Harry Potter... (Spoiler, I think)

[Isaac]

Not much of an ending to the whole series.

The author, JK (Just Kidding) Rowling (ROFLS), had all of these interesting conflicts I wanted to see resolved. Instead you get an obscure flash forward. There was tons of room to tie up all the loose ends of the story. She could have even thrown out the useless chapters, where they're literally doing nothing except bitching at each other. Not even the main character got a real ending; what's Harry doing for a living, 19 years later in their socialist magic system? (I guess that answers my question)

To be honest, everyone reading this wasn't expecting any ground breaking writing. It's just a popular book with a boy who has to defeat an evil wizard, Dr. Evil-Villain-Badguyd'a-mort. But that's just it: You didn't read the book to see Harry defeat the wizard, because we all knew that was going to happen by the first book! You kept reading to see what would happen to all the characters, jammed in your memory. Just when the book reached the peak of chaos, with all the character's plots having the most conflict, you only get to see the full ending of a few characters...

[Avder]

Well sure the fact that Voldemort would die was never in doubt, but the how of the whole matter was always up in the air. Then there's the whole thing where Harry would have to \"die\" for him to be defeated, etc.

The chapters where its them bitching at eachother were there for character development, to show the tension and strain they were going through during their quest.

I thought it was good. Sure, the fast forward part coulda been fleshed out a bit, but that's where the spinoffs will pick up I imagine.

[Isaac]

but that's where the spinoffs will pick up I imagine.

Oh, I didn't know about those.

edit:
Don't get me wrong; I did love reading those books.
For the record, if Harry had the Nine-Tails it would have been a much cooler ending. :p However, everyone would be dead.

edit edit:
The book I'm reading tonight:

[Kilarin]

I enjoyed the Potter series, I just don't think it was \"The best thing EVER!\"

One of my biggest complaints, throughout the entire series, none of the 3 main characters really show any growth. They increase in power, but they don't GROW. Take the characters as they were in the first book, swap them into the last book (with increased skill level), and the story would continue without any change.

Contrast that with, say, The Lord Of the Rings. By the time we hit \"The scourging of the shire\", Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry are not the same as they were in \"A Long-expected Party\". What they have been through has changed them. They are the same people, but they have grown, and they have scars.

The Potter series is good, but it's not GREAT.

[Heretic]

Try reading The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. They were really a great set of books. I agree the Harry Potter and friends didn't do much growing. Good books none the less.

[TechPro]

I agree with Kilarin

[Kilarin]

Try reading The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever.

Donaldson is an incredible world builder. But I found that particular series too depressing. Every time the main character went off stage it was like having the flaming bamboo splinters removed from under your fingernails. It was such a relief to read the chapters where Thomas was not present.

And I couldn't get through the second trilogy. Donaldson had gotten big enough by that point that he could just tell his editors to leave him alone. He needed a good editor on that series. I bogged down in the second book in the trilogy, which is where a LOT of people bog down.

[Alter-Fox]

One of my biggest complaints, throughout the entire series, none of the 3 main characters really show any growth. They increase in power, but they don't GROW. Take the characters as they were in the first book, swap them into the last book (with increased skill level), and the story would continue without any change.
The Potter series is good, but it's not GREAT.

I agree. The only character in the books who "grew" was Dudley Dursely (and even that was a pathetic attempt at a gradual change).
I think the movies did a much better job at letting the characters grow (though that could just have been the different directors and their different interpretations). And in the movies they mostly grow as teenagers (not as heroes).

That said, I still enjoyed the series, though I liked the movies (Prisoner of Azkaban onward) somewhat better than the books. And I liked the way Dumbledore turned out .
The sixth movie was definetely the best installment so far (counting books and movies).

[SuperSheep]

Try reading The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever.

Donaldson is an incredible world builder. But I found that particular series too depressing. Every time the main character went off stage it was like having the flaming bamboo splinters removed from under your fingernails. It was such a relief to read the chapters where Thomas was not present.

And I couldn't get through the second trilogy. Donaldson had gotten big enough by that point that he could just tell his editors to leave him alone. He needed a good editor on that series. I bogged down in the second book in the trilogy, which is where a LOT of people bog down.

It was quite depressing, but by the last book it takes an upbeat turn as Thomas heals and sees the light (so to speak). And I am so glad to know there are others out there that have read this series. One of my faves!