Harry Potter: Fact or Faux?

[Choo-ChooAKA]

I'm with you. I pre-ordered mine, too - through Borders. I can't wait!

I'm taking my kids to the release party on Friday night (they're an excuse for me to go ). We'll be there when the first issues are handed out!

Let's chat about it on Monday (I'm sure we'll be finished by then). Can't wait! It's been waaaaay to long.

[Bamboozled]

You do know the book is 896 pages, right? I don't know about finishing over the weekend, but I'm sure I'll get through quite a bit of it. We'll definitely have to chat about it on Monday. I REALLY want to go to a release party, but I don't have any little kids to take with me . I guess I'll just have to wait for you to tell me how it was, LOL.

[Choo-ChooAKA]

I heard it was a LITTLE longer than Book IV, not 100+ pages longer! Hmmm, we may have to chat week after next (I don't have time to read during the week, so if I'm not finished by this Sunday, then I'll have to wait until next weekend).

I'll fill you in on the party.

[AXEgirl]

I LOVE HARRY POTTER!

I can't wait until the new book comes out!

As an aside, the first book, Harry Potter and the Philsopher's Stone, is actually based on a very old story in alchemy. I didn't learn that until I pledged my professional chemistry fraternity.

[Choo-ChooAKA]

Tell me more! Was it something to do with Nicholas Flammel?

[SigmaChiCard]

Originally posted by Choo-ChooAKA
Tell me more! Was it something to do with Nicholas Flammel?

All I know is that he was a real person forever ago, and that there is some pub with his photo in it. I guess maybe he was an alchemist or sonething

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by SigmaChiCard
there is some pub with his photo in it

What's the name of it?

[Intense1920]

Books-a-million is doing pre-orders for the fifth book at 40% off (at $17.99) the retail price with an additional 10% off (at $16.19) if you are a discount club member.

[abaici]

Originally posted by Bamboozled
You do know the book is 896 pages, right? I don't know about finishing over the weekend, but I'm sure I'll get through quite a bit of it. We'll definitely have to chat about it on Monday. I REALLY want to go to a release party, but I don't have any little kids to take with me . I guess I'll just have to wait for you to tell me how it was, LOL.

It's supposedly 1/3 longer than The Goblet of Fire.

I am trying to find a child to take to the release party. At times like this, I wish I had children!


Well, since I start my summer vacation on Friday, I WILL be finished by Monday.

[aopirose]

I am too! I have a child but he is only 2 and will be sleeping very hard come midnight. LOL

Originally posted by abaici

I am trying to find a child to take to the release party. At times like this, I wish I had children!

[UDZETA]

I am going to the release party tonight! I pre-ordered my book! It should be a good time! People get too bent out of shape about the Harry Potter books. I enjoy them and one year for Christmas my family thought it would be cute to buy me a Harry Potter broom with sound effects and all! My family kills me. I look forward to reading the book!

[abaici]

I've secured a child, and now I'm prepared to face the crowd tonight. With this being the first weekend school is out here, the the first weekend of summer, the release of the Hulk and Harry Potter, I will be wild tonight!

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by abaici
I've secured a child, and now I'm prepared to face the crowd tonight. With this being the first weekend school is out here, the the first weekend of summer, the release of the Hulk and Harry Potter, I will be wild tonight!

LOL at securing a child.

[Bamboozled]

Choo-ChooAKA, where are you, LOL?

What does everyone think so far? I'm only on page 230-something, so I can only comment on those pages.

1. Is anyone else surprised by Harry's behavior? I mean, so far, he's acting like a jealous, selfish, childish, self-centered brat! I mean seriously, he's getting on my nerves. This boy is ALWAYS the center of attention and the second that Ron gets some shine, he's pissed? I'm not feeling that. Also, the way he was treating Ron and Hermione in the beginning was awful as well. He needs to bring it down a couple of notches.

2. I already hated Cornelius Fudge and now the rest of the Ministry of Magic is shady as well. And what's up with Percy? I knew he was a bit over the top from book four, but he's taken it to a new level. Poor Mrs. Weasley.

3. I really like Luna Lovegood. The child's a bit on the strange side, but I have a feeling I'm going to like her more and more as the book goes on. There seems to be a lot of new characters already. I hope I can keep them all straight. Oh yeah, I'm already picturing Michael Clarke Duncan (big dude from The Green Mile) playing Kingsley Shacklebolt in the movie.

4. I think I know who's going to die. I hope I'm wrong, but I think there was a hint in the beginning. If you already know, PLEASE don't tell me.

Hopefully, I haven't given anything away for those who haven't gotten as far. What are everyone else's thoughts? Has anyone finished the book?

[Choo-ChooAKA]

OK, I only have a minute but I'll come back later. I'm about where you are in the book.

Yes, I, too, really like Luna Lovegood. What do you think of her name? Since most of Rowlings' character's names are somehow indicative of their personalities, I'm wondering what we may discover about her later. I'm thinking she could be a love interest for Harry if Cho doesn't pan out. She seems to have some intuitive wizarding powers that I haven't seen in any of the young wizards other than Harry.

You're right. Harry does seem a little funky in this one, hunh? I think it's about time he gets upset. This whole Harry vs. Voldemort thing is a little much for a 15-year-old kid. I think, by this time, if I were Harry I would want to just live life as an adolescent and not be burdened by knowing someone wants ME DEAD. I might be a little angry too and, really, who do we lash out at most when we're angry? The people closest to us, ofcourse. Harry's attitude will be a true test for his close friends, though. Regarding his being a little upset over Ron's honor: maybe Rowlings is trying to show that he's not above feelings of jealousy? He's got a lot on his plate.

Kingsley Shacklebolt does seem like he will be an interesting character. I would rather see this character played by someone other than Michael Clarke Duncan, though. Since Wizards are known for their intelligence, not their physical strength, maybe someone like Don Cheedle would better fit the role?

The Ministry IS DEFINITELY SINISTER and the new Dark Arts teacher is just awful. I'm sure she will go the way of all the others. I personally think Cornelius Fudge is a Death Eater; he's got all the signs. Calling Harry and Dumbledore loony is just a cover-up. He doesn't want everyone to know that Voldemort is back, so he's discrediting sources that say he is.

That's it for now. I'll come back later.

OH, on a side-note. I went to a birthday party with my chil'ren on Sunday and there was a girl there who saw the book in my hand and struck up a conversation. I was delighted to have someone to discuss it with so I asked her how far she was. Well, she said she didn't have the book yet. So, I asked her how she liked the others. She said she hadn't gotten through them all. So, I asked her how far she had gotten and how she was enjoying it. She said she actually had not read any of the books but had seen both movies, but, she was definitely going to buy the set of 5 soon. I could not hold my tongue (and I am a very polite person, normally), I just had to say it: "Why don't you start by buying the first one and READING IT." She looked at me as if she wasn't sure what I had just said and I was so surprised at myself that I clamped my mouth shut and forbade myself to speak another word. Eventually, I got up and walked away. I'm an English teacher and a reader. I do not buy books as "collector's items." It is just totally against my nature.