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Harry
Potter Mania
jdb_educator,
CVN Managing Editor
Forbes reported: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/22/ap3939014.html
"Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final volume of J.K.
Rowling's all-conquering fantasy series, sold a mountainous 8.3 million copies
in its first 24 hours on sale in the
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows was released at 12:01 AM Saturday in
You can see our screenshow of all the pictures at http://cvnweekly.50megs.com/000/jdb/hastings.html
The event started about 10 PM and
Store Manger Josh Suprobo finally left about 4 AM.
CVN talked with Ian Martin, Hastings
Music Associate, who provided us answers
on the most pressing questions of the day:
We had figured out the Butter beer
was spite and butterscotch flavoring and he did not correct us. We asked what
the pumpkin juice was,-not being brave enough to try it at the time. The pumpkin
juice was an unusual mixture of apple juice, pumpkin flavoring and maple syrup.
(Perhaps we should have tried it.)
Ian told us the best estimate was
287 people attended and approximately 200 books were sold. Earlier news reports in the Hobbs News-Sun
quoted the store Manager as saying 50-100 were expected. There were lines of
patrons lined up almost all the way to the back wall of the store. There seemed to be six lines, all for
reservations except the sixth line. The “no reservation” line was the one we
joined and it went that far back in the store too. I started out probably ¾ of
the way to the back at the horror section, starting about 11:40 PM. It was 12.32 AM according to the sales slip when I
was finally processed out after buying my copy of Harry, another book (Terry Goodkind’s Phantom)
and two candy bars.
When asked about staff reaction, Ian
told us it was an “easy night.” Staff felt it was “kind of fun” allowed them to
“hang out” and that the patrons and
everyone “had a positive attitude.” Ian concluded, “Everyone had fun.” We have
to agree. We saw no negative commotions. Lots of friendly chatter, banter and
sporadic discussions on books. In our line there was no speculation on this
Harry book, agreement that the press had generally handled the spoiler news
possibilities favorably for consumers, for a change, by not releasing the
details of what happens, and lots of smiles.
Now on a personal note or two: I
have to admit I read news stories cautiously and did not seek to find out the
ending. . Several people agreed that that situation was likely to change, now
that the book had been released. I’ll never tell.
After the sale it was a trip out to
IHOP for breakfast and a chance to begin reading the novel. There were several
conversations about the new book from customers and staff both inside the
restaurant and outside of it. In the outside discussion around 6 people chatted
and the books and movies were discussed favorably.
It took about 12 hours total to read
the book. My wife didn’t want any revelations exposed to her tender ears, so
WOW was a frequent comment from me.
JK Rowling has stated this is the
last book in the series and she wanted to end the series once and for all
preventing any one else from picking it up and carrying it on.. I see room for
several more stories. And I imagine Fan Sites may see even more than I do, and
I suspect fan fiction will continue…
The new book is a thrilling ride
with revelations and WOW moments all the way through t the very end . And we
still have the final movies coming… WOW!
International News:
“more than 11 million copies sold
during the first 24 hours in three markets alone”
MSNBC carries a Reuters story that: Borders reports: “The final book about boy wizard Harry Potter broke a single-day record at
Borders Group Inc., selling about 1.2 million copies worldwide.”
See the original Reuters story: