This is the last thing I’ll write before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Since it’s been a picture day, which has been my way of keeping sane today amidst all the spoiler nonsense, I’ll give you two more in this post – again, click on them to see a larger image.)
It’s been fun, these past two years. Sword of Gryffindor has grown and expanded, the Hog’s Head PubCast has been a blast to do, and you, the readers and commenters, are to thank for that. Here’s an idea of where we’ve come: In November 2005, the first full month of SoG, this site had 3,993 “unique visitors” (Statcounter considers a unique visitor any new visitor or any return visitor who comes back to the site after a certain period of time). This week, we’ve gotten twice that many per day. So far this month, we’ve had 58,593 unique visitors. This month, of course, is obviously going to have more hits due to Book 7’s release, but even prior to that, we had 43,000+ in June and 35,000+ the two previous months. So, thank you all for coming!
A few final words about Deathly Hallows:
- Disappear after reading this post: Seriously, protect yourself from spoilers. Decide to stay away for the last day. You’ll never forgive yourself!
- Protect yourself from spoilers in line: If you’re planning to stand in line somewhere at midnight, like I am, do whatever it takes to protect yourself. There will be people who want to show up and ruin it for everyone, shouting out plot points and ruining the ending. I’ll have my iPod blaring in my ears. I’m not going to any release parties; just standing in line and getting back home as quickly as possible.
- Let Rowling delight you: Sit back and enjoy the book, as much as possible, on your own terms and in your own time. Whether that’s over a long period of time, or with your children, or alone overnight, have fun with the book.
- Hold loosely to your theories: This will be challenging for all of us! We’ve formed so many ideas about this final book based on what’s happened so far, that I fear some of us will be clinging so tightly to our notions about Book 7 that we’ll be disappointed. Determine now to hold very loosely to your ideas and let Rowling surprise you.
- Come back here when you’re done: Of course. And please. I’ll be blogging and podcasting about Deathly Hallows by the end of the weekend. Take your time and finish before coming back, but come back! We’ll be discussing the series for quite some time, I’m sure, and you’ll also find great conversation and analysis at the many blogs I’ve linked from here over the past two years, which I’ll continue to note in “Around the Common Room” posts.
I want to say a special word of thanks to my wonderful wife, Tricia (the picture was taken on vacation two years ago at the French River in Canada). Like me, she was a former Harry Hater as well, and she broke much later than I did. In fact, I need to thank Sophia as well – it was all the time Tricia had at home with a newborn that finally drove her to the Harry Potter series, looking for something to maintain her sanity (new parents know this feeling well). In short, this project has been incredibly fun work because of Tricia’s support and insight into the series (“I’m going to go podcast now, honey.” “Ok, I’ll be asleep.”). Thanks, love. You’re the best.
Tricia, by the way, has an interesting theory on horcruxes that I should get on record before Deathly Hallows is out. According to the HP Lexicon timeline, Voldemort graduated Hogwarts the same year Grindelwald was defeated by Dumbledore. This would mean that Grindelwald would have been alive and active during the 7 years of Tom’s schooling. One big question left unanswered from Half-Blood Prince is, “Where did Tom learn about horcruxes?” Well, there’s another important question: “Where did Tom go during the summers?” Put the two together: Perhaps he went off to meet Grindelwald one summer, maybe even the summer after talking with Slughorn. So there’s the theory: Voldemort learned to make horcruxes from Grindelwald before Dumbledore took him down. This doesn’t mean Grindelwald had necessarily made his own; just that he pointed young Riddle in the right direction and maybe taught him the spell Slughorn “didn’t know.”
Some have asked what I’ll do with this site when all the discussion about Book 7 has finally died down. I’m playing it by ear. One thing is certain – I’ve no intention of closing it down. I may end up expanding it to discuss a wide variety of literature, and I’ll always be looking for the way the Christ story is woven into the fabric of the universe, particularly in the tales we tell. And I’m certain all the commenters here, many of whom are far more intelligent than I, will be able to help me along in that process.
Comments are still open on all posts, but I will not even be looking at them to moderate them until I’m finished with Deathly Hallows. Once again, thank you all, and I’ll see you again after this weekend.
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{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
*hugs* This is the last day of uncertainty. That just blows my mind. I’ve only cried once today though!
Thanks for the great ride, Travis. I didn’t comment nearly as much as I read, but you have a great little community. You’re right about the theories. Especially since HBP, we’re militantly stuck by our theories and I’m afraid we are about to be blown away in respect to many. But we are not the author and I guess if we disagree, there’s always fan fiction. It’s been a pleasure, sir. You and your family are just too cute, by the way. 
