Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
 

A Christmas Present from J.K. Rowling! A little mini-game on the JKRowling.com site and the name of the 7th HP book appears (in the title).

Excitment!!!

cool

Where's the game?

Go to the eraser on the desk - the game is to get behind the (usually) locked door, and then a mini-game behind that. Spoilers at www.the-leaky-cauldron.org if you want to skip that part.

Yeah, that's awesome. I click the eraser, then there's a door... you can click on the door and the eraser. The door won't open and the eraser takes you back to the other screen. OK, whatever, I can tell my wife the title now thanks to you guys anyway.

Yeah, it's not working.

Thanks for posting that. I'm not sure what "deathly hallows" mean, probably a Brit thing.

There's a series of things to do once in the door room that will open the door. The CNN article also has a walkthrough.

What a silly name.
Nothing like Prisoner of Azkaban or Goblet of Fire.

Well, I take "hallows" to be spirits/ghosts/saints (All Hallow's Eve), but in the dictionary it says it means:
1 : to make holy or set apart for holy use
2 : to respect greatly

So it's either deathly spirits or "hallows" is a term trying to refer to Voldemort.and his followers...either way. Just sounds kind of corny/hokey to me.

Meh..

/tk

Dola,
On The Leaky Cauldron (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org) they pointed out that, "back in August/September of 2003 involving a company called Seabottom and early registration of titles for Harry Potter. Two of the titles orignally claimed were 'HARRY POTTER AND THE HALLOWS OF HOGWARTS' and 'HARRY POTTER AND THE HOGWARTS HALLOWS,'" which is fairly interesting.

Seeing as the horcruxes are rumored to be items of the founders, "Hallows of Hogwarts" has some interesting connotations...

Leaky also did a 13 minute podcast about the title, they had a couple of kind of interesting thoughts.

/tk

Thanks, tk, can you summarize their thoughts? (Yes, I'm lazy today)

They seemed to like the title, in general. The two biggest things I got out of it:
Their first thought was that "hallows" has more to do with "Halloween" than "saints/spirits," recalling that the entire story started with Harry Potter's parents being murdered on Halloween...
The second thing they brought up was that during Halloween, magic is at its strongest/most potent stage, which would be appropriate for the book.

I must confess, I'm still sold on the "spirits" aspect of "hallows" as they way it's used is as a noun (seemingly) and the definitions I can find that I trust are all for "hallow" as a verb.

Still not really a fan of the name though. ;)

/tk

Apparently in Arthurian legends, "hallows" means sacred artifacts that are kept by kings (Google "Grail Hallows" to see the 4 hallows of the Holy Grail). The horcruxes of Voldemort are definately sacred to dark wizards... and fit best, IMO.

Interesting, I never knew that!

Leaky has posted:

I wonder if the title will change for the usage of the term--I particularly like how ISiddiqui's point ties better into the horcruxes.

/tk

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/...people_rowling

release date July 21 !!!

One hopes this with quelch the furor over Daniel Radcliffe and his appearance in "Equus"

Woooot!!

Hoorays :)

I thought it would be 07/07/07.

I think they avoided that because the OotP movie is coming out 07/13/07. Give it a bit more space in between.

Pre-ordered.

That, and the anniversary of the London bombings.

The date would have made sense though, with '7' supposedly being a powerful number.

I was sort of thinking it'd be released on 7/31, Harry's birthday and also a Tuesday, which is a popular day for releasing things, whereas the 21st is a Saturday. Bit weird, but hey, I'll take it 10 days earlier, ;) :)

Saturday makes more sense to me. It makes it easier for people to stay up all night Friday night to buy it the second that it comes out.

...and immediately flip to the last chapter.

I think it will be damned near impossible to avoid spoilers from that date on.

I didn't start reading any of the series until after book 6 came out, and I'm really looking forward to buying this and reading it. However, I see zero chance of myself waiting in line for it at midnight. I'm sure I'll be unable to stop myself from reading it as quickly as possible once I do get it.

My brother and I already have been planning to be there at midnight. I happened to be in Philadelphia visiting a friend when book 6 came out and we had a blast being there at midnight.

I'll just go to our local Wal-mart at around 1:00 in the morning. I think I'm more interested in reading the book over that weekend because, I agree, spoilers will be damn near impossible to avoid.. Especially when she kills off Harry.

Hmmm, that I might try. Especially if I'm not tired that night.

And I'll be there ;). I was there at midnight at Barnes and Noble's for Half Blood Prince. The trick is to call and reserve a copy and then stop by at 6-7 PM to 'check in'. At the time they give you a colored flyer which dictates what order you can purchase the book (they announce the next flyer color as the previous flyer color starts to windle down at checkout). Then you can do whatever as long as you are back at midnight at that B&N. That way, I got to leave at around 12:30 AM from the store.

