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An invisibility cloak similar to the one Harry inherited from his father in the first book may not be far off from reality. Researchers in the US and England are laying out a blue print and collecting the exotic materials needed to build such a cloak. John Pendry, a physicist at the Imperial College London said, "Such a cloak does not exist, but early versions that could mask microwaves and other forms of electromagnetic radiation could be as close as 18 months away.... We will have a cloak after not too long." Thanks to everyone who wrote in!
Posted by
05-26-2006
at 12:42 AM
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Posted by
09-14-2006
at 11:28 AM
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As part of Banned Books Week (held last week to raise awareness of books that have been challenged in communities across the US), the American Library Association asked 5,000 people what their favorite banned book was. Unsurprisingly, the Potter series came out on top. To Kill A Mockingbird and James and the Giant Peach came in second and third place, respectively.
Thanks to Janie for the tip!
Posted by
10-03-2006
at 10:07 PM
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As we mentioned several months ago, Laura Mallory, a Georgia mother, has been trying to remove the Harry Potter books from library shelves in her local school district. The Gwinnett Board of Education voted unanimously to keep the books on the shelves, but Ms. Mallory has since appealed the decision, claiming they promote witchcraft.
The Georgia State Board of Education will vote Thursday to determine the fate of the Potter books, which have been deemed by the American Library Association as the favorite controversial title.
Posted by
12-10-2006
at 5:32 PM
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The Guardian today writes about the obstacles faced by Harry Potter translators such as the invented words, prophecies, rhymes, and general wordplay. The article also notes translators come under pressure in countries where the quality of second-language English is high, causing many to buy the original versions instead. Thanks, Gemma, for the tip!
Posted by
01-27-2007
at 1:38 PM
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Warner Brothers has announced that the popular 20Q game will be released with Harry Potter answers later this year. The game works by asking the player 20 questions. Once all of them are answered, the system tries to guess what person, place, or thing the person is thinking.
Radica, the company behind the game, is asking Potter fans to help train the system by visiting their official website and clicking on "Harry Potter" at the top. Go here to get started!
Posted by
05-11-2007
at 2:15 PM
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The Guardian is reporting tonight that Great Britain will be releasing a series of Harry Potter stamps, with each depicting a book cover, to coincide with the release of Deathly Hallows. The stamps will be available beginning on July 17th.
Posted by
05-20-2007
at 8:53 PM
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A judge in Gwinnett County, Georgia ruled on Tuesday that the Potter books can stay in school libraries (after local concerned parent Laura Mallory tried once again to have them banned from schools and libraries). After all of these attempts in court, Mallory has finally admitted she may "need a whole new case from the ground up."
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!
Posted by
05-30-2007
at 11:56 AM
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Digg this story | Share on Facebook | Press Release
Official Concept Art:
Hogwarts | Hogsmeade | Owl's View of Park | Logo
Latest Developments (10 AM EST):
- Official park website now open; visitors can sign up for e-mail updates.
- JK Rowling: "The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed."
Universal Studios and Warner Brothers made a joint announcement this evening from Leavesden Studios on the set of Dumbledore's Office to reveal that a Harry Potter theme park is currently in development. The image to the left is the first piece of concept art for the park: Hogsmeade Village.
Here's what we learned from Potter set designer Stuart Craig and a representative from Universal Studios (both of them hosted the big reveal):
- "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort"
- Announcement was made live via internet at 12:01 AM EST today to select media, including MuggleNet.
- Areas of park to include Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, and the Forbidden Forest.
- 20 engineers working on project.
- Universal came to WB looking for authenticity.
- Potter park to be built in "Islands of Adventure" area of Universal.
- Stuart wants to "take his grandchildren" to the park.
- Opening early 2010.
- Universal's Potter website to be available at this link.
- JK Rowling has been involved "since the very beginning" of the project. Also "supportive and encouraging."
- Stuart thinks that the park will be better off in the United States.
- Have been in design "for at least a year and a half."
- "Important that the theme park represents the entire saga from Book 1 to Book 7"
In a rather cute way to end the announcement, the Universal representative asks Stuart Craig, "Now where's Dumbledore?" Stuart paused for a moment, looked around the office, and replied, "He was just here."
We'll be discussing these developments on this week's episode of MuggleCast (due out over the weekend). This post will be updated frequently as we learn more!
Posted by
05-30-2007
at 11:06 PM
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For the past two days, fans have been lining up outside Waterstones Piccadilly Circus where MuggleNet staffers/MuggleCast co-hosts Andrew Sims, Kevin Steck, Jamie Lawrence, Eric Scull, and Laura Thompson will be podcasting from tonight, as part of the many REALLY superb festivities in their massive Book Seven release party!
We've compiled a video with footage from so-far, including several burly Waterstones staffers loading boxes of the books in through the back door of the six-story shop! Set to the video is "The Final Countdown" by Europe. There are no spoilers in the clip.
Posted by
07-20-2007
at 10:37 AM
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Scholastic, the US publisher of the books, today announced the launch of the J.K. Rowling and the Open Book Tour Sweepstakes on July 30th. One thousand lucky fans will be selected in a sweepstakes and will receive a pair of tickets to Jo's reading at Carnegie Hall on Friday, October 19th.
To enter: Print out and complete an entry form available at www.scholastic.com/harrypotter or by printing your name, home address, and phone number on a sheet of paper and mailing the entry to:
Scholastic
Attn: J.K. Rowling and the Open Book Tour Sweepstakes
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Entries must be received by August 31st, 2007, and are limited to one each person.
Good luck!
Posted by
07-27-2007
at 11:32 AM
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BBC News is reporting that the first complete signed set of Potter books is now up for auction to benefit a charity named Books Abroad:
All of the books have been signed by the author JK Rowling and are so valuable that they are being kept in an Aberdeenshire police station.
They will be auctioned off on eBay in aid of local charity Books Abroad which supplies books to children in 80 countries worldwide.
The Potter books are expected to raise at least £20,000.
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!
Posted by
09-17-2007
at 10:28 AM
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Previously we told you that JK Rowling had agreed donate and auction a signed set of her beloved series for Books Abroad, a charity that seeks to "help to educate children worldwide by sending free school books that are carefully chosen to match the need of each school." Earlier today at midnight the auction on eBay had closed with the winning bid at £18,200, or $37,100 with the starting offer at £100. To prevent the books from being stolen, they were locked in a jail prior to the auction. Books Abroad said they currently "don't have any specific use (for the money) in mind."
Posted by
09-30-2007
at 5:11 PM
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Another set of JK Rowling's autographed Harry Potter books has been put up for auction by the National Braille Press today for the Hands On! Books for Blind Children charity. This organization "strive[s] to eliminate the literacy gap that separates blind children from the mainstream." The auction will continue until October 25, 2007 at 9:00 PM EDT and on the next day it will be featured live at the gala hosted by The Tonight Show's Jay Leno beginning at 7 PM and ending at 9 PM.
