Book review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

So finally it ends. The culmination of the biggest media exercise in publishing history. The media boffins couldn’t have had it better with the 5^th movie releasing shortly before the book. Bookings for the last book in the series started almost six months in advance and as D-day drew near, the general populace (it’s no longer a children’s story) waited with bated breath.

Was the wait worth it? Definitely yes. Rowling dishes out enough entertainment to keep you glued in one place till you finish reading it from start to end without break, but she still has to drag you by the scruff of your neck along places.

Harry turns 17 and with that comes the license of using magic outside school. As expected, spells fly thick and fast throughout the story and being the accomplished students that they are, between themselves Harry and Hermione hand out spells at the rate of one every page. It helps get through the first half, that feeling of “get to the story already”. As the three friends play hide and seek with the ministry of magic, you fervently pray that Rowling stops doing the same with you.

Relationships come together and the secrets come out of the closet. However, they take their own sweet time doing so. The real action does not start until half the book is over, and at 600 odd pages, half counts for a lot. So you have to trudge through Harry’s omnipresent angst, Ron’s frustration and Hermione’s insecurities till you actually come to know what Deathly Hallows is all about. The skull headedness of this trio starts getting to you and I don’t know if that’s how Rowling wanted to develop them but I for one am sure complaining. It is her proverbial chink in the armor and this is definitely not a literary masterpiece.

Nonetheless, the second half manages to salvage the book. It is vintage Rowling doing what she does best. It is what the book had always been about. The big fight, and the events leading up to it. So everyone alive and kicking comes join the party to witness if light will prevail over darkness.

Her descriptions are lucid enough to play out motion picture scenes in my head. That the characters and settings have been given a real life image helps spur the imagination and interpret the author’s vision. When a climatic scene occurs at King’s Cross Station, you can picture the characters enacting out a movie scene in your head. It is a very interesting attribute of the franchise as the last few books have come out after the reading public has been fed on an idea of what the scenery might look like.

So should you read the book? Ok, that’s a big joke. I don’t think anyone in their sensible capacity can make a judgmental recommendation on it. If you have read the first six there is no doubt you have to read this one. If you haven’t then you obviously aren’t sold to the idea of Harry Potter and you are going to hem and haw as the world turns over in pottermania. Patronus is the new mantra.

P.S. Thank god for small mercies. The cover's don't have Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson on them.

How to hide multiple files inside a single image file

A youtube video by JimmyR shows how to hide multiple files in a single image file.

Alcohol Troubleshooting Guide

The Harry Potter Ending

Turns out, I was right about Rowling:

http://vishalpipraiya.blogspot.com/2007/07/is-harry-potter-going-to-die-in-last.html

Sunday Breakfast @ Vahuman Cafe

Dairy Sin: The cheese is as thick as the slice of toast which is already smeared with a generous helping of butter.

Waves of butter with scrambled eggs.

Carrer?

The age of careers is over. Now it's all about jobs and whether you love doing them!

- Editor, Maxim India, July 2007

Is Harry Potter going to die in the last book?

Despite the progression of the Harry Potter series from being a children's delight to an adult fantasy, J.K.Rowling would and should stay true to the young hearts responsible for her initial success. If Harry Potter dies, Rowling in one sweep is going to kill all the good hope that lives in young children's fanciful minds. Logic only dictates that Harry is going to triumph over Voldemort and live to tell the tale!

Things I did over the weekend

Downloaded and Saw the Anime

Naruto Episode 166-167
Naruto Episode 168

Downloaded and Saw the Anime Movie's

Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust

Finished Reading the Sci-Fi book
The Song of Phaid the Gambler by Mick Farren

Saw the Movie
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Saw the Anime Movie
Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children

Is this what they call heaven?

Gods in Temples

I am a Hindu and though not overtly religious I do believe in god. I often thought about idol worship and its significance in our customs. Why do we go to temples and worship idols, touch their feet, prostrate, bathe with milk and honey, dress them up in gold and livery and what not. Do we really believe that god lives in those idols? Who created these idols and why? On deeper introspection I came to the conclusion that there are people who might not have a deep understanding of god and for them to see a representation of that entity in a visual form makes it easier to connect with him. Yet, this does not make a person, never visiting a temple but praying in his heart everyday any less a devotee. That he doesn't need a visual aid to pray to god only proclaims his higher understanding of the supreme being.