Harry Pottering

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: The Walrus
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 03:09 AM

Either way, warm (self heating?) underwear is recommended for high altitude work.

W

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 02:24 AM

Try side-saddle.. it's much less painful on the fundiments.

LTS

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Cluin
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 06:00 PM

Watching the first movie on DVD this past weekend had me thinking about flying on a broomstick. It'd be damned uncomfortable. Get a long 1" wooden dowel and put it on the backs of two chairs separated. Then rest your entire weight on it for about 5 minutes.

Pretty hard on the crotch. And that's with even pulling any Gs on it.
You'd think they'd affix a bicycle seat to it or something?

Better yet, how about a flying La-Z Boy chair?

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:19 PM

450,000 books sold in Germany on the first weekend.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:06 PM

McGrath, bought in English (the German translation will make No. 1 in November). Sorry I didn't make that part clear. Translations have quite often made first place in sales.

For the music angle, more often than not an English language song leads the pop charts since at least the late 60s. But for books that is a first.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:04 PM

Liz I've finished my copy, I'll bring it round tomorrow for you to borrow!!

Khatt

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 05:47 PM

Do you mind - due to the meticulous way some people read books, there are still some of us who haven't held a copy yet, let alone read it..... and although I know who dies, there are still some surprises left that I'd like to discover on my own thank you very much......

LTS

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 05:45 PM

You mean they bought it in English? Now that is impressive. It's impossible to even conceive of that happening with a book in a foreign language in this monoglottal country.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 10:19 AM

BTW, this was the first ever non-German language book to make first place by number of copies sold in Germany. Quite an achievement.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 07:04 PM

well the Grimmauld Place wass kind an interesting name i thought...especially considering that Black's dog form was mistaken for a Grim in the third book....

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 03:02 PM

I read it! I enjoyed it, yet I must take 'umbrage' at the imposition of a new headteacher!

The placenames continue to enchant! so far we've had;
1, How do you fit another street into London's crowded map ?
2, When and where do black wizards shop ?
3, How would you best describe Sirius Black's ancestral pile ?

1, Diagonally               (Diagon Alley)
2, Nocturnally             (Knockturn Alley)
3, a Grim Old Place    (Grimmauld Place)

Nigel

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 08:15 AM

And in bits not being to our liking she has captured life perfectly - because so often life just don't go the way it ought!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 06:46 AM

Just finished it - so I an go on my hols tomorrow in peace:-)

I have my own views on certain bits and pieces but as JK Rowling has never criticised me I am reluctant to do so to her! Besides it would be churlish in the extreme to pick up one or two things that were not entirely to my liking out of such an epic. All in all an excellent read and very enjoyable.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: GUEST,kingbrilliant
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 03:19 AM

The Albert Hall thing was a one-off event staged for schoolkids. Schools could enter a competition to win the chance to buy tickets. Om's class were really lucky and were right at the front - Om's face appears several times on the webcast.
It was transmitted live initially - then its left on as an archive for the next week - so you can connect in and listen anytime.
On a 56k modem its not great quality - just slow-changing stills from the video stream + reasonable audio.
I watched it live on the broadband link & that was fantastic.
Its very good - the interview bit is quite interesting, but her reading is absolutely stunning.

Kris

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 05:40 PM

Picked up 2 copies yesterday. Had one wrapped and gave it to my kid to be opened on Saturday (his b'day) and read the other one in 2 sittings. It is a fast read as it is not printed compactly. Umbrage got exactly what she deserved but not enough of it. I was disappointed at who got bumped off, as I felt the individual should have been allowed to develop more over the next few books; ah, well.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 05:34 PM

My 16-year old has suddenly realised she could just about be leaving University before the series finishes if the writing rate matches this book, though! She's not happy about the idea ...

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Penny S.
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 04:58 PM

Enough copies in school to build a Wendy House.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 01:21 PM

I've just had another look at that site - and it's not continuous performance - next show in 40 minutes, and twice daily till July 3rd. This is bizarre...

