There is absolutely NO reason to reserve a copy of this book.

This is going to have one of the biggest print runs of any book in history... you should be able to walk into Target or Wal-Mart and just pick a copy off the shelf. This isn't like the launch of the Wii or anything

edit:

I am actually looking forward to #7... I read the first 5 books a few years ago... I felt that as a teacher of freshmen, it was my duty Being bored, I finally read #6 about two weeks ago, and I am now actually interested in finishing! This will be the first time I actually buy a book right when it comes out.

(I'm still not dressing up in a wizard hat and going to one of those B&N parties, though )

Target is selling it for $17.99
Wal-Mart (online) has it for $17.87

Anyone else see a better price?

I, too, held out against the pressure until Sunday. Then I broke down and did the Amazon "guaranteed on the 21st" preorder, even though it includes $4 shipping. (It did help that Amazon will be sending a $5 off something in August coupon.)

By way of an excuse (at least in part) I didn't want to be stuck in line somewhere on Saturday and end up missing the train for the NYC S&T that afternoon. See? It's all GWJ's fault; it's not my weak will.

My daughters preordered their copies back in February or so when Borders started taking them. I'm getting dragged to the whole midnight madness thing, too. And costumes are involved (for them, not me).

I expect to be carefully haggling one out from under their lax fingers when they fall asleep reading it in order to get a turn. I should have it finished by Saturday morning.

Yeah, the box stores around here had ridiculous amounts of Book 6 from release date on.

Preordered mine about a month ago for release-day delivery from Amazon. Partly because it would let me save a lot off the retail price, and partly to avoid humanity until I finish reading it so that I don't have the ending spoiled by real-life griefers.

I'll do what I've always done. I'll wake up whenver and go to K-Mart and grab one off the palette they don't even bother to unpack because it will be empty soon enough. Some think I'm crazy not to pre-order but I've never come close to grabbing the last copy at a store.

As for pre-impressions (and I'm assuming you've read the books), I fall in the camp that hopes Dumbledore is dead. Kind of like Ender, I think Harry needs to know no one is going to save him when the final showdown happens.

However, a random thought crossed my mind while Chamber of Secrets was playing in the background a week or so again. Given Dumbledore's fondness for all things phoenix, what if he himself is endowed with the powers of a phoenix and will return that way. If Voldemort can figure out a way to cheat death that involves murder, dark magic, and splitting his soul then why couldn't Dumbledore figure out a much better way. And if he is like a phoenix, then he could possibly even be Gryffindor himself.

I don't expect this to be the case, it's just a scenario that I haven't heard and thought it had a nice twist.

When I mentioned this to a friend he thought polyjuice may be involved in some twist. For example, it was not Snape who made the unbreakable vow.

And while I'm playing backseat author, I'd like to see Harry disappear for a while to travel the world. When he comes back he'll be a total badass and even uses some Muggle tricks to catch Voldemort off guard. Possibly ninja skills. But better yet, guns. The next he gets locked into that weird thing from the end of Goblet of Fire, he yells, "I'm a mushroom cloud layin' motherf*cker, motherf*cker!" and blows Voldemort away. The movie version would have to be directed by Tarantino.

I am doing release day delivery for two copies. Me and the fiancee are going to be in Chicago on Sat night/sunday, so I'm hoping they arrive before we leave.

What's so great about Harry Potter?

I find this somewhat dubious, esp. after all the legal stuff that happened with book 6 to those people who got it early by accident. The lawyers were all over that stuff... it was some serious $#!t. Not that it's impossible, I guess... but I sure wouldn't be bragging about it online.

Anyway, Mex, don't you have something better to do that troll?

Dude, I'm serious. Why do you guys like it so much? Just curious.

I read a bit of the first book and it wasn't for me. Maybe it changes later on, but I can't bring myself to read them all...

I know it's not a series, and being a gamer, you've probably already visited this title, but some of my fondest memories of my father are of when I was a little girl and he read me The Hobbit.

Likewise, also not a series, but try The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende. Don't pre-judge based on the movies, whether you like or dislike them; the book is much, much different, and certainly much deeper. It's also something that anyone of any age can enjoy; every few years I re-read that book and still get new things out of it.

(However: If you do decide to pick it up, make sure you find a hardcover version! Those copies are printed in two different inks, and I swear it adds to the story. It makes sense once you start reading. )

It's fun, it's a good story, it's British in a way that a lot of Americans find amusing, and it's easy to read -- escapism at its best.

PS: I realize they're popular in Britain and elsewhere too, just giving my American perspective.

It's like asking why Alice in Wonderland/The Chronicles of Narnia/The LOTR books/etc. popular. They just ARE They're all well crafted adventure stories aimed at younger readers (some might argue about LOTR, but... you know... whatever).

I'm sure kids get a kick out of them for many reasons... it's set in a school, it gives the fantasy of of "nobody" kid will one day gain great power, Etc. All I can tell you is that for ME, Rowling is very good at plotting... she plays around with the traditional themes of good vs. evil, throws in enough twists to keep people guessing, and manages to get people wanting to know what happens next in the story. The books tend to get "darker" as they go along, so as the kids get older, the books get more serious.

I think they're interesting... certainly not great adult fantasy on par with GAME OF THRONES or anything, but rather enjoyable. I'm sure the Pott-heads would tell me I'm wrong on that one, but c'est la vie.

Why don't you just watch the movies and see if there's anything there to interest you? If you like what you see, you can always go back and read the books.