A few post-DH thoughts before going outside to write

[thrihyrne]

First off, it was fun to read the book straight through. I really enjoyed being a part of a literally world-wide group of friends and strangers — reading en masse. That in and of itself is quite cool.


I don't even think I can write very much as I'm itching to get back to my threesome story and my own universes which, while they do have martyrs, they're not heavy-handed and they come to their own self-awareness without authority figures guiding them along and telling them every little element about their past.

EDIT: Totally didn't write about swordwielding!Ron. That was fabulous. Combined with dripping and freezing Harry, it was a great scene. Ron's tremendous.

‡ I really can't believe that I wrote about Fred and George being taken hostage, Fred tortured and killed, and then having dead!Fred and survivor!George be my own canon, and this has been the case for 2 1/2 years. Wow. And now— it's real canon. I'm flabbergasted, to say the least. Obviously the execution is different, but, um, wow.

‡ Maybe it's me, but I wasn't emotionally invested in this book. I didn't cry or even find myself close to tears along the way. I felt as though I was being fed a plot-based succession of answers to questions, and then they were all done. And then there was the most unnecessary and, to my mind, nauseating epilogue to it all. I'll freely admit it: I'm a slash writer. I'm all about the non-heteronormative state of the world. And this just made me more than happy to get back to reading fanfiction.

‡ More and more I keep seeing elements from LotR in this, and I just want to roll my eyes. The Inferi/Dead Marshes, the locket around the neck/The One Ring on a chain. I realize as creators and authors we're all pulling out of the Universal Collective Unconscious and we're all ladling out of the one large Soup Bowl of Stories and that there's really nothing new, only new ways to tell the stories, but, urgh. I was talking to wolfiekins yesterday about the soundtrack for OotP and how the music for the fireworks scene with the twins is even in the same key as the fireworks scene in LotR. In movie OotP the music for the dragon chasing Umbridge is very, very similar to that in Bilbo's birthday scene, also featuring a fireworks dragon 'chasing' Bilbo and the other hobbits. Not that that has anything to do with the book, of course.

‡ That's not to say that the book didn't have its moments; one of the key ones was Harry seeing himself (albeit with the stinging jinx) in the mirror at Malfoy Manor with his shoulder-length hair and stubble on his jaw. That was a lovely image, which I promptly then also imposed onto Ron. I'm a Ron fangirl, after all.

‡ I did appreciate Harry's internal "OMG, how is the world still spinning when this atrocity happened?" thoughts when he realizes Fred's been killed. I do think that's how a person would react, though if he'd seen his own parents killed while in Voldemort's head, I'm sortof surprised at his lack of reaction there. Perhaps because he's had years to ruminate on those particular murders.

‡ The whole thing seemed very heavy to me, in the sense of being a Huge Tome of Tying Up Loose Ends. I suppose it was dark, but unlike some exquisitely crafted fanfic I've read, there really wasn't much grit to go along with it. I suppose there was some appreciated ambiguity with Griphook, as well as the Malfoys, who were never really redeemed but ended up surviving regardless.

‡ The whole Snape pining/loving Lily for a lifetime? Never saw that coming. So, yay for being surprised! :)


That's it for now. Perhaps I'll feel more positive about it after time has passed.

Comments

[ex-cugami590.livejournal.com]

I think a lot (if not all) of us fic writers (the fanartist in me is craving to do canon!kickass!swordwielding!Ron art <3 further blabberings on this later...) read through this book, breathed a heavy sigh after the last page and can't wait to go back to fandom. Yes, canon happened but the slashers have wonderful worlds to go back to and frolick in. ANd admittedly, the fannon world is much much better more often than not.

Now about the swordwielding!Ron... <3 I could kiss JKR. I like swords in general. I'm also quite the Arthurian fan. Most of my AU fics/drawings have Ron donning the mantle of a Black Knight in some form or another. So for him to retrieve that sword with that scenario completely won the book for me.

Ron punching Draco in the end, also. I remember it was Ron's punch at the beginning that made me ship those two before lol and for it to come full circle like that was a wonderful trip. And on a random and probably pointless sidenote, their wands both have unicorn hair!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I should've mentioned swordwielding!Ron. That was a fabulous scene, with dripping wet, freezing Harry, and Ron having saved him. Yeah, that was a gross ommission on my part.

My bad also about punching Draco— a nice point. I'd not known about their similar wands!! I'll need to put that tidbit in the next MI bit.

I love our ship. ♥

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

Aww - I'm disappointed to hear that. How dismal.

I did think of your kidnapped!Fred though. And am hoping George has a talking photo to give him hell later. Heh

*sigh*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Aww - I'm disappointed to hear that. How dismal.

What's dismal??

For me, I'll still believe (and now, nearly canonically) that there was a wizarding portrait done of Fred and George after they left Hogwarts so that George can still talk to him. I see no reason not to believe that.

Why the sigh? You enjoyed the book, yes?

