Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[Ash]

I just pre-ordered Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday at Barnes & Noble.com.
It comes out this weekend on the 21st.

I've read all of the books so far and I must find out what happens in the end!
Will Harry die?



How about you?
Are you planning to read this book?

[RCMerchant]

  I'm confused!

[DodgingGrunge]

I was working at a book store when the first few books came out.  And anything that could unite so many disparate groups of people was something I wanted no part of.  Working retail, the customer is always wrong.    Actually, one of the main reasons I have never read them is that I don't care for their author, Ms. Rowling.  And so long as I can help it, I won't contribute to her fortune.

Insofar as children's books, give me Barker's Thief of Always or Gaiman's Coraline any day.

[Shadow]

I'll be buying it Saturday morning and I guarantee to have the entire thing read by nightfall.

[Yaddo 42]

Haven't read any of them, but plenty of people I know will and already have their pre-bought vouchers to get it at 12:01 am.

My sister loaned me the first two a while back, I've been tempted to try the first one, but never seriously. My taste in fantasy runs to Terry Prachett. Hear good things about the series, that even adults can enjoy them, but I'm not motivated to try them right now.

I've seen the first two films, and almost went to the fifth one the other day, but that was more to do with a girl I know inviting me.

[Torgo]

I haven't read any of the books but I've seen the 1st 3 movies.

Not really my cup of tea overall even though I do like good fantasy.

[Snivelly]

I've read the whole series, even though it's not what I would normally go for either.  Not the best written books but still a compelling story, and my 9 yr old and I have a bet going on whether Harry dies or not.  I don't think he dies, but I think he has to give up something very dear to him to stay alive.

[Mr. DS]

I lost touch with the series the fifth book.  The fourth ended on such an awesome note and the 5th book was like blah to me.  I will see the movie though. 

Theres a running joke I have going with The Deathly Hallows at my work place.  I work with two rabid Harry Potter fans who say they would be devastated if the ending was ruined for them.  I keep making up spoilers interfusing B-Movies like Harry gets on Pegasus and rides with Medusa's head to take on the Kraken.  They get mad at me but oh well.   

[CheezeFlixz]

Frankly, I think there is too much hype around it and the Potter Police running around freaking over websites with the book posted and the early shipments by a couple of companies like Deep Discount ... it a freakin book for *&$% sake! It's almost as silly as the iPhone hype ... I'll do like I always do I'll wait for the hoopla to die down and I'll buy a used copy for a buck at the used book store if my kids want to read it, myself I have no interest in it, I've seen the movies with the kids but that's about it for me. Maybe we'll get lucky and Potter is turned into a frog and ends up on a southern buffet, insuring they're are no more books about him.
If you like them great, I just think there is far to much media and hype around it all.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Can you vote for more than one?

"No!" and "I have never read any of the Harry Potter books."

[Susan]

All i know is that they better hurry up and make the movie before we have a 30 year old man playing the role of a teenager

[Ash]

The day after I wrote this thread, I cancelled my pre-order at Barnes & Noble.

Instead, after I got off work last night, I drove to the nearest Wal-Mart.  I had bought the last two Harry Potter novels from there at a crazy low price so I figured I'd pick up Deathly Hallows there too.

As soon as I exited my car in the parking lot, I heard a female voice over the loudspeaker say, "For those of you here to purchase the new Harry Potter book, we will be selling it in the Lawn & Garden section starting in 8 minutes."

I went to the Lawn & Garden section.

At first, it didn't look like there were that many people there.
That was until I made a left turn and saw roughly 150-200 people standing in a line that sprawled clear into the back of the flower section.

"Screw it"  I thought.  "I'm getting this book tonight!"

The managers at Wal-Mart had the audacity to open only one register in the Lawn & garden section!
Meaning, over 200+ people had to stand in line while some lady cashier rang everybody up....one at a time.

After about 20 minutes, my patience had started to wear thin.
The line was barely moving.  It was almost 12:30 am and I was tired.
The thing that kept me in line were the cool people I was standing by.
I struck up a conversation with a guy and a girl in front of me and another guy behind me.
All four of us had gone to Wal-Mart by ourselves to buy this book and none of us knew each other.

I actually had a great time waiting in line with these total strangers!  

We talked about how the Wal-Mart managers were idiots, to what we thought would happen in the last Potter book and about how much more time we'd have to wait in line.
None of us asked each other our names or tried to probe into each others' backgrounds.

After standing for quite awhile, the line began to slowly move and we eventually approached a stack of cheap plastic lawn chairs.
The guy in front of me grabbed one and had a seat.
So then I grabbed one for the lady, one for me, and the guy behind me took one.
As the line slowly moved...we casually moved our new chairs with it.
We sat and talked and moved with the line.

I tell ya', the hour I spent with those strangers was more fun than some of the time I've recently spent with people I know well.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Oh...about the book.
I've burned through the first 100 pages and lemme tell ya...DAMN!
To those of you who didn't think there was enough action in The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows starts off with a bang.

What a chase!

You guys have got to start reading this kickass series.
You're missing out.

[Mr. DS]

 the spoiler is on wikipedia already...

Good story by the way Ash.  Those midnight release things can be a lot of fun.  I went to Toys R Us at midnight when the Episode 1 toys went on sale.  As for the one cashier thing it is a bit dumb.  Perhaps they were stalling the lines for media coverage.  I guess as long as people weren't buying general groceries they were expecting thigns to go fast. 

[CheezeFlixz]

Yet another reason, to the very long list of reasons I never shop at Wal-Mart. They're just plain stupid, for lack of a better word in that store. I friend of mine told me this morning that the store here was the same, long lines and only one register open. They refused to wait and set the book down and left. Her daughter who was the one wanting the book was none to happy about it. They were going back this morning to see if any were left.

[felgekarp]

I've no interest in the books but think the films are great, went into Waterstones this morning to pick up some graphic novels and they too had only one till area open but at least there was 3 people serving so I didn't have to queue for long, they where selling it for £8.99 but I'd noticed Morrisons ( a supermarket for those not in the UK) selling it for £4.99.