Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling
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Book Summary Information
Author: J.K. RowlingBrand: Listening Library (Audio)
Narrator: Jim Dale
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Published: 2007-07-21
ISBN: 0739360388
Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)
Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Book Review: Excellent Conclusion to the Harry Potter series!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished my second read (listen) of this book and I remain convinced that J.K. Rowling ultimately succeeded, against insurmountable odds, of writing an excellent conclusion to the Harry Potter series, something that, as most series have aptly demonstrated, seems to be more the exception rather than the rule. The book is very long and it took 17 discs to record the entire book on CD. I haven't read the book but I imagine that it is extremely long as well. However long it is, nearly every minute spent reading it is a minute well spent without a doubt. There is so much in this book that can be discussed that it almost requires another whole book in order to thoroughly deconstruct and analyze it. However, for the purpose of my review here, I will just stick to discussing what I liked most about the book, the (few) things that I wished had been done differently, and a few other comments.
One of the things that I liked most about the book is its strong continuity and tying together of all of the events,characters, and locations from all of the previous stories in a plausible manner (i.e. Gringotts, Ollivander, Dobby, Kreacher, The Chamber of Secrets). J.K. Rowling finally provided us with a wealth of backstory about Dumbledore who, up to this book, was somewhat of a "cipher" in that we know almost nothing about him outside of his position within the school, his tutelage and protection of Harry throughout the series and, of course, his death at the end of the previous book. Although we are first tempted to ignore some of the scandalous details of Dumbledore's life from Rita Skeeter, we eventually learn (along with Harry) bit by bit that his past, or at least one part of it, WAS indeed actually rather checkered. The book also informs us that Voldemort was not the only major dark wizard to have threatened the wizarding and "muggle" communities and that Dumbledore was actually friends with this other wizard, Grindelwald, and apparently shared some of his views regarding the inferiority of "muggles" before later challenging him. Although the main plot of the book revolves around Harry, Ron, and Hermoine's quest to destroy Voldemort's "horcruxes "so that he can finally be vanquished, Harry obsessively starts a side quest for the "Deathly Hallows", three supremely powerful magical objects, one of which Voldemort is simultaneously searching for. This book is perhaps the darkest of all of the books and I would venture my opinion that since the fourth or fifth book the series really ceased being for younger readers and became more suitable for teenagers and young adults. "Deathly Hallows" is not only a dark book but an OPPRESSIVELY dark one at times and the circumstances in the story are particularly dire not only for Harry, Ron, and Hermoine but for the wizarding community in general. The Ministry of Magic, although never really a strong ally of Dumbledore's "Order of the Phoenix" nor of Harry's, is overthrown in a silent "coup" by Voldemort and his "Death Eaters" and suddenly literally nowhere is safe for Harry, his friends, and allies and they all narrowly escape capture, death, or worse just about everywhere they go during the course of the story. J.K. Rowling succeeds in walking a fine line between making things too easy or ridiculously hard for our heroes and, although they ultimately succeed in their mission (with some help from their friends at Hogwarts and elsewhere), she keeps the tension and suspense "cranked up" until the very end of the story. I was literally on the edge of my seat during most of the book and found it hard to put down the first time around. I also liked how J.K. Rowling handled the prospect of whether or not Harry would live or die, ultimately taking a "middle road" approach of actually having him both "die" AND "live" as an unintended but plausible result of Voldemort's dark magic.
One of the major nitpicks that I have with the book is that I felt that J.K. Rowling perhaps killed off too many "good" characters in this book and that the "Death Eaters", Voldemort notwithstanding, seemed to be invincible. Ever since "Goblet of Fire", a few major characters have died and I was certainly expecting some more to die in this book as well but I felt that, in her determination to ensure that we understand how grave the situation is for our heroes, she perhaps went a bit overboard and killed off too a few too many (good) characters in this book and what's worse is that a few of the deaths (i.e. Lupin, Tonks) ended up happening "offscreen" so that we don't even know what happened to them nor are we able to really be moved by their deaths. Also, J.K. seemed to kill off a lot more of the "good" characters than "bad" ones. It seemed that, aside for the four (?) "bad" characters (including Voldemort) that we know for sure died during the book, the "Death Eaters" seemed invincible and didn't seem to ever be in any real danger of being defeated, at least not until Voldemort's demise. Although I didn't really expect Harry, Ron, or Hermoine to actually kill anybody it would've been nice to know that some of the members of the "Order of the Phoenix" had taken out one or two "Death Eaters" so that we are at least reassured that they aren't invincible but I suppose this is a fairly minor blemish on an otherwise excellent book. The only other major nitpick I have about the book is about the ending. The story effectively ends with Harry's victory over Voldemort and his minions but, instead of J.K. Rowling giving us a chapter talking about the immediate aftermath and what happens next within the wider wizarding world, she sends us forward 19 years into the future with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine as adults getting their own children onto the Hogwarts Express for the first time. Although it is certainly good to know that our favorite characters survived and are thriving 19 years later, I honestly wasn't all that engaged in this part of the book and almost chose to skip listening to it the second time around as it seemed misplaced within the context of the larger story. To her credit, however, J.K. Rowling, shortly after the book was released, did publicly reveal some of what happened between the proper end of the story and the epilogue she wrote for the book that helped flesh things out a bit (and gave us a bit of a "bombshell" about Dumbledore that I had never anticipated). Nonetheless, I would've preferred a different kind of ending for the book, or at least a "transitional" chapter for the book that focused not only the fate of the main characters but also some more exploration of the wider wizarding community and how it dealt with the surviving "Death Eaters" and all of the damage caused by Voldemort's reign of terror.
Overall, however, nothing can dampen my enthusiasm and recommendation for this book and I am quite impressed with how far J.K. Rowling has taken the characters and storyline since "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". In regards to the Audiobook specifically, Jim Dale did an excellent job narrating the story and performing the various characters throughout the book. This book comes highly recommended for fans of the Harry Potter series.
Summary of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The most eagerly anticipated book of the year, the grand finale of the Harry Potter series, is here. Harry must at last fulfill his destiny: to destroy the Dark Lord Voldemort or be destroyed himself. Take Harry with you everywhere you go with this audiobook, narrated by the award-winning Jim Dale.Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.
The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.
A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham
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Begin at the Beginning
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Hardcover Paperback | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Hardcover Paperback | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hardcover Paperback | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Hardcover Paperback | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hardcover Paperback | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Hardcover Paperback |
Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
| | * Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him. * When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists. * Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards. * Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat. |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
| | * The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius. * Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother. * The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms. |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
| | * Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'. * Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children. * The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape. |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
| | * Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them. * Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it. * Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge. * Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses. |
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
| | * Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming. * Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone. * Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager. * Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape. * Dumbledore's confession to Harry. |
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
| | * The introduction of the Horcrux. * Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur?s answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles. * Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling?s most ingenious inventions. * Fred and George Weasley?s Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!" * Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator. * The effects of Felix Felicis. |
Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling
"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I?m sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling
Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.
Did You Know?
 | The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child. |  | Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author. |  | Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer. |
A Few Words from Mary GrandPré 
"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.
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