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

:)

- because I love the storytelling you do with the Potterverse. And from your summary, I got the feeling that you felt pretty negatively about the book, which in turn, I take to mean that you won't be very inspired by it. I would (selfishly) have hoped that you were filled with lots of plot ideas and character development 'things' that will make you excited about writing more. All the little plot points in DH that made the writer in me say 'yes, she clarified that' and 'yes, she left that wide open.'

Just one of those things, you know, when you really enjoy something, you want to share and enjoy it with your friends too.

And even though I do 'OBHWF' as well - I could have done without the epilogue myself. That was a bit much.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

because I love the storytelling you do with the Potterverse. And from your summary, I got the feeling that you felt pretty negatively about the book, which in turn, I take to mean that you won't be very inspired by it. I would (selfishly) have hoped that you were filled with lots of plot ideas and character development 'things' that will make you excited about writing more.

Oh. :blushes warmly: I'll definitely keep writing in the Potterverse, I just suspect that I'll pick and choose more arcane elements from it in which to add to my stories. I've almost never been one to do much gap-filling while they're still at Hogwarts ("Countdown" being the major exception), and now my inner vision for a protracted war has been dashed. I guess I do find that disappointing, and unrealistic. I suppose that she made the ending so tidy, and so final, that I'm realizing I feel cut off from it, almost. Does that make sense? Since the canon was open, and I could imagine dark, painful and gritty, but also redemptive stories, and while I can still do that (and suspect I will!), the suddenness of it being completed and unambiguous is leading me to more AU-oriented stories. Guess I'll just see what happens.

What, pray tell, is "OBHWF"? I'm terrible at acronyms. ;)

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

hee. OBHWF = One Big Happy Weasley Family. Specifically H/G, R/Hr (points to icon)

Yeah, I'm torn between the 'fan' part who appreciates having all those little strings tidied up, and the writer part of me, who would have appreciated a wider berth at the end.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I think she needed a good editor. And unlike Tolkien (whom she was clearly copying/inspired by), she was under huge pressure to have an Epic Finale. Alas, she isn't up to it, and it showed IMHO.

I also didn't like the frigidity in certain scenes and in regard to certain characters. Bad writing and bad editing.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

she was under huge pressure to have an Epic Finale. Alas, she isn't up to it, and it showed IMHO.

I'd second that thought. I guess I went into it thinking I'd applaud her if she did the 'unthinkable' and both Harry and Voldemort died, but I wasn't expecting it.

The editing part hit hard; I've very recently re-read His Dark Materials and I swear just as much action happens in that as does in DH, and it's 1/3 the length. It's a more taut style. I also bawled twice in HDM. He doesn't provide the happy ending, and I respect him so much for that.

That's not to say that I hated DH or anything, but I am, overall, glad to have a closed canon, and now I'm ready to get back to high-quality fanfic. ;)

[honor74.livejournal.com]

My daughter is hogging the book, but I'm a spoiler whore so I don't mind reading this. And hello, btw, LOL.

I know without turning a page that I'm going to be disappointed in Deathly Hallows; some sixth sense, I guess, but more because I know it's not going to go my way no matter how you slice it, because JKR is at the helm. But, there's always fanfic.

And I was thinking the same thing when I saw the dragon chasing Umbridge in OoTP. *shakes head*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

OMG, you're alive!!! :D :D
(((snuggles you)))

Glad you're a spoiler whore, and so lovely to see you again! You've been on my mind of late; perhaps I conjured you into my LJ. ;)

Yes, there's always fanfic. I'm glad to have the closed canon, don't get me wrong, but it just seems heavy-handed. That, or I'm just a more critical reader now that I've been writing and reading critically for a few years.

Glad you saw that parallel in the movie, too!!

[honor74.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm alive, but my absence has been for reasons many and various, lol, which I don't have room for here.

I came onto LJ because I knew everyone would be all a-twitter over HP7 and I wanted to see what was being said. So sheer nosiness.

And of course you're more critical; you've delved into these characters, made them your own and beta'd how many stories? I just try to remember that HP is a children's book.

And anyway, like JKR cares anymore, anyway. She's made a killing.

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

really enjoyed being a part of a literally world-wide group of friends and strangers — reading en masse. That in and of itself is quite cool.

hugs
me too!
(i'm also enjoying reading everyone's thougts - very fun)

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

hugs
me too!
(i'm also enjoying reading everyone's thougts - very fun)

Yes, it is! I'm still online just to check out a few more people's thoughts before going off to my own fandom world. I actually feel really untethered by this whole thing; I've tended to write post-War fics anyway, but I didn't expect such a quick fight. Ah well; not my story. I should just get off of my too-easily-intimidated arse and write original fic.

[sanba38.livejournal.com]

: P

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

o_O

Yes?

[sanba38.livejournal.com]

My copy hasn't shipped yet.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Well, many people on my flist would be happy to change locales to live where you do. ;) And I did put a major thing in the lj-cut that talked about spoilers... please don't get mad at me!! I said I had spoilers!