Posted by
10-03-2007
at 5:13 PM
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You can now register for the Harry Potter conference, Accio 2008. The event will take place from July 25-27th in Magdalen College, Oxford, England.
According to its website, "Accio 2008 seeks to enhance the appreciation of J.K. Rowling’s novels as works of literature in her home country. Paper presentations, roundtables, moderated panels, debates and workshops will evoke a lively, interesting and thoughtful discussion on the changes the Harry Potter novels have already made to our world, and on the potential for the novels to have a lasting influence."
Posted by
11-04-2007
at 06:10 AM
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According to BBC News, a survey conducted found that the Harry Potter novels are the most re-read books in the United Kingdom.
J.K. Rowling's series beat out JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which came in second and third place, respectively.
The survey also found that almost a fifth of readers read their favorite book more than five times and roughly 77% of UK readers re-read books overall.
Posted by Micah
11-08-2007
at 8:24 PM
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As mentioned previously and as many of you are well aware, J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. are involved in an ongoing lawsuit with RDR Books over a companion novel seeking publication by Harry Potter Lexicon owner Steve Vander Ark. The Associated Foreign Press is reporting this evening that Jo is expected to appear in court in New York City next month.
A New York Federal District Court Judge ordered today that the case go to trial beginning April 14th and Rowling's presence has been requested by RDR Books.
"We asked for her and they said they would provide her," said lawyer David Hammer. "I would say it would be very unlikely that she would not appear," he added.
The witness list must be submitted by April 4th. We will keep you posted as this story continues to develop. Thanks to Matt for sending this in!
Posted by Micah
03-24-2008
at 8:35 PM
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The CBS Early Show will be doing a piece on the growing sport of Quidditch on college campuses across the country this Friday morning. As previously reported in USA Today, Quidditch is becoming a very popular sport among college students and now the school that began it all, Middlebury College, is going on an eight-school tour during their spring break recess.
Starting tomorrow, they will be at Amherst College in Amherst, MA and that is where the CBS Early Show will be broadcasting from.
All the merchandise seen in the piece, including broomsticks, house ties and scarves, was provided by our partner Alivan's.
UPDATE: CBS News has posted video from today's earlier broadcast, which'll show you how to play. Check it out here! Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip.
Posted by Micah
03-27-2008
at 09:36 AM
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The Harry Potter book series has once again won Favorite Book at the 2008 Kids Choice Awards. As most of you probably know, Potter has repeatedly won the award for Favorite Book in past years.
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed with the tip!
Posted by
03-30-2008
at 02:14 AM
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone originally appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list back in December of 1998. The impact of Potter's popularity led the NYT to creating two new lists so other titles could make the list other than Jo's stories.
Now, almost ten years later, the May 11th edition of The Sunday New York Times will be free of any Potter novel. Check out the NYT's Book Blog for more.
Once JK Rowling's Potter Encyclopedia is released, we're sure Potter will make a comeback. Thanks to Pruneau for the tip!
Posted by
05-01-2008
at 2:16 PM
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Whimsic Alley, a Potter merchandise store located in Santa Monica, California, is one of the coolest places to shop for Potter in the world. So cool, in fact, that they are asking fans ages 8 to 14 to come out on May 18th to be interviewed on their love for the Potter books.
The interviews are being recorded for a special project that cannot be announced yet, but they can say JK Rowling herself will be watching some of the interviews at a later date. For more information, check out their website! Best of luck to all you kids who participate.
Posted by
05-09-2008
at 3:13 PM
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Reuters is reporting this evening that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has written an 800-word outline of a prequel to the series that will be auctioned off for charity on June 10 in London by Waterstones. This is the charity we told you about a few weeks ago.
The article goes to say that:
"The outline, which ends with the line 'From the prequel I am not working on -- but that was fun!' is one of 13 story outlines written for the auction by famed authors including new Bond writer Sebastian Faulks and Nobel laureate Doris Lessing."
The money raised will go to charities English PEN and Dyslexia Action.
Posted by Micah
05-28-2008
at 7:27 PM
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Entertainment Weekly magazine has released their 1,000th issue, marking the occasion by creating a list of 1,000 new classics. JK Rowling was named the top Favorite Author, while Goblet of Fire was listed as the number two best read between 1983 and 2008.
Additionally, the cover includes Dan Radcliffe front and center from Goblet of Fire. Standing behind him are notable 'new classics' such as Bono, Johnny Depp, Beyonce, and Will Smith. Thanks to Kris for the tip!
EDIT: Lissette also points out to us that Cedric Diggory's death is listed in the 25 Classic Death Scenes.
EDIT 2: Mary GrandPre's Sorcerer's Stone cover is #20 of the top 25 Classic Covers. Thanks, Chelsea!
Posted by
06-20-2008
at 7:47 PM
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Newbury Today reports that a complete set of signed, first edition Potter books will go on sale today. The auction, to be held at the Cameo Fine Art Auctioneers in Bath Road, Midgham, is expected to receive between £15,000 and £20,000.
We'll let you know how much they actually do go for! Thanks to Isabelle for the tip.
Posted by
06-30-2008
at 11:54 PM
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A couple of days ago we told you about a signed and complete set of 1st edition Potter books that went on the auction block.
Today, the BBC reports that the set sold for £17,800 (or $35,470). This did not include the 15% buyer's premium plus VAT.
Thanks to Cat for the tip!
Posted by
07-02-2008
at 4:39 PM
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The Londonist is reporting that a very popular tourist spot at King's Cross, Platform 9 and 3/4, will be moving to a different area of the station in September:
Platform 9 and 3/4 will be shifted later this year to allow construction work on the West side of King's Cross, according to Jon Burden the former Duty Station Manager at King's Cross, who led a tour of the area yesterday. The enchanted platform will be relocated to the front of the station, close to the ticket office, in September.
Thanks to Liz for the tip!
Posted by
07-21-2008
at 12:46 AM
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Back in June, we told you about the prequel that JK Rowling wrote to support Waterstone's "What's Your Story" charity auction. Jo's story sold to the winning bidder for nearly $50,000
Today, the postcard book that includes stories from Jo and 12 other authors went on sale to the general public. Lo and behold, The Telegraph is reporting that 10,000 copies went on sale at Waterstone's stores, and 10,000 copies were sold by the end of the day! From the article:
"Fans have been desperate to own this limited edition piece of Harry Potter history," said Toby Bourne, Waterstone's head of children's buying. "Pre-orders flooded in from all over the world. Demand was so big that we stopped taking pre-orders to ensure customers had a chance to buy the book in stores."
Posted by
08-07-2008
at 1:40 PM
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The Decatur Book Festival allows you to "immerse yourself in literature and poetry, meet Pulitzer Prize winners and probe the writers' mind... or you can dress silly, sing loud, laugh a lot and have the cheapest possible family outing."
