Well, I just want to respond to the charge of clunky writing and also the reviewer’s insight that Rowling writes best when she slows down for the details of the wizard world, the things in their daily lives that appear so humdrum to them, but so enchanting to us. I agree that this is the best of her writing. I had a drawing teacher once, who always advised, “reward yourself with detail.” By this she meant, get the outline and proportions correct first, and then create the embellishments that will make the picture lifelike. Rowling rewards us with the details.

I did feel that the almost-final scene, Harry’s solitary walk through the forest to confront Voldemort, combined the best of all Rowling’s techniques. Clearly she is drawing on the Christian archetype of sacrifice; it is her final borrowing, and a topper; it is unabashed, even pointed. Yet during this walk Harry finds himself able to summon the ghosts of the people he loves, and here she comes again with the earthy details. In this brief scene, each in turn speaks to him with reassurance and love. Harry turns to his mother last, and asks her to stay close to him. The mother detail was just a ..... bullseye.

I not only was crying my eyes out at that point, but I was absolutely convinced that Harry would die, and that this was the right way to end the story.

The first All Dogs, and none of the dreadful sequels. My kids' all-time favorite, and mine too. Don Bluth at the peak of his writing and direction skills. Burt Reynolds as Charlie Barkin, the dog mobster with a heart after all, dancing through the heavenly clouds wth Annabele the angel dog, delivers one of my favorites lines in any cartoon, ever:

"You have natural rhythm — unusual in a whippet."