I thought the movie was 07-07-07. Perhaps in London. I understand the marketing-see the movie, feel more caught up with the series, buy the last one!

They'd better get their skates on if they are going to use the original cast all the way through-they are growing up VERY FAST! And moving on to more grown-up roles...Harry Potter acts in Equus!

Whoo-hoo! I'm thrilled they finally have a release date for the book. Time to put my order in for two copies ... my DD and I are like crazy women when the new books come out and we don't share *g*. I have to admit, I just can't wait to find out how it all wraps up. My money is on Harry surviving - fingers are crossed!

My info is from CNN and the internet, for whatever that is worth. But I don't think they'd release it on 7-07 in London as that is the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks there.

Here's some publicity photos of Dan Radcliffe in Equus. Fangirls, start your screaming.

Is it sexist to say he looks quite hunky?

Ginny I don't think we 'do' anniversaries so much over here, except in a private quiet way, so 'events' etc will continue as normal in the UK.

I am also looking forward to the last book, and I agree I think Harry survives!
I also love the movies, and forgot to ck who directed this latest one.
I did see some of the still photos of Daniel yesterday, I think he is turning into a very handsome young man.
With a couple more movies to make to finish off the series it will be very interesting to see if the original cast will sign on.

Pat

Vee, you live there and I don't but it seems to me that England's observance of Remembrance Day, with church services and poppies everywhere, is one example of a public memorial. And I do think 7-07 is too recent for the date to be chosen for something as frivolous as a book or movie extravaganza. But who knows?

Back to our regularly scheduled programming....The enjoyment of the wonderfully creative Harry Potter books has nothing to do with Daniel Radcliffe's sartorial choices and career aspirations. JK Rowling has invented an imaginative world full of characters and language that appeal to both children and adults, a high achievement in itself. I can't wait for July.

Ginny, I quite take your point re Remembrance Day etc but I don't think that this HP film premier is considered such a big deal that it wouldn't be shown on the 7/7. Life will go on . . .
BTW I see from the news that the last book hits the streets/book shops/stores on 21st July.

Pat, call me cynical but I'm sure the cast would be really keen to be involved with any further HP films, if only for the £$£$£$ that will come their way!

ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH !!!!!!!

My wife has just informed me that we are going to be in Greece on July 21st.

How will I cope???

Time to put in the order. Glad to know it'll be over the summer during my time off from teaching. I definitely plan a reading marathon when it comes out. That way no one can spoil it for me by letting out the ending.

I think Harry lives, but I'm pretty sure Snape gets it.

Martin, can you have the book FedEx'd to your vacation destination? IMO, extreme measures would be perfectly acceptable in this case. *VBG*

I've already booked off July 23rd (the Monday after the release) as a holiday. I figure I won't get too much sleep on the 21st and the 22nd so I'll sleep on the 23rd!

I imagine there won't be a lot of postings here during that weekend? ;-)

Oh, and Martin -- I'm with sheriz6 on this one. Get someone to grab the book for you at midnight and then have them Fedex the book to your Greek address! Or, you could check with English language bookstores around the area where you'll be on the 21st and see if they'll launch the book at the same time as the UK.

The New York Times Book Review has an interesting article today about the Harry Potter phenomenon in the publishing world, and what might come after. They seem to think JK Rowling might create another series. She is rather young to rest on her laurels. The article is available online if you register with the site (free).

I've actually investigated, and Amazon can ship world-wide. It'll cost me about £20 to get it shipped Priority Express. That's not too much to pay, is it?

(Does that officially make me a sad b@stard?)

PS - I had to put the @ in - the site software wouldn't let me write the word out....

Martin, ;-(
Eleftheroudakis is the largest bookstore in Athens, it might be worth an email to check the release date in Greece :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Eleftheroudakis bookshop

Martin --

No, that does not make you a sad ba$tard! (See? There's more than one way to skin a cat!) It just makes you a "dedicated fan" of the series..... just like the rest of us here.

