Fear and Loathing in Godric's Hollow

There is a lot of fear and loathing in HP fandom about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last volume in Jo Rowling's series. Loathing, because we (readers, publishers, bookstores) hate to see the end of the series, and fear, because we know she will kill off some of our heroes, possibly including Harry. Fear too, because we love her now but fear that she may just be the kind of sadist who might do that murder most foul, thereby earning our undying bitterness - or so we fear.

Of course there is also the fear that, whatever happens, the seventh book won't be as good as the others. Sequels are never supposed to be as good as the originals, but of course she has now written five of them without a clinker. Yet.

For some books, the author is part of the story, and Jo's is one of the more dramatic. We love Harry and we loved the story of the single mother writing her books in longhand in Cafes. Thus, it was a bit of downer to learn that HP 7 was finished in a posh suite of the Balmoral Hotel, though we appreciate that the world's most famous author might no longer be able to write the world's most anticipated book in public venues.

I can't say I cared much for the fact that she celebrated the completion by noting the fact in some graffiti on a hotel vase - which no doubt gained immensely in value as a result. Has success and becoming a billionaire spoiled JKR? We certainly hope not, but such things happen.

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