To Rush or Not to Rush: How to read HP7

[Wolfshead]

I've more or less grown up with Harry Potter - I was 10 when the first book was published and for the first few books Harry was basically the same age as me, so I could easily relate to the stories. The 7th and final book is going to come out soon and I'm slightly torn as to how I should read it.

On one hand it's a new Harry Potter book and I'll want to find out how it finishes so could sit down and read it in a day (as I usually do when a new one comes out). But once I do this then there will never be any more new Harry Potter stories. Ever.

So, I could (attempt) to take my time, savour the story and read a few chapters a day, thus getting the maximum enjoyment out of the final installment. That sounds like a great idea, but chances are the ending will be spoiled by someone I know, or from inadvertantly reading something on the net. At least if I read it all in a day or two it's unlikely the story is going to be spoiled for me. Imagine having the ending to the last Harry Potter book spoiled for you? That'd be terrible.

So what will you do?

[Mike]

Now you know my dilemma when I came to the last book in Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain"--Book 5, "The High King".

I ended up reading it all in a day. Still happy with that decision.

So that's my advice to you.

(Can't really comment about Harry Potter because I'm one of those few, strange people who wasn't quite enamoured by the first book and never bothered with the others. But it's the same situation, right?)

[Noldor_returned]

I'm going to rush. Please let it be weekend when the book is out, or holidays. Otherwise I'm not sleeping until I finish it because someone at school will be like

rarrara Harry Potter dies rarraara I couldn't believe it when Hermione got pregnant rararraa.

[Barliman Butterbur]

...chances are the ending will be spoiled by someone I know, or from inadvertantly reading something on the net. At least if I read it all in a day or two it's unlikely the story is going to be spoiled for me. Imagine having the ending to the last Harry Potter book spoiled for you? That'd be terrible.

So what will you do?

Stay at home! Do not leave your room for anything except meals and bathroom! Forget your job, forget school, forget everything! You MUST seal yourself off from the slightest chance of contact with the outside world! Do not talk to anyone, not your parents, your girl friend, whomever! Cut the phone line! No TV, no radio, no newspapers, no Internet, no NOTHING until at last you have the actual physical book in your hands. At that point, run up the stairs and lock yourself in your room, to be alone at last with the final book!

Then at least and at last you will have the power to resolve for yourself, without interference, the question:

"Shall I read the ending first, or shall I read it from start to finish?"

Barley

[Snaga]

I have already promised that this book will be read aloud, which avoids any need to either buy multiple copies, or go to war over who reads it first. It does also mean that it will be read slowly!

[Barliman Butterbur]

...it's a new Harry Potter book and I'll want to find out how it finishes so could sit down and read it in a day (as I usually do when a new one comes out). But once I do this then there will never be any more new Harry Potter stories. Ever.

...Imagine having the ending to the last Harry Potter book spoiled for you? That'd be terrible.

So what will you do?

Aye laddie, ye've go' a terrible problem! My advice: get hammered and toss caution to the winds!

Barley

[Eledhwen]

"If you wolf it down, you won't taste it properly", was said of food; but could also apply to books. I read fast, but I always slow down when the thot plickens* so I don't miss anything crucial. And let's be honest; how many of us are only going to read it once?

Like others, I have re-read the whole series in preparation for this book. It's amazing how easily it is to miss interesting detail like, for instance, the fact that in Book One, the motorbike Hagrid rides is borrowed from Sirius Black, who isn't mentioned again until Book Three. It's a small point, but enjoyable.

*plot thickens

[Noldor_returned]

There's heaps of small points like that, and like you and the others, I have been re-reading the series, but I'm now at a loss. The copy of HBP which I own (?) is missing in action, and I do not have a copy to read. I have only read it once too...:(

[Eledhwen]

There's heaps of small points like that, and like you and the others, I have been re-reading the series, but I'm now at a loss. The copy of HBP which I own (?) is missing in action, and I do not have a copy to read. I have only read it once too...:(That's terrible! I hope it does not tip you over the insanity/madness border. Go and see if your local library has a copy. If you manage to borrow one, you can be certain that your own will turn up from somewhere you already searched thoroughly.