[sanba38.livejournal.com]

You are far too sensitive. All I did was skip the spoilers and stick out my tongue at you.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

You are far too sensitive.

You're right. ;)

[elicia8.livejournal.com]

I really can't believe that I wrote about Fred and George being taken hostage, Fred tortured and killed, and then having dead!Fred and survivor!George be my own canon, and this has been the case for 2 1/2 years. Wow. And now— it's real canon. I'm flabbergasted, to say the least. Obviously the execution is different, but, um, wow

When I heard this (I still haven't read it yet, but I'm not worried about spoilers), that's EXACTLY what I thought. Like immediately. "Holy crap, JK's been reading Kristi's fic!"

Too bad she didn't learn more from you, though. ;)

Also, I'm glad you brought up the issue of LotR vs. HP and Storyland in general, because I've been thinking about that a lot lately, especially as a wannabe writer.

♥

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I know!!! I doubt she's been reading my fic, but still... I feel robbed. :P

Storyland is making me feel all desolate, actually, all of us dipping in the one big bowl and me not being sure that I can even tell stories with any kind of originality, word-craft wise. I may always be a wannabe writer. But maybe that's okay, too.

::loves::

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

The epilogue was just so devastatingly & unnecessarily hetero.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

:::nods violently::: Now that I'm writing an extended polyamorous fic with Seamus/Dean, I really wanted those two with their child to be on the platform, too. ;)

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

I don't know how far she felt she could go within the children's book frame, but she must have enough clout to introduce gay characters even if the publisher wasn't keen, and given the extent of her readership it seems to me that she had a moral duty to represent reality, rather than shoving same-sex relationships into the closet.

[wolfiekins.livejournal.com]

Perfectly said...I couldn't agree more!

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

I was definitely emotionally invested. I started getting twisted up when Hedwig died, and I sobbed through Dobby's death and burial, and when I finished crying for myself over Fred's death I started sniffling for Koshie's sake.

And slash fan that I am, I still knew OBHWF was the true canon, so the epilogue didn't bother me in the least. I'm just sort of glad she made it 19 years later, instead of giving us the double wedding.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor thing. :::hands tissues:::

I really dislike JKRs true canon. If there had been a double wedding, I would simply have put the book down. :P I know a lot of trio shippers who are happy, though, and all other sorts. Me, I'm just out of sorts, and trying not to pout about it too much.

[wolfiekins.livejournal.com]

...when I finished crying for myself over Fred's death I started sniffling for Koshie's sake.

Yup. Me too. And despite how obvious the canon has leaned, especially since book 6, such a hetero-drenched, nauseatingly sappy epilogue seems trite and yet another example of how I can't stomach mainstream media. The fact we were spared the actual description of the dreaded double-wedding is small comfort...I'm sure there'll be hundreds of fics focusing on just that on the net in minutes...

[wolfiekins.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'll feel more positive about it after time has passed.

Um, I doubt it.

I concur with your off-the-cuff observations...and am similarly nauseated by the unforgivably sickly-sweet epilogue. Ugh.

I need a shower...

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Oh sweetie... We're in this together, you and I and our to-be AU fics. :)

(((hugs))) Let's plan on a long chat this week, okay?

[lena3.livejournal.com]

I loved the book and I liked the epilogue.

This from someone who kills Hermione in her fic every chance she gets.

*runs away and hides*

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

That's great!! I'm so glad that you really loved it, and that you liked the epilogue. I'm not one to judge anybody by their likes and dislikes, and I'm so happy for you that you enjoyed the book. Please don't hide. :(

[lena3.livejournal.com]

I'm not really all that hidden. I just feel a bit traitorous in the slash community for liking the neat and tidy het ending.

This is her story, her truth and I didn't expect anything else. It isn't ours. That's why I read and write fanfic. So I can have what I want and believe.

And frankly, I'm selfish. I was so desperate for Ron to live, I'd accept anything.

[hedwigs-bane.livejournal.com]

Epilogue? There was an epilogue? Hmmm?

**goes back to writing Harry/Ron, undeterred**

Got to say, I saw a LOT of borrowing from a LOT of sources (not least of which was my own work -- yeah, I wish), LotR, the Bible, the Brothers Grimm, etc...

I hadn't really focused on the idea of a plot being used to tie up loose ends. Now that you mention it... Still, I suppose it was something I was looking for, so there was a sense of satisfaction. But not really the best of the series.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

As the days are going on, I'm simply realizing more and more that the series really wasn't written for people my age, and that while some children's/youth literature can be read on multiple levels and address complicated issues with nuance and complexity, that is not to be found in this series. Which is fine.

If nothing else, it's practically shoving me into writing original fic, which can be full of moral ambiguity, grey area in regards to sexuality and inner psychology, and all that kind of more gritty, realistic, non-allegorical stuff.

Oh, and a fair amount of adult scenes in it, too. ;)