I loved the book. It was masterful, in so many ways--not just the tying up of loose ends, but the settings, the atmosphere...I know some readers didn't enjoy the seemingly endless trips to the countryside, but I think they were absolutely essential. As I was reading those chapters--so little action, so much moving about--I began feeling anxious and frustrated, just like Ron. It was claustrophobic and expertly written. The chapters beginning with the capture and escape from the Malfoy's place to the end of the book are an emotional roller coaster, nail-biting, heartbreaking, bittersweet, triumphant...to quote Peeves, I luuuurved it.
More than any of the other books, for me at least, this one felt more like a nearly straightforward mystery, but I sensed some definite nods to Tolkien. There is even one line, describing the Hermione doppleganger coming out from the locket, in which she is said to be "more beautiful and yet more terrible..."...all I could think of was Galadriel when Frodo presented her with the ring. JKR's pace, plot, settings, I would say as a writer she is on par with JRRT. I think he edges her out only in that his writing can be so lyrical, consistently lyrical--but the authors were writing for different audiences, and I don't really think I'd place the LOTR series and the HP series in the same genre. The HP series is fantasy, a little mystery/suspense, but essentially fiction. The LOTR series (and here I include The Silmarillion) is what I would classify as historical mythology. Our world simply has no place in it.
Loved it, loved it, loved it!
And I've since seen a couple of your other posts. I gather you are like my wife and me. We mocked the first book -- and marveled at the last two. Particularly DH.
Dan