Imagine having the ending to the last Harry Potter book spoiled for you? That'd be terrible.Last year, my daughter was halfway through HBP when someone walking ahead of her at school told the girl next to her about Dumbledore. I think it should be made a criminal offence* to reveal a book plot outcome out loud, within a month of publication. That would also apply to written discussions which don't say SPOILER at the start.

*It's already a criminal offence in the UK to sell bananas by the pound instead of the kilo, so why not?

[Barliman Butterbur]

When mine arrives in the mail (yes, I pre-ordered one), I will try to read it from the beginning and not "peek." Sometimes I get impatient with Rowling's tendency to become involved in the minutiae that so fascinates younger readers, and I plow on ahead. Until then I am on constant watch for anything that even remotely has the faintest whiff of spoiler...

Barley

[Noldor_returned]

Yes...I believe in my house, I'll be first to finish. This is mainly because I'll get it, and just keep reading until I'm done, or I have to go to school, whichever comes first. My mother will be next, as she has the next amount of time on her hands, and then probably my older sister once she returns from her trip to the US.

But as you said Eledhwen, borrow a copy from a library. I was thinking about it, however I'm not sure how quickly I would read it.

[Eledhwen]

When mine arrives in the mail (yes, I pre-ordered one), I will try to read it from the beginning and not "peek." Sometimes I get impatient with Rowling's tendency to become involved in the minutiae that so fascinates younger readers, and I plow on ahead. Until then I am on constant watch for anything that even remotely has the faintest whiff of spoiler...

BarleyI've only ever been tempted to skim-read with D H Lawrence, who is(was) the waffliest author in the known universe. With JKR I am too afraid I'll miss something.

There will be four people reading the book after it arrives. My husband won't bother; the youngest child will get it from about 4pm-6pm, then the middle child until 8pm; the oldest until 10pm and then me. I can stay up as long as I like (privilege of being a grown-up); but I'll probably stick to two hours as well. I might borrow a copy from the library too, to cut down on arguments.

Why can't we spell 'plough' sensibly, like you Barley? No mistaking it for 'pluff' or 'ploff' in the USA!

[Talierin]

I'll be doing the rush read at first, and then I'll try to get my hands on the audio book for a nice slow listen (I re-listened to all the books in order not too long ago). Unfortunately, I have to wait a few days to get ahold of the book, my friend always gets it from the library (working at a library has its advantages, she's on the first string list to get it), and I get it after her, and then it usually gets passed down to my other friend, and by the time he reads it it has to go back to the library. It's not a bad system, but I wish I had the moneys to just buy it though!

My library has ordered 200 copies, sheesh

[Barliman Butterbur]

Why can't we spell 'plough' sensibly, like you Barley? No mistaking it for 'pluff' or 'ploff' in the USA!

Well then, we need to make another few changes: koff, throo, laff, tuff, thow, etc. English spelling's a funny thing. Before the invention of the printing press you could spell any damned way you wanted to. But the printing press brought standardization, and our weird English primitive spelling standards got frozen in the type...

Barley

[Noldor_returned]

I solved my problem...I'm borrowing Majimaune's copy, and am past halfway after about 2 1/2 days of proper reading. Should be done soon, which is good.

[Eledhwen]

I solved my problem...I'm borrowing Majimaune's copy, and am past halfway after about 2 1/2 days of proper reading. Should be done soon, which is good.What exactly are you 2½ days into reading? The book we're discussing hasn't been published yet.

[Noldor_returned]

Spoilers lol

Nah HBP...just refreshing myself, and I have finished it for the second time. Finally...but no, as I've said, I'll be rushing through Deathly Hallows.

[Wolfshead]

I decided to rush in the end. It arrived at 10.15 yesterday morning with the post, and I'd finished it by 23.05, stopping only for food, the bathroom and going to feed the animals. I could be in a bit of trouble today though - I was supposed to be at a friends barbecue for her 21st from 3 o'clock! But once I'd started reading I couldn't bring myself to stop. I won't post any spoilers here (I'll set up an another thread for that), but I will say one word - 'amazing'. It was a fine end to an excellent series.

EDIT: Although, apparently I can't set up a new thread - I just get a white screen when I submit it. How odd.

[Eledhwen]

I decided to rush in the end. ... I will say one word - 'amazing'. It was a fine end to an excellent series.
.I'll second that. I finished reading the book about an hour and a half ago*, and I'm still stunned!:eek::)

*My kids are reading it too - 4 bookmarks!

