New Harry Potter!

[Divissima]

The 16th July has been in my diary for ages now as the date the new Harry Potter book goes on sale. I've been resisting pre-ordering it on Amazon because (sad, I know) I love the act of walking into a bookshop and picking up a copy. Somehow having it land on my doormat doesn't have quite the same frisson, not to mention the risk that it won't arrive on the Saturday morning and I'll lose two days of valuable reading time and in the meantime I might inadvertently come across a spoiler of the plot

Seeing KGD re-reading The Order of the Phoenix before the last Twyford freestyle night reminded me that it was time to prepare myself for the new one. In the past I have re-read all of the previous books, but this time (tactical error ) only re-read The Order of the Phoenix (d'oh!) and now I still have four weeks to wait

Am I the only one (well, apart from KGD)? Does anyone else fancy queuing up to buy the book at midnight? (I could do with some company )

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Divissima

The 16th July has been in my diary for ages now as the date the new Harry Potter book goes on sale. I've been resisting pre-ordering it on Amazon because (sad, I know) I love the act of walking into a bookshop and picking up a copy. Somehow having it land on my doormat doesn't have quite the same frisson, not to mention the risk that it won't arrive on the Saturday morning and I'll lose two days of valuable reading time and in the meantime I might inadvertently come across a spoiler of the plot

Seeing KGD re-reading The Order of the Phoenix before the last Twyford freestyle night reminded me that it was time to prepare myself for the new one. In the past I have re-read all of the previous books, but this time (tactical error ) only re-read The Order of the Phoenix (d'oh!) and now I still have four weeks to wait

Am I the only one (well, apart from KGD)? Does anyone else fancy queuing up to buy the book at midnight? (I could do with some company )

I AM SO IN!
Foyles on Totty Court Road is doing a midnight opening, unless you know another that's as easy to get to. Will have to check train times though (or persuade Dizzy that she really really wants to drive to get Harry Potter- shouldn't be too hard...)

[Groovy Dancer]

Originally Posted by Divissima

The 16th July has been in my diary for ages now as the date the new Harry Potter book goes on sale. I've been resisting pre-ordering it on Amazon because (sad, I know) I love the act of walking into a bookshop and picking up a copy. Somehow having it land on my doormat doesn't have quite the same frisson, not to mention the risk that it won't arrive on the Saturday morning and I'll lose two days of valuable reading time and in the meantime I might inadvertently come across a spoiler of the plot

Seeing KGD re-reading The Order of the Phoenix before the last Twyford freestyle night reminded me that it was time to prepare myself for the new one. In the past I have re-read all of the previous books, but this time (tactical error ) only re-read The Order of the Phoenix (d'oh!) and now I still have four weeks to wait

Am I the only one (well, apart from KGD)? Does anyone else fancy queuing up to buy the book at midnight? (I could do with some company )

Actually was reading the Goblet of Fire But I am actually now reading the Order of the Phoenix
Can't wait!!!

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Groovy Dancer

Actually was reading the Goblet of Fire But I am actually now reading the Order of the Phoenix
Can't wait!!!

Arg! I knew I should have re-read them all

Purple Sparkler, you're on! I think the big Waterstones on Piccadilly will also open at midnight (I know they did for the last one). I'll check it out. Not sure which is easier for you for transport (or which is the more pleasant location in which to queue!).

[Lounge Lizard]

sorry Amazon for me - but cant wait
p

[cerocmetro]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

I AM SO IN!
Foyles on Totty Court Road is doing a midnight opening, unless you know another that's as easy to get to. Will have to check train times though (or persuade Dizzy that she really really wants to drive to get Harry Potter- shouldn't be too hard...)

Can't believe it just checked and yes it comes out on the 16th here in NZ but it does not go on sale until 11.01am ie 1 minute past midnight your time

Wonder if that is because we won the rugby last night

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Divissima

Arg! I knew I should have re-read them all

Purple Sparkler, you're on! I think the big Waterstones on Piccadilly will also open at midnight (I know they did for the last one). I'll check it out. Not sure which is easier for you for transport (or which is the more pleasant location in which to queue!).

Yay! Will nag and cajole Dizzy into coming with when I see her tonight at Fulham.

Either is as easy regarding transport, but I'll have to check how late trains/buses run if Dizzy is car-less. I guess we'll just have to make sure we're there early to queue (with perhaps a cunningly concealed bottle of wine...) so we can get away early.

Piccadilly is more pleasant, I reckon, being as the big Waterstones is right by the church I used to work at, and is a vaguely posher bit of town.

So... who do you think is going to kick the bucket in the new one?

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

So... who do you think is going to kick the bucket in the new one?

My money's on Dumbledore - at some point, Harry has to come out from behind his shadow.

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally Posted by Divissima

My money's on Dumbledore - at some point, Harry has to come out from behind his shadow.

no
surley that would be in the last book - but will H & R get all UCP

[Groovy Dancer]

Originally Posted by Divissima

Harry has to come out from behind his shadow.

What do you mean by ?

I think it could be Dobby or Winky
Seriously though, it could be one of the Weasleys..Percy I think

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Groovy Dancer

What do you mean by ?

I think it could be Dobby or Winky
Seriously though, it could be one of the Weasleys..Percy I think

I think it's going to be someone even more upsetting than the last one, so Dumbledore might be a good bet, though I think he might not die until the final book- the Order relies on him too much. I really hope it isn't Hagrid or Mr Weasley.

But I also think that (and I know this is cynical) maybe JK Rowling tells her fans someone is going to die to make the book more tense- admit it, when you read the last one, in the scene in the Ministry of Magic with the fight with the Death Eaters, weren't you thinking "It's going to be him! No her! No someone else entirely!" until the point at which someone actually WAS killed? (See I'm being careful- after I let slip the key plot point of Chamber of Secrets to my brother before he'd got to it, I've tried really hard not to give the game away).

