Tuesday

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

It is finally OUT! I have the much-awaited book in my tight grasp and despite my earlier impatience to get my hands on it, I find myself reading it slowly, somewhat reluctantly.
It is the last book after all and it finally sank in that this will be the last of Harry Potter (no, I don't mean last as in dead), the last of magical spellbinding journeys in Hogwarts.
From what I have read so far, Rowling focuses much on discrimination in this final book. Far from it being racial or religious, she cleverly uses discrimination against Mudbloods and muggle-born wizards.
It struck a familiar chord as racial and religious discrimination is very much real in the real world. People are still being discriminated against because of their skin colour and their religious beliefs despite what all the governments in the world advocates.
I do think that she intend her readers to read between the lines and learn the lessons there, that discrimination against a person just because he or she does not fit into one group or another is downright cruel.
But then, we all know life is never fair. Good does not always triumph over evil (again, not in reference to the book!). Politicians are never honest. Ministers are often crooks. Hogwarts and Harry Potter are just a clever author's creations.
I have only read a quarter of the book and though it is still good, the pace is fast but the draw is not there. The spell that kept me glued to it was not there. Sure, there is the suspense of uncovering answers to 'what happens to Harry' and 'will the prophecy be fulfilled?' and the great Snape debate but other than that...hmmm...let's just hope it gets better.

Wednesday

Lethargic and busy and Pottermania

I have been lagging behind in my blogging and my private pet projects. Due to an onslaught of work in the office, I have been unable to steal some time to enter a post or work on my manuscripts. I was not even able to take a breather!
Anyway, I have been kind of lethargic too as I do not know what should I post anymore. I have so many topics banging around my head, I don't know which one to do first. Time is another factor as I have to find some time to do it!
Also, I am all excited over the upcoming release of the final book of the Harry Potter series. I may read a lot of romances and thrillers but I am also a Potter fan. I became hooked to the series due to all the hype over Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone some years back. There were numerous reviews on the book. It really piqued my interest so I went and got a copy to read for myself what all that hype was about. The rest is history because after that first book, I was hooked. Addicted. I immediately went out to grab the second and third book. I was like a Potter junkie and impatient for the next book.
Finally, Rowling has completed the last most anticipated and awaited book to round up the whole series. I hope all this wait is worth it because frankly, the fifth and sixth book did not leave much of an impression in me. Neither did the fourth book. Sure, the plot thickens and things were explained, people die and Voldemort makes his appearance but still....it didn't hold the same spell. At least, not for me. But the books are still well written, the plots interesting and the story progresses. I guess, as a whole set, all of it are good but individually, it's a different matter.
Oddly enough, or not so odd after all, it reminded me of my fascination with the Narnia series. It also comes in a set of seven books and some of it, as an individual book, is not very remarkable while some left a lasting impression in me.
Well, in a few more days, I shall know how Rowling is going to wrap it all up nicely. Judging from how her books became darker with each new release, I would not be surprised that the seventh book do not have a happy ending.
We shall see.