Still wonders what all the fuss about this Harry Potter is.....

Wish I was the chick who wrote it, though. She's richer than Oprah.

You may want to read the books... novel concept (pun... ok, maybe partially intended ;)), I realize :D.

have you read the books? I felt the same way until I was on a long car ride and the only entertainment was the first book. Turned out to be the shortest car ride ever

Actually that is amusing as it seems to be most adults' reactions. I mean, it is labeled as a "children's book" so I'm sure all of us had misgivings about it initially. Though it turned out to be far deeper than the childrens' books we read as kids (or the genre has turned out to be far more sophisticated than in our youths).

I agree, I didn't read the books until after the first movie came out. I watched the movie only because I was testing a new DVD-ROM player on my PC and got hooked by the Diagon Alley scene. It truly was the Wizard of Oz for our generation(s). I then read the first three books soon after that and while I am not into fantasy, it was amazing to read how they blended the wizard world into the real world and actually made it (and Hogwarts) believable.

...and darker than any children's book that I can recall.

Our Walmart was clear by then.

As for a children's book.. IMO, these stopped being children's books at the end of the Goblet of Fire and morphed into young adult/light adult reading.

""". I avoided it for the longest time, but once I started - I was hooked.

interesting that they are only releasing the movie and the book 8 days apart...they dont really need one to help drive the other and they are really sacrificing the opportunity to have 2 publicity cycles

that said, i will be in line at walmart at 12 pm on friday night, just as i have been for the last 2

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Didn't think about that as I'm not really a 'stand in line to get it right away' type of person.


Me neither. Hadn't read any of them until this past Christmas when I got the whole set after continuing to hear glowing reviews (and I enjoyed the movies). Now I'm hooked and can't wait for #7.


Yeah, I always stayed away figuring it's like all other kiddie books. It's like, when you watch some kids shows/movies when you're young they're just awesome...then you watch them now when you're older and you can't believe that you actually were stupid enough to like that. I figured HP was that kind of stuff, but I kept hearing from people my age (and older) about how good it is, so I gave it a go. Don't recall these types of children's books when I was a kid. And (as somebody said above) end of GoF it ceases any pretense of being a kids book and becomes much darker. I suspect DH will be darker still (how can it not?)

Let me just say, as a Children's Librarian, that Harry Potter is not the only children's book which is exceptional and would have great appeal to adults.

List pls thx

Well? Share!

I started this thread about a series that I really really liked.

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=54701

I highly recommend these books if you like HP. Read them!

No waiting in line for me...I'll just pre-order and have the book in my mailbox around 4pm.

I find it interesting that so many people are planning on waiting in line and pre-ordering this book. When the last one came out, it was available in every book store, Wal-Mart, video game store, and gas station the day after and generally at prices cheaper than the pre-order price.

Main point bolded ;). I think I didn't get to sleep until 6 AM that first day :D.

And it's a fun 'event', especially if you go to a B&N with midnight readings and whatnot.

Lots of independent places as well - for book six, we helped out at an independent bookstore that was full, and a blast. "Harry and the Potters" on the CD player, wand-making and sorting for the kids.

"

I thought Harry Potter was more nonsense children's drivel, along the lines of Barney. So I avoided it like the plague. When I finally watched the first movie (maybe last year, or the year before) I was hooked. The books aren't bad either.

The books kick the movies' asses :p.

:D

(no really, I think the movies collectively can't hold a candle to any single book from Goblet of Fire onward).

Well I am 501st in line to get the book from the Library. They are ordering over 400 copies so I shouldn't have to wait more than a week after it comes out.

That is usually the case with movie adaptations of books. I was rather surprised that the first two movies were such good adaptations, but the first two books were fairly small so it was easy to incorporate just about everything.

If you go for the 'event' and/or plan on staying up all the first night reading, I can understand the desire to be in line. It is the people who wait in line, but they book, and then go home and go to sleep only to read the book the next day that I don't get.

Personally, I prefer "The Moaning Myrtles"...

http://www.myspace.com/themoaningmyrtles



;)

Agreed. The point of waiting in line (even rather than going to Walmart at 12:30) is for the 'event'. And of course, getting it that early is so you can read it that night (or at least some of it).

I picked up HP for the first time after book three - since then, I've had each one finished by 6am the next morning.

It appears they will split this book into two movies. Some feel that the middle part of the book really dragged and it would be awkward to script into a movie. I think they could condense the middle part and make it all one movie. Unless...the first movie will include all of that and the second movie begins when they arrive at Hogwarts. There is certainly enough there just at Hogwarts, the forest and King's Crossing for a complete movie. What do you think?