Scholastic's Harry Potter "continuity editor" at Scholastic, Cheryl Klein, will judge a Harry Potter quiz on August 30th as part of the festival. AJC.com spoke to Cheryl about this role, a little about what she's doing post-Harry Potter, and whether she ever encountered inconsistencies in the Potter books: "Changes like that did come up. Talking about them is a little like violating lawyer-client privilege. It’s the author’s job to talk about those."
Thanks to everyone who emailed!
Posted by
08-27-2008
at 5:00 PM
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As many of you know, Scholastic will be holding a special event next Tuesday, September 23 in conjuction with the official release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 10th Anniversary Edition. Fans will get the opportunity to read from the novel while sitting in the same chair author J.K. Rowling used during her post- Deathly Hallows appearance at Carnegie Hall last October.
This morning Scholastic has updated their blog to let fans know that various celebrities will be on hand to read, as well as released a video last night previewing the event.
Don't forget that if you can't make it to the store in downtown New York next week you can view the event online. Thanks to Molly for sending this in!
Posted by Micah
09-18-2008
at 09:26 AM
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UPDATE: A picture of show holding her new award can be seen right here via The Telegraph.
According to a recent report released by BBC News, author J.K. Rowling will receive the Edinburgh Award at a ceremony tonight in Edinburgh, the city where she created the famous Potter series.
"So much has happened to me both professionally and personally since I moved here nearly 15 years ago, that to receive this recognition is particularly meaningful and special," Rowling said.
A panel of judges from the fields of arts, business and science unanimously voted her the 2008 winner.
Congrats to Jo on yet another impressive award!
Posted by Micah
09-19-2008
at 10:36 AM
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In celebrating 10 years since Potter hit store shelves in the United States, MTV has asked some celebrities what they think of the series. Everyone from Robert Pattinson to Shirley Manson was interviewed:
Robert Pattinson (Cedric in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Edward in "Twilight"): "Does it make me a traitor? 'Harry Potter' was what made me become an actor. I credit 'Harry Potter' with everything else that's come since for me. I didn't know what I was doing before that. I hadn't read the books before doing the movie, so at first I read it just as an acting exercise. But I really enjoyed it! But I think Edward would kick Cedric's ass, to be honest."
Read all of the thoughts from celebs right here.
Posted by
09-24-2008
at 4:18 PM
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Scholastic's official website has been updated with a very nice new "Quick Quotes Quill" section. It holds interviews with several key members of Scholastic's Potter team. They all discuss how the Potter books are created, promoted, and much more.
As an example, Francine Colaneri, VP of Manufacturing and Corporate Purchasing, discussed how much paper it takes to create Beedle the Bard and Deathly Hallows:
Q: How much paper did you purchase for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? What's the typical amount of paper purchased for a non-Harry Potter book's first printing?
A: 16,700 tons or 33,400,000 pounds. The typical amount of paper for a non-Harry YA first printing ranges from 10,000 to 200,000 pounds.
Q: Since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out, which Scholastic book have you purchased the most paper for? And how does that compare to the amount for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
A: The Tales of Beetle the Bard requires 2,222,000 pounds; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows required 15 times as much paper.
Check them all out right here. Thanks to Lauren and Arcangel24 for the tip!
Posted by
10-18-2008
at 8:28 PM
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A new article in The Telegraph reports that Potter readers are split into four types based on the Hogwarts houses:
His research found 'Hufflepuff' readers take the tales at a slow, steady and systematic pace and enjoy re-reading the books over and over.
'Gryffindor' readers are eager and energetic and will devour the latest Potter book in one sitting, but quickly move on to new things.
'Ravenclaws' are subversive and take the stories with a pinch of salt, while 'Slytherin' readers are not fussed about the books.
Posted by
10-20-2008
at 6:08 PM
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We're a little late on this, but at the end of October USA Today compiled a list of the best-selling books in the past 15 years.
Unsurprisingly, the Harry Potter books took 7 of the top 10 spots. Here's how they ranked:
1) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2) Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution
3) The Da Vinci Code
4) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
5) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
9) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
10) Who Moved My Cheese?
Read the full list right here. Thanks to Emily for the tip!
Posted by
11-10-2008
at 02:09 AM
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Following rumors about the possibility of a Harry Potter musical, JK Rowling's agent has said that "there are no plans for a Harry Potter musical, full stop."
Dan Radcliffe also commented on the rumors, saying that a Potter muscial "wouldn't have [his] blessing."
Thanks to those who emailed!
Posted by
01-15-2009
at 06:28 AM
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Long-time Potter fans may remember that Nicholson's Cafe in Edinburgh was where JK Rowling spent time writing some parts of Philosopher's Stone while baby Jessica slept beside her. A few years ago it was turned into a Chinese Restaurant, but as of recently, it is now up for sale again. The Scotsman reports:
He has already offered the building to Merchiston-based Ms Rowling for £1 million – an offer which was politely declined.
Mr Ng said: "I saw an article about a house where Bruce Lee lived in Hong Kong that was donated to the local council to turn into a museum. That sparked an idea to turn this place into a museum.
"We were thinking of selling to JK Rowling first because we think something should be done to mark the fact she wrote the book here."
Read the full story right here.
Posted by
01-27-2009
at 7:07 PM
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The Telegraph is reporting today that Harry Potter was borrowed 109,000 times last year, making it the most borrowed book:
The Government-funded Public Lending Right - which pays authors for books taken out in public libraries - said choices had been influenced by Richard and Judy, the husband and wife TV presenters. Five of the books named in the top 10 had been featured in their Book Club slot as part of their chat show.
The PLR, which tracked figures between July 2007 and June 2008, also said books for children and young adults represented a third of loans nationally.
Posted by
02-06-2009
at 11:40 AM
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Harry Potter has consecutively been nominated in Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards, and this year is no different. He's been nominated in the "Favorite Book" category against the Twilight series, Diary of a Wimpy, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do It Yourself.
Voting opens on March 2nd and the award ceremony takes place on Saturday, March 28th. Thanks to Tim for the tip!
Posted by
02-06-2009
at 11:56 AM
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On the same day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released in paperback, Scholastic will be releasing a complete paperback series box set. As you can see from this picture found on Barnes & Noble and Amazon, the box enclosing the books uses the Deathly Hallows deluxe edition cover.
The books also appear to sport some new colors. Other than those details, that's all we have right now. If more details become available closer to the release date, we'll let you know! In the mean time, you can pre-order the set on Barnes & Noble right here for $58.67. Thanks to Leaky for the news!
Posted by
02-13-2009
at 5:58 PM
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Early last month we told you that the Harry Potter series had been nominated in the "Favorite Book" category at Nickelodeon's 2009 Kids Choice Awards.
As of today, voting has started at this link. The Kids Choice Awards air on Saturday, March 28th at 8 PM EST. Thanks to Renee for the tip!
Posted by
03-02-2009
at 8:41 PM
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UPDATE: The two new covers can be seen here and here. They will be released on July 31st!