Travis,
I like what you said in your second-to-last paragraph about how you might open the site up to a more general literature discussion. I vote for that.
My son was visiting Wikipedia today and said that the Prince Caspian movie comes out in the spring of 08.
Thanks for all the great posts. I’m so glad I found your site!
Aww Travis it’s been a pleasure listening, posting and just being here. You’ve made the lead up to this last final installment all the more enjoyable, and worthwhile. I hope you and your wife love the new book. And thanks again. Seriously.
Very upbeat post, Travis!
Thankyou for the opportunity to spend so much time with witty and intelligent people discussing such an enjoyable subject.
You’ve excelled with this site and I am better for it.
I’d love to see SoG going on and on, discussing Rowlings future works and maybe branching out into other works of fiction. We’ve touched on Tolkien, Lewis, MacDonald, and the Star Wars mythos, amongst others, already.
It’s be great to get a 2nd Life discussion group going as well.
Thanks again Travis (you’re a top bloke) and all other SoGgers who’ve made it real.
See you on the other side.
Matthew
and don’t forget H.P. Lovecraft.
Have you read that book yet, Travis?
Matthew
No matter what the stats say, I’m always unique =)
Have you Matthew?
Yes, have you Matthew? and Travis, have you? and Michael have you? I have, good book.
If you’re talking about the leak on the internet, then I’m sure it’s a fake. If you have read the hard copy, email me at tennis_trihardAThotmailDOTcom telling me so. I want to ask you a few questions in regards to the real book and the leak. I’d really appreciate that… I can’t, won’t accept the leak is real. I haven’t read it, but have heard comments about it and BOY it sucks. People are not going to be happy. It is very un-Jo like, has numerous inconsistencies and spelling errors AND leaves vast plot holes in regards to certain issues.
Michael, I edited your email address so there wouldn’t be a hyperlink for spambots to easily access. ~ TJP
One last-minute comment… Suppose Harry is a horcrux, and suppose he destroys all the other ones and must then face LV. I think he may indeed kill Voldemort, meaning that the Harry horcrux would have to be destroyed. Well, maybe he will survive but lose his magic! And then he could be something of a squib… This is just a though I’ve been throwing around since HBP. Feedback? Thanks.
Thank *you* Travis, for running such a beautiful site, and for a lovely “last” post. Especially about holding on to our theories loosely. Whatever we believe today, wherever we have staked our prognostication claim, whatever Jo does will be right. And yes, this weekend is a weekend for delight. (And terror. And wonder. And holding our breath.)
I look forward to coming back next week, Travis. And thank you again.
See you all on the other side of midnight.
I’m looking forward to having Rowling surprise me, and I’ll make a heroic effort to let go of my favorite theories with good grace.
But, Merlin’s beard, do I want to be right!
I love this website. Travis, you are always thoughtful, engaging, and surprising in your own posts and podcasts, and uncommonly generous in your links and discussion of other peoples’ ideas and scribbings . . . SoG is my Potter Central, the Hub of Hubs. I’m so glad you’ll be keeping up the discussion, and I think branching out to other works once we’ve thoroughly discussed the series is a terrific idea.
Looking forward to what everyone has to say over the next few days! I can’t believe I’ll have the book in hand in a little over seven hours . . . it seemed just a few weeks ago that Rowling announced the publication date.
I can’t believe it is LESS THAN AN HOUR, ’til the book is released. All you guys in EST are lucky.
Unfortunately I got spoiled and then took a look at the scanned book – I read a few pages and thought it read like awful fan fic. I hoped that it wasn’t the real book.
It was – it is AWFUL! Utter tripe. I’m really disappointed – it’s not the WAY things turned out it is HOW she wrote it – badly.
C’mon, Travis. It’s 7:00 Eastern. You can’t tell me you aren’t done yet
So…where is everyone? It’s only 700 pages. Isn’t anyone else done yet???????
I don’t want to post spoilers, but I’d like some opinions. I was disappointed.
Just finished it.
Man, what a blasting roller-coaster ride!
The death toll!
It was a lot of fun reading the book and hearing the speculations pop, one after another!
It was a difficult book to read. I found that there was plenty of places where I had to stop and re-read to get my head around the action.
I think it will take me a long time to get my head around what was going on under the surface and between to lines. It will happen a lot faster when we’re all teasing it apart.
