BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Tam the man
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 10:10 AM

I think it is a book for Chidren and people that have not grown up. I couldn't give a shit about Harry Potter, I haven't seen any films or read the books. So I couldn't tell you anything about Harry Potter.

I mean Grown up men and women getting excited over a bloody book.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 10:03 AM

I love the idea of bigger print. It is easier on the eyes when reading it to the kids in their bedroom with the nightlight on! Hooray no more squinting.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: LilyFestre
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 08:51 AM

The local Barnes and Noble made an event around the release of the newest HP. They had magicians and face painting...stayed open extra late so copies could be sold at 12:01am. Maybe it sounds like a lot of hype to some of you but I've seen a 10 year old boy counting the days down until he could read this book...when is the last time you saw a child so excited to read that they were counting the days until they could read a new book? I'm sorry but I think this is a great thing...and if it takes all the secrecy and hype...so be it.

The 10 year old has a 13 year old sister who refuses to read anything. The mother has tried everything with the girl and has decided to do whatever it takes to get the younger one interested in reading. So for now, it's Fantastic 4 comic books and Harry Potter....he's reading...without being asked to, told to or otherwise coerced into it....HE IS READING AND LOVING IT! That's the bottom line, isn't it?

BTW....mother and son went to Barnes and Noble 7 hours early....and spent the time reading TOGETHER....excellent!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,ragdall
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 07:54 AM

Alice, your son is lovely! He looks too kindly to pass for Malfoy.

I'm #49 on the waiting list at the public library, but I discovered that they have about a dozen copies "available" on the seven day loan shelf. Surely I can read it in 7 days? (I'm happy to read that it has larger print, Ellenpoly.)

The library opens again at 10:00 a.m., Monday. I wonder how many other people will be waiting for the doors to open and how difficult it will be to trip them all?

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,Ellenpoly
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 07:29 AM

Mine arrived yesterday around 7:50am. The look on the face of our post lady showed she was prepared for a long day.

I've been apportioning it out to myself, trying to make it last. But has anyone beside me noticed that the print on this book is larger than on the last two?? In other words, the publisher has tried to make it look bigger than it really is.

Shame that...but it won't stop me from enjoying every word. I just hope Rowling isn't going to make us all wait another two years for the last one...but I bet she does.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 05:20 AM

So I'll be reading it next week then? *BG*

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 05:01 AM

My copy came in the post yesterday!! I will be reading it today!!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 04:14 AM

Dianavan - Please take a little time to read your posts before hitting send.... her name has neither an *S* nor an *A*. Her name is ROWLING.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 01:48 PM

I've just mailed my copy to my wife. I actually only got to page 132, didn't even finish Dumbledore's first private lesson for Harry (they dive into a Pensieve, but for what I don't know -- pearls, maybe). That's 'cause she's in DC and is almost out of stuff to read. Greater love no man hath....

I wouldn't worry about the Pope. All 15 of the copies we had on hand, 2 copies of the CD version, and 2 copies of the tape cassettes were gone by 0915 this morning. The local paper was there, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:59 PM

I heard a rumor that Rowling kills Jar Jar Binks in this book!! Please tell me it isn't true. Next to Frodo, Jar Jar was my favorite character in the films. I also heard that Pierce Brosnan won't be returning in the next film.   The things you can pick up on Entertainment Tonight!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Alice
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:43 PM

OOOPS, need to fix that link:

Click here
It was eerie to see him with long, straight white hair. Wish I'd take a photo of that.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: dianavan
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:31 PM

Thank you, J. K. Rawlings, for motivating our children to read.

Whether the child reads the book themselves or has the book read to them, it promotes literacy. One of the best things about the books is that both parent and child can enjoy the story. Doesn't matter who reads it, spending time on a daily basis with any book promotes literacy. Rawlings has done a fine job of writing a novel that captures the imagination.

So the pope thinks that Harry Potter, "...corrupts the hearts of the young, preventing them developing a sense of good and evil."