The Bookseller is reporting that Bloomsbury, the UK publisher of the Potter series, is set to re-release Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages:
The relaunched titles will again raise funds for the charity with 1.15 pounds from each 4.99 pound title sold going to Comic Relief.
The print run for the new version has yet to be confirmed. A spokesman for Bloomsbury said: “There are always new Harry Potter readers coming to the series each year who will be looking for other exciting things to read.”
If new covers are released for the books we'll be sure to bring them to you.
Posted by
04-14-2009
at 11:02 AM
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J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has topped National Public Radio's poll of the 100 Best Beach Books Ever!
Here are the top ten books on the list:
1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
2. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
3. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
4. Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding
5. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
7. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg
10. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
Thanks to TLC!
Posted by
07-29-2009
at 10:25 PM
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Over the last several weeks, various news outlets have explored and critiqued Harry Potter and its effects on its readers. Now, we have a new article from the Boston Globe that looks at how the series has won over some religious critics as of late.
“When stories become as popular as the Harry Potter stories, they no longer simply reflect the religious views of the author, but become artifacts of the culture, and they say something about the culture that has embraced them,” Dalton says. “And that is certainly the case with Harry Potter.”
Thanks to Annie and Makenzie for the tip!
Posted by
08-17-2009
at 00:46 AM
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Looking forward to Halloween, Entertainment Weekly has released a list of "17 Characters Who Are Charming -- But Deadly."
Lord Voldemort - and Ralph Fiennes' portrayal - is one of the characters they list.
Others on the list include Dexter, Jack the Ripper, and Sweeney Todd. Read the entire list starting right here. Thanks to Jake for the tip!
Posted by
10-28-2009
at 8:36 PM
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Here's some great, bittersweet news. The cafe where JK Rowling started writing the Harry Potter books - with baby daughter Jessica by her side - has reopened. The cafe had closed and turned into a chinese buffet a few years ago, but a new owner has changed it back:
Owner Moira McFarlane, 42, says she’s more than happy for customers to escape the cold and spend the whole day reading, writing or chatting with friends.
She said: “It’s a big space, so we need to make it cosy – we will welcome people to come along and sit all day – and write books if they like. ”The businesswoman, who already owns the Spoon Cafe in Old Town and runs the Storytelling Centre coffee bar on the Royal Mile, says the cafe is unlike any other.
Read more, including the owner's thoughts on the cafe's popularity thanks to JK Rowling, at this link. I want to visit! Don't you?
Posted by
11-02-2009
at 9:35 PM
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We've heard of Harry Potter dissenters, but here's some religious support for the Harry Potter series, as a Benedictine monk is publishing "Baptising Harry Potter: A Christian Reading of Harry Potter."
"I do not think there is any intelligent view out there that says these books are evil. They are the sort of objections that come from people who have not read them.
"What are they suggesting we do, ban everyone who turns up at a children's party to do a few tricks," said Fr Luke.
"I don't feel at all that the books were leading children away from Christian spirituality.
"They are full of Christian themes of love and sacrifice," he said.
Check out the full article here.
Thoughts?
Posted by
11-03-2009
at 1:01 PM
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Entertainment Weekly has released a new "Best of Decade" feature, which looks at the top entertainment people, books, films, etc of the past 10 years. Harry Potter took three spots in the various lists.
- Best Books - #8 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - The fourth Potter novel was the darkest yet, forcing poor Harry to contend with Death Eaters run amok and the loss of a major character. That it also encompasses some of the series' most purely fun moments of escapism is proof of Rowling's versatile gifts.
- Entertainer of the Year - #1 - Harry Potter - The Entertainer of the Decade is obviously Harry Potter — a franchise that covers all the cultural bases, selling books, movie tickets and merchandise. Fans whip up butterbeer batches, obsess over John Williams' iconic score, even listen to ''wizard rock.''
- Entertainers of the 2000s - JK Rowling - As 1999 came to a close, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter were already household names — as long as those households contained literate children with a voracious appetite for fantasy fiction. In 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire — the fourth book in the British author's seven-book cycle — ignited a global pop phenomenon that got the attention of all readers, young and young at heart.
Read more at the links! Do you agree with where Entertainment Weekly placed Potter?
Posted by
12-04-2009
at 11:16 PM
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Undoubtedly, one of the greatest phenomenons of the past decade has been the Harry Potter series. To reflect on Potter's numerous achievements, Scholastic has issued a press released detailing lots of interesting dates and US sale figures. Below are a sample:
July 8, 2000: 3.8 million – the record-breaking initial print-run of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
July 11, 2000: 3 million – copies sold in the first weekend from the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, breaking all publishing sales records.
March, 12, 2001: Release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages with net proceeds to benefit Comic Relief, UK.
June 21, 2003: 6.8 million – the record-breaking initial print-run of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
June 22, 2003: 5 million – copies sold in the first 24 hours following the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, breaking all publishing records.
July 16, 2005: 10.8 million – the record-breaking initial print-run of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
July 17, 2005: 6.9 million – copies sold in the first 24 hours following the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, breaking all publishing records.
For more about the past decade in Harry Potter, visit Scholastic's media page. You may recall that two years ago MuggleNet published a Decade in Review area featuring a detailed timeline of the Potter franchise from 1997 to 2007. It will be updated and republished soon to encapsulate 1997 - today.
Posted by
12-15-2009
at 5:07 PM
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As Potter fans, we know that the franchise has had a huge impact financially on various companies who own rights to the Harry Potter brand. Now, The Economist has an article online looking at the success of those companies.
Despite claiming that the series is "not great literature," the article is still a good read. A sample:
In fact the Harry Potter books were the iceberg. As each book appeared it drew new readers to the series and expanded sales of earlier books in a snowball effect. Thanks largely to the boy wizard, Bloomsbury’s turnover, which had gradually increased from 11m pounds in 1995 to 14m pounds in 1997, took off. In 1999 it stood at 21m pounds. Two years later it was 61m pounds. By the middle of this decade, with Bloomsbury’s revenues above 100m pounds, rival publishers were griping that there was no point bidding against the firm for a children’s title. So far the books, which are published in America by Scholastic, have sold more than 400m copies worldwide. Not all were read by the young. Central to the books’ success was a repackaging, with a darker cover, for adults embarrassed about being seen reading a children’s book.
There are also comments from Potter producer David Heyman, who says that filming for Deathly Hallows will wrap in May. This is in line with other recent comments targeting a late Spring/early Summer release. Thanks to Amanda for the tip!
Posted by
12-19-2009
at 6:45 PM
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The Harry Potter series continues to pick up the accolades as the decade comes to a close. USA Today has released an article documenting the top books of the 2000s, with Potter taking 6 of the top 10 spots. Surprising to some may be that you don't see a Potter book until No. 3. The reasoning?
Rowling was a best seller before 2000, when fourth book 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' sold a record 3 million copies its first weekend.