Ever get the feeling that the inmates are running the asylum? ;-)

mummsie - that's very kind of you, but my Greek isn't quite up to that site....

I'll have a dig, nevertheless - there are some English links...

No doubt in my mind, Martin, it will be worth having it sent! I'd do the same. As it is, I've already ordered one copy, and will get the second one locally (can't have all your book eggs in one basket, right?). My DD has already called dibs on whichever book arrives here first.

My next project is to decide how many of the HPs I need to re-read before #7 arrives and when to start reading. I think a spin through Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince should do it.

Good grief, Martin. I can barely pronounce Souvlaki!

I thought I had linked the English version. Click on the little house, top left, to find the English link.(flag)

I had the re-reading issue with the last book and discovered the website www.SparkNotes.com which contains summaries and other info about all the Harry Potter books. Very convenient. Actually, many literary classics, old and new, are "digested" here. I think it's a site for wayward students but useful as a refresher for those of us whose schooldays are in the rearview mirror.

Ginny, thank you! I really didn't want to wade through HP:OOP (my least favorite of the books), though I'm looking forward to HP:TH-BP. I will check out that website.

A tip on next-day delivery of the new Harry Potter--

I just pre-ordered the book from Amazon with several other books. After I entered my credit card data, I found that Harry Potter would not arrive for four days after publication. Obviously, that is untenable. I was able to cancel the HP part of the order and will wait for a day-of-publication offer to appear, which it no doubt will. Even if I have to pay more than the $18 and change they were charging--they must be losing money at that price.

Has anyone seen a day-of-pub offer yet?

No, but then I haven't looked.
I like to deal with Costco whenever possible (DD works for them) but we don't have one within 50 miles, so I preordered the Half-blood Prince from them last year on their web site but they had a huge problem with their vendor and I didn't get the book when promised and so cancelled the order, got a refund, and walked into Sam's Club locally and bought one-they had loads of them! So that is what I plan to do in July with the final book.
Both Costco & Sam's sell books much cheaper and if you have one locally you also save postage!

Pat

I've received both of the prior HP books on the day of publication from Amazon with no problem, even using super-saver shipping with the last one. I've placed my order and paid for shipping on this one -- it had better be there on 7/21! I'm not worried about a back-up copy, though. Last time even our grocery store had a huge pile of THBP on the day of publication, and we will wind up buying two copies, anyway.

I got the last two from Amazon, day of pub, free shipping. But that was not the deal this time. And I don't want to wait on a long line at a store so I'm just waiting for a good online deal. I'm betting Amazon will announce one at some point.

Thanks for the heads-up, Ginny. I had preordered it with other stuff and chose the free shipping. I canceled the HP and ordered it seperately. The confirmation from Amazon says the shipping date is the 20th and delivery date the 21st.

I ordered HBP from Amazon for day-of-pub delivery. It was sent by some special form of UPS/USPS collaborative effort, and ended up in my regular mail... which doesn't arrive until 4 p.m.!!!

Never again. Sam's club for me.

I can't remember if the last HP came UPS or by mail but I did get it early on the day of publication. The plot thickens, however. I had invited people to dinner before I realized it was THE day. They stayed and stayed while the book lay unopened and unread. I finally stood up, pled exhaustion and said good-night. One of them guessed right away the reason they were being so unceremoniously tossed out the door. Oh well--you do what you have to do.

Ginny - you should have brought several copies and dished them all out with dessert - the post-dinner conversation would have been quieter, but you'd have got onto it earlier!

For the last three books, I've been at the bookshop at midnight the night before. Just to chaperone my daughters, you understand...

B&N online says "you will receive it on or about its publication date 7/21/2007"

hmmm.

Martin, I;ve been thinking-you should just enjoy your vacation in Greece, then have the HP to look forward to when you get home and have that "flat after vacation" feeling-when we'll all have that "flat after reading the last HP in one long marathon all-night session" feeling, you'll still have something to look forward to.
hehehehe!