I think that the Harry Potter series does a very good job of developing a sense of good and evil. I think Ratslinger is afraid that kids know more about HP than about JC. What does he suggest they read, the bible?

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Sooz
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:26 PM

A school near us was planning a Harry Potter day yesterday. The pupils were to dress up and spend the day doing wizardy things. That was until the local vicar complained that it was satanic and unsuitable. The day was cancelled.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Alice
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 12:17 PM

Last night my son and his friends dressed up as characters from Harry Potter and went to the local Barnes and Noble. Because my son has very long curly hair Click here I used a hot iron to straighten his hair (length went to between his shoulder blades). He sprayed his hair white with costume hairspray, dressed all in black and wore a floor length black robe and black gloves - adult Malfoy. His friend tea-dyed two pillowcases sewed together so they looked dirty, got elf ears from the costume store, and went as Dobbie. They did it just for the fun of it, not knowing there would be a costume contest at the store. They both won the contest.

Found the book in his room this morning and read the last page. Yes, the last three words are "Ron and Hermione".

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 11:48 AM

Got mine today. Reading it.

Gotta go..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 11:32 AM

Got 2 today - Both covers. for three people to read them. Hope to take one of them away with me to my Vmware course on Monday. Wonder if I'll get the two confused? CAN you run sorcery in a magic window? Is the spell Linustorvalds supra Billgatus?

Ah well. Guess I will soon sort it out.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 10:32 AM

I just picked up a three-page handout at my library...Harry Potter trivia and crosswords. If anyone is interested, I'll post a pdf file somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: rumanci
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 10:29 AM

If I may make a correction Liz it was the sixth chapter JKR read from at Edinburgh Castle.   I can only be sure of that because when the kid called out when she stopped

"What happens next ?"

My lad was yelling out

"What happened BEFORE that?   !!!!!"

:-D

rum

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 03:15 AM

J K Rowling read the first chapter live at Edinburgh Castle last night, at midnight. The place was packed with thousands of children who just sat, totally silent, totally entranced through it...

Tell me another book that has that effect on children... most can't sit still through a commercial, yet you could have heard a wand drop in Edinburgh last night....

Looking forward to reading it myself, but even at £4.49 (Safeway/Morrisons), I'll wait for the paperback to come.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: John O'L
Date: 16 Jul 05 - 02:31 AM

Rapaire -

That sounds like a book worth waiting for. When can we expect to see it in the shops?

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: jacqui.c
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 09:28 PM

ROTFLMAO

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 09:08 PM

Okay, here's some excerpts:

        Harry gazed up and greater fear than he'd ever known before in his life stabbed through him. At the same time his scar blazed with such pain that he collapsed, staring up at the sign swinging in the gentle breeze, the sign reading "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, Attorneys-At-Law."

        "Of course there are girls upstairs at the Three Broomsticks! Why do you think they call her MADAME Rosemurta, anyway?" asked George incredulously.

        "Harry," said Hermione quietly, "these tests don't lie. You have to face the fact that Severus Snape is your father."
        
       "For God's sake, Weasley," drawled Malfoy, "roll off her and let Crabbe show you how it's done."
        
        When Snape had his back turned again, Hermione whispered to Ron, "You know, you can stir around in my cauldron anytime."

        She flicked her long black wand against her tight leather pants and purred, "It's MISTRESS Ginny, Potter, MISTRESS Ginny. Now get down on your belly and beg Mistress's forgiveness like a good little worm."

        McGonigle pointed her wand at Dumbledore and shouted "Viagra!"
        
        "Great man, Dumbledore," murmured Hagrid. "A bit of a twit, but a great man all the same."

        "Ah, Harry," said Hermione, looking pale. "You know the other night...and, well, I got the spell wrong...and, oh, Harry, you were right! You were right! The words WERE 'Contra Ceptio' and not 'Pro Ceptio.' What are we going to do?! Harry?.. Harry?"

        "Harry," whispered Angelina, "why don't you let me show you some positions you won't find on the Quidditch field?"