By 2007's release of the finale, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,' speculation about Harry's death (unfounded) rose to levels not seen since Charles Dickens' 19th-century serials. A record 8.3 million copies sold in a day.
The top 2 spots went to Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Order of the Phoenix came in at No. 3 and Deathly Hallows was way down the list at No. 7. Prisoner of Azkaban was the only Potter book that failed to make the list.
Do you agree? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Posted by Micah
12-24-2009
at 09:25 AM
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A lawsuit against JK Rowling's UK Potter book publisher Bloomsbury regarding Jo's book series has now added JK Rowling as a defendant. A report detailing this news also includes a new comment from Jo, who reminds us she never even read the story she allegedly copied.
From Bloomberg: The estate of English author Adrian Jacobs alleges in the complaint that part of his 1987 book, “The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land,” was copied by Rowling. A year of wizard contests in the book was similar to a central theme of “The Goblet of Fire,” the estate says, according to a statement it issued today on PR Newswire issued today.
Jacobs’s estate sued Bloomsbury Publishing Plc in a London court in June, according to the statement. The estate claims that Jacobs used concepts and themes such as wizard prisons, wizard hospitals and wizard colleges before Rowling did. The two authors also shared an agent, Christopher Little, who manages the Harry Potter brand worldwide, according to the statement.
“I am saddened that yet another claim has been made that I have taken material from another source to write Harry,” Rowling said today in a statement e-mailed by spokesman Mark Hutchinson. “The fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author’s estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book.”
Posted by
02-17-2010
at 12:21 AM
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The Harry Potter series has topped a poll of books British people are most likely to pass on to the next generation, according to the BBC.
The survey of over 1,000 people ages 18 to 64 asked people across Britain what book from the past decade they would pass on. Other books that made the top 10 include The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, You Are What You Eat: The Plan That Will Change Your Life by Dr. Gillian McKeith and Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father.
Thanks to PeteMK!
Posted by
03-04-2010
at 2:42 PM
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HIGH-RES COVERS: Easily view each cover in a large size:
- Philosopher's Stone
- Chamber of Secrets
- Prisoner of Azkaban
- Goblet of Fire
- Order of the Phoenix
- Half-Blood Prince
- Deathly Hallows
In a new article today from Bookseller.com, we learn that Bloomsbury - the UK publisher of the Harrry Potter series - has plans to republish the Harry Potter paperbacks with brand new covers.
The new paperback designs were created by Webb and Webb Design Limited, with illustrations by linocut artist Clare Melinsky on the front cover, back cover and spine, to "appeal to the next generation of readers who did not 'grow up' with Harry Potter and who have not yet experienced the thrill of life at Hogwarts".
The books will be on store shelves November 1st!
Are you going to purchase the new designs even if you were already exposed to “life at Hogwarts”? Leave us your comments here.
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Read the fastest selling book series of all time and experience the adventure from the beginning! Our latest giveaway will award one lucky winner with a complete set of US edition Harry Potter paperbacks and a $100 Amazon giftcard.
To enter, simply become a fan of MuggleNet on Facebook and write the title of your favorite Harry Potter book RIGHT HERE. You must use that link to tell us your favorite book or else you will not be entered into the contest!
And don’t forget to check out Scholastic’s national sweepstakes. They are giving away 4 family trips to Universal Orlando Resort’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opens June 18th!
Posted by
04-12-2010
at 08:58 AM
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Warwick Davis, the actor who plays Professor Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter series, recently spoke with MuggleCast to discuss his new book Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis! We also spent a lot of time talking Potter with Warwick.
The interview will air on Episode 197 of MuggleCast (due out Wednesday, April 28th). For now, we'd like to share a small preview of the interview.
Click here to listen to Warwick discuss his favorite film in the Potter series as well as recall some favorite moments from filming. Listen to the entire interview on Episode 197 next week! Warwick's book is available for purchase in the UK and will hit US book stores later this year. You can also follow Warwick on Twitter.
Posted by
04-20-2010
at 3:04 PM
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In celebrating their 20th anniversary as a publication, Entertainment Weekly has released a list of the Greatest Characters of the Past 20 Years, and Harry Potter made the cut.
Their website says to check out this issue as it includes a small interview with Dan Radcliffe.
See other characters who made the list at this link. Thanks to Maria for the tip!
Posted by Micah
05-27-2010
at 6:00 PM
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Could J.K. Rowling be ready to allow Harry Potter to be sold in e-book version? According to an article from The Bookseller, she could be.
Neil Blair, partner at the Christopher Little Agency (CLA) which represents Rowling, said the agency was “currently considering all the options and opportunities that this evolving space provides”. The agency was “actively” looking, whereas previously it had just been “monitoring the developing area”, he said.
Would you be interested in purchasing and reading the series in digital format?
Posted by
05-28-2010
at 11:55 AM
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The estate of British author Adrian Jacobs that took on Bloomsbury in 2009 is now suing Scholastic claiming that "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is "substantially similar" to Jacobs' 1987 book "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard."
“The central theme of each work -- a yearlong wizard contest -- unfolds as similar characters enact parallel plot points,” according to the complaint.
Check out the Bloomberg article here. Has anyone read "The Adventures of Willy the Wizard"? Do you think Jacobs' estate has a valid point?
Posted by
07-14-2010
at 12:35 AM
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BBC News is reporting that Durham University will be offering an academic course based on the Harry Potter series next year:
The Durham University module uses the works of JK Rowling to examine prejudice, citizenship and bullying in modern society.
So far about 80 undergraduates have signed up for the optional module, part of a BA degree in Education Studies.
Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion will be available for study next year.
A university spokesman said: "This module places the Harry Potter novels in their wider social and cultural context.
A few Harry Potter classes have appeared in American Universities over the past few years as well. Lucky students!
Posted by
08-18-2010
at 09:25 AM
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TIME Magazine is reporting that the Harry Potter series is one of the more popular reads for detainees behind bars in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. For the 176 prisoners, cut off from family and facing an uncertain future, the Arabic translations of Potter provides an escape.
"He may not come riding in on the back of a hippogriff to free his favorite captives from their own version of Azkaban, but he shows up once a week on a cart of books from the prison library, offering an escape of the imagination treasured by many."
"Indeed, the Harry Potter series has been one the most popular titles among the 18,000 books, magazines, DVDs and newspapers on offer from the prison library at Guantánamo."
What do you think of the Potter books being read at such a controversial location?
Thanks to Jen!
Posted by Micah
08-21-2010
at 11:30 AM
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One of our friends has shared with us a blog of interest to Harry Potter fans called 'Mark Reads Harry Potter'.
The purpose of the blog is quite simple. A guy named Mark reads Harry Potter and blogs his thoughts on each chapter. It's a fun read because he's completely unaware of what happened ahead of what he read.
See his blog here. He's currently reading Half-Blood Prince. We hope you enjoy the rest of the series, Mark!
