As I read...

Deathly Hallows. The sort of live blogging version. No spoilers.

One funny story to relate first. I was in my car at the bookstore and decided to flip through the book. I looked at chapter titles and then flipped to the end. I caught sight of a name that I was very surprised to see and at that point I decided then to stop looking ahead. I looked up and a woman was looking in my window. She grinned and me and shook her head in a "shame on you for peeking" sort of a way. It was funny.

I started at 12:51 am. I am now an hour into the book and have hit the first death. My cat who was sound asleep was awoken by my exclamation of "NO." I didn't say it very loud, but it must have been the way I said it. And I said it over and over and over again, it getting higher pitched each time. And then I cried. And now I'm writing this. Too much information to Twitter so I decided to update this post with my thoughts as I read. The death just happened and I almost don't want to go back and read, but I will. I just need a few moments. Maybe this would be a good time to get some water. NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!. Ok. Back to the book.

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Ok. What the hell? I'm hitting my second death and I'm only in the next chapter.

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It's 3 am and I'm heading to bed. I think I'll probably read another hour at the most. I *am* looking forward to the Twitter meet-up, but man ya'll had to pick this weekend? I'm going to be getting out of bed with not much sleep and it's going to cut into my reading time. :-)

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Morning. I ended up staying awake until 4:45 and then I forced myself to close the book. Even then I had a hard time falling asleep. Before I closed the book I flipped through again and the more names I saw the more excited I got. I think this is going to be an EXCELLENT book (it is already) and I can't wait to see how everything unfolds. I had a hard time falling asleep, my brain whirling on the possibilities and complete inanities like what kind of patronus I would have. I don't know how I'm awake now, but I am. I am in chapter 12 and probably won't touch it again until after the Twitter meet-up.

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Had a nice time at the Twitter Meet Up. I stopped by the grocery store after to get some supplies for the apartment. My aunt stays and looks after my cat while I am gone. I started reading again around 4:00 or so and now I'm taking a break. It's 7:00 pm. I'm in Chapter 22: The Deathly Hallows. I seem to be reading slower than normal. I guess I don't want to miss any clue or maybe its just my old age. :-P

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7:40 I barely picked the book back up when I had to put it back down to check something. I marvel at the little clues that Rowling has left scattered in the previous six books. I just ran across a reference and sure enough there it is. That's one of the things that makes these books so enjoyable for me. The little treasures you find when read and read again. Ok. Back to the story.

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Death number three. I know she said two, but I can't really discuss it without giving away more. I only cried at the first one although in a fit of anticipation of what might happen for this one, I flipped ahead two or three pages and saw what happened. No... no... #####. Yes, I guess I do look ahead. But I never peek at my Christmas presents if that gives you any consolation.

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9:30. I think I'm going to stop for the night. This is the first time I've ever stretched out the reading, but I think it is because it is the last time. I think it is also why I'm reading more slowly. Stretching and savoring my last moments in this universe. Going to grab something to eat and then work on my Harry Potter pictures! Never far from my thoughts.

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Sunday 1:15 pm. I woke up late this morning, worked on photos, watched TV, ate lunch. Now I'm going to pick the book back up and I will probably not stop until it is finished. My last moments with Harry Potter. It's a little bittersweet. Don't expect to hear from me again until I'm finished unless something shocking happens. In the meantime check out my photos from the release event.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laanba/sets/72157600948801208/

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Death #4, or should I say death that I care about. FOUR!!!! I didn't see this one coming either. I think I was lulled into thinking that I had run across all the big ones.

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Five.

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4:30. I'm done. There were deaths SIX and SEVEN, but I didn't want to stop. I don't know how she could ever say two deaths except maybe that she only described two deaths in detail (actually three). But the other ones are just as important because those characters are just as important.

I cried right at the end. I really, really, REALLY, didn't think I would. The only real crying that I did was one the very first death happened in what seems so long ago and started this extremely long post. But in the Epilogue a first and especially MIDDLE name got me. I cried. What a great book and what a great series. It is going to take some time for all of this to sink in.

This post is officially finished. I hear your immense relief.

Mischief managed.

Comments

[Kell]

It's 8:37 am and I'm waiting for my hubby to get back with the book so I can start. I'm being careful about what I see on the internet (no spoilers!!!). With 2 kids, no way we could stay up and wait for it to go on sale at midnight lol.

[Kell]

It's 9 p.m. Sat. I'm on Ch. 19 The Silver Doe. Considering the kids and stuff, I'm getting through it pretty fast. Loving it by the way...

[Greg]

I don't read these books, I don't watch movies and I would never spoil the ending for anyone (Gabby reads them) so you can email me with the details. All the hype has piqued my curiosity. I've never peeked at presents either. I won't tell.

[laanba]

Apparently you can go to Wikipedia and see a thorough summary. My friend told me it went up shortly after the book was released in Australia. Even though I *have* peeked I'm afraid to go over there and look. I'm not going to do it until I really have read every word.

[Urban Houstonian]

So I welled up a bit reading your little blog; I had thought of doing my own ongoing posts throughout the book, but didn't think about it until I was WAY too far into the book.

I think Ms. Rowling shortchanged us on all that two death crap; she wrote herself a very grisly bloodbath in this last novel. Not complaining, mind you, but she was quite the destructive little minx.

Overall, it was an amazingly well thought out conclusion. You're absolutely right, she was GENIUS in the way she pulled the entire series together. Absolutel genius! That and an almost Homeric Odyssey thrown in to boot!

After my utter destruction while watching the fifth movie, I am not sure how I will be able to make it through these last two films. In one of my breaks for food, I caught the tail end of Goblet on HBO, and couldn't control myself from another HP breakdown. I think I may need some professional help; there is something that rips open in me when I watch these movies.

In any case, I am glad to be able to venture out once again without fear of the magic being ruined for me. A more thorough reading is in the works but, for now, I am oddly at peace with the end.

[Kell]

I agree. I was satisfied with the ending. I was concerned the entire book that I wouldn't be satisfied with the way she decided to end the series, but I thought she was very appropriate. Oh, I cried toward the end...a lot.

[Sarah]

I'm on page 285. Hoping to finish by mid-week.