Harry Potter--no spoilers (I haven't even read Goblet of Fire yet!)

[furtech]

You know what tickles me? I LOVE seeing people (kids especially) enjoying the release of the latest Potter book with celebration, parties and a look of awe and reverence as they hold a Very Precious Thing in their hands.


(news photo)

I haven't been that excited about a book's release in years: back to when you discovered a long-awaited book suddenly appears on the shelves and you suddenly have the Best Day Ever. Buy the book, take it home-- almost afraid to open the cover because you know that once you do this, you will eventually get to the end. You want to save it-- but you open the cover anyway and start reading...into the night...blearily the next morning...happiness.

I'm sorry I didn't go to any of the parties at the bookstores (especially since this is the last book), though I had fun at them in the past. So neat to see the faces of kids looking that ecstatic about a book...

Comments

[penh.livejournal.com]

I went to Barnes & Noble at midnight last night with roomies so they could get their copies. I personally haven't read any of the series, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to go to a bookstore at midnight. When I was 10, that would have been the second awesomest Awesome ever (after my parents taking my brother & me out of school to go see Return of the Jedi). I contented myself with buying a few other books while everyone else was standing in line (Richard Matheson horror collection, woo!). I gotta say, it was great to see a full bookstore like that. Readers everywhere!

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ^_^ I've read, here and there, of others' dismay that some people - adults, even! - would find themselves so caught up in a book setting as to eagerly anticipate its finale.

But this is the wonder of finding oneself caught in a setting, whether it's a book series, Second Life, or anything else - it might not seem sensible from the "outside", but can the ignition of one's sense of wonder really ever be adequately conveyed?

We can but hope their fascination with reading blossoms, of course, just as it illuminated the childhood of those knowing works as The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, or Jennie.

[gilmorelion.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that even tho I don't care for Harry Potter, it is a VERY good thing seeing kids read. Even better is that they're enjoying it so much. Hopefully this will establish a life-long habit. I must admit I feel like I've missed out with all the hoopla, but that's okay too.

[mix-hyenataur.livejournal.com]

WITCHES!!! BURN THEM ALL!!!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

hehheh.. we picked up our copy :>
Yep.. isn't the interest in reading a great thing to behold?
One concept mom is having trouble with, is that she thinks there will be a shortage of books, and that she needs to stand in a line to get one. I can't get her to see that you only need to stand in the line if you want to get one FIRST. ;P

[kvogel.livejournal.com]

We got ours via Amazon delivery about midday, we had been waiting around for it to arrive, anxiously glancing out the window at every passing vehicle. I couldn't stand it anymore and went out back to do some yard work. Bev got the start, but in her current condition, she had to give it up and take a long nap. I read it all in a single very long sitting, about nine hours straight. Fun.

[vulpesrex.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid - we're talking mid-60's, here, in California elementary school system - each month or so, the teacher would hand out a mini-catalog of books - NEW BOOKS! - that you could BUY from the Scholastic Books Company. Each student got one, along with an order sheet. Each book had a picture of the cover, and a 4-sentence synopsis or teaser about the subject or story. I would take mine home, and circle the ones I wanted (Adventure, juvenile science experiments, how things work, juvenile Sci-Fi), and my mom would consider usually 2, if I was lucky and our household budget would allow, as many as 3. And the day that we actually had the cash, I would take my money and my order to school, along with the 10 or 12 other kids who actually LIKED to read books.

And the books would arrive, about 10 days later - a brown cardboard box, with all the orders for our classroom, of shiny new paperback books, with that new-book smell. We had to wait until after class to actually read them, but it was the highlight of the month, for many of us. I wonder of the Scholastic Book Company still does that?

Fast forward about 3 decades, plus a little - the very first Furry convention that I attended was ConFURence 9. And the very first thing that I actually bought there was a Terrie Smith print, a beautiful illustration in colored-pencil of a scene from "A Whisper of Wings", depicting this incredibly beautiful female creature with the body of an anthro fox, with monarch butterfly wings and antennae. Flowing red scalp hair, holding 2 long machete-like knives, and (apparently) singing. She was in a lush green forest, with more creatures of her race in the background. The man behind the table (it was Glen Wooten) explained that this was an illustration from this book by Paul Kidd, and he patiently repeated the title, author's name, and publisher for me. I knew that I HAD to read that book! And I waited for it to be published...and waited...and waited...

...And FINALLY it was produced, and available on Amazon. My home PC would not actually let me order on-line, for some reason, but I hoped to get it at Further Confusion, soon upcoming. Meanwhile, my father was casting about for suggestions for a Christmas present, and since he habituated Amazon Books a lot, I suggested this - 2 days before Christmas.

It arrived on Christmas Eve. Never, as an adult, had I been so excited about Christmas Eve before. The book had even been gift-wrapped by the Amazon Staff. I set it up on the mantlepiece, to be opened on Christmas morning...Only I couldn't sleep!

THe next morning - after a breakfast of sweetrolls - I slowly and carefully ripped off the wrapping paper, and proceeded to discover Shadari's world, and went through 179 pages, and only with a huge amount of self-discipline was I able to set it aside at a convenient (that is, least-frustrating) point where the thrust of the story changes. to be picked up later. For the rest of the holiday week, I rationed out reading time, and when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the story. Of course, it had to come to an end - but I had never enjoyed the whole experience, from deliciously agonizing waiting period through to story completion, as much as I did for that one book. And I don't know if I ever will be able to, again.

And, yes - I did get hooked on Harry Potter; but I haven't actually needed to buy a copy of any of the books, thanks to the LASFS library and to Rob Powell, I will probably buy this last book, in a week or so.

[penh.livejournal.com]

Oh, hell yeah. I remember Scholastic Book Days. I would always want to order half the catalog, but my parents reined me in and limited me to three or four. I've still got some of them lying around, 20+ years later. :)

[crocuta.livejournal.com]

I do think it is wonderful to see people so interested in something like this,
thank goodness kids have good reasons to read now and new books are being treated like a fantastic present. Bravo!
I have much the same feeling when my favorite bands turn out new music.. an entire album of new stuff! I also feel that way about some movies, especially those I look forward to(which are few and far between unfortunately). I used to get excited about books but I've not read any good series in -ages- and it seems when I do get into a series the author inevitably screws it up in a way I just can't enjoy..so I quit reading them. I'm too picky I guess.

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Despite the fact that I think it's gotten over-hyped and over-marketed... it's darn good to see. Kids are eagerly reading these enormously thick books. What's even better is that they're discussing them, guessing, and using their minds. I'm hoping that, even after this series has long been concluded, we'll have a generation that have learned the joys of books.

(I'm only a few chapters into book 7, myself...)