[Noldor_returned]

Unfortunately I didn't get to rush. I was busy when it came out and so it took me 4 days overall to finish. I could've done in about one whole if I had the chance.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I decided to rush in the end. It arrived at 10.15 yesterday morning with the post, and I'd finished it by 23.05, stopping only for food, the bathroom and going to feed the animals. I could be in a bit of trouble today though - I was supposed to be at a friends barbecue for her 21st from 3 o'clock! But once I'd started reading I couldn't bring myself to stop. I won't post any spoilers here (I'll set up an another thread for that), but I will say one word - 'amazing'. It was a fine end to an excellent series.

EDIT: Although, apparently I can't set up a new thread - I just get a white screen when I submit it. How odd.

Well, I got about a third of the way into the book from the front end, and finally said sod it, and I read the ending, which was astounding. What a movie THAT will make! Then I was able to go on from where I'd left off.

Barley

[Eledhwen]

I don't blame you, Barley! My daughter got two thirds of the way through the book, then went to a friend's birthday party where a run-of-the-mouth kid who hadn't even read the book but heard it from someone else, rattled off the names of the characters who died; before anyone could stop her. This book is the masterpiece we all hoped it would be. Well done, Jo!

[baragund]

I just started Deathly Hallows and I'm going to take my time.

So far I have been able to resist reading the last page and viewing the various spoiler discussions online. We'll see how long that lasts...:o

"...thot plickens..." - Good one, Eledhwen!:) I'll have to remember that.

[Eledhwen]

So far I have been able to resist reading the last page and viewing the various spoiler discussions online. We'll see how long that lasts...:oLet's hope you don't get behind a big-mouth in a shopping queue who spoils it all. And if they do, I hope you get away before you're arrested for your response!

Is there anyone round here who all those years ago was waiting for the publication of Return of the King? I'd love to hear a comparison of the two experiences.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I don't blame you, Barley! My daughter got two thirds of the way through the book, then went to a friend's birthday party where a run-of-the-mouth kid who hadn't even read the book but heard it from someone else, rattled off the names of the characters who died; before anyone could stop her. This book is the masterpiece we all hoped it would be. Well done, Jo!

Too bad someone couldn't have stuffed the book in this kid's mouth before — oh well... It's a wonder the secret was kept as long as it was. And yes, I'm not sure about "masterpiece" (there are other authors who come to mind for that title), but the series certainly ended fortisissimo con brio!

Barley

[Eledhwen]

I'm not sure about "masterpiece" In plain storytelling terms I have to give JKR full credit. Harry Potter did not stir me or change me the way Lord of the Rings did; but my kids aren't reading Harry Potter because it's cool to do so (the reason they do a lot of things); it's simply that with this story, the author has caught their attention the way no other book has.

[Noldor_returned]

I heard a funny anecdote today. Apparently in New York, for the release of HBP some man qeued up the day before, and then got the first copy of the book from the store. He quickly turned to the back and after about a minute yelled out, "SNAPE KILLED DUMBLEDORE!"

I reckon that would have been immenseley devastating for the diehard fans, but it's pretty funny from where I stand now.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I heard a funny anecdote today. Apparently in New York, for the release of HBP some man qeued up the day before, and then got the first copy of the book from the store. He quickly turned to the back and after about a minute yelled out, "SNAPE KILLED DUMBLEDORE!"

I reckon that would have been immenseley devastating for the diehard fans, but it's pretty funny from where I stand now.

Jerks like that should be strung upside down and allowed to rot. And evidently he didn't read that Snape killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore ordered him to.

People who get fun out of spoiling other people's fun should be horsewhipped.

Barley

[Ermundo]

I couldn't agree less. I saw that video NR was talking about, and it was problably one of the funniest things ever. To see some die hard Potter geek start screaming the b word at you is, well, hilarious. You may think differently than me Barliman, and for all it's worth, I'm cool with that. But neither you or me can, or have the right to, judge a man just from one of their ugly aspects (or so you think). Especially if it's the only side of them that we know. So save your assumptions and declarations of judgement, for they are not deserved of or problably wanted. Only someone who knows a man completely, and can judge with wisdom and not bias can truly make those comments.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I couldn't agree less. I saw that video NR was talking about, and it was problably one of the funniest things ever. To see some die hard Potter geek start screaming the b word at you is, well, hilarious. You may think differently than me Barliman, and for all it's worth, I'm cool with that. But neither you or me can, or have the right to, judge a man just from one of their ugly aspects (or so you think). Especially if it's the only side of them that we know. So save your assumptions and declarations of judgement, for they are not deserved of or problably wanted. Only someone who knows a man completely, and can judge with wisdom and not bias can truly make those comments.