        "Sorry, Malfoy," grinned Harry. "I thought it was the snitch. You know, you really should either wear underwear or fasten your robes when you play Quidditch or accidents like this will happen."

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 07:25 PM

Please, I must ask all of you who read much faster than I (after I get the book back from moonglow who will inhale it in a couple of days)

After you read it, don't give the story away!

Thank you. Now if I could convince the friends of my kids at school--someone always has to prove something by ruining part of the story for everyone else. Be mature Mudcatters and keep it to yourselves.

Thank you.

:)

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 06:39 PM

Interesting that they still celebrate CHRISTmas at Hogwarts....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 11:50 AM

Ya know, a lot of people read a lot of crap into a lot of things.

Could be one reason I gave up on literary criticism....Read The Pooh Perplex by Frederick Chews to see what I mean.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,sandra in sydney walking thru the backdoor
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 10:42 AM

well, it's 1237 Sat morning here & the latest Harry Potter will be released at 9.01 & I will pick up my copy sometime tomorrow cos I don't think I have time to get it today. My alarm will ring in 6 hours (eek!!) then it's rush out into a very full Saturday.

I'll probably try to fit in picking it up so I can read it Sunday, but as I'm on holidays this week, I have a choice of 5 complete days to devote to it cos I intend to finish it in one day, like all other fiction I read. I'm a fast reader, & can't bear to close a book before finishing it.

sandra (fan but not fanatic)

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 10:10 AM

I'm 3rd on the list to read the next HP book after Linda's son Tom and Linda herself - can't wait.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Jul 05 - 01:21 AM

I heard parts of the media hit on "the Pope's comments" on TV this morning, but wasn't able to get the whole story due to some interruptions. The whole story has to be pieced together from various sources, but isn't too hard to find via Google. As usual, there are two sides to the story, each claiming to be "the true representatives of holy doctrine" but...

Briefly, in 2003 it was reported by numerous media sources that "the Vatican approves of Harry Potter." This was apparently the result of a reply by one Monsignor Peter Fleetwood during a press conference for the release of a Vatican document on the New Age movement. The question was out of context, and the Msgr did not indicate that he'd read the book(s). His comment was (paraphrased) that "based on what he'd heard, he thought they were fine stuff." Various reports differ on whether he made any representation that he was "speaking for the Vatican."

A "more official" statement came two years earlier, (when)
"Rome's official exorcist, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, warned parents against the books in an interview with the Italian ANSA
news agency. Fr. Amorth, who is also the president of the International Association of Exorcists, said bluntly, "Behind
Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."" I haven't seen this statement in context, so it's hard to tell how much "spin" has been applied by those who quote it.

A German anti-HP author and sociologist, Gabriele Kuby, wrote to then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was Prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith at the time, and is the present Pope Benedict XVI, expressing her dislike of the HP tales. Cardinal Ratzinger replied with a statement of agreement with her views, which can be read either as strongly critical of HP or merely as "politely non-argumentative" depending on how one chooses to take it.

Critics of HP contend that no one in a position to speak for the Vatican, and informed about the HP books, has ever endorsed them. At least two persons in positions where they may have been acting as "Vatican spokespersons" have made statements critical of the HP books.

The most complete summary of events on both sides - that I found - is at Pope Benedict and Harry Potter (.pdf 9 KB) by Michael D. O'Brien (credentials unknown, but definiteley anti-HP).

English translations of Cardianl Ratzinger's letter to author Kuby, and his subsequent letter giving permission for her to quote his comments are included at Pope Opposes Potter. Facsmile .pdf files of both letters (in German) can be found at links there as well.

My own interest here was in whether the "Vatican view" in any way parallels the opposition to HP that I've seen among local fundamentalists. That question is unresolved. For those not familiar with the "Kansas Bigot Church," their principal doctrine appears, to me, to be "If you give me permission to hate someone or some thing, I will follow you blindly wherever you wish to take me." It seems politically effective, but I'm not sure what faith it demonstrates.

