Color me underwhelmed

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and am thinking "this is what all the fuss was about? I suspect it would have helped if I were more deeply immersed in the series and characters, because it feels as though we're supposed to get most of the characterization, and hence caring about most of the characters, from memories of the previous volumes. I had read the previous books as they came out, though.

Also, much of the second half of the book had a "collecting plot coupons" feel about it. And I'm tired of, and unimpressed by, large numbers of characters whose motivation for evil deeds appears to be that they have chosen to be Evil (rather than, say, greed, anger, fear, lust, or revenge).

Color me underwhelmed

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and am thinking "this is what all the fuss was about? I suspect it would have helped if I were more deeply immersed in the series and characters, because it feels as though we're supposed to get most of the characterization, and hence caring about most of the characters, from memories of the previous volumes. I had read the previous books as they came out, though.

Also, much of the second half of the book had a "collecting plot coupons" feel about it. And I'm tired of, and unimpressed by, large numbers of characters whose motivation for evil deeds appears to be that they have chosen to be Evil (rather than, say, greed, anger, fear, lust, or revenge).

sad news

I just got off the phone with Lise Eisenberg. Her father died last night. She's upset and I think hasn't entirely taken it in: he'd been ill for months (which is why she was calling me from Brooklyn rather than Japan), but not in a way that suggested the end was imminent.

At the moment, she's trying to sort out funeral and burial plans (he had no religious affiliation, nor does she, in the sense of being connected to a rabbi or synagogue, and he didn't own a cemetery plot, and decide whether to sit shivah in his apartment or her own, and figure out who she needs to notify, and whether she's executor of the will. (That last involves calling her lawyer's office, a matter better saved for Monday during the day.)

We stayed on the phone a while, a mix of trying to find answers to questions, and just trying to raise her mood a little, and verify that she's staying properly hydrated, and such.

ETA: I don't think Lise reads this regularly, and I'm virtually certain she's not reading it right now. So condolences or offers of assistance should go directly to her.

sad news

I just got off the phone with Lise Eisenberg. Her father died last night. She's upset and I think hasn't entirely taken it in: he'd been ill for months (which is why she was calling me from Brooklyn rather than Japan), but not in a way that suggested the end was imminent.

At the moment, she's trying to sort out funeral and burial plans (he had no religious affiliation, nor does she, in the sense of being connected to a rabbi or synagogue, and he didn't own a cemetery plot, and decide whether to sit shivah in his apartment or her own, and figure out who she needs to notify, and whether she's executor of the will. (That last involves calling her lawyer's office, a matter better saved for Monday during the day.)

We stayed on the phone a while, a mix of trying to find answers to questions, and just trying to raise her mood a little, and verify that she's staying properly hydrated, and such.

ETA: I don't think Lise reads this regularly, and I'm virtually certain she's not reading it right now. So condolences or offers of assistance should go directly to her.