Jerks like that should be strung upside down and allowed to rot. And evidently he didn't read that Snape killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore ordered him to.

People who get fun out of spoiling other people's fun should be horsewhipped.

Barley

[Noldor_returned]

Umm...Barley...this happened after the release of the sixth one. We didn't find out about Dumbledore's orders until number 7. But from here it's hilarious what happened, however if it happened to me it would be an extreme disappointment. Chances are the guy was probably just doing it for his 15 seconds of fame.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Umm...Barley...this happened after the release of the sixth one. We didn't find out about Dumbledore's orders until number 7. But from here it's hilarious what happened, however if it happened to me it would be an extreme disappointment. Chances are the guy was probably just doing it for his 15 seconds of fame.

What I said still holds.

Barley

[Ermundo]

Jerks like that should be strung upside down and allowed to rot. And evidently he didn't read that Snape killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore ordered him to.

People who get fun out of spoiling other people's fun should be horsewhipped.

Barley

I couldn't agree less. I saw that video NR was talking about, and it was problably one of the funniest things ever. To see some die hard Potter geek start screaming the b word at you is, well, hilarious. You may think differently than me Barliman, and for all it's worth, I'm cool with that. But neither you or me can, or have the right to, judge a man just from one of their ugly aspects (or so you think). Especially if it's the only side of them that we know. So save your assumptions and declarations of judgement, for they are not deserved of or problably wanted. Only someone who knows a man completely, and can judge with wisdom and not bias can truly make those comments.

What I said still holds.

Barley

Guess what? Your comments still aren't welcomed.

Ermundo

[Barliman Butterbur]

...Your comments still aren't welcomed.

Ermundo

If you don't like 'em don't read 'em.

Spoiling other people's enjoyment for the fun of it, is welcomed, at least by me, even less. Such people should be jailed. There is no justification or rationalization for that kind of deliberate cruelty. That's orc stuff. If you can't see that, then you have some more growing to do.

Barley

[Eledhwen]

...But neither you or me can, or have the right to, judge a man just from one of their ugly aspects (or so you think). This man showed a total disregard of others, and I wouldn't be surprised if he also found 'happy slapping (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_slapping)' funny.

Either that, or he was just tired of living and, there being no polar-bear pit handy, he decided to try annoying a Harry Potter queue instead.

I try not to judge anybody (lest I be judged!), but in that situation, I might find that my newly-acquired and rather heavy book acted of its own accord, in much the same way Harry's wand did early in the story!

[Barliman Butterbur]

Back on track:

Now that I've read all the books, I find that I'm having a completely new experience of all the other books:

Starting over again with "The Sorcerer's Stone," I'm now reading the books with all the knowledge that Rowling kept from us.

Now all the hidden meaning behind the happenings are known, and from the very beginning a knowing reader can see the horrendous hideous evil of Voldemort right from the very beginning of the first book.

The first time Snape and Quirrel look at Harry in his first time in the Great Hall where his scar first gives him pain; the meaning of Quirrel's turban, for instance. You know that Voldemort is RIGHT THERE in Hogwarts planning to murder the 11-year-old Harry. You know why Hagrid must take that bundle from Gringott's deep-down vault. You now know what it is and why Fluffy was set to guard it.

I now find it impossible to enjoy the story as I first did: a delightful tale of a child who finds out he's a wizard. Can't do that anymore. Now I see the black evil which suffused each and every one of the books behind the facade of comparitive lightness and comedy, the evil which, in every succeeding book comes bubbling more and more to the surface so that in the last book, the evil is fully manifested with blood and cruelty everywhere.

I do now wonder about J.K. Rowling: what is this black evil horror in the woman's heart? Where did it come from? How is it that she needed to have concocted this tale of -- on the surface -- childlike adventure, and just below it, the movement of monstrous hatred?

