Laural,

Like you, I don't mind the Harry Hype. I have fond memories of reading that very first book with my son. You can debate J.K. Rowling's writing skill all day, but you can't deny her imagination, and how her stories captivate not only kids but adults. There was many a night, as my son and I read the one of the HP stories, that after our 30-45 minute reading session was done and he was off to sleep, I snuck the book and read ahead!
J.K. Rowling herself has an amazing story of overcoming rejection and adversity, writing that first manuscript in near-poverty and being repeatedly rejected. I remember reading that she recently surpassed the queen of england as the wealthiest woman in the UK. I say good for her, and bring on the final book.
As a parent, this series has bridged a very special time period in my relationship with my son and provided a shared experience I'll remember many years from now.

Laural,

I am a children's librarian and a "giddy" Harry Potter fan too. I know I will enjoy every page of this last magical ride. You and I and millions of others will have a wonderful time with a book this weekend and beyond. I think that fact is remarkable in and of itself. The notion that a book--paper and ink--brings people around the globe into a shared, happy experience is wonderful. Whatever you think about JKR's writing (I happen to think it's brilliant), that her book has given the people of the world something warm and real in common is a feat that politicians, technology, and the media never will achieve. In a time when I cry watching the nightly reports from Iraq, Africa and other heartbreaking stories of man's inhumanity to man, and when the news media is ever-obsessed with stories about the blonde bimbo in Barbados and Paris in prison, I find it wonderfully refreshing to hear news about Harry Potter. This weekend the world will be rallying around "the boy who lived" one more time--that is a story worth reporting even if it's fiction.

Keep up your good work, Laural, and bring us something to smile about when we watch the news.

Molly

Laural, Your story about the Potter books is charming. The gentleman who was annoyed enough to write in and complain needs to find something more important to get upset about! And no, I'm not a Potter fan, but live with 3 people who are--ages 10, 14, and "forty-something".

I must be one of the few tired of the hype. I'll be very glad when midnight hits and the dang thing finally goes on sale. I shake my head at people camping out - it's a book people! Get a life!! I will, in a few hours, gleefully check the web to find out how it really ends, saving myself the agony of reading an overly thick book. ps - I cannot believe you have a 19 year old! I would have guessed your oldest to be no more than 12. Good Heavens your running certainly keeps you young!

Laural, the book is loved and beloved---plain and simple. The two people (Mike the Viewer and Peggy Tired of the Hype) who don't get it, because they don't read it or like it well, too bad for them. "Get a life", "It's just a book" "cookie-cutter writing"---all statements that are more reflections of sadly unimaginative, limited egos, than of folks who enjoy what reading and stories, especially this one, can provide. This is archetypal material, compelling to the author and compelling to the rest of us, young and old alike. It is not hype when 8.3 million copies of a story are sold in 24 hours, simply because all of us "unintelligent readers" (I'm a college professor and my wife is a professional actress) find it jolly good stuff. And, if the news isn't going to meaningfully cover the Irag war or the
"voldemorts" and "Death-Eaters" in Washington D.C., then Harry Potter is as good as it gets for news and for life.
Millions will read and re-read for generations to come, just like you, your family and the rest of us have done.
Thanks,
Randy B.

While the hype over Harry may be a bit over the top, I think a live and let live attitude is most appropriate. Obviously, millions of people enjoy the books, and movies. My wife dislikes them. But if others enjoy them, let them have their fun - including camping out in front of the store, if that is what they enjoy. The hype is certainly no worse than there was over the iPHONE, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a few years back. We don't let our kids do HP, but they already read everthing in sight, and we have our fond memories of family read alouds of other works. If some don't like it on the evening news,well, it IS news, and most TV remotes have "mute" buttons - great time to get a snack from the fridge. Good work, Laurel.