N.Y. Times "Potter" review
J.K. Rowling's monumental, spell-binding Harry Potter epic "is deeply rooted in traditional literature and Hollywood sagas -- from the Greek myths to Dickens and Tolkien to Star Wars -- and true to its roots, it ends not with modernist, Soprano-esque equivocation, but with good old-fashioned closure: a big screen, heart-racing, bone-chilling confrontation and an epilogue that clearly lays out people's fates," writes N.Y. Times book reviewer Michiko Kakutani.
"Getting to the finish line is not seamless -- the last portion of the final book has some lumpy passages of exposition and a couple of clunky detours -- but the overall conclusion of the series and its determination of the main characters' storylines possess a convincing inevitability that make some of the pre-publication speculation seem curiously blinkered in retrospect.
"With each installment, the Potter series has grown increasingly dark, and this volume -- a copy of which was purchased at a New York City retail outlet today, although the book is embargoed for release until 12:01 a.m. this Saturday -- is no exception. While Rowling's astonishingly limber voice still moves effortlessly between Ron's adolescent sarcasm and Harry's growing solemnity, from youthful exuberance to more philosophical gravity, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is, for the most part, a somber book that marks Harry's final initiation into the complexities and sadnesses of adulthood."
Here's a Baltimore Sun review, also posted today.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 18, 2007 at 7:02 PM
comment #1
Daniel Tayag
says ...
I hadn't noticed anything here or anywhere but they changed the title of the Bryan Singer directed/Tom Cruise starrer from "Valkyrie" to "Rubicon".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985699/
Posted by Daniel Tayag
at July 18, 2007 8:17 PM
comment #2
lazarus
says ...
To keep off-topic for a moment with Daniel, what's the point of that title change? One obscure name for another? Joe Six-Pack isn't going to find "Rubicon" any more welcoming or explanatory than "Valkyrie". I have no idea what either Norse mythology or Napoleon have to do with Hitler, but if they're changing the title they'd be better off with "Hitler Must Die!", "To Kill a Fuhrer" or some other pulpy choice.
Posted by lazarus
at July 18, 2007 8:30 PM
comment #3
BurmaShave
says ...
IMDb is the only place I've heard about the title change. Remember, it can be as unreliable as Wikipedia. I certainly prefer VALKYRIE, as it's more appropriate.
It's not just Norse mythology. Valkyrie was in fact the codename of the operation to kill Hitler. By the way, Rubicon has nothing to do with Napoleon, it was a river that Caesar crossed as he led his troops towards Rome to cast out Pompey. As it was a border that Roman armies were never supposed to cross, "Crossing the Rubicon" has become synonymous with insurrection. I suppose Lazarus' misstatement did a good job of proving his point about obscure titles.
Let's all cross our fingers and hope it hasn't been changed, or they change it back. Also why the August release? Doesn't this project have enough pedigree to be considered an Oscar contender? Or are they going by COLLATERAL's success there?
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 18, 2007 8:44 PM
comment #4
sunny
says ...
And in other, other news, Hallelujah and praise Baby Jesus, Yuma got an R!
http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news.php?id=6690
Ahhhh, actual, adult entertainment.
Btw, I prefer this definition of "Crossing the Rubicon":to go past a point of no return
Posted by sunny
at July 18, 2007 9:35 PM
comment #5
AJW
says ...
My girlfriend doesn't like it when I pass the Rubicon too soon.
Posted by AJW
at July 18, 2007 10:40 PM
comment #6
BurmaShave
says ...
Puff, puff, pass the Rubicon.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 18, 2007 11:36 PM
comment #7
DavidF
says ...
The thing that confuses me about the NY Times review is that she said the book was purchased atn NYC retail outlet "today" - two days ahead of the embargo.
I'm presuming this is the copy she is reviewing so I have to wonder how quickly she can read 760 pages, process what she has read, and post a 1,500 word review... (Or did she have an advance press copy and then buy one on Wednesday for the heck of it...?)
Posted by DavidF
at July 19, 2007 6:19 AM
comment #8
Rich S.
says ...
I'm not sure there were intended to be any advance press copies. Stephen King has complained repeatedly that his request was flatly turned down and he has to wait until Saturday at 12:01 a.m. like everyone else. If Stephen freakin' King - who is a famous author, magazine columnist AND close friend of Rowling - can't get an advance copy, I don't know how someone from the local fishwrap goes about it.
Posted by Rich S.
at July 19, 2007 7:08 AM
comment #9
DavidF
says ...
You're probably right, Rich. So how the heck did she pick up a copy and post a review in the same day?
Impressive, I guess.
Posted by DavidF
at July 19, 2007 7:33 AM
comment #10
Rich S.
says ...
My guess is that she read the bittorrent version, waited until she got a "legitimate" copy, then posted her review. Or, she just could have read the book. Having read all of them myself, and not being a particularly fast reader, I can say with confidence that they are easy reading page turners. I don't think any one of them, even the longest, has taken me more than three or four days.
Posted by Rich S.
at July 19, 2007 7:42 AM
comment #11
le corbeau
says ...
Next you people are going to suggest that you can't buy a DVD of Transformers on the streets of New York.
I think if the NY Times tells them Michiko Kakutani wants a copy to do a piece that's set to run two days before it hits stores, the runner with said copy can't get to the Times' building fast enough, no matter what other press outlets are told.
Posted by le corbeau
at July 19, 2007 7:58 AM
comment #12
Rich S.
says ...
She may have been feigning indignation, but it sure doesn't sound like Rowling was all that happy with the early reviews. She even played the "think of the children!" card.
Posted by Rich S.
at July 20, 2007 4:57 AM