EDIT: Also had to add that Kingsley Shacklebolt is too cool for words.

[Tessalicious]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

I AM SO IN!

(but since I've already put my deposit on a copy from Waterstones my request is on the Piccadilly, or actually I think the UCL Waterstones on Gower Street might be doing it too...)
As for dying characters, my money's on Dumbledore too - right at the end, so Harry's final year in the next book is with Snape as the Headmaster (ok maybe I'm going out on a limb with this one but it would make sense).

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Tessalicious

As for dying characters, my money's on Dumbledore too - right at the end, so Harry's final year in the next book is with Snape as the Headmaster (ok maybe I'm going out on a limb with this one but it would make sense).

If I was JK Rowling, I'd kill off Dumbledore as the climax to the penultimate book - imagine the impact! In the last one the character who died was very important to Harry, but had done less to earn the affection of the reader than many of the other characters. This time, I think the stakes are higher and the reader has to feel the loss not just from Harry's point of view. It would be such a cop out if (like in LOTR) only one of the less well liked characters dies (I mean, of the fellowship only Boromir dies - and he is compromised in the eyes of the reader by his coveting the One Ring). Also, in order for Harry to mature as a hero, he has to stand alone - so one way or another, sooner or later, Dumbledore has to go, I reckon

The finale of the last book has to be Harry and Voldemort in a duel to the death.

[Groovy Dancer]

Originally Posted by Divissima

The finale of the last book has to be Harry and Voldemort in a duel to the death.

Harry and Cho Chang dueling with Lord Voldemort?

[Dizzy]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

I AM SO IN!
Foyles on Totty Court Road is doing a midnight opening, unless you know another that's as easy to get to. Will have to check train times though (or persuade Dizzy that she really really wants to drive to get Harry Potter- shouldn't be too hard...)

No persuasion needed, It's Harry Potter!!!!

Not too sure about car though, as it is not feeling well at the moment but will discuss nearer the time.

As regards the characters dying, I feel it will probably be someone like Dumbledore or Mr Weasley or maybe Hagrid or Neville..................oh, I don't know........... but I can't wait to find out!!

[David Franklin]

Originally Posted by Divissima

If I was JK Rowling, I'd kill off Dumbledore as the climax to the penultimate book - imagine the impact! In the last one the character who died was very important to Harry, but had done less to earn the affection of the reader than many of the other characters.

Yeah - I certainly wouldn't be selling Dumbledore any life insurance! I only wonder if that would all be a bit too predictable. As far as the OoTP death, I don't know if it was subconscious or intentional, but I felt JKR made the character far less likeable and important in OoTP than previous books.

Originally Posted by Groovy Dancer

Harry and Cho Chang dueling with Lord Voldemort?

I really don't see a Harry/Cho pairing after the events in OoTP. Smart money is on Ron/Hermione pairing up, which makes the main candidates for Harry either Luna or Ginny. For what it's worth, I'm guessing Harry and Ginny get together, with Harry confiding stuff to Luna to leave scope for interesting misinterpretations...

[Groovy Dancer]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

Smart money is on Ron/Hermione pairing up,..

I agree


which makes the main candidates for Harry either Luna or Ginny. For what it's worth, I'm guessing Harry and Ginny get together, with Harry confiding stuff to Luna to leave scope for interesting misinterpretations.[QUOTE=David Franklin

Don't agree, doesn't seem possible.


However, as some of you may have forgotten Winky and Dobby may be vital characters as well . So they may be kicking some Voledemort butt in this offering from JK Rowling.

[Gadget]

You know, I can see Hermiony (?) or Ron being killed off: what better motivation for Harry to actually kill a "live" person? Could push him over the edge into some dark stuff and cause lots of damage.
I can also imagine a lot more dueling and wand work in this one. And I think that Harry will be walking about the muggle world, rubbing shoulders with them and either being hunted or hunting something. And I think that Dumbledore will show a nasty/ruthless streak and perhaps explain what he's done to Harry's blood to track him.

It's almost as much fun speculating as reading

[Lounge Lizard]

have not re-read the books (the memory does get mixed up) , but was there not a mention that the 'chosen one' was born on a certain day etc. with Hary & Neville being the only wizards born on that day - plus mention that Neville has been using his dad's wand up till the last book
Is it time for Neville to step out of the shadows?
Reckon Harry should wipe out Draco - that would cause an upset in the final book
Mcgonagil (spelling ) is the closest teacher to Dumbledore and Likes Harry so could be destined to die
peter

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Divissima

It would be such a cop out if (like in LOTR) only one of the less well liked characters dies (I mean, of the fellowship only Boromir dies - and he is compromised in the eyes of the reader by his coveting the One Ring).

Um- if we're going on the way it was done, then in the first LOTR book, hello? GANDALF? You see him plummet off into a chasm! OK, so he's not REALLY dead, but you don't find that out until WAAAAAY into the second book.

Back to Harry: Ron and Hermione- entirely possible. I actually don't think Harry's going to survive to the end of the final book, because of the way the prophecy about him and Voldemort is worded, so pairing up possibilities are moot. And there might be a character we haven't met yet.

I like the idea of Dumbledore kicking the bucket and being replaced with Snape (purely from the reader POV), but it's unlikely to happen- Fudge has realised his mistake about Voldemort, so would be more likely to choose someone Dumbledore was closer to, like McGonagall. Remember it was HER who took charge of the school in Chamber of Secrets when Dumbledore was removed from office.

Also: I think Neville is going to die, but he's going to go down kicking some serious Death Eater ass, because as we've seen, once his confidence is up, nothing can stop him (except stopping him being able to pronounce the words of a spell).