I don't see anything strong enough, or unambiguous enough, in anything from the Vatican to be taken as a serious condemnation of HP. I'm sure the media will pick it up if anything further is released.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 11:52 PM

Well if the below is true what more can you want for publicity than the Pope wading in. Maybe the last book will be 'Harry Potter and Iquisition'

Personaly I quite like the books, good escapism.

Harry Potter distorts the soul, says Pope
(Filed: 14/07/2005)

The Pope believes the Harry Potter books "distort Christianity in the soul", according to two letters published on the internet.

The comments were made to a German author who wrote Harry Potter - Good or Evil? which criticises J K Rowling's best-selling series.

Gabriele Kuby sent Pope Benedict XVI a copy of the book in 2003, when he was still a cardinal, and the pontiff's replies have now been published.

"It is good that you enlighten people about Harry Potter because these are subtle seductions which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul before it can grow properly," wrote the Pope.

He thanked Kuby for her "instructive" book, in which she says the Potter series corrupts the hearts of the young, preventing them developing a sense of good and evil.

In a second letter, sent two months later, the Pope "gladly" gave his permission for Kuby to make his judgment public.

The signed letters were published days before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in the series is published.

The Vatican had previously given the books an apparent seal of approval.

Fr Peter Fleetwood, a senior official, told a press conference in 2003: "I don't think there's anyone in this room who grew up without fairies, magic and angels in their imaginary world."

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 12:50 PM

"HP1 I found too childish and almost gave up"

It was aimed at ten yer old kids... what did you expect???

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 12:33 PM

the local library in my home town - normally staffed by sane people - attempted to prevent my reading 'Lord of the Rings' when I was in 4rth grade. Told me it was "over my head".

After my mother finished handing them theirs on a platter - I enjoyed the books thoroughly.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,maire-aine
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 12:30 PM

I've been reading the HP books since they started out, and I think they've become more graphic and violent as they've gone along. I've always told people who asked, that I thought the reader should at least be the age that Harry is in the book-- not for small children. I didn't read The Hobbit & the Ring trilogy until I was in college, but I started reading the complete works of Arthur Conan Doyle (mostly Holmes, but also the White Company) when I was twelve. It's all a matter of taste, I guess.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 12:08 PM

Yessir, this is sure a good book. That bit with Ron and Lavender...whooohooooo! Hot stuff! And who would have figured Ginny and...oh, wait. Nevermind. I can't tell you about this stuff.

























Mostly because I haven't read the book.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 11:57 AM

I'm a great fan of JK Rowling. I love her books and pre-order them now every year from Amazon. I'd rather buy them from my local bookseller, but the difference in price is simply too much for my very lean pocketbook.

Every year I re-read the last two to prepare me for the next one. Each book has totally captured my interest and I'll be waiting with a big smile on my face for the post to arrive on Saturday.

I read loads, literally hundreds of books a year, quite a few of them are children's books and a good book is just that-good.

I never thought I'd agree with anything Chancellor Gordon Brown ever said, but I really do believe he's right when he said JK Rowling has done more for literacy around the world than (just about) anyone else.

Having been a teacher I know that getting a child interested in reading is the most important gift one can give. If Rowling has that ability, which she obviously does, more power (and money) to her.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 11:49 AM

Addend: SWMBO just revealed to me that she was "permitted" to read Peyton Place when she was 9. THAT explains a LOT. (Her older brothers probably explained it to her.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 11:46 AM

I must support those who advocate close and careful control of the reading of their children. My parents permitted me to read The Collected Writings of Sigmund Freud (Dover paperback) at age 11, and The Theory of the Leisure Class at 12. My older sister gave me the larger hardback Complete Collection on Freud for my 14th birthday (she was strange too). No one objected to The Odyssey (W.H.D.Rouse translation) when I was 13 (although my mother did object to how much I was spending in related references on mythology - I still have Edith Hamilton's nice little one) or to the dozen odd Shakespeare plays I went through before entering High School.