I think I need some help.
Matthew
Oh yeah, I was first in line at the book store and got to slash open the first box and grab the first copy!
I got a limited edition metal bookmark.
Cool, huh?
Matthew
I didn’t get spoiled at all.
Did any of the released fakes turn out to be real?
Matthew
I read a couple that were close but wrong.
Happily.
The book was great but i was a bit dissapointed it seemed to lack Rowling’s usual genius
I OTALLY AGREE WITH COMMENT 15
it was like it wasnt even Rowling who wrote it
Boggart, we have to wait and see if darok had read a fake or the real book when that comment was made.
Are you talking about the real book when you say it doesn’t seem like Rowling wrote it? ’cause I think it was completely her style, her themes, her symbolism, etc.
The fake was indeed real. Those on the spoiler blogs don’t like the book at all but seem to be the only ones. Weird as the fans love it…most of us… but… I don’t know HOW they could say it sounds like a bad fan fic. That always annoys me. It’s like they can’t articulate their opinions well enough so they say something cheap and nasty.
I loved the say she wrote this and felt it was most like her style, more so than HBP. HBP was the book that had the most growing pains. DH was all grown up and was just… awesome. Flawed at times but awesome.
Travis – the ‘carpet book’ which I read – was the real book. I despised it. It read like bad fan fiction, IMO. There were huge plot holes and inconsistecies – can she make up her mind about the way the Fidelius charm works? The Trace – if the adults could be traced by Harry’s trace – then why couldn’t Mundungus in OOTP?
I could go on and on.
It’s a complacent, badly written, superficial book with no redeeming moral value. None whatsoever.
Christ-like Harry? Yeh, Jesus really did loads of unforgiveable curses, didn’t he? Honestly. Master of the Hallows MY ARSE!
This series has been a bitter disappointment and waste of my time.
And there are loads of folks who say it reads like bad fan fic – in fact – many of us wonder whether JKR didn’t ‘borrow’ a bit – quite big its – from fan fiction.
It’s not a cheap and nasty comment – it’s a quite valid one. This woman can’t even keep her own plot lines and rules of magic straight.
She calls Severus ‘horrible’ Dumbledore the epitome of good. O really?
I’m so upset that I’m rambling – but I’m very disappointed and will not joint another ‘pop culture’ band waggon ever again!
Cheers and good night all!
D.
Darok, gotta say, this is an utterly surprising comment, but of course, you’re entitled to your opinion.
You can dislike the book, but to say she borrowed bit portions straight from fanfic beyond absurd.
Why is this comment surprising? I am not the only one who feels this way in fandom, believe me.
As to ‘nicking from fan fics’ – well – it’s not really beyond absurd – many of the ’scenes’ in the book have been written in fan fiction over and over. I’m not the only one who thinks this Travis – go on HP Essays and link on some of the blogs – especially of the mods of the Fan Fics and you will see.
I’m not saying that she did nick stuff – I’m saying I wouldn’t be surprised. She has admitted to going on forums, fan sites and fan fiction sites.
I guess I’m the only one here who really despises the book – but o – it’s just awful — so badly written – so superficial – so trite and pat. There’s no moral message at all. Just a poor shadow of CS Lewis and Tolkein – she could never fill their shoes – ever.
I don’t know how her editors could have released it as such. O, I know … filthy lucre …
I’m just completely disappointed and embittered by this whole experience. This whole series was nothing but a big cash cow.
I’m writing to Rowling and asking for my money back!
Darok, whatever you do, please, please don’t write to Rowling and ask for your money back. How insulting.
Especially when your opinion is by no means the objective standard of evaluation for the series or for literature in general. I loved the book, think it was brilliantly written, and that she’s accomplished the writing of the fantasy-myth of our time. I think Tolkien was a better writer. But honestly, while Lewis was genius there are more glaring plotholes in the Narnia series than this.
It’s not only beyond absurd that she “nicked” from fanfics – it’s a very, very serious allegation. There is no way on earth that Rowling wrote 6 books worth of great material which even you thought was wonderful, only to steal large portions of the final book from fanfics – especially when she was trying to keep her surprises secret!
Beyond. Absurd.
Sorry Travis, but I feel really gipped by this last book. Really. I’m not the only one.
And let her be insulted! But as I’m not likely to get a refund cheque – I won’t waste the time or postage.
What I think I will do is give the books away to the local Salvation Army or another local charity, so that someone who wants the books but cannot afford them can have them.
