Our Ink On Deathly Hallows.

If you’ve gone this far with Harry Potter, then you’re so invested in the characters and the outcome that it didn’t matter if Rowling wrote down a book consisting of nothing but the grocery list of Filch, you’d still eat it up.

Fortunately, Rowling didn’t give us any fluff and delivered on a great ending to one of the greatest literary series of all time. The reviews were mixed when this book first came out, and there was some speculation that this was mainly due to the shortage of advanced copies, and the fact that people actually had to read it in a set amount of time and give their thoughts on it quickly. They had to work.

But they shouldn’t have been mixed because you couldn’t ask for anything more with this finale. There was a complex plot, with our three heroes rummaging through the scenes of the series that we all know so well. There were twists, losses, gains, and a great epilogue.

If you are mad at the ending, know this: this isn’t Cormac McCarthy. Rowling isn’t looking to beat the millions of kids who grew up reading her books over the head. She ended it the exact way it needed to be done.

My wife and I enjoyed reading the book and we felt at a loss when it was all said and done. Like old friends, the characters had become a part of our lives, and now we have no knowledge of what will beset them in the future.

If Rowling ever does get the bug to write either a prequel or the continuing history of the Hogwarts students, then no one could blame her; as we would all secretly be hoping for such unabashed gluttony as well. But she did the right thing while ending it on top. People want more, but the story is told.

The plot (spoilers):

The search for the remaining horcruxes continues, and there is some sense of being overwhelmed in this trek, as even getting towards the end of the book, it doesn’t seem like this is an attainable goal. With 1/6th of the book left, there were truly no tied up ends, and every thing was still on the platter. And in retrospect, I think this was a good thing. By dawning the final battle out over half the book, it would have been hard to keep the reader’s interest with the constant large scale action.

Dumbledore, although dead, still has his presence known in the story, and is key in the final developments between the showdown between Voldermort and Harry Potter.

And the end, reading about how everyone has grown up and now living adult lives, this leaves you with the taste for more. To know that there is still a need for aurors is enough to want more tales. But this is the way it should be. If Harry had grown up and had nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs, then he would be one depressed wizard.

One final note: There was something I picked up on while reading the book, particularly this one out of the series. We were only given the information that Harry had, throughout the book, and that was frustrating at times but in total it gave us a sense of wonderment about the things that happened. The scenes never jumped to dark side and their plans, but we had to witness what Harry witnessed to put the pictures together. It was great story telling.

Out Ink on Prisoner 24601's story

Les Miserables, originally pulped in 1862, has inspired dozens of films, one of the most successful Broadway plays of all time, plays, radio dramas, and even video games, but can it still inspire your heart when read today?

I picked up this Barnes and Noble edition at one of their sales, never before reading this book, and wanting to get some classics into my reading queue.

Les Miserables is a blast, the characters are bigger than life, and Jean Valjean is a symbolic representation of redemption, of leading an upright life though the world drags you down at every turn.

This is an abridged version, and even so, parts of it aren’t an easy read. Hugo mixes in philosophy, religion, politics, and even life lessons into his narrative, and at times this was great and other times it was difficult for me to trudge through. However, the book has a great story at the heart of it.

My favorite line: “Love each other foolishly, for the foolishness of man is the wisdom of God.”

This book is vast in what it covers: honor, war, nobility, neglect, poverty, thievery, inter-family conflict, love, and faith.

Hugo has a wit to him. As I am trying to get through some of these well known classics, I notice that this is a common thing. Not only does the humor lighten the mood, but when the characters can show off their wit, it adds to the flavor, becoming endearing.

Valjean is such an admirable person—who wouldn’t want Valjean for president? You can take our common history of Washington or Lincoln and they would hold up to the character of Jean Valjean, constantly putting others first through sacrifice. Jean Valjean is the ultimate template for nobility

The policeman Javert is a capable antagonist whose sense of duty and the love for his job brings him to a life long hunt of Valjean, and eventually this conflict is resolved in an original and compelling manner. Not your typical bad guy, killed by good guy fare. And Thernadier is a scarier figure, who is first met in the novel while putting his kids out as bait to trap other children in a grand scheme of extortion.

According to Wikipedia, several other characters have carried on the prisoner number of Jean Valjean (which is believed to be Victor Hugo’s date of conception June 24th, 1801): Side Show Bob from the Simpson’s, Oscar Bluth from Arrested Development.

Here’s to you prisoner 24601, originally arrested for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, and forever haunted by that decision but always making the best of it and helping others along the way.