Arthur Levine, the editor for the US editions of the Potter books,
recently gave a talk at Yale. He spoke about his reaction to '
Half-Blood Prince' and briefly touched on book 7.
Quote:
"I think that there is a lot of metaphorical truth in the books, and I think that particularly when she talks about things like the protection of love," Levine said. "I think the reading experience is more rich and complex than just a bunch of fun, funky magical effects."
Quote:
"I think I'll have complex feelings about [the last book]," Levine said. "It's clearly the series that I will be best known for. But it won't be, it's not the end of my career. It's not the last thing J.K. Rowling will write either, and my relationship with her will continue."
In regards to the death in '
Half-Blood Prince', Arthur said:
Quote:
"First, I felt just shock, and then I felt there's no way, just no way, Dumbledore couldn't be dead," Levine said. "So I thought, 'What's the trick?' but unfortunately J.K. Rowling doesn't do that. She's writing about war and in war people die. They are not protected by their office and the esteem in which they are held. She wouldn't compromise that idea by easily bringing him back."
Source:
The Leaky Cauldron