Only the ones who liked the book have the ‘objective standard of evaluation for literature’? O honestly!
Darok: Only the ones who liked the book have the ‘objective standard of evaluation for literature’? O honestly!
Did I say that? My whole point was that this is all opinion. I guess I’m just perceiving an exceedingly strong reaction, as though Rowling has done some massive injustice, that this was all about money, that because you were disappointed, this whole thing has been revealed as a pop culture scam for money.
I’m sure if I disliked the book, I’d be upset. However: Like or dislike the book, that’s fine, and we can discuss the reasons calmly. But hinting at plagiarism and making statements that make the rest of us feel like we’ve been duped my some obvious marketing scheme is a bit harsh.
Darok not meaning to pick on you mate but at least 90% of the fandom love the book. Your entitles to your opinion. But having your opinion is very fine. I just get impatient when people like yourself keep coming back when most of us loved it, to keep trashing the book. It makes your opinion… seem kinda haterish. Okay you didn’t like it. But please don’t ruin the rest of our on here. It’s not that you’re just criticizing the book (it has it’s flaws) but it’s getting to a point where I now don’t even take you seriously. Sorry mate.
And yes the book does have some flaws. A few small plot holes, which a revision can easily fix up, but the stuff that mattered was handled so well IMO. She didn’t answer some questions that were suppose to be answered in the epilogue but that is fine. I see it asher way of handing over the series to the fandom.
And juts one final thing, I really don’t like Fan-fic. For those who say that this was like one , just aren’t able to articulate their opinion well enough to say what it was that they disliked. This book felt so much like Jo’s work. Fan-fic for me is pointless and annoying. Jo’s work is all that matters to me. I can understand the love for it, but to say that it was taken from fan-fic greatly offends me and the rest of us HP fans.
I hope I didn’t offend anyone. It’s all love and peace.
Now im hating myself for ever agreeing with Darok. The more i read other people’s reactions the more I appreciate the book. They’re right, so what if Jo had minor plot holes? Does it matter?
Most of the book was fine although I have to say i dont think ill reread this one anytime soon.
Travis? I was actually reffering to the book when I said it didn’t sound like Rowling, but I’m not hinting towards plagerism. I caught all the symbolism, but the cahrm of her previous books just wasn’t there for me.
Sorry all
I hate to be the wet blanket
Boggart, wasn’t referring to you on the plagiarism thing. I was referring to people who think she stole from fan fiction.
No, Michael, unlike you – I’m not offended at another person’s point of view, so I won’t be calling you ‘inarticulate’ or other ad hominem insults!
I actually believe (unlike you all apparently) that you ARE entitled to your opinion! I think it’s fine that you liked the book – good on you! But I don’t – I think it was drek! So what? I’m allowed to think that. I’m also allowed to think HP is a vast marketing scheme – I’ve always thought that! I won’t go into the reasons therefor here. Sorry, but I read the Quibler!
However, as I don’t want to hurt anyone’s delicate sensibilities here I won’t post anything further.
But before I go, I must say (although I suspect Travis may delete this) it’s really a crying shame that you cannot allow others who have a differing opinion to have their say without going after them! Other blogs don’t insult those of differing opinions. Go to HP Essays – where 90% of the people hate the book but no one blasts those who DO like the book – they are allowed their say!
Be well and take care,
D.
Darok, I have no intention of deleting the comment!
It goes both ways. If you’re allowed to have the opinion that the book was abysmal and we’ve all been duped by a rotten book and a vast marketing scheme, we’re allowed to have the opinion that you’re wrong.
It just felt like you stormed on here with accusations of plagiarism and such, so my reaction was rather strong. As I said, stealing from fanfic is a very, very serious charge, even if it’s just being hinted at. I apologize if it was over the top or offensive.
Please, continue to discuss here why you disliked the book. We can discuss and debate that just fine. I’m asking that we move on to specifics now.
Michael, it is a bit much to accuse Darok of not being articulate enough to give reasons for disliking the book. Let’s hope Darok sticks around now so we can hear those reasons and discuss them. Calmly.
Before the book came out, I read parts of the first two chapters that were scanned and posted on the web. My thought was, yes that’s JKR’s writing, totally absorbing. I didn’t read any more, waited until we got the book Saturday morning, and read to my son (with a few breaks) from 8AM until 11PM, and then all of Sunday afternoon.
I found the books thoroughly absorbing and entertaining. Yes, many of favorite theories didn’t pan out. But that’s to be expected.