Unlike other wizard-crazed Muggles I know, I spent an entire week (not one weekend) reading the 758-page finale to the Harry Potter series. Even though I was pretty certain how the book would end, I was still surprised by some of the twists and turns Rowling took to get me there. It’s not about the ending for me, anyway, it’s about the journey. I’ve read Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings three times and seen the movies more than I care to count, but the quest still remains an entertaining one.

And what twists Rowling took! Enough people die in this novel to make Shakespeare’s tragedies pale in comparison. Rowling does a good job of creating realistic characters whose motivations are not always clear. The good are not always so good, and the bad have their redemptive qualities. Even Harry’s long-time enemy Draco Malfoy redeems himself.

Because of the praise showered on this book, though, I feel the need to level some criticisms at it since apparently no one else will. I don’t want to be that guy who craps on something hugely popular just to give the appearance of being above it all. I’ve read the entire Harry Potter series, and I was excited as everyone else at finding out how it all ended. But I don’t want to say every pages was a slice of fried gold.
Similar to another seven-book series that recently ended, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, the last three books of this series were each almost as long or longer than the first three books combined. I don’t mind length in books, but at times Rowling seems like she is searching for a way to her pre-defined ending as much as her famous protagonists. In addition, after nearly 4,000 pages of Hogwarts magic, Harry is still using the same tricks he learned in the first book. I nearly stopped reading the series in it’s bloated fifth book, which has now been made into the shortest of the movies, because the surprises were no longer surprises. How many more times he can use that damned invisibility cloak to overhear a crucial conversation? In the first couple of books, which were both under 300 pages, it was fine, but spread across 700 or 800 pages it starts to get old.

Also, while some parts of the novel read at a blistering pace, other parts seem to drag on forever. The parts where Harry, Hermione, and Ron try to figure what to do seemed to take the literal months that transpired in the novel. The respite at Bill and Fleur Weasley’s house, Shell Cottage, which provides a break before the breakneck endgame, also nearly drags the novel to a halt.

Additionally, I feel a little cheated by the final events of the book. I think so many people were afraid Harry would die, because they had already figured out that he was one of the horcruxes used to keep Voldemort alive. That was one reason why I was so anxious for this last book, to see whether Rowling would actually kill off her main character. As a writer, I can understand why she would not (not to mention the fans that would probably call for her life, too), but at the same time how bold would that have been? She resolves the problem by having it both ways.

I’m sure I’ll get angry mail for even suggesting The Deathly Hallows is anything other than a masterpiece of modern fiction, and to be honest, my own complaints about the novel did not keep my from reading the hefty volume. I can’t think of another book that length that I read so quickly. But, just like Harry’s creator, I’m glad the ride has finally come to and end.

Three of Memphis’ most consistent and most beloved female artists join forces Saturday evening for a show at Otherlands Coffee Bar. Susan Marshall, Kim Richardson and Reba Russell will perform as The Ho! Ho! Ho’s! — love that name! — along with special guest Rick Steff on keys. (8 p.m.; $5)

The folks from the Mississippi Delta Tourism Association are giving away a six-night trip through the Delta, complete with meals, accommodations, a little gambling cash and the chance to visit the Delta’s best cultural and heritage sites.

The prize includes overnight stays at Greenwood’s Alluvian Hotel, The Big Pink Guest House in Clarksdale and one of Tunica’s casino hotels; meals including dinner at  Lusco’s (Greenwood) and  lunch at Timbeaux’s (Hernando); and entrance to a variety of attractions.

The trip, set for September  10 - 15, ends at the Delta Blues and Heritage Festival in Greenville.

Register to win the trip through August 31 at www.visitthedelta.com

If you’re hankering for a good dose of old-fashioned ice cream, pick up today’s Playbook and read my story about the old shops around town. It was a fun story to write, thanks in no small part to my great little tasters. In order: Oliver, Lily and Ellis.

I call Oliver Davidson, 12, and Lily Stivers, 5, my nephew and niece, but it’s confusing. I’m an only child, but the oldest grandchild and my extended family is a close one. They’re actually children of my cousins, but our relationships are closer than cousins typically are, so it’s just easier to say niece and nephew.

Ellis Keplinger, 9, is the son of my co-worker Emily Keplinger. We ran into him when I was reviewing Pearl’s and he convinced me, as he was downing raw oysters, that he would make a good kid critic.

So we headed around town and into Mississippi and Arkansas, sampling ice cream, snow cones and the delicious hamburgers you find at the shake shacks. We LOVED the cheeseburger at Big John’s in Marion.

In China, you bargain. Period.

I learned my lesson at the Ming Tombs. We had just exited and I was thirsty. There were several stands selling bottled water. I went to one, asked the price (equivilent of $1 US) and paid it. We took a couple of steps and the lady selling water right next to the first stand hissed at me with a scowl, “You pay too much!”

One buck seemed fair to me. But I didn’t bargain so I got scolded.

Then there was the t-shirt. I had been glancing at a certain black t-shirt with a dragon as we walked by a lot of stalls. One man just threw this t-shirt at me and, instinctively, I caught it. Good salesmanship. I did bargain this time (not very seriously) and paid the equivilent of $3 US. I thought that was a great price.

Now it was my husband who hissed, “You pay too much.” Then he set out to prove it. This t-shirt was all over the place, so he went a few stalls further and bargained hard for the same shirt. He sealed the deal at $1.25 (10 yuan).

“See.”

As we got on our tour bus, he crowed about his bargaining prowess to our fellow travelers.

That was like throwing down the gauntlet.

Our next stop was The Great Wall, or as we now call it, “The Great Wall-Mart.” If you think the wall itself is a wonder, you should see the shopping! And, the black dragon t-shirt was being heavily hawked. When someone offered it to my dear husband (we were just walking by), he shouted, “Ten yuan;” the price he paid earlier. Then the lady shouted back, “OK!”

“Drat!” he said, “I pay too much.”

And sure enough, when we got on the bus a fellow passenger proudly waved his own dragon t-shirt and shouted out, “Eight yuan!” He outdid hubby by a quarter.

This is the great thing — those cotton t-shirts didn’t shrink and have held up like crazy. So I still think mine was a bargain at $3.

This just in: Sign on the door says Ciao Bella is open until further notice. Update as soon as we know anything. (By the way, I’m on vacation for a WHOLE WEEK after today, although I might post if I’m eating anything really good. And if anyone’s been to Anna Maria Island and has suggestions, now is the time to speak.)