Coverage: JKR's first charity reading

MuggleNet was in attendance earlier tonight at the first of two charity readings co-hosted by JK Rowling. The show opened up with celebrity actress Whoopi Goldberg praising children for their interest in reading. Next, actress Kathy Bates provided a detailed introduction for Stephen King. She talked about her obsession with King, along with the roles she's played in his film adaptations.

A surprise appearance by Jon Stewart stoked the crowd up when he came on stage to introduce JK Rowling. Typical Jon Stewart, in his speech, he described how his five-month-old son has been standing outside of a bookstore waiting for Book 7 for three months now. At the end of his speech, he said he should be sitting out there with all of us.

With that said, a video to introduce Jo had her in her home holding a yellow portfolio. In it, she said, was the final chapter of Book 7. "I feel like the camera will be able to see right through this if it's too close," she remarked.

A gigantic standing ovation met Jo as she walked out onto the stage in her special high-heels (with a snake on each). With the warm welcome out of the way, she grabbed her US paperback copy of Half-Blood Prince and began reading at the part where Dumbledore takes Harry back in time to when he originally found Tom Riddle.

After reading, Jo took five or six questions from the audience. The first one asked what Hermione would see in the Mirror of Erised, to which Jo replied she would probably see Voldemort dead, and herself and Ron living happily ever after. Another question had Jo responding that we'll find out more about how potions and the connection between a wand and a wizard work in Book 7.

Tomorrow we will have a report on night two of An Evening with Harry, Carrie, and Garp!

Posted by Andrew on Aug 2nd | 60 Comments