Dear Neil,
Hank Green has a new Harry Potter related song up on the vlogbrother’s YouTube channel. And while I understand that you and Mandy are still only in December of Brotherhood 2.0, you should understand that if you watch this vlog-song you will not be violating your attempt to watch all of John and Hank’s videos in order, because… it is just a song. Anyway, it is a good song.
And this song got me thinking about the seventh Harry Potter book. And I am think this: I could have written a better epilogue… and some other bits. What bothers me about the Deathly Hallows includes two things: 1) that weird chapter when Harry gets knocked out or something and he is in that white room with Dumbledore. J.K. Rowling could have written some meaningful, and beautiful prose about life and death. But I feel like she copped out of writing more. Maybe she did not expand on that particular experience of Harry’s because her options were to either scrap that chapter or put it in as it was. But I do not like that chapter with Harry and Dumbledore in that mysterious place because through out the Harry Potter series Rowling had the uncanny ability to explain this magical and unbelievable world. If something inexplicable happens readers can close the book and feel satisfied and convinced that these things happened to Harry and his friends. But this chapter in The Deathly Hallows does not give me that feeling. Plus we do not know why it happens either. Harry is a hero who learns from every experience that crosses his path to adulthood. But I do not think he learned from hanging around with the dead Dumbledore in a white room. So what is the point?
And the second thing that has me losing my English Nerdfighting faith with Rowling is the epilogue. I am so disappointed in it; I think for the last words the world would ever hear about their beloved Harry Potter I think Rowling should have nixed the epilogue altogether or concentrated more on it. I feel that the epilogue, the way it was published seems too diluted and uninteresting. Honestly, I just want to know about Harry’s godson. That character alone would make an excellent book, and Rowling could write it without breaking her vow to stop writing Harry Potter books after number seven. And after awhile I think Rowling will get bored with her Potter-less life and starting writing again. Who knows, maybe she is already working on her eighth novel.
Don’t Forget to be Awesome, Neil
Love, Pam
