This is not a review of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows. My review in brevity is that the book kicked ass. This post will not contain any spoilers about the major plotline and is mostly about some passages in the book that I found striking.

The passage on page 123 Hermione rails against the misuse of the Ministry Of Magic’s Decree of Justifiable Confiscation; this was obviously put in there by J.K. Rowling to attack Patriot Act type laws which can be abused to invade people’s civil liberties.

The Muggle Born Registry that the Ministry of Magic an allusion to what happened to Jewish people in Germany and to a lesser extent Japanese people in the United States during World War 2.

There are about 10 funny dick/size of the wand jokes in the book.

On page 204 Lupin tells Ron and Hermione that “you shouldn’t be so quick to lower your defenses” I could be wrong, but I think that line was a nod from Rowling to Star Wars because that line is nearly identical to something that Vader tells Luke in Return of the Jedi.

On page 440 Kingsley while speaking on Potterwatch Radio says this when asked why wizards should try to help Muggles as much as other wizards: “ I’d say it is one short step from Wizards first’ to Purebloods first,’ and then to Death Eaters, We’re all humans ,aren’t we. Every human life is worth the same and worth saving.” This reminded me of this famous quote from Pastor Martin Niemöller during World War Two: “First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.” Kingsley’s plea on Potterwatch to help Muggles was a restating of that idea that if you don’t help others who are experiencing great suffering eventually that suffering will come back to you.

I think the whole scene of Lupin trying to leave his child on page 215 and Harry’s Parents Should Not Leave Their Kids Speech was a dig at Rowling’s first husband.

On page 506 Hermione says “Wizarding history often skates over what the wizards have done to other magical races” This is reference to how often a dominant (usually western) culture likes to not always acknowledge misdeeds of its past.

On page 148 there is a misunderstanding between Victor Krum who thinks that Xenophilius (friend of the foreign in Greek) Lovegood is wearing the mark of the dark lord Grindevald. It turned out that the Grindevald coopted the ancient symbol for his own use. This is similiar to what the Nazi's did with the Swastika which is a symbol that is over 3000 years old and was originally a symbol for good.  

Page 208 it is discussed why Voldemort does just declare himself Minster of Magic. To paraphrase Lupin, Voldemort becoming Minster would spark an open rebellion but by wielding power from the shadows he creates fear and uncertainty. Maybe it is because of my political bias, but think this exchanged was intended to be a dig at Dick Cheney. I mean if Cheney actually president instead of Bush and his dimwitted folksy personae, I think there would have been a lot more indignation at the war and some of the things that have gone on in this country. But alas, that is another rant for another day.

On a random side note, do the 3 main characters of Harry Potter remind anyone else of the 3 main charecters of the T.V. show Boy Meets World? Hermione=Topanga, Ron=Shawn, and Harry=Corey.

On a final note, I have to say unlike The Sopranos, I was pretty damn good predicting some of the major plot points of this book. In addition, I will probably post more about the book at a later date and that post will contain main plot line spoilers.