Posted by
09-16-2010
at 10:10 AM
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Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have joined the Celebrity READ campaign, each appearing on their own poster holding books of their choosing. Radcliffe holds Bulgakov's The Master & Margarita, Watson holds Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and Grint holds Burgess A Clockwork Orange.
Pre-orders can be placed at the ALA Store for the Harry Potter Set, which includes all 3 posters for 15% off list price. This special offer lasts only until October 15th.
Additionally, a trivia contest is running on the ALA Graphics Facebook Fan Page to win these posters, with the special chance at a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie poster, compliments of Warner Bros. Pictures. Check in daily from now until October 15th - first to correctly answer the trivia question each day wins!
Posted by Micah
10-01-2010
at 04:50 AM
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Last month, we told you about Harry Potter Film Wizardry, a book that provides a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Harry Potter film series.
Today, Harper Collins has provided us with the first set of excerpts:
- Table of Contents
- The Weasleys
- The Burrow
- Diagon Alley
- Production Notebook
You can view the trailer here. The book hits store shelves October 19. Pre-order is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
MuggleNet will be giving away a copy of the book in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Additionally, Harper Collins will be at New York's Comic Con this weekend, giving away several 4-page promo brochures that are based on the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes catalogue that is one of many collectible inserts in this great book. So, if you plan on attending be sure to stop by!
Posted by Micah
10-05-2010
at 7:40 PM
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Harper Collins has passed along a second set of excerpts from the upcoming Harry Potter Film Wizardry book set to be released on October 19.
- Hosgmeade
- The Yule Ball
- Snape
- Luna Lovegood and Thestrals
You can view the first set of excerpts right here, including shots of the Burrow, the Weasleys and Diagon Alley. And be sure to read our review of this great behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter films.
Additionally, we'll be giving away copies of the book next week and have a full discussion on the next episode of MuggleCast.
Posted by Micah
10-11-2010
at 7:25 PM
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Last week, MuggleNet's Andrew Sims debated Potter vs. Twilight with Twilight Lexicon's Laura Byrne-Christiano on a segment taped for AOL Moviefone.
Twilight was voted the winner and that didn't sit well with MTV's Terri Schwartz. She weighs in as to why Potter cannot be knocked from its pedestal by teenage vampires and werewolves.
Terri responds to each question in the debate, including comparing the two fandoms, discussing the book-to-screen adaptations, and as far as standing the test of time? Well, she says, Potter's got a theme park!
Posted by Micah
11-23-2010
at 10:35 AM
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For just over three years Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has held the Top Selling product title on Amazon.com.
Today Amazon has announced that their Kindle device has taken that spot from Deathly Hallows.
Nonetheless, it's impressive Deathly Hallows held it for three years!
Posted by
12-27-2010
at 07:20 AM
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Have you taken a look at Harry Potter: A Pop Up Book yet? Featuring numerous scenes from the Harry Potter series, the Pop Up Book is a great piece to add to your collection.
Be sure to check out this trailer for the book which we first released here on MuggleNet in August.
You can order and learn more about the book by using this Amazon link. Have you purchased it yet?
Posted by
01-03-2011
at 07:55 AM
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A few weeks ago, we announced the opening of a new section on the site within Editorials. Now, thanks to all you great writers, the MuggleNet Essay section is filled with many new submissions.
As promised, one essay submission would be highlighted every month on the MuggleNet homepage. This month's selection is entitled The 'Adventurous Song': Why Harry Potter is Epic Literature", and it was written by Helena, exploring the degree to which J.K. Rowling follows in the footsteps of Homer, Milton, and even J.R.R. Tolkien.
As a reminder, MuggleNet Essays is currently teaming up with MuggleCast to include short essays relevant to 'Chapter-by-Chapter' discussions on the show. Keep an eye on Episode 222 for the first essay selection.
There is literally something for everyone in this newly formed section, so - for those of you who are interested - we encourage you to write something of your very own and send it in to mugglenetessays@gmail.com!
Posted by Micah
03-06-2011
at 06:30 AM
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We've had to remove this information due to a request from the publishers. Sorry about that!
Posted by Micah
03-14-2011
at 4:10 PM
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Susan Jeffers, who was the copy editor for Order of the Phoenix through Deathly Hallows, recently spoke with her local newspaper about how Scholastic kept the conents of the books secret prior to their launch dates:
As the magnitude of the series grew, Scholastic began instituting greater security measures for the books. About the time Susan got the job of copy-editing book five, things had gotten very tight.
“We had a secret location in which we would work on the book,” she says. “Several people had access to that room. Nobody else knew where we were or who was involved.”
Did people who knew that she worked for Scholastic bug her about plot details? “You have no idea,” she says.
Read the entire article at this link. Thanks for your contribution to the series, Susan!
Posted by
03-25-2011
at 08:40 AM
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As many of you might recall from our last post, Dear Mr. Potter: Letters of Love, Loss, and Magic is now available for pre-order. At nearly 200 pages in length, the book features hundreds of letters and pictures from Harry Potter fans.
To encourage readers to pre-order, everyone who purchases the book before July 1, 2011, is automatically entered into two exclusive raffles. Both will be unveiled as the close of pre-orders approaches.
The book features letters from Harry Potter actress Evanna Lynch, New York Times best-selling author John Green, Leaky Cauldron webmistress Melissa Anelli, and our own Andrew Sims and Eric Scull, amongst others.
Remember: all proceeds from Dear Mr. Potter will go to The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA), a non-profit organization that engages youth in social justice issues through parallels from the Harry Potter novels. The profits will help to fund the HPA's extensive efforts, specifically surrounding literacy.
Dear Mr. Potter can be pre-ordered until June 31, 2011. Get yours today!
Posted by Micah
05-21-2011
at 07:00 AM
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Waiting until the July 1 release date to order Dear Mr. Potter? Here's a good reason not to: yesterday, Dear Mr. Potter announced that Rupert Grint, Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, will be signing a select number of copies.
Each pre-ordered book will serve as a raffle ticket to win a copy signed by the Harry Potter actor.
Dear Mr. Potter is also offering personalized Hogwarts acceptance letters in 50 randomly selected pre-ordered books.
The only way to win either of these prizes will be to pre-order Dear Mr. Potter. As always, all profits from the book go directly to the Harry Potter Alliance.
Posted by Micah
05-31-2011
at 5:25 PM
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HarperCollins has released the official cover for Harry Potter Page to Screen.
This book is a follow-up to Harry Potter: Film Wizardry and provides an in-depth look at the entire filmmaking process from Sorcerer's Stone through Deathly Hallows - Part 2.
It includes behind-the-scenes anecdotes, brand-new interviews with cast and crew, as well as hundreds of never-before-seen photos and concept art.
The book is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released October 25.
Additionally, HarperCollins is at Comic-Con this week in San Diego, so be sure to stop by booth #1017 and say hello!