Barley

[Eledhwen]

I'm doing exactly the same thing Barley, except that I began again with The Philosopher's Stone :p

Amongst the overall twists and turns of the plot, I noticed, for the first time, that there is a place in book 7 where one of the three shouts ARE YOU A WIZARD OR WHAT? (somewhere in a tent/forest chapter - can't find it offhand), which echoes the scene in book 1 where Harry and Ron are being strangled by devil's snare, and Hermione is lamenting the lack of kindling for a fire: Ron yells "ARE YOU A WITCH OR WHAT?" I'm now on the lookout for other echoes or symmetry. I've already noticed that virtually every event and character throughout the six previous books gets a mention in the final one.

I find loads of illustrations of old sayings: "All that glisters is not gold" (Shakespeare) is seen directly in Leprechaun gold and obliquely in such things as the duplication of treasure and the Slytherin locket. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke) seems to be the theme of The Order of the Phoenix. I could go on, but at the risk of being even more borning...

[Barliman Butterbur]

...I could go on, but at the risk of being even more borning...

Oh go on, be borning! :D

Barley

[Ermundo]

Oh go on, be borning! :D

Barley

but at the risk of being even more borning...


Borning!? Even I can do better than that! :)


P.S: Sorry about the absence guys. My time that I should have been at TTF was spent playing football with my cousins, as well as preparing for a graduation party for one of them. As far as the internet goes, at the very most I can get on the computer sparingly. But dang, I was really itchin to argue with you Barley. But that's long gone.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Borning!? Even I can do better than that! :)
...dang, I was really itchin to argue with you Barley. But that's long gone.

Ah, you're growing! ;) :)

Barley

[Ermundo]

Speaking of growing...

If you can't see that, then you have some more growing to do.

Barley

Barley, just because a man may not have grown up completely, physically, that doesn't mean he is still a kid. I've been blessed with experiences that taught me wisdom and gave me good morals. You said that if I don't have your standpoint on our argument, than I haven't grown up. I'm sure that some other man who's grown both physically and mentally might have argued with you and supported me in our little argument. Would that man need to grow up? I hope you see the point I'm trying to make. But I do thank you for that compliment you gave me.

[yhwh1st]

Please keep in mind that both of these points are mainly a matter of opinion, gentlemen. They are both valid and I can see the sense in both, though I do happen lean a bit more towards Barley's opinion. (improper use of 'both', I know, but I'm too tired to think more clearly.)

The way I see it: if I want a spoiler, I'll go looking for one. I don't like it when people give me unsolicited information on the end of a book or movie. That's me personally, I do know many people who like to have spoilers.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Please keep in mind that both of these points are mainly a matter of opinion, gentlemen. They are both valid and I can see the sense in both, though I do happen lean a bit more towards Barley's opinion. (improper use of 'both', I know, but I'm too tired to think more clearly.)

The way I see it: if I want a spoiler, I'll go looking for one. I don't like it when people give me unsolicited information on the end of a book or movie. That's me personally, I do know many people who like to have spoilers.

That's fine. But to have one THRUST UPON you when you don't want it is inexcusable. People who do things like that for their malicious pleasure are rude crude lewd twisted warped subhuman troglodytes that should be strung upside down and have hot wax poured in their nostrils.

Barley

[Eledhwen]

I watched on YouTube, the people who drove (dared not walk!) past the Harry Potter book queues with their megaphones, bellowing out the list of deaths, together with page numbers; and nostrils full of hot wax is too good for them! Those who had the book spoiled for them in this way will probably buy online next time.

On August 21, when I was trawling YouTube to watch JKR reading from chapter 1 at the book launch; one of the other uploads was titled "So Ron Weasley Dies! Boo Hoo. Get over it." Of course I did not know that the contributor was wrong; and waiting for Ron's death was at the back of my mind throughout the book. So even a false spoiler does some spoiling; and the amoeba-brained twits who thought megaphoning their spoilers to the book queue was a good idea deserve to be tied to a chair and have a book of Vogon poetry read to them by, say, Clement Freud (voice sample) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQFucBNbKJQ) - or maybe reading his great-grandfather Sigmund's published works.