I think it's cool that they are going to be able to have it be so in depth as long as they don't screw it up

I agree with Bucc and hope that the 2nd part is from arriving at Hogwarts through the end of the book, they really need to give the final fight scene the time it deserves and not leave anything out...it's not just the climactic part of the book, but the whole series...it's all been leading up to that last battle.

uhhh

are you guys serious? you think they are splitting it up to make it a better movie?

i have another theory.

2 movies = twice as much money.

my theory wins.

"Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter."

Certainly that is a big factor in why they went through with the plan, but my guess is the genesis of the idea began when they set out to script it and found out how much they'd have to leave out with only one movie.

I think that much was obvious but what do I care?

I am a huge fan of the series and I would rather pay to see 2 movies and have it done right.

It would be FANTASTIC if they would release both movies within a month of each other.

It'll be Nov 2009 and May 2010, I believe.

i wish theyd had this idea earlier, frankly. book 6 could be split up too

Naw, Book 6 is really less able to be split, based on how the story works (the end battle isn't nearly as in depth as Book 7's). The split kind of works here because the 2nd movie can be basically just the last battle, in all of its glory and detail. It'll make the 1st movie of Book 7 suffer, but that's the breaks when you do something like this.

1st movie of book 7 should still be pretty damn good. Should have a pretty exciting opening and the whole Gringotts episode will be fantastic, not to mention Dobby's very cinematic death.

I was trying to hit the turn point, the end of the first and start of the second, and I think that's it. Excitement just before it, a character who is cared for dies valiantly, Harry has new resolve to finish the job. Perfect spot to break the story into two.

I need to read book 7 again, I only read it once on the day it came out.

Well, you are not going to believe this but I just got done listening to Jim Dale's unabridged reading of all 7 Harry Potter books (starting about 3 weeks ago - 115 total hours). It was an incredibly fascinating and increasingly obsessive experience. By the time I got over the GoF hurdle and slogged through the beginning OotP, I could not stop listening to it during any spare time I had. Jim's reading and voice acting were amazing (not perfect but still the best audiobook narrater I've listened to). It was like seeing a full movie in your head. To me, he brought HPB to life better than I did when I read it, picking up on a number of things that I had missed. It was even more true with DH. As mentioned in this thread, I read it straight through in one sitting but it was wearisome. Listening to Jim's reading made everything in DH exciting and worth following all of the details (instead of skimming down the page). HBP and DH maintained a very high suspense and excitement level throughout all of the chapters that it was very hard to turn off. Highly recommend.

i have all 7 books on tape as well, and once i start, i have to keep going (listening at work, in the car)...I cant imagine how he keeps all the different voices he needs to use straight in his head, and the imagery created by his readings is way better than the things i envisioned in my head (agreeing with you here, bucc)

having them on my IPOD is the best thing ever.

I was given by my wonderful and amazing wife the Harry Potter iPod a few years ago - the back has the Hogwarts crest engraved, and it came with the six audio books (we haven't yet picked up the seventh). Jim Dale is the man.

He's also great as the narrator in "Pushing Daisies".

As an aside was I the only person who thought the final book was only 'ok' ... I felt it was a little forced and spent its time trying to wrap things up rather than give a natural end to the story myself (unlike Lord of the Rings which built to a crescendo and left you wanting more imho).

Jim Dale is an alright narrator, but I must confess that I really would like to hear how Stephen Fry (the narrator of the UK audio books) reads them. I've heard Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy read by Fry and I absolutely loved him, and based on that, I think I'd prefer Fry's reading to Dale's. Alas, with the dollar so weak right now, I can't really justify ordering the UK audio book for the final tome (I have the Jim Dale versions for 1-6).

MV, you're not the the only one who thought that the DH wasn't her best book in the series (for me, that honor either goes to PoA or OotP, maybe HBP depending on my mood). A lot of it felt contrived, and frankly I thought the book would've been better without the epilogue.

/tk

Well, I think the epilogue is to prevent constant requests for "what happened to Harry", etc, etc.

I don't think there's a consensus as to what the "best" book in the series is. Seven was certainly the most hyped as there was the most build up but that's because it was the last. I think for me, it would be Half Blood Prince. However, how anyone could choose Order of the Phoenix is beyond me- anyone who likes having to slog through half a book of teenage angst can have it.

SI

Oh, I know. But I still didn't like it. Felt...cheesy.

/tk

I go back and forth as to which my favorite is.

That said... my take on the epilogue is that it read just the way she described it - in some interview, she said something along the lines of the epilogue had been written for years, like, back around the time of the first book. And while her style, her language, her overall writing ability evolved and improved through the books, the epilogue is jarring in that it reads much more like the first than the last.

I wish the epilogue had been more detailed, but otherwise, I was very happy it was there.

And circle gets the square.

After a several year hiatus I finally checked out the books on CD again and finished it.

