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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince/HP Phenomenon
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From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 09:48:05 -0500
Megan asked: I know one of the things I noticed in the midst of all the release parties and media coverage in my community was the number of teen readers eagerly awaiting the release. I was pleased to see kids about to enter college who had been 10 or 11 when the first book was published, as well as those just entering high school. But were the ones I saw on tv or in the newspaper the exception or the rule?
I had reviewed a number of the previous HP books, most on pretty intense deadlines. So all the hoopla about release dates always makes me a little crazy, especially when certain newspaper reviewers manage to finagle an early copy. So, this time, when my editor at the newspaper said he would just run it in the regular Sunday supplement, I had a few days to read and write and did not plan on staying up late and getting my own copy. I was pleasantly surprised when my 18-year-old son Andrew said, "We are all going to Borders for the release of the new Harry Potter; how many copies should I pick up?" Hmmm. I was surprised that his group of college-bound friends were all heading down to the bookstore with the little kids in their Harry glasses and Hogwarts scarves, especially when they all knew there would be plenty of copies in the morning. Then, for the next day or two, they all read. Claire would call and ask what page I was on, what page Dean was on and where Andrew was. Then Andrew would talk with Pico who had finished earliest--Pico was just urging him on so he would have someone to talk to about the book. About five days after the release, Andrew and his friends got together at our house for dessert and every one of them had read it, had STRONG opinions about the ending and were excited to discuss the various possibilities for the next book. I was amazed. And delighted. I hope they can get together after HP7 to compare notes and see how well their prophesies have turned out. When I asked Claire what the attraction was, she said, "We grew up with Harry!"
A close friend was traveling on the release date and she reported seeing many, many people, delighted to have found copies in airport bookshops, hunkered down with the book. They were mostly adults and young adults, sometimes families gathered around a reader.
***************
Robin Smith Nashville, TN
Received on Thu 04 Aug 2005 09:48:05 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 09:48:05 -0500
Megan asked: I know one of the things I noticed in the midst of all the release parties and media coverage in my community was the number of teen readers eagerly awaiting the release. I was pleased to see kids about to enter college who had been 10 or 11 when the first book was published, as well as those just entering high school. But were the ones I saw on tv or in the newspaper the exception or the rule?
I had reviewed a number of the previous HP books, most on pretty intense deadlines. So all the hoopla about release dates always makes me a little crazy, especially when certain newspaper reviewers manage to finagle an early copy. So, this time, when my editor at the newspaper said he would just run it in the regular Sunday supplement, I had a few days to read and write and did not plan on staying up late and getting my own copy. I was pleasantly surprised when my 18-year-old son Andrew said, "We are all going to Borders for the release of the new Harry Potter; how many copies should I pick up?" Hmmm. I was surprised that his group of college-bound friends were all heading down to the bookstore with the little kids in their Harry glasses and Hogwarts scarves, especially when they all knew there would be plenty of copies in the morning. Then, for the next day or two, they all read. Claire would call and ask what page I was on, what page Dean was on and where Andrew was. Then Andrew would talk with Pico who had finished earliest--Pico was just urging him on so he would have someone to talk to about the book. About five days after the release, Andrew and his friends got together at our house for dessert and every one of them had read it, had STRONG opinions about the ending and were excited to discuss the various possibilities for the next book. I was amazed. And delighted. I hope they can get together after HP7 to compare notes and see how well their prophesies have turned out. When I asked Claire what the attraction was, she said, "We grew up with Harry!"
A close friend was traveling on the release date and she reported seeing many, many people, delighted to have found copies in airport bookshops, hunkered down with the book. They were mostly adults and young adults, sometimes families gathered around a reader.
***************
Robin Smith Nashville, TN
Received on Thu 04 Aug 2005 09:48:05 AM CDT