Having been permanently warped by this and other similar exposure, I offer myself as the prototypical bad example of what such stuff can do. WARN YOUR CHILDREN!

John

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Torctgyd
Date: 14 Jul 05 - 11:34 AM

Is it true that the US versions are substantially longer (in numbers of pages) than the British one's as the US publisher puts pictures in them (cos they're for children)?

According to CNN a German Authoress has published letters from the new Pope condeming the Harry Potter books.

Can't wait for mine to turn up on Saturday. I seem to be in a minority in liking HP5 the best so far (HP1 I found too childish and almost gave up - I'm glad I didn't now).

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 07:02 PM

Can't see anything positive about banning kids reading Harry Potter. Sounds like the sort of thing total control freaks who hit their kids 'for their own good' would do.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 06:33 PM

My strange joke earlier not withstanding, these books are fun to read. When I get one I have to make sure that I've got the entire day cleared of any other activity. I'm not going to be able to put it down until I've finished it.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 06:08 PM

The pricing has to do with the marketplace, not the popularity.

I read the first four out loud to my children. The youngest would have been 7 or 8 at the time. Reading at bedtime was a pleasant family tradition continued until within the last year or two. I was there to answer any questions or to add explanations if I felt they wouldn't take in the meaning in a Bristish novel as it was read to American children.

I enjoyed the books more with the kids there listening. I haven't finished reading the fifth book yet. I'm working on it in fits and starts. I do enjoy it, but I have other things to occupy me so have ot make the time to read it.

When I was a child Tolkien's Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were enjoying one of their many revivals, and my father started by reading The Hobbit out loud to us. He read part of the LOTR and let us go with it. So I was about 10 or 11 when I finished reading them. My brother is 15 months younger and he was reading them at the same time, though more voraciously, so he sped past me and finished first. No one doubted our ability to understand, knowing we would ask about puzzles in the book. My dad was letting us read at level, as Rapaire suggests. It is a fabulous way to encourage a lifetime habit of reading.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 06:05 PM

This one, in the US edition anyway, is 652 pages long. By the way, the last three words are "Ron and Hermione."

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 06:02 PM

Considering the frantic discounting by the retailers I think a lot of fans gave up half way through the last one and have lost interest.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 05:17 PM

The books are FUN, the writing is GOOD, and the hype is GENUINE.   Don't forget, the interest in the Harry Potter series was there BEFORE the films and the media took interest in it. People are excited to read these books, not because somebody is telling them to do so.   Rowling created terrific characters and her fans want to find out what is going to happen next. I love the fact they have closely guarded the content and people will all find out together. Good for the publishers!!!!!!

Let people have some fun instead of whining about why they shouldn't!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 05:01 PM

Of course Liz!!...

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 04:57 PM

We have received, and are cataloging, 14 copies. (We're going to honor the pledge; they won't be available until Saturday.)


BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 01:24 PM

Well if that's the case CatsPHiddle, can I borrow it on Monday please?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: EBarnacle
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 12:57 PM

Lady Hillary and I intend to be at the Union Square Barnes and Noble for the Friday night midnight release party.
The books are being offered at wholesale and it's fun to be among the children [and their parents] who eagerly await the book. My son has read the entire series and will continue with this one.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 10:43 AM

"I have heard it said that basically each book SHOULD have been marketed to the age that Harry is in the book - unfortunately - they have all been marketed to the younger group."

The group of Harry Potter's fictional age will buy the book anyway as they've done with all the others, so why bother to advertise to them. You'll have a hard job trying and stop their younger siblings and friends from wanting to read them as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: John Hardly
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 10:11 AM

Hairy Potter 1

Hairy Potter 2

Hairy Potter 3

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 13 Jul 05 - 10:03 AM

given the dozens of places around here that are all advertizing they will have it I doubt I will have any problems getting a copy - I need to get two actually - a belated b'day gift for a nephew and also a copy for me.