[Turgon]

I do now wonder about J.K. Rowling: what is this black evil horror in the woman's heart? Where did it come from? How is it that she needed to have concocted this tale of -- on the surface -- childlike adventure, and just below it, the movement of monstrous hatred?

Barley

What makes you think that any evil or horror lies in Rowling's heart? Sometimes a book is just a book no? Children enjoy being frightened, and have a delightful sense of the macabre. Rightly so. This was the secret of Roald Dahl's success. Personally I found the Deathly Hallows to be a great read, and was extremely pleased with the ending. I really feared Rowling would mess it up somehow - but the girl done good.

[Barliman Butterbur]

What makes you think that any evil or horror lies in Rowling's heart? Sometimes a book is just a book no?

Would you say that also about, say, Steven King or Edgar Allen Poe, Theodore Sturgeon or H.P. Lovecraft?

Have you read the final book yet? If so, you know that it goes way past the mild macabre of Raould Dahl into the absolutely bloody gruesome. In fact I would go so far as to say that it is not fit reading material for sensitive children.

But to answer your question: No, I think books written with as much care and involvement as the HP series obviously are, are never "just books." And Yes, I think something dark lies deep in JKR's soul, and she'd be the first to admit it.

Barley

[Elbereth]

Well, I never read Harry Potter until just this year....and I finished all 7 books in a row in one month's time. (January 20th - February 24th). It took me only two days to finish book seven.

....and frankly I highly recommend reading the books that way.

although my boyfriend thought I was nuts that I was going through books that fast....couldn't help it though, I couldn't put the book down.

[Eledhwen]

I did the same with Lord of the Rings. I know it's only 3 books to HP's 7, but I did read them through twice!

I also re-read the previous 6 HPs just before book 7 came out, as kind of innoculation against remembering the films instead of the books.

To Barley: On your point about darkness at the heart of J K Rowling's heart; in a recent documentary, she revealed that her mother had died while she was writing The Philosopher's Stone. Her mother never knew about Harry Potter. JKR said that she thinks the story took on a darker hue from that moment. There's something about the death of one's own mother that pulls the rug out from under any cosy stand on the subject of death, methinks.

[Barliman Butterbur]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-potter13mar13,0,7162166.story

From the Los Angeles Times

Final 'Harry Potter' book will spawn two movies
'Deathly Hallows' films are scheduled to be released in November 2010 and May 2011.

By Geoff Boucher
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

1:11 PM PDT, March 12, 2008

WATFORD, England -- It's official: Eight will be the magic number for the "Harry Potter" film franchise.

After months of rumors, Warner Bros. and the producers of the massively successful movies will announce Thursday that they plan to split "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling's seventh and final "Potter" novel, into two blockbuster films -- one to be released in November 2010 and the second in May 2011.

The films will be titled, simply, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II," according to producer David Heyman. Director David Yates, who returned for his second tour of Potter duty with "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and is quite popular with the cast, will direct both "Deathly Hallows" films, which will be filmed concurrently. Screenwriter Steve Kloves also returns and, by completion of the franchise, will have written seven of the eight films.

One devoted "Potter" reader that is especially happy to hear the news is Daniel Radcliffe, the 18-year-old actor who plays the title character in the wizardry epic.

Some cynics will see the move as simply doubling the box-office payday, but Radcliffe told The Times that the split is purely in service of the story.

"I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book," Radcliffe said recently during a break on the set of "Half-Blood Prince," the sixth "Potter" film, which is due in theaters on Nov. 21. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut -- although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans -- but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."

Producer David Heyman said the decision was made with some anxiety and only after considerable deliberations. The producer joked that "while my wife and Warner Brothers were pleased" to hear that the Potter movie magic will continue into the next decade, he himself fretted that the cynical observers would see the decision as a purely mercenary move.

"I swear to you it was born out of purely creative reasons," Heyman said during an interview in a converted airplane factory outside London that has been home base to all of the "Potter" productions. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots . . . but with the seventh, that can't be done."

Heyman said he approached Rowling with some trepidation about the strategy but found that she signed off on its logic rather quickly. "I went to Jo and she was cool with it," Heyman said, "and that was quite a relief."

Rowling has also been a more frequent visitor to the sixth movie's set than with previous installments. One big reason is that she is no longer busy trying to finish the "next" Potter book; she walked away from her signature character in July 2007, when the climactic "Deathly Hallows" hit stores, and continued the history-making ways of the series by selling 11 million copies during its first 24 hours on shelves.

