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 Saturday,
July 21, 2007, was not just another ordinary day on the calendar.
That day marked the end of a wonderful and successful series of
books for avid readers around the world. I am talking about the
Harry Potter series, which was completed with the arrival of the
seventh and last instalment - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Hallows had an impressive start even before its
release.
According to Amazon.com statistics, there were an estimated two
million pre-orders before July 21. And on July 21, the books flew
off the shelves faster than broomsticks, thestrals, and
disapparating charms.
Here are some statistics. According to
kansascity.com, in London, “Harry Potter has cast a spell on British
book buyers, who purchased more than 2.6 million copies of the boy
wizard’s final adventure in 24 hours.” That's not all...Further
stats show that American “publisher Scholastic, reported that
Deathly Hallows...Rowling’s all-conquering fantasy series, sold 8.3
million copies in its first 24 hours on sale in the US.”
The Today Show from News Channel 4 - NBC, stated
that Hallows disappeared at a rate of over 5,000 books per minute
(96 books per second approximately). Author J K Rowling, when
informed about this in an interview, was stunned. What began for her
as a journey 17 years ago, has made her one of the most influential
literary masterminds of our time. The boy wizard has made Rowling,
“the richest woman in Britain”, according to cnn.com.
 However,
Potter’s tale has also achieved an immeasurable feat in recent
times. The Harry Potter series, now comprising a total of seven
books, have sold over 325 million copies worldwide. They have also
been translated from English into Hindi, Chinese, Urdu, Tamil, and
even Turkish. If that’s not enough, Rowling has won several literary
awards for her masterpieces - ranging from: Whitaker Platinum Book
Awards, Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes, Scottish Arts Council Book
Awards, and Whitbread children's book of the year award.
Harry Potter has also done something far greater
than publishing records - it has gotten people reading again.
Namely, children. Children, who may not have an interest in reading
have once again been sparked by the power of imagination and fantasy
in the literary sense. This has been correlated by facts: “In 2006 a
survey found that 51% of Harry Potter readers ages 5–17 said that
while they did not read books for fun before they started reading
Harry Potter, they now did.” The study further reported that
according to 65% of children and 76% of parents, they or their
children’s performance in school improved since they started reading
the series. Charlie Griffiths, director of the National Literacy
Association, said, “Anyone who can persuade children to read should
be treasured and what [Rowling has] given us in Harry Potter is
little short of miraculous.” All of these facts are from
scholastic.com and wikipedia.com.
According to scotsman.com, “Rowling, 41, also
admitted in a television interview she enjoyed the fact so many
people thought the boy wizard would die in the last book, Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She said: “I’m very proud of the
fact that as we went into this book many, many readers believed it
was a real possibility that Harry would die...that’s what I was
aiming for - that you really felt that anyone was up for grabs.”
Needless to say Harry Potter makes waves,
especially with the Indian people.
Sangita Reddy, 12, was one of many who waited in
line, at Borders Bookstore celebration – ‘The Grand Hallows Ball’.
Fans were dressed as their favourite characters and lined up in
front of the store well before the midnight release. Harrys, Rons,
Hermiones, and even a few Professor Snapes took part in all the
games and festivities from the great Snape debate to spelling bees
and other Pottermania games.
Umesh Patel and his brother Santhosh began
reading the minute they laid their hands on the book. Umesh, 15,
said, “I am going to finish this by morning. I have to find out what
happens!” Santhosh added, “I am not waiting. I am going straight to
the end so I can find out whether Harry lives or dies!”
Mythili Babu, said, “I am not your typical Harry
Potter fan. But, I have to say the books outdo the movies! I enjoy
the books immensely - they give you such depth