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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 2)

I too really thought she would have released the book on 7/7/07. However, my second guess would have been Harry's birthday 7/31/07. Dave, I agree with you--I do think that things are not looking good for Harry now.

However, on a slightly positive note, could it be that book 7 is actually going to begin ten days prior to his birthday? You know the books usually start with Harry's birthday, but in 7 he be turning 17 and losing his protection right out of the gate. A lot can happen in 10 days, and maybe JKR needs us to be present with Harry for those last 10 protected days. just a hunch.

Posted by Heather from NJ on February 2, 2007 10:21 AM

What if the main character(s) that are Hermione and/or Ron? That would an awful ending, letting Harry live after his best friend(s) . In a way, with how Harry has been trying to protect those he cares for, it would be much worse than having Harry - at least for Harry.

Posted by Lauralee Davis from NJ on February 2, 2007 11:36 AM

I don't think the fact of Harry's would cause me to not want to see the movies anymore. Sure, you could say "but since you know how it ends and what happens, what's the point?" But being a huge fan of the books, wouldn't a person already know what's going to happen in the movies having read the books countless times beforehand? The fact that a tragedy might occur in Book 7, should not affect people so drastically. But I don't know, that's just my opinion.
As for book 7's release, I think we as fans should respect the decision that J.K. has made, rather than complaining or saying we wish it were on a certain date. I don't intend to sound mean, but it is when it is.

Posted by Matt from Yonkers, NY on February 2, 2007 12:52 PM

I think the simplest answer is that if we all had books in hand we would be less likely to run out and see the movie its opening weekend which is how many movies are judged today. I don't think we should panic. It could just be that the Harry Potter Publicity Machine just determined that this was a much more effective marketing strategy.

Posted by Kevin from Wisconsin on February 2, 2007 1:25 PM

Maybe I�m being na�ve, but if JKR wanted to release the book on 7/7/07 I think she would have, regardless of whether HP s or not. She�s been writing these books for 10 yrs now and has shown repeatedly that she likes to put all sorts of detail into them whether its words, dates, numbers, names, etc. So I seriously doubt she would bump the release date for the final book, which has to be so much more important to her, to avoid hurting the viewership of the OotP release, if the date 7/7/07 was really important to her.

Posted by Bart from Denver, Colorado on February 2, 2007 1:26 PM

I'm noticing from these comments that one theory hasn't popped up yet, which surprised me until I saw that very few brits had posted on this topic.
July the Seventh is the anniversary of the London Bombings, and JK could have offended a lot of readers by releasing it then
This has been a common opinion among many of my acquaintance, even before the release date was announced!

Posted by Elena from Lincoln, England on February 2, 2007 1:53 PM

Maybe it is not in Jo's power to choose the publishing date? But then 7+7+7 = 21 > 21.7.07!

Then again, if the movie-people were afraid that the hero was going to , it explains the publishing date.

I am a bit worried why the door didn't open at J0's Website, to inform us of the date! Why only a simple announcement without any remarks from Jo?

I hope that Bloomsbury and Scholastic did not put some pressure on her?

Posted by Mistral from Switzerland on February 2, 2007 2:09 PM

We are forgetting a big thing here. JKR has no control whatsoever of what day her books are released. She may be allowed to give input, but the bottom line is that once it is written and sent to the publisher, it is completely out of her hands. She makes no decisions from that point.

Posted by Michael Brinkley from Oceanside, Ca on February 2, 2007 2:17 PM

Or the main reason for not releasing hp 7 (or the movie for that matter) on 7/7 could just be because that date now has a more important significance to many of us because of the London bombings. There are enough people banning the book - but to connect it to a day which for many people is a day for sombre reflection, might just be a step too far.

Posted by xtina from london on February 2, 2007 2:19 PM

Elena, you could be quite correct with your conclusion! I admit I had forgotten on what date that tragedy happened. I am sorry -

Hmmm...so this would support my guess why they choose 7+7+7 >21.7.07

Posted by Mistral from Switzerland on February 2, 2007 2:32 PM

i dont know why somebody wouldn't want to not watch the other movies just because Harry s....I would watch the movie just because it would be so cool to see it on a screen instead of imagining it

Posted by Colleen C. on February 2, 2007 3:27 PM

It is the publisher's desicion, and I would think it to be very tacky (not to mention highly insensitive) to release the book on July 07 considering the London bombings.
As for the book being released before the movie, I would have wanted the book first, but Warner Brothers already released the movie date. Very smart on their part.

Of course I would see the movies, even if Harry s...

I wouldn't consider the end of LOTR happy in regards to Frodo, the word is satisfying. Frodo isn't the same again, and his leaving Middle Earth is symbolic of .
Harry be just as changed, and possibly in for a similiar fate. Beyond the veil...

Posted by asidi from alaska on February 2, 2007 3:58 PM

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