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The troubling timing of Book 7

by David Haber

The official release date of the final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was announced yesterday. This date is troubling to me for several reasons. We were hoping that Book 7 could be released on July 7, which would have been 7/7/07. But the disappointment that we have apparently missed getting Book 7 on 7/7/07 is not the main reason I am troubled by the announcement of the book's release date.

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Reader Comments: (Page 11)

I believe the only reason the film is out before the book is because, more, MUCH MORE people be awaiting the new book, and to ease a little bit of that waiting why not go see the 5th film! It'll end smashing the box office probably simply because 2 weeks after it be the end of the series.

Of course if the book was out first, fans would be on a downer, the end of the books, and some would probably refuse to see it in Potter depression.

I still beleive J.K cannot Harry. It's still a kid's book, although many of the loyal fans are adults now. And ing the hero has never been something seen in a kid's book, they have usually the same message; 'Light preveils over darkness' and I'm sure J.K. is no different in giving this final message to his fans.

Posted by Gagsy from Kent, England on April 14, 2007 01:54 AM

If Harry s, then there is no point in seeing any movies at all cause we all expect him to be another "happily ever after" character.

Posted by Teresa from Lafayette, CA on April 14, 2007 6:50 PM

How could she write an ending that ed Harry?
All of the books are written from Harry's perspective. She'd have to end it with something like as Harry lay he thought to himself... ing Harry would totally stop Rowling from telling us anything about what happened to the wizard world after the ing of voldemort (Assuming he voldemort is ed).
ing Harry just seems too odd to me

Posted by Ed on April 19, 2007 11:18 AM

Ed - While I do hope Harry survives, it is not impossible to imagine Jo ing him at the end just because of the point of view. While the books are mostly from Harry's perspective, not all have been completely. Philosopher�s Stone, Goblet of Fire, and Half-Blood Prince all start from someone else's, and both the Quidditch matches in Philosopher�s Stone are told from Ron's/Hermione's. It is not so far fetched to think that the last chapter in ly Hallows not be from Harry's perspective either.

Posted by Monkeeshrines from Orlando FL on April 20, 2007 07:06 AM

Ed--
The books are told in an omnicient form, not first person or third person. Omnicient means "all knowing", and so the author knows what is happening at every location at that point in time. Third person means that the author focuses only on the main character's point of view, as if JKR were following Harry around and writing down everything he saw, heard, and did. First person would mean that Harry was writing down everything he saw, heard, and did.
The Harry Potter books are told in an omnicient view, which is why we are able to see the perspectives of Frank Bryce, Narcissa Malfoy, Uncle Vernon, Ron, Hermione, and many others.
JKR mostly concentrates on Harry's view, given that Harry is the main character, but sometimes vital information comes out of other people's conversations.
Or else hearing Ron and Hermione's conversations is more interesting to read than "Harry flew up. Harry flew down. Harry looked for the Snitch."
So if Harry was going to , it could easily be from someone else's perspective.
If the book was written in first person, it would be completely impossible for Harry to , but since it isn't, I still think he .

Posted by Ashley from Missouri on April 22, 2007 2:38 PM

i would be very very upset if harry d... maybe they just wanted to get the movie out because they figured more people would want to see it than read a book... but then again there is a possiblity that jk did tell some people that harry would .

Posted by kaela noble on April 23, 2007 6:32 PM

I would still go see the movie, no matter what. Maybe even the movie would soften the blow if Harry's if it were to happen.

Posted by Eilis from Oswestry, Shropshire UK on April 29, 2007 12:03 PM

JKR said on her website that she did not want to release it on 7/7/07 because it would mean they would have to rush things and she didn't want to have to do that.
Although its what I was hoping for - would've made it so much more special!

Posted by Emma on April 30, 2007 10:24 AM

The 7/7/7 release date would have been really good if it wasn't the 2nd anniversary of the London bombings. The Harry Potter books roughly follow the academic year in UK although schools don't finish for summer until mid-end July. Harry's 7th year is set in 1997-1998. I like the linking of events in the books to real events which could be interesting for the 7th book. I think J K Rowling is telling the truth when she says that editing would have had to be rushed if she had gone with 7/7/7 which would have been insensitive. I don't think there is anything significant in the release date other than it does make sense for the book to be released after the film for all the reasons which others have said. Even if the book was released before the film and had an unhappy eneding, I'd still go and see the film.

Posted by Cate taylor from Northern Ireland on May 1, 2007 10:09 AM

I would see all the movies following the last Book, regardless of the ending. It has been interesting to see Daniel Radcliffe portray Harry through his teens. And I would like to see the movie's version of the ending, even if Harry s. But, I am going to be soooooooo disappointed if Harry s. If Harry lives, JKR might consider a sequel. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Posted by kelly from Maine, USA on May 2, 2007 3:53 PM

Unfortunately, Kelly, temptation of a sequel may be the reason why she might off Harry.

Posted by Monkeeshrines from Orlando FL on May 3, 2007 06:35 AM

Perhaps it's just a greedy impulse on the movie company's part. Once the book comes out, half the world is going to spend that weekend reading, not going to the movies. In order to have a high-grossing opening weekend, the movie would HAVE to come out before the book. Two weeks before is plenty of time for them to try to set their silly little records.

Posted by Emily from Texas on May 5, 2007 11:59 PM

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