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 01:10 PM

Here is the website for the Albert Hall event - http://www.msn.co.uk/liveevents/harrypotter/event/. Wouldn't work with my connection, but others might be luckier. LKooked weird - two people in an interview on a lit-up strage, and the auditorium packed with thousands of people listening in.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: GUEST,KingBrilliant
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 12:32 PM

I just watched the webcast Interview and Reading from the Albert Hall. Om has gone there with her class from school. She told me they had good seats - and sure enough there was a shot of her reading along in her copy of the book.
I did think JK was a bit of a money-grabbing nutter what with all the sue-ing that has been going on - but she came across really well on the webcast. And she read it fantastically - after a nervous start she go completely absorbed in it - and so did I....

Kris

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 11:51 AM

For the cost concious Tesco online are selling it at £7.80 or so. Or at least they were on the advance sales.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 11:43 AM

We got ours for 2 quid off, then as we came out of the shop, we saw the shop next door had them at 3 quid off! I think they'd sold out, though ...

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 09:19 AM

Finally saw it for sale in Netto for £7.98!
Decided that the paperback version will not be much cheaper, and a long wait until they think they have squeezed as much cash as they can out of the hardback print run, so bought it.
Might get around to reading it some time in the next couple of weeks.
See you all then!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 04:32 AM

Whee! Stood in line at the local Borders store Friday night from midnight to 1:30AM to get my copy. Finished half of it before 8AM on Saturday, with the help of the new 24-hour Starbuck's. (Gosh, I feel like Wichita is almost a city, now--what with a Starbuck's AND a Krispy Kreme that stay open all night.) I agree, Phoenix is her best yet. I've now re-read Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, and am re-starting Prisoner of Azkaban tonight. Too much fun!

For those who complain that she is derivative of authors: are these the same people who are buying all of Terry Brooks's ripoffs of Tolkein?????

And any book that will induce a round-robin discussion among MY extended family is well worth buying in hardback.

Very nicely done, Ms. Rowling!

Lin

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 03:07 AM

You can borrow mine, Liz: just call in when you're in Milton Keynes and I'll give it to you.

Good night Kevins everywhere ...

Steve

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 03:02 AM

OOooppppssss last post was by ME...forgot to change my buscuit!!!

Liz you can borrow my book

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Micca
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 03:00 AM

Liz I'll be finished soon....reading keeps getting interrupted by having to work!! You can borrow my book!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 08:08 PM

Read the Goblet of Fire again while you are waiting, Liz, because the new book keeps on referring back to stuff in that, and it'd help to be clued up.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 07:55 PM

Oh, It's just so unfair!!! I hate you all!!!

No-one I know has finished theirs yet, so I can't cadge a copy..... boo hoo!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Amergin
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 01:04 PM

Thanks, Kevin...that was hilarious!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: artbrooks
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:55 PM

Thanks, McGrath, that's fun. I vividly remember (one of the few memories I still have from that long ago) huddling on my bed the night before my birthday, wailing to myself I don't want to be a teenager!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 11:53 AM

Since Harry Enfield is probably not universally familiar to Mudcatters, here is a page which explains what that "Kevin" crack by Steve was about. Very droll - but I sometimes wish Harry Enfield had called him Steve, or Fred or...

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: GUEST,Bagpuss
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 11:37 AM

My nieces are decidedly non plussed about the new Potter book, though they will read it at some point. They care more about when the next Lemony Snicket book is coming out.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Noreen
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 09:22 AM

LOL McG - my dad was a Kevin :0)

And my 16 yr old son is not... so far!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 08:04 AM

"...not quite a Kevin.."

Watch it!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 07:59 AM

Well, I was going to wait for my daughter to buy the paperback, then cadge it off her. But we were in Maidstone on Saturday, went into the HMV shop, and ... well, one thing led to another, and we came out with two copies (she didn't want to wait for me to read it). I finished it on Monday night; would have been sooner, but we had to go to my best friends' daughter's wedding on Sunday.

I think the books are pretty good; not high literature, perhaps, but a jolly good yarn, and what more could one could ask? (And a bit easier than Dickens, Liz!) The charcters are developing like real children as they get older. Harry is a typical fifteen-year-old (except there's no w*nking, which is a bit inaccurate if memory serves), not quite a Kevin, but pretty close at times.

