enjoyable and I love how she developed the characters with each book and in the end, we see that all the characters she introduced where there for a reason. Good has to overcome evil and in order for this to happen, hearts have come to be changed along the way. This was what was so great about these books and this principle can be applied in the world today. J.K. Rowlings rocks!!

Chilu Siameja, Los Angeles, CA

the best i'd have to say.... the whle story meaning all of the books is the best probably that has ever or will ever be written ever

bingen, burgen,

To read book 7, this last person presumably would have read the previous 6 books - which I guess they would have enjoyed enough to read book 7. I seriously doubt they read any of them, in which case they don't know what they're talking about!

David Harrison, New York, NY

Although I enjoyed the overall picture of the book, I have to say: Rowling said she wrote the epilogue long before the seventh book came about, and it shows. I found Rowling's writing and plotline within that particular section of the book smacked of an inexperienced author's. I could have done without the cutesy renaming of children and the predictable open-ended question.

Hardly "beautifully judged." But yes, I agree with Bethanie, we shouldn't dismiss something as a children's book just because it doesn't force-feed us sex and violence. Speaking of, since when do UNCONVENTIONAL children's books explore emotions that sprout from "below" a character's stomach? If those types of children's books are to be lauded for their "creativity," remind me to keep them off MY child's bookshelf. Better yet, allow me to buy them off bookstore shelves so that I may burn them.

Disgusting.

Kirsten Brownrigg, Athens, Ohio

I just don't understand why critics are so quick to call J.K. Rowling a "children's author". Ursula LeGuin, or J.R.R. Tolkein for that matter. What is it about the fantasy genre that most critics snub their noses at and automatically decide it is not good enough reading material for adults. The evidence is clear that just as many adults as children are hooked on Harry Potter....and The Lord of the Rings. Fantasy as a whole is not a dumbed down genre of writing. The Harry Potter books in particular include some very adult themes. Just because there is no sex or drug use does not mean they are for children. The sooner that critics see the light and start giving it fantasy its due, then the better off the reading world will be.

Bethanie Bridges, Waynesboro, Georgia, USA

the worst book i have ever read. must be banned from the market.

Gaurav, allahabad, india

I was so amazed when I read this book - I've always been an avid reader of the Harry Potter series, but I would have to say that Deathly Hallows is really the best book in the series!
So many times my mouth would drop wide open, and I even shed a few tears when a few of the characters died. There was always a part of my body where my hairs were standing on end, and I couldn't take my eyes off the book.
I don't really think I'd call Harry Potter a children's book series - I definitely wouldn't let my nine year old sister read Deathly Hallows or Half-Blood Prince...
I'm sick to death of the whole train of thought that if something does not contain sex, drugs or violence it is, how these critics would say, "immature". This also applies to films and TV shows. You'd think that with all the crappy reality we have to put up with when we're not reading or watching movies, we'd want to escape from it all for a bit. But oh no, some people just can't get enough of it! J.K. R: True inspiration!

Candy, Melbourne, Australia

"all who die tend to be those you care least about"? Each death came as a blow to me, wizards and non-wizards alike, especially those whose death occurred "off-screen" as it were..

Car, Dublin, Ireland

well as i have read the book i realized that i already was thinking along the lines for the 7th even before it came out. i got the book it went into stores and read it into two days (i had many interaptions). the book is kinda annoying in a way becauase when in the begining you hate this character from the start (snape) and then you realize that his a good guy. even though i knew that somehow the events are linked with Dumbledores death it was hard to grab. i liked the new neville because he wasnt scared anynore and learned more about his psyche.
so the book was good and im going to read it again like i would read book 3 because it is good. my favorite character surprisingly is not harry potter but Sirius so i guess thats why i like those two books. it is very well written but as the story grows the book becomes for a different audience.

Angela, Santa Clara, CA, USA

My comment to Jerry A. Goodnight, defending Amanda Craig. You don't have to be a best-selling novelist to be able to criticise books intelligently, any more than I need to be an architect or a builder to know that the Pompidou Centre is ugly. (And I did like the last Harry Potter book; although I don't think Rowling's writing style is very exciting, her narratives are certainly imaginative.)

Clothilde Simon, Leeds,

One of the greatest books I have ever read. It is powerful, imaginative, and incomparable.

Amitesh Prasad, Vancouver, WA

I loved the book! Everything has problems, but any here are slight and personally I don't care. Love the story and the characters....very sad that it's over. Dumbledore is the best, that character has many things to learn from.

Jimmy, San Diego, USA, CA

i think how JK ended the book was SUPERB! it is not a twisted actually...she knew from the start how she gonna end the 2 character...albus and snape!!! what a brilliant Imagination of JK.

Emily, Davao City, Philippines

Best Book Ever!!!!! I absolutly LOVE it!!

Rose, marshfeld, mass

Great article on the book. I've read lots and your perceptions about the book, the author, and their futures in history are excellent. Thank you.

roger, Nephi, USA