We stood in line at a suburban Barnes & Noble last Friday night. At least 2000 people were lined up--four lines of 500 people each. Many of them dressed up in capes, hats, flashing wands, and glasses--and I'm not talking about the young ones. I know my children appreciated how unusual this event was--and I'm sure they'll be telling their children all about it.
It's really strange to witness such a cultural phenomenon: a 784-page book that can get so many people so riled up. When I was younger, the landmark cultural events never involved a book. Instead, I remember the release of Sgt. Pepper or bringing home a pristine copy of Abbey Road and listening to Side 2 for the first time. Then in the 1970s, the lines formed around the latest George Lucas or Steven Spielberg movie. Again, I recall standing in line at the Ziegfeld theater in New York when Star Wars came out or at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood to see The Empire Strikes Back just a few years after that.
And now it is a book that has people enthralled. Unfortunately, the intricate ride that J.K. Rowling built is over. We have to move on to the next big thing.
About the book: My oldest daughter finished reading it at about 3 pm on Saturday afternoon--the record in our household. I don't know how she managed, but she kept her promise of not revealing a single detail until everyone else had finished it.
I was very impressed with the book. The ending flowed naturally from the rest of the series--and parts of it were quite moving. I was truly amazed at how small--seemingly trivial--details first revealed earlier in the series (even in Book 1) come to play a crucial role in the denouement.
There's one more Potter-related thing to do at my house. I started reading the book aloud to my children when my oldest twins were in first grade and the series had just begun. Luckily, they still want to hear me read this final volume--and I am more than willing to oblige. So I started reading the book last night before bedtime--as I used to in the old days. I'm afraid the opportunity will never come again.
(1999)
Grandchildren.
Posted by: Lowrie Glasgow | July 23, 2007 at 11:25 AM
How often is it that big things like the Potter phenomenon stretch out over a period of years and help draw parents and children closer together? It's very rare indeed. I envy Professor Borjas, as I haven't quite been able to immerse myself in Potter. But my wife has, and it's wonderful to watch her and and my daughter share this enthusiasm. Thank you, Ms. Rowling.
Posted by: corvid | July 24, 2007 at 12:03 PM