Posted by Micah
07-22-2011
at 07:30 AM
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What book would you most recommend to new readers that are experiencing the series for the first time? Prisoner of Azkaban? Deathly Hallows? Or just simply start at the beginning with Sorcerer's Stone?
Parade.com is asking Harry Potter fans to tell them their favorite Harry Potter book and why. They want to know which book inspired you the most.
The best essays will be featured on their website. For complete details click here.
Posted by Micah
08-17-2011
at 1:45 PM
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The Wall Street Journal has a new article in its Friday Journal section wondering what will fill the void left by Harry Potter.
Publishers and Hollywood studios are taking "big bets" on new authors and their potential for film adaptations. The focus of "Conjuring The Next Harry Potter" takes an in-depth look at The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
"Ms. Morgenstern's novel, set at the turn of the 19th century, tells the story of two young, love-struck magicians who compete in a magical circus. Doubleday won the novel with a high-six-figure advance. Rights have sold to 30 foreign publishers; some countries paid six figures, a sum typically reserved for established blockbuster authors."
The article makes no mention of Pottermore, which is certainly feeding Potter fans' appetite - at least for the time being.
The better question may not be what can fill the void left by Potter, but is there really a void to begin with and if so, can it be filled at all?
Posted by Micah
08-19-2011
at 08:20 AM
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The Hartford Courant is taking a different approach to breaking down the 2012 presidential field - sorting the candidates into their respective Harry Potter houses.
The article puts Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney into Slytherin noting certain characteristics that can be read here:
"Of all the Republican candidates, only Ron Paul, whose no-nonsense bluntness in the debates shines through and probably contributed to his second-place finish in the recent Iowa straw poll, can be called a Gryffindor. Sorting others in the GOP race, I would put Rick Santorum in Hufflepuff, Herman Cain and Jon Huntsman in Ravenclaw and Newt Gingrich in Slytherin."
Currently, President Obama is labeled as a Gryffindor. Do you agree with the above assessment and the article that Gryffindor is the dominant house among Presidents past and present?
Posted by Micah
08-25-2011
at 07:40 AM
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Harry Potter: Page to Screen, the follow-up to Harry Potter Film Wizardry, will be available for purchase beginning October 25 and will retail for $75.00.
According to Harper Collins:
"[The book] is packed with spellbinding details and hundreds of never-before-seen photographs and illustrations that provide an insightful, in-depth look at the inner workings of the world of 'Harry Potter.' The book unravels some of the films' most peculiar mysteries, such as how Harry's Invisibility Cloak became visible, which mythical creature required the most make-up, and why the Sorting Hat failed miserably as a puppet, while also addressing some of the broader issues surrounding the set, including the impact of Richard Harris' death on the cast and crew, and the young stars' thoughts on growing up on a public stage."
"Complete with extensive profiles of the cast and crew, this lavishly illustrated volume is the official behind-the-scenes look at the art and making of the most popular film series in cinema history as told by the Muggles who made the magic real."
Are you looking forward to this book? MuggleNet will be doing several giveaways as we get closer to the book's release.
Posted by Micah
08-31-2011
at 07:25 AM
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Last year, Bloomsbury announced that they would be re-releasing the Harry Potter series with newly designed covers in paperback.
Recently, the Potter UK publisher has updated their website with a new Harry Potter Signature Hardback Boxed Set. The description is below:
"The first opportunity to own all seven Harry Potter titles in hardback in the latest 'Signature' edition livery. All encased in a smart gift box. The books will have stylish marker ribbons and decorated endpapers."
The set will be released in November and you can pre-order it on Amazon.co.uk for £80.50. Thanks to Mohamed for the tip!
Posted by Micah
09-09-2011
at 08:50 AM
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Fans can now watch the official trailer for Harry Potter: Page to Screen, the follow-up to the bestselling Harry Potter Film Wizardry.
Harry Potter: Page to Screen will be released on October 25 and will have over 500 pages that take you behind-the-scenes of the Harry Potter films.
Pre-order your copy today! Additionally, MuggleNet and MuggleCast will be giving away copies of the book as the release date draws closer, so stay tuned for more details!
Posted by Micah
09-19-2011
at 07:45 AM
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Harper Collins has made available today the first excerpt from Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey.
You can scroll through the excerpt above to get an exclusive look at the highly-anticipated follow-up to Harry Potter Film Wizardry or view it right here.
The book will be available on October 25 and retail for $75.00. You can pre-order the book through Amazon right here.
And don't forget to enter MuggleNet's October 'Potter' Pumpkin Carving Contest for a chance to win a copy of the book. We'll be also giving one away on an upcoming episode of MuggleCast.
Posted by Micah
10-03-2011
at 12:00 AM
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When Harry Potter and religion are mentioned in the same sentence, it is usually grounds for strong debate.
But according to a new New York Daily News article, Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg teaches his congregation about morality and ethics through the Harry Potter series.
"When the Hogwarts Express rolled to the end of its enchanting line, Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg was perhaps one of the more unlikely fans who mourned the conclusion of the series about the boy wizard."
He became fascinated with the series more than 10 years ago when he found his students reading Sorcerer's Stone.
"Author J.K. Rowling's books are valuable, Rosenberg said, because they deal with all of life's most essential questions.
'What gives life meaning? How do relationships work? What's the interplay between good and evil and what are our obligations in that struggle?" he said. "All of these things are dealt with in the Bible as well.'"
You can check out his book Morality for Muggles: Ethics in the Bible and the World of Harry Potter right here.
The Potter series has had many religious and political opponents over the years. What are your thoughts on the series being used this way?
Posted by Micah
09-08-2011
at 3:35 PM
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Harry Potter: Page to Screen will hit store shelves on October 25. The over 500-page book is the most comprehensive look behind-the-scenes of the Harry Potter films.
Those of you looking to pre-order the book now have an extra incentive! Harper Collins is offering you exclusive access to 20 never-before-seen pages from the book.
In addition, there's one more bonus for you! You'll be entered to win one of fifty limited edition Harry Potter: Page to Screen tote bags.
As a reminder, a copy of this book will be given away to the winner of our Pumpkin Carving Contest. We'll also be handing one out on the next episode of MuggleCast.
Posted by Micah
10-19-2011
at 5:35 PM
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AbeBooks was launched in 1996 and is an online marketplace for buying new, used, rare and out-of-print books. It also has a terrific section on what to look for in the Harry Potter series if you are shopping for a first-edition or want to know the value of your own 'Potter' books.
A recent article by AbeBooks asked what are 'Potter' readers now reading since the series ended in July 2007?
"It appears to have been an interesting few years for these readers - this list covers self-help, dieting, Portia de Rossi's battle with anorexia, guides to making your dollars go further, some of Toni Morrison's most brilliant but painful-to-read writing, Steve Lopez's Soloist book about a homeless schizophrenic musician, lots of prehistoric fiction and a Dean Koontz memoir about a golden retriever called Trixie."
What are you reading today? Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks to Michael G. for the tip!