Really liked this. I didn't like book six mcuh even tho I loved 5. But then I saw the movie of 6 and loved it (quite the opposite of my previous experiences). More on this later.

Anyway really liked 7 and could actually find influence from other epic scifi fantasy within which is easy to do really. I kept picturing Rowling taking breaks over the 10 or so years she wrote it and seeing a movie and thinking "THAT'S what I need to do!" Can see Hobbit and Return of the King Obviously. Yes Star Wars... and okay There's Return of the Jedi- Lucas-fucked-with-ir edition. And...Matrix Returns?!? didn't see that coming...and what seems like the Smurfs Christmas special. Someone should have bought JK some new DVDs...:)

+1!

I didn't read any of the books. I listened to the books on CD of 4, 5, 6, and 7.
5 I loved. But 6...6 I did not. Lots of conversation and just nothing happening. Then I SAW 6. The movie. And loved it! It was the best one since 1 for me. Why? Of course. First class actors like Michael Gambon and Jim Broadbent just really showing us what acting is. And wow Tom Felton turning it on too! Then it dawned on me. This is what Jim Dale is missing. This is why I've had little persnickety problems with the whole HP series and have thought that some of JK's writing was just kinda fluffy and didn't hold much weight even when she tries to. It's Dale, isn't it. Dale just isn't that good of an actor. He's a great narrator. His narration has a criisp eerie tone and was a good complement for the narrative. But when doing characters it's just all camp and accents. There was little feeling little emotion where it really really needed it. Granted Fry hasn't really done a TON of acting outside comedies, but he does have a sensitve soul I think. I really think he could bring it without doing all the funny voices.
Must find some.

Can't wait to watch the other movies now.
Have 7Pt 1 in hand ready to go. Although I've somewhat heard the movies were disappointing. Probably are compared to the book itself. THe whole "thought" thing.

[quote=CrimsonFox;2636700Can't wait to watch the other movies now.
Have 7Pt 1 in hand ready to go. Although I've somewhat heard the movies were disappointing. Probably are compared to the book itself. THe whole "thought" thing.[/quote]

7Pt 2 was a VERY good movie.

I actually haven't seen it yet. And for movies 1-5, I went to midnight release-day showings.

/tk

Standing ovation in the theater at the end of 7 part 2. The key is for book 7 they didn't try to cram everything into a single 2.5 hour movie. I wish they had done the same for movies 4 through 6.

My opinion on movie 7 part 2

Interestingly, Book 6 is one of my favorites. I loved the Half Blood Prince and all the discussion as to the background of Voldy and how he became who he became (and, of course, the reveal).

And I 1000000% agree with spleen. Without a doubt! I wonder why in the world they did it that way?

The top 2 books to me were 3 and 6. I loved book 3 for the story behind Harry's parents and their friendships with Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail. I didn't like movie 3 because I felt they left a lot of the detail out of this part of the story.

I loved book 6 for the same reason you did.

I loved all of the books except the awful Book 4 and esp. loved Book 7 which I had read or listened to 4-5 times. But I didn't like the latter movies much at all - 5, 6 and 7b and of course, 4. The best of the bunch, imo, was 7a. I thought Yates was not a good director and the adaptations were quite weak. 7b was embarassing in parts and gimmicky in others, nothing more than Wizard Spy Kids.

I agree absolutely about the movie, Spleen. Things like that drive me crazy, where Hollywood writers change things from a book for no apparent reason, but end up taking away from the impact the scene in the book had.

Heh. 6 and 7 were my least favorite. Mainly because the story went from the usual "Boy grows up to become a hero" to "Boy lets smarter friend do his thinking, blunders through a complicated scheme setup by a dead man to accidentally save the world, and nothing changes 20 years later." It was such a downer, I've never seen any of those three movies.

If she gets bored and decides she wants to buy another country, she can easily write another 7 books involving their kids fighting a dark lord rising right up out of the same flaws in the society.

They showed parts of that scene in all of the trailers and tv spots. So, I knew going in that they had butchered it. Nothing like going to see a movie and walking into the theater disappoint already. :)

Agreed. I understand changing things when they just can't work as well for the movie, but this was just for no real reason at all.

I think 7 part 2 did what it could to wrap things up given how butchered the earlier movies were cutting key parts out. I mean Neville is so critical to the ending in the books, but he's such a bit player for most of the movies. That entire story arc is cut out. Plus they have to bring the house elves back in after dropping their story for much of the movies.

So 7 part 2 was an excellent wrapup TO THE MOVIES, and did a great job I think given what it was left to work with.

My objections to the middle movies have been noted in here, I was confused as all get-out watching them until I read the books and was filled in on all I was missing.

My son is almost through book 6. Right around the corner of the big one. I know what is coming and am excited and sad for him at the same time.