I wrote a short review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for our local paper, the Democrat and Chronicle, and it was published today in the opinion section:
Thankfully, the online version does not have the mugshot of a picture I sent to the paper which appears next to the essay in the printed version. (I just opened Apple’s PhotoBooth program, clicked, and sent the picture of my unsmiling, unshaven self, and I was so exhausted after a sleep-deprived weekend of reading Book 7 that I actually thought I liked the picture.) At the very least, it should mean that Harry Haters here in Rochester wouldn’t recognize me if they saw me on the street!
Joivre on 
Arabella Figg on 
Red Rocker on 
Tom on 
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Great review mate! It was honest, thought provoking and it made me want to go out and read the dam book again! Cheers.
I liked your review. The book did not end the religious debate, though. I’ve already seen several blog posts and a review that were full of the same criticisms against Rowling and Christians who read her books, only now they’re also claiming that she’s leading people astray with a false gospel and a false Christ. (Granted, one of the diatribes I read was from a person who isn’t sure it’s OK to read ANY novel, so she clearly doesn’t represent the mainstream view.)
Shauna, thanks! Yeah, I know the debate won’t be over, even though it should be.
Great review, Travis! I have to laugh at the guy who quoted Lev Grossman back at you in the Comments section. Some people just don’t get it.
Excellent review, but Shauna is right: the debate continues, and from both sides.
Some people see what they want to see, I guess.
The Christian vs. Christian debate is not over, and I don’t believe it will either. But the Christian/religious vs. secularistic debate should be over.
It should be, but it’s not. I just read a post on The Leaky Cauldron saying that one of the scenes is anti-Christian (and celebrating that idea).
Here’s a verse or two from the Bible for Lev Grossman:
King James Version
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
or New American
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love
–1 John, Chapter 4, Verse 8
I’d wager that Rowling was thinking about this verse when she made her references about love throughout the books.
How about this one:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
or
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
–1 John, Chapter 4, Verse 16
I have no doubt about what was the greatest influence on this series of books. It inspired me.