Review of Deathly Hallows

I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows during my Fall Into Reading excursion, and I'll offer my review, for what it's worth. Yes, I know I'm way behind. Deathly Hallows came out in July. But I checked it out from my local library, and had to wait this long for my turn.

It was worth the wait! It took me two days to read all 26,000 pages, or however many there were, and I loved it. Deathly Hallows nicely wrapped up all the hanging plot points. The protagonist prevailed. The antagonist was brought down spectacularly. We even had a glimpse of the future. And I couldn't quit turning pages: conflict and tension galore! Every time I thought it couldn't possibly get worse, it did.

*Spoiler alert * (skip to the next paragraph if you haven't read the book yet). This book truly tugs at your emotions. My heart sank when Harry was captured and taken to the Malfoy's. I cried when Hermione was tortured. I cheered when Dobby freed them. Then I cried again when Dobby died. Moody's death, his eye mounted on that office door, all those deaths at the end, Tonk's and Lupine's orphaned newborn, Harry's spirit of sacrifice, Neville Longbottom's bravery, the truth about Snape, Harry's marriage and children, even the names he gave his little bairns... Wow! The entire book was a roller coaster of emotions.

I also learned more about the craft of writing by analyzing Rawling's techniques. Despite the fact that she writes for a younger audience, and my audience is adult, I learn some fantastic plotting skills. Rawlings knows how to tell a story! She creates sympathetic characters, places them in a truly unforgettable setting, and then offers extraordinary conflicts to overcome.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the Harry Potter books, and this last one was just as spectacular as all the others. I recommend highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys a good story.

-Sonja

Without A Doubt, Read Colleen Coble

Back in September, I posted a list of books I wanted to read for the Fall Into Reading program described by Katrina at Calapidder Days. I'm an avid reader. I had twelve books on my Fall Into Reading book list, but I've read closer to thirty books since the beginning of September. I thought I'd post some book reviews in the coming days.

The book I want to discuss today wasn't even on my Fall Into Reading list, but it should have been: "Without A Trace" by Colleen Coble. I attended one of her lectures at a writing conference in late September, and her teaching style and content drove me to read one of her books.

"Trace" is a mystery/suspense/romance. I can't really pin it down. The protagonist faced two mysteries: searching for lost people and trying to identify a murderer. And all the while, she's inadvertently falling in love. (I don't want to give anything away, so forgive me for being nebulous.) The book sucked me in - I stayed up way past my bedtime because I couldn't put it down. I'll admit, I figured out the first mystery long before Ms. Coble brought it to light. But she had so much suspense, so much intrigue, I had to keep turning pages. And when the murderer's identity finally came to light, it surprised me. I'd guessed wrong on the second mystery. The book had a satisfying ending and a tear-jerking reunion, and if I say any more, I'll ruin the journey for you.

Bottom line: I recommend this book, for what it's worth.

-Sonja