The filming of "Half-Blood Prince" began in September, and Radcliffe said "it's been brilliant." He added: "It's also, I think, the funniest of the films so far."

The "Potter" films have pulled in a staggering $4.5 billion at the box office worldwide. Heyman said now that the "Potter" team knows they can split "Deathly Hollows" in half, the next challenge is figuring out the division.

As Heyman put it: "The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges. But each book has presented its challenges."

Warner Bros. Chairman Alan Horn and Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, are expected to discuss the new plans for "Potter" on Thursday during a presentation at ShoWest, the convention of movie exhibitors in Las Vegas.

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Barley

[Eledhwen]

I'm glad they will be doing service to the story... or at least I hope they will!
I wonder who will play Aberforth Dumbledore? It was a bit part in an earlier film, but I expect they'll use someone else now they have to flesh the character out somewhat.

[Illuin]

Well, interesting thread. And Barley....H.P. Lovecraft? That doesn’t seem to reflect your view on doom and gloom. But kudos nonetheless; he’s one of my favs.

As for this Harry Potter thing, I’ve been a fanatical Tolkien fan for almost 30 years; but…believe it or not….I have just finished reading The Philosopher’s Stone for the first time; it was actually a gift from my brother. Even though my job limits my free time (and ability to stay awake, unless it's summertime :)), you would think I would have jumped on the HP train sooner.

Truth is, I have always thought of HP as being a clone of Tolkien’s work and set it aside. The movies are good, but they are really made for children, and the books (so I thought) would be the same. Well, I was impressed and pleasantly surprised. I did not anticipate Rowlings attention to detail and style of writing, which was beyond my expectations for sure. The book of course didn’t "change my life" like Tolkien did, but I’m glad I decided to read this because I truly enjoyed it. And even though the spoilers have been revealed, I am going to read the series when I get some time. I don’t care if I know the end; I’m a "thrill of the chase" kind of guy anyway.

[Eledhwen]

I too let my prejudices prevent me from reading Harry Potter until the Order of the Phoenix book had been released.

It is definitely worth reading on beyond where the films have got, so you get at least the last two books in 'full bloom'. Spoilers or no; nothing can prepare you for the brilliance of the storytelling in book 7.

[Gilthoniel]

I followed the books all the way through, and like someone else mentioned (sorry I forgot who it was!), I was roughly the same age as Harry all the way through. I was taken aback by the dark turn in the final book, and I'm not altogether sure I liked it.
Admittedly I haven't re-read it since I read it the first time, so a it might endear itself to me more on the second read, but I think that the impression the first three(ish) books made on the younger Gilth, was one of happiness, and fun in the wizarding world, and that when events started to take a darker turn, the conflict with the happy smiley world I remembered in the first couple of books was too much for me.

I also think that the films didn't help with this. The change of directors emphasised the darkened nature of the stories, and also made the change from happy/smiley to dark/death-ridden quicker. Looking at the third film a while ago, I think I counted only three scenes that have a happy ending?

I know what I'm saying is quite contrived, and I'm not sure where I'm going with this myself.. Maybe a re-read of the whole series is in order.

xo
G

[Eledhwen]

I think that the impression the first three(ish) books made on the younger Gilth, was one of happiness, and fun in the wizarding world, and that when events started to take a darker turn, the conflict with the happy smiley world I remembered in the first couple of books was too much for me. G *** Book 6 Spoiler *** The clues were always there ... an evil wizard had, for reasons unknown, murdered Harry's parents. By book 3 we knew it was so he could get at Harry. The thing that really changed in book 7 was that a number of characters we had grown to know and love were killed; whereas Rowling had been at pains to keep everyone more or less intact until Dumbledore's death at the end of book 6. The Felix Felicis potion explained the inexperienced yough wizards' unlikely ability to survive the death eaters' incursion into the school in book 6, leaving the way clear for the deaths in book 7 to be even more shocking.

Harry Potter was dark from the start. JK Rowling's mother died while she was writing The Philosopher's Stone; and she has commented that this did influence the story take a darker turn; but throughout the story, it is reiterated that death is far from the worst thing that could happen to a person.