The Deathly Hallows

The final installment of the epic series known as the Harry Potter series culminates in a fantastic adventure, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This is an excellent book that takes the reader through the final chapter in Harry's struggle against the evil dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. This novel deals with heavy themes like coming to terms with forgiving the dead. This theme of course is manifested with Harry's distrust of previous headmaster Albus Dumbledore who was killed in the previous book. Harry struggles through the entire novel wondering whether or not Dumbledore loved him. We never get a definitive answer as readers. This ambiguity leaves the reader to infer his own personal preferences upon this topic. Generally the reader will infer that Dumbledore did indeed love Harry. This novel also serves as a coming of age novel for many of the characters. Snape has often been perceived as a malicious character, yet through this novel we see his true character which isn’t malicious at all. Rather it’s loving, just in a strange sort of way that as readers we don’t fully understand until we see things from Snape’s point of view.

Major Works

The only series Rowling has ever published is the famed Harry Potter series. There are seven installments to the mainstream series, as well as three supplementary texts to the Potter series. The majority of the Potter series has been on the New York Times Bestseller List, with the first three topping the list at some point (hawes.com).

The series takes readers through the life of a boy who believes he is normal, when in fact, he is extraordinary. Harry Potter grew up like a normal child would have, but on his eleventh birthday discovers that he has the capability to perform magic. He sets off for one of the premier wizarding schools in Europe, Hogwars School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Over the next seven years of his life, Harry Potter encounters yearly threats on his life, primarily from a single assailant known as Lord Voldermort. Voldermort is the antithesis of good. Harry's struggles culminate in the last book when Harry finally kills the evil wizard. Multiple themes are encountered in the book including growing up, relationships, and facing your problems.

The supplementary texts aren't part of the series but rather an addition to the series. I suppose if you saw the main seven books as a straight line with seven points representing the books, the supplementary texts would be perpendicular to the main story line. It is somewhat a convoluted way of thinking about it, but that's about how to describe it.

"Adult New York Times Bestseller Listings", 5-3-10,

Major Themes

I would have to say the most obvious major theme that JK Rowling tackles in her books is the theme of growing up and facing your challenges. It is quite apparent throughout her Harry Potter series. Harry and his friends are constantly battling challenges whether it be evil wizards of their N.E.W.T.s. I believe this is somewhat connected to Rowling's life before she became famous. She was the person who didn't have much to live off of, who was always at the bar whittling away at the day. Then she decided she should grab life by the horns and show it who's boss. This is apparent through Harry's success at the end of each novel. Of course there are some losses along the way but that's only because not everything can be fine and dandy in a dark world.

Growing up and relationships are also major themes addressed by the series. The transformation from little helpless, albeit confident, boy into a big bad (he's really a good) wizard who takes names and kicks butt. He also experiences a variety of relationships throughout the series. His friendships with Ron and Hermione are put to the test several times. Although during the period where a fight might exist things seem hopeless for the trio, they always do end up being friends. it is these friendships that the entire sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, was based off of.

Career

Rowling has had an extensive career with only a single series of books. Such a feat is an accomplishment in and of itself for a writer. Rowling is valued at somewhere around one billion dollars (community.livejournal.com). Even with such an incredible net worth, Rowling is documented as being quite the philanthropist, giving generously to Volant Charitable trust, which helps women and children (thebiographychannel.co.uk).

Among the awards that Rowling has been granted are the UK Excellence award for "promoting British excellence" (nrtco.net). She has aslo been elcted to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society premiers advanced minds in such fields as science and the humanities (nrtco.net). In addition to these honors, Rowling has received the Order of the British Empire. Another notworthy achievement for Rowling was she was granted with an honorary degree from Edinburgh's Napier University.

Again it is important to emphasize that all these awards have stemmed from a single, albeit long, series of books. I would be hardpressed to find another author with similar recognition from one series of books. I suppose part of the reason her fame is so far-stretched is due to the movie base which has to date brought in over 3.5 billion dollars. It's also arguably the longest single series of movies with the final two installments due any time now. There will be a total of eight movies produced when the series ends.

"Awards and Degrees", 2001 Reuters Limited, 5-3-10, <http://www.nrtco.net/~gtv/jk_rowling.htm>

"JK Rowling Worth Exactly 1 Bil", 5-3-10,

"JK Rowling Biography", 5-3-10,

It's all about the B.Ground

Joanne Rowling (pronounced like you 'row' a boat) was born on July 31, 1965. Her sister, Di, was born almost two years afterwards. When the two weren't at each others throats, which according to the elder sibling was a small amount of time, they would make up and act out stories that turned into long-running plays (jkrowling.com).

Ignoring a few years of history, Rowling ended up in Portugal teaching an English class (thescotsman.com). Long story short she ended up back in England with a daughter, a failed marriage, and a not-quite-finished manuscript for the first Harry Potter book. Rowling set to work furiously finishing the manuscript because she felt pressed for time with a daughter and possible classes to manage.

The first attempt to get a gig with a publisher was an utter failure. Rowling believes the manuscripts "must have been sent back the day they arrived" (jkrowling.com). But she did not quit. Her second attempt at getting an agent was a success. A year after finding her agent, in August of 1996, Bloomsbury was willing to give the Harry Potter series a try. The rest, as they say, is history.

Rowling, J.K. "Biography." J.K. Rowling Official Site. April 12, 2010.