Posted by Keith
10-31-2011
at 8:00 PM
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We reported late last night that Sotheby's auction house in London, UK was going to be auctioning off a very rare, deluxe first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Today, we have received word that this will not be the only magical treasure for a rare Harry Potter book collector to bid on.
Sotheby's will also have:
Lot 149: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, Bloomsbury 1997. Click here for large image view.
Lot 151: Complete set of Deluxe Harry Potter volumes, the first four signed by J.K. Rowling. Click here for large image view.
As for Lot 150 (the Deluxe Edition we mentioned previously), we now have a few of the illustrations from Thomas Taylor, who drew the very first image of 'The Boy Who Lived.'
Cover | JKR | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
The auction of these gems is scheduled for December 15th at 10:30AM GMT.
Posted by Keith
12-02-2011
at 2:00 PM
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How many times have your read the Harry Potter series so far? Do you feel like you understand why millions of fans around the world have re-read the entire series more than once? What is it about J.K. Rowling's masterpiece series that has gripped us and refuses to let go? Why is it that English Professors in approximately 70 Universities and Colleges around the world are diving into Harry Potter as deeply as Shakespeare, Jules Verne, or C.S. Lewis?
No matter what your responses are to the above questions, after listening to this literary interview with the Hogwarts Professor, John Granger, we promise that your deep appreciation for the structure and story-telling of the Harry Potter series will be even deeper.
You can now listen and follow along with the transcription of this interview as Micah, Eric, and I sat down with John Granger earlier this month to discuss the Harry Potter as Ring Composition and Ring Cycle. (Special thanks to Maxine, Laura, Ali, and Alison for the transcription).
Listen and follow along right here!
You can order your own .pdf version of John Granger's Harry Potter as Ring Composition and Ring Cycle Theory right here.
Let us know your feedback after listening to this discussion. Would you like for us to feature more literary discussions and interviews from English Literature Professors? Let us know in the comments below, your feedback is important to us.
Posted by Keith
12-30-2011
at 5:40 PM
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The Harry Potter series has been used for a variety of subjects in higher education schools throughout the world. For instance, Durham University's education department offers their students a 30-credit Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion module. But the Sun Yat-sen University, in the southern part of Guangdong China, has recently introduced the Harry Potter series to help students understand...genetics?
Lecturer Chen Suquin explains:
"Genetics greatly influence how a mother reacts during her pregnancy and how she rears her children. In 'Harry Potter,' we can easily find such case studies in Harry and Voldemort, who are both suspected of having some of the same genes as Slytherin, and who live in a similar [wizard] environment.
Why is it Harry and Voldemort have totally opposite characters? Was it because Harry was surrounded by his mother's love inside her womb and when he was first born, while Voldemort's mother was full of hatred during her pregnancy?"
Genetics is often viewed as very boring and dry course of study, but with a Harry Potter fan in the class, this course will increase their curiosity and help them along the program of study. In fact, since beginning this program of study, the once shunned elective course, which runs for 36 hours and offers two credits, has seen the class enrollment grow substantially.
Does your University, College, or High School offer any kind of Harry Potter course of study? Let us know of your experience in such a class or thoughts on whether or not you would like this type of class at your school.
Posted by Keith
01-10-2012
at 6:55 PM
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Colleges and University professors from all over have begun teaching the literature of J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series in the classroom. And for those who grew up reading the seven book series, professors are finding that students are able to better understand and appreciate the classic literature of Charles Dickens, according to a Washington and Lee University English professor.
Suzanne Keen has struggled in the past to educate college students on classical pieces by Charles Dickens, whose 200th birthday is on February 7th, and with the exception of the infamous tale A Christmas Carol, found that students from six or seven years ago did not enjoy other works by the author, like Little Dorrit.
"It seemed that students were losing their connection to Dickens," Suzanne said. "That was alarming, because, amongst the Victorian novelists, Dickens is the most popular, the most fun, the easiest to read - right up there with Jane Austen."
Today, the students entering colleges and universities grew up reading the Harry Potter series. Consequently, said Keen, "they get Dickens." Apparently, reading Harry Potter is like taking a crash course in reading Dickens because "it's got humor, it's got the caricatured names, it's got multi-plots, it's got the really long stories that you read for hours and hours and hours, and you enjoy the fact that they're long."
Suzanne goes on in the article that she gives all of the credit to J.K. Rowling for priming the younger students with a kid's book version of a Dickensian world. A generation that enjoys reading long books, talking about books with other students, and better appreciating classical English Literature with the likes of Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.
Do you feel that reading the Harry Potter series has given you a greater appreciation towards reading classical works that you might not otherwise have enjoyed as much? Let us know in the comments below. Discussions are welcome.
Posted by Keith
02-02-2012
at 09:05 AM
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The viewers of the BBC series Blue Peter and programme [British spelling] editor Tim Levell will be deciding which children's book of the past decade is the best.
Luckily, this will not be another People's Choice award fiasco, where four of the five choices were Harry Potter stars, and the fans spread the votes out among the four with the end result of losing to the only other nominee. In this case, the vote is strictly for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The boy wizard takes on David Williams's Mr. Stink, and Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider Skeleton Key, Jacqueline Wilson's Candy Floss, Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Austere Academy, Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful, Charlie Higson's Silver Fin, and John Grisham's Theodore Boone.
Be sure to head over to the website right here and vote now.
Posted by Keith
02-02-2012
at 2:45 PM
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The Harry Potter series has been an attraction for scholars the world over as colleges and universities examine the intricacies of the literary phenomenon. The series is even used to study genetics as we previously reported.
On Wednesday, February 8th, another course in the academia of Harry Potter will be shared. This time, it comes from Western Washington University's Hannah Boxberger, a WWU senior majoring in classical studies, who will be giving a lecture titled, "Classical Mythology in the World of Harry Potter."
The event is scheduled for 4:00PM in the Wilson Reading Room, 4C, of the Western Libraries at WWU and is FREE and open to the public.
If you attend this event and would like to write an article on the lecture, please contact me directly at keith@staff.mugglenet.com.
Is your college or university offering Harry Potter academia? Let us know in the comments below.
Posted by Keith
02-07-2012
at 4:30 PM
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On Tuesday, the United Kingdom government announced its plan to get more children reading by aiming the contest, which is set to begin in September, for young boys aged 8-12 years old.
The contest will reward the young readers who devour the most books with the clear intention "to give a competitive spur to reluctant readers," according to schools minister Nick Gibb.
Both boys and girls are eligible for contest, but as boys make up the majority of "reluctant readers" the hope would be to inspire them "by a bit of healthy competition." One in ten British boys are now leaving the primary school at a seven-year-old reading level.
If the children want to get a head start on the competition, then there is a handy list of recommended books, including, of course, the entire Harry Potter series, which has an addictive quality and will cause the children to want to devour all seven books in a row giving them a huge head start on the cometition.
Posted by Keith
02-08-2012
at 11:30 AM
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