The power of Harry Potter compels you!

[Andara Bledin]

There are some "childrens" books that are well-written from long before now.

The problem is that they're never really advertised, and often hard to find.

The best place to look is the "young adult" section of your local library, provided it's not some miniscule branch.

I know I've read some really good stuff back in the '80's, but at the moment, I can't remember any of it....

^-.-^

[Shengirl]

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman was great, as I recall. They're even coming out with a movie for the first one, The Golden Compass. And of course, everyone loves Narnia.

[LadyAndreca]

Most of what I'm worried about for the preorders is that you can only pick up the book AT THE STORE YOU PREORDER AT. The preorder card says that clearly, and also says to keep your preorder receipt. There are five other Targets within 15 miles of here (though I think we're the largest), and another four between 15 and 30...any bets on how many people try to pick up their preorder without it?

[XCashier]

The Harry Potter world had pretty much passed me by. Another girl I worked with had once told me she read the books, but I just shrugged. It seemed like just another lame kid's book/marketing ploy to me. Then, one fateful day, my SO rented it because she worked with kids and wanted to keep up with the latest BIG THING so she could talk more on their level. We watched it. The next day, we bought all the books (up to Goblet of Fire, which was the newest at that point).

I did something similar. I disdained HP, not because of the witchcraft, but because it was The In Thing. I've found from experience, whatever is In at the moment is usually not worth the time or money. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me, and I checked out the first book from the library. Enjoyed it so much I checked out the second, third and fourth books, then bought paperback copies from the used book store, then bought the new paperbacks from Costco when they came out. HP turned out to be a rare exception to the In Thing rule.

[FuzzyKitten99]

I did something similar. I disdained HP, not because of the witchcraft, but because it was The In Thing. I've found from experience, whatever is In at the moment is usually not worth the time or money. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me, and I checked out the first book from the library. Enjoyed it so much I checked out the second, third and fourth books, then bought paperback copies from the used book store, then bought the new paperbacks from Costco when they came out. HP turned out to be a rare exception to the In Thing rule.

OMG me too! I brushed the whole thing off as another "Pokemon"-type thing. But then when I was preggers with my first baby in August 2003 and stuck on bedrest for 6 weeks prior to delivery and I had read all the remaining John Grisham novels that existed that I hadn't read yet.

I asked my brother for anything good (we have similar tastes), and he gave me HP #1 and I was hooked, so I had DH go and get the set of 5 paperbacks and I read them all 2 times within a 3 week period. I also bought both movies that were out. I even have Fawkes tattooed on my back:



and this sticker was custom-made for me by my husband's former employer:

[Jester]

...any bets on how many people try to pick up their preorder without it?

Vegas Vinny, my friend who takes care of such...."things"....tells me that these are the unofficial official odds of the above:

25%: 3-1
40%: 4-1
10%: 5-1
50%: 8-1
75%: 20-1
5%: 20-1
100%: 150-1
0%: 1,000-1

I disdained HP, not because of the witchcraft, but because it was The In Thing.

I have yet to read a single HP book or see more than a snippet or two of any HP movie.

I also have never seen any of the Jurassic Park movies, drank a Starbucks coffee drink, watch "American Idol" (except for once for the dreadful rejects you see in the first show, which was hilarious), watch any CSI show, or see Grey's Anatomy. And frankly, my life seems just fine and I haven't suffered devastating trauma to my physical health or social life because of any of this.

[LadyAndreca]

That's depressing, Jester. We sold a LOT of pre-orders, and were still taking them as of last week.

On the up side, I just remembered that the release date is a Saturday. I don't work Saturdays.

[Bella_Vixen]

I also have never ...watch(ed) any CSI show...

But...but...but...Grissom's HOT!!!!!!!!!!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

But...but...but...Grissom's HOT!!!!!!!!!!

You know, I keep hearing that, but Grissom does absolutely nothing for me.

Warrick, on the other hand....

[Becks]

You know, I keep hearing that, but Grissom does absolutely nothing for me.

Warrick, on the other hand....

Grissom, Warrick, Stokes...

I kinda have a thing for Brass and...uh...I forget his name...the coroner.


I'm a sick woman. Yes, I am.

[Bella_Vixen]

I love Warrick's eyes. And Brass' sense of humor. And Doc. Just Doc.

[XCashier]

But then when I was preggers with my first baby in August 2003 and stuck on bedrest for 6 weeks prior to delivery and I had read all the remaining John Grisham novels that existed that I hadn't read yet.

Hee! When I was pregnant and stuck on bedrest, I read Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, the unabridged version. A good book, except that when the story is moving along at a good pace, Hugo will stop it dead to go on a long-winded exposition of the Napoleonic Wars or the sewers of Paris. I think I liked the musical better.

Back OT (sort of), hubby and I saw Order of the Phoenix today. I won't go into details yet, in case most people haven't seen it. Movie's a bit short and left a lot out of the book. But the performances are quite good, and Imelda Staunton is saccharinely menacing as Umbridge. I'd recommend trying to catch a matineee at a reduced price.

[ArenaBoy]

I did something similar. I disdained HP, not because of the witchcraft, but because it was The In Thing.

My parents neighbor was a kindergarten teacher and she was the one who suggested the books to me when they were starting to become a craze in the States. She knows her books (Her house is packed to the walls with books). I never saw the HP series as a in-thing but I did see the whole Da Vinci Code craze as an in-thing.

I've found from experience, whatever is In at the moment is usually not worth the time or money.

Same with me. With books it tends to be a bit of a rarity. I actually avoided the Da Vinci Code as much as possible but I got hooked and even read Angels and Demons.

Back OT (sort of), hubby and I saw Order of the Phoenix today. I won't go into details yet, in case most people haven't seen it. Movie's a bit short and left a lot out of the book.

The description of the movie above is why I refuse to see books made into movies. I made an exception for Lord of the Rings and I saw Secret Window but I didn't know it was King story. The other reason I refuse to see book-movies is that I prefer to leave it the way your mind sees the story.

My life seems just fine and I haven't suffered devastating trauma to my physical health or social life because of any of this.

I'm not a big follower of in-things. Especially when it comes to sports. My friends are NFL fans, baseball fans, and basketball fans. I don't find interest in them. They try to convert me to their sports. That said, I am also a big hockey fan! GO WINGS!

[JustADude]

The other reason I refuse to see book-movies is that I prefer to leave it the way your mind sees the story.

I dunno. Watching Goblet of Fire had me feeling Deja Vu at points, since the action sequences were pretty much identical to how I'd envisioned them when I read the books... especially the graveyard scene with the backlash thingie from the two wands.

[Jester]

That's depressing, Jester. We sold a LOT of pre-orders, and were still taking them as of last week.

I'm not in any way depressed. I am just fine.

Ironically, I DO have a copy of the new HP on pre-order....but I am getting it for my youngest niece as a surprise early bday present.

But...but...but...Grissom's HOT!!!!!!!!!!

What's a Grissom? And something tells me even if I knew, he still wouldn't do a thing for me. You know, that whole flaming heterosexual thing and all......