Interesting prediction from the divination mistress: bet it comes true!

Steve

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: LadyJean
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:04 AM

I'm trying to ration "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", to make it last. One of my hopes for the future is that the kids are mad for Harry. They're good books.
I swear I know the original for Dudley Dursley. I used to babysit for him. His parents didn't have enough money to spoil him as badly as Dudley. But, otherwise, he was the same kid. Now, I'm wondering when J.K. Rowling went to Ohio University and met Dru Evarts. Dolores Umbrage is just like her. I think that's the secret of Harry's success. J.K. Rowling's characters are so deliciously real. Even in her fantastic wizarding world. Reading the new book has been like seeing an old friend after a long abence. Thank you J.K. Rowling!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 07:43 PM

That's a good pun, Liz. "Tolkien's books are hobbit-forming..."

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 06:31 PM

Sure that shouldn't be hobbit forming?

LTS


I'll get me coat

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 06:20 PM

Fortunately, reading one book doesn't stop people going onto read others. In fact it can be habit-forming.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 06:10 PM

Read Alan Garner- The Weirdstone of Brisingamen Moon of Gomrath and my favorite the downright spooky Owl Service - JK is knocked into a cocked hat!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 03:46 PM

"...at a price of £118"

I think something must have gonme wrong there...Or there's rather an excessive mark-up on Duck country.

Cover price here is £16.99, with the actual price in Tescos down to £9.97. Which is moe or less a paperback price, for a book with 766 pages. Seems fairly solidly bound.

Just finished it - I agree about it being a lot better written in various ways than the previous ones. Not in the same league as Ursula Leguin, or Tolkien, or Philip Pullman, but very pleasing most of the time.

I was glad to see JK Rowling having a go at the educational inspectorate who are infesting the system right now.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: hesperis
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 01:08 PM

My friend's said that I'm first in line after her to read it... unfortunately she lives just outsie of town, so someone else may get to it first.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jun 03 - 04:23 AM

Ah, for the UK market it was released under the title HP & the Philosophers stone - maybe it was considered that most Murkans wouldn't understand what a philosopher did. It was too familiar as the book here to get away with changing it.

LTS

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 05:56 PM

I just saw the movie "The Sorcerer's Stone" for the first time. I had read the book and was not impressed although I could understand how children would identify. The movie was a delight. Had me dreaming of flying around on a broomstick. Of course, my brothers have claimed for years that the broom is my primary means of transportation.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 05:12 PM

My son's copy hasn't arrived yet--oi.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Sooz
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 02:43 PM

I've read the earlier books but I waited until the paperback version came out - as I will with this one. They were OK but not a patch on Pratchett at his best. However we must applaud any author who can encourage kids to read - and fight their parents for the first read of a new book! If the hype spreads out a bit, who knows, reading might even become cool again - like it was for us 50 somethings who found the magic before TV got into its stride.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 02:06 PM

Mine just came!!! Kalo, kalay!!

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 12:59 PM

No and the paper is very cheap - at a price of £118 (although a lot of shops have reduced them) its very poor. Will wait for the paper back.

Subject: RE: Harry Pottering
From: GUEST,bbc at work
Date: 23 Jun 03 - 11:36 AM

Elementary school librarian & fantasy lover, here--2 comments:

I have read the 1st 4 books &, undoubtedly, will sometime read this one, too. I am very upset, though, at the publishing decision to cheat the public by charging hardcover prices for books that are no better bound than paperbacks & only last through a couple of readings before the glue spine cracks & the book starts to self-destruct.

Although the books are somewhat interesting, I don't find them exceptional in the fantasy genre. If you want to read an interesting, well-written fantasy series, try the Earthsea books by Ursula LeGuin. There are 5 now, starting w/ Wizard of Earthsea. As it happens, there's a school of wizardry in those books as well & it predates Hogwarts.

Respectfully,

bbc

P.S.--Are the British-produced books any better bound?