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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.
 > Read the full articlePages: << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 > >> Reader Comments: (Page 4) i still believe that harry not in book 7. we have been remorseful over the s of sirius and dumbledore (if he did really ), i don't think jkr would let us go through it all over again. i still believe harry potter series were written for children and the of their hero would surely upset them. Posted by nalie from Bellflower, CA on February 3, 2007 4:56 PM
I don't think this has anything to do with the plot of ly hallows. It's simple logic. People who haven't read the books for two years, are going to see the movie a week before to "catch up" on the story. Even two weeks before the book release, excitement be high. Harry potter this, HP that. With the movie out, it satisfies some suspense prior to the book release. Thus, more money for the movie company. IMO, this be the highest grossing HP movie ever (including future ones). Posted by ethan on February 3, 2007 6:32 PM
I think that although it would have delighted her fans immensely it would have been irresponsible to put it out on 07/07/07. it's only going to be two years and people are still quite upset with what happened (rightly so) J.K. is a brit herself as is harry and the gang and she wouldn't want to overshadow the day in anyway. So i believe since she couldnt put it too near the movie she chose the next date that would have a significance to us potterfans 07/21/07 as i've seen some people write "the seventh book X the seventh month X the seventh year: July 21st. Also releasing the book would help the movie a lot. People would watch the movie to get ready for the book. And followers of just the movies would buy the book based on the movie. I think she made a wise desicion and instead of complaining about those extra 2 weeks we have to wait, let's think about what happened on that day. Posted by sarah from London, England on February 3, 2007 9:50 PM
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This makes complete sense. If you think about it, movies made in the UK are generally darker and do not always have, what many people call it, "An American Ending." The Happily Ever After. The Descent is a perfect example. The movie is about a caving expedition gone wrong where the characters run into creatures that live down inside the cave. The characters, all women, try to get out alive. It's UK movie, that had a darker ending where the protagonists don't make it out. All of them . This movie was imported into American a year later and this ending was considered to be "too dark" for US aunces. So they modified it to make it that 1 of the characters makes it out of the cave. The film makers, and Hollywood, thought that US aunces wouldn't like it and that it wouldn't do well in theaters or on DVD. It was their fear that the usual Happily Ever After ending would not suit the viewers. I feel JK Rowling, being the women she is, is going to make the book the way she wants, and the ending that she wants, because she is the author, despite the reactions that occur by her readers. Posted by Ben from Roch, MN on February 3, 2007 10:49 PM
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I agree with Bart who suggested that JKR carries more weight as an author than most. I believe she would have input as to which day the final book should be released. Harry's (Jo's) birthday doesn't have much punch although it is a sentimental date. It seems to me that if she couldn't use 7/7/07, the next best date considering the powerfully magical "7" is 7/21/07 or translated, 7/7+7+7/07.
Does the date of release bode ill for Harry? I don't think so. It must be nearly impossible to coordinate the movie world and the book world. But, considering the genre JKR is writing, the hero does not usually "live happily ever after". "Harry Potter" is not a fairy tale and so a fairy tale ending (as much as we would all want Harry to go on to have a great life, maybe have 12 children and become Minister for Magic-as Trelawney fortold) just isn't a creditable ending. Although Harry may not have been born to vanquish Voldemort, he became a marked man at one and a half years. He has grown into the hero in more ways than one. How does that kind of story end? Does he ride off into the sunset? Alone? Certainly, for Harry, living on without his friends (if any of them are the ones who ) would be a fate worse than .
I think JKR's strong comments about , whether DD's or the anticipated ones in DH, could be a warning. But, as with everything JKR says, you have to wonder if they are red herrings. Posted by Hannah from Los Angeles on February 4, 2007 06:56 AM
Well, I really do not think that J.K. would reveal the ending for Book 7 to the movie company. She won't even let her family in, let alone a major movie production company. If anyone on the set revealed the ending to the press, there would be havoc. I'm not familiar with laws or copyright infringement or anything, but wouldn't they need contracts or something complicated, in case anyone did spill the beans? Posted by Geli on February 4, 2007 12:58 PM
For me it�d be great the date of 07/07/07. I�m still going to do something special that day. I�ll be 21 this year and my favourite numbers are 7, 14 and 21, so for me the date 21/07 is still important. Anyway, you�re lucky (even if you don�t think so), because I�ll have to wait more time. Here in Argentina, the date of the movie is, for now, July 20th. It�s only one more week (but it�s still a week). But the worst is that the book it�s going to take forever. I read the 6th book thanks to my french teacher who got it on line, translated by a fan. But now with the 7th, I don�t know. I hope, at least, to read it before 2008.
Great web site! Posted by Mar�a Laura from Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 4, 2007 2:50 PM
Oh I believe Harry trounce and outlast Voldemort, but I have no double in the last chapters wrap up his life is such a fury of a hurry that any other writer have a witch of a time writing any sequels. And I think the triple-seven idea is one I can live with. I'm not exactly sure why 4 sevens would be worse than 3, but I'll be the difference between the two is a publishing exec and a movie exec. Posted by Dr. WhoSaidWhat from Columbus, OH on February 4, 2007 3:40 PM
i don't believe the timing of the release of book 7 has anything to do with the movie opening. The opening of OOTP has been known forever. If the publishers are trying to piggyback on the opening of the movie, I think they are doing a very good job of wetting our appetites. I know that I and my best friend be at both the midnight screening of OOTP and at the midnight sales of Hallows. And their probably be about 2 or 3 gazillion fans like us there too. Good marketing is good marketing. RE Harry Dying. NO! I forbid it! See, how easy it is too influence people? Posted by Joel Brykman from Valley Village, CA on February 4, 2007 7:47 PM
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OK, so I ran this debate by my husband who has never read any Harry Potter books (but completely respects my Harry Potter obsession...he's watched me read those books countless times)--wanted his take on the reason for book 7 coming out after movie 5... Harry survive? His response was why make any more movies if Harry s? who'll want to watch it anymore?
Soooooo...now I do know that there are many movies where heros , but still this is Harry we're talking about. Maybe viewers be too turned off.
Maybe this does confirm your depressing revelation, Dave. Things may not turn out so well for Harry--you know we all be at the movies when it comes out, just as we'll be at those book store within the first few hours (or minutes for some). I can't guarantee that I would be so fast to run to the movies if I read book 7 first and it had a poor outcome.
Let's face it, those first few months after HBP, I was a mess about Dumbledore. I was in serious morning and denial until I found this site. I'm not sure how I'll be if Harry s.
Look, we know people are going to --it's going to be sad. Bottom line, I already know that I'll be reading the last book at least a couple times before I move on. I probably wouldn't be so quick to run out an see an earlier movie, especially if Harry s.
So I suppose that is the answeer. The only way to get people like me (or us) to see/read both in July is to have the movie come out first. Personally, I love the books--that's what HP world is all about--the movies are just a bit of icing on the cake. Posted by Heather from NJ on February 4, 2007 7:50 PM
21/07/07: 2+1+7+7=17 (Harry�s age, now he can do lots of thinks that he couldn�t) Posted by Kelly from Brazil on February 4, 2007 9:06 PM
Could the date be as simple as as 7 Horcruxes are finally down to one. Hence, the date 7/21? Then the final battle be waged? Posted by Stewart on February 4, 2007 10:22 PM
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