overrated potter

don't keep reading if you haven't yet finished the new harry potter book. i won't say too much about the plot, but if you're like jerry or leo and you can't even bear to hear a plot line or an opinion of something unseen or unread, then skip this post.

i finished reading the last installment of the potter series a few days ago and though i haven't yet been able to define what i think of it, i was left with a significant sensation of disappointment. the book had some wonderful parts, and certainly a lot of character development, excellent dialogue at times and a few great twists, but overall it did not live up to what i expected of the last book. the end of the story seemed like a big ace down the sleeve that was pulled out at the last minute...i actually had to read the last few pages before the epilogue several times before "getting it" completely.

and then the epilogue is a whole different matter...it felt comforting to see all the characters so many years later, but there certainly wasn't enough of a storyline there to justify a lot of what was written. it felt almost like a "moral moment" at the end of the story, which although thankfully jk rowling stayed away from for so many years, she employed at the end of this book in a very anti-climatic and almost cheap way.

i certainly can't complain about the writing - engaging as ever - but the story was deficient after so many years of following her characters around, book to book. it's such a shame...or perhaps i'm the one who expected too much...thoughts?