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Source: Reuters -
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It came out of the school bag with a wand-like flourish. An
end-of-term birthday invitation that was full of magical promise.
It instructed our excited 10-year-old to meet his friends at the
local movie theatre on July 15 at 2.45pm. Now, any Muggle worth
their salt knows the significance of July 15. And there could be
only one possible movie of choice for an 11th birthday celebration
on that day.
Kids of all ages around New Zealand, and the world for that matter,
are waiting breathlessly for the
sixth instalment of the Harry Potter series to come to life on
screen. The wait for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is
almost over. July 15 finally looms large, much like Harry's stag
petronus glimpsed through the mist. We already know Half Blood
Prince will be dark. Even darker than the last one, Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix. We know it will be sad and a much
loved character meets his end. We also know, without doubt, it will
be a box office smash.
When Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince went on sale in July, 2005 it broke all previous sales records in the United States. The numbers were staggering. It sold 6.9 million copies in the first 24 hours, more than 250,000 per hour. The only book in publishing history to open nearly as well was author JK Rowling's previous book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Unlike most blockbusters, Half Blood Prince was a hit with critics in the United States, getting rave reviews from The New York Times and Associated Press. Reviewers in England, where the book also smashed previous sales records, were much harsher on author JK Rowling. The Independent's Suzi Feay found it "wordy, flabby and not very well edited...". The Observer's literary editor, Robert McCrum, complained "Rowling's prose runs the gamut from torpid to pedestrian."
Ah well, that's critics for you.
The real critics of JK Rowling's phenomenal work must surely be the millions of readers of all ages who have joined her fantasy world. How many mothers the world over have gone in search of missing broom handles to find them put to Potteresque use? At least two at our house have become a Nimbus 2000 and Firebolt respectively. How many parents, grandparents and interested adults have read Harry Potter's exploits so they can join the imaginary magical world of children they know? So they too can discuss the finer points of Quidditch, Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, the Dark Arts, Hogwarts, spells and Ollivander wands and so, so much more?
It's truly inspiring stuff. Roll on July 15. Oh, I've just remembered. I cried at the end of Book 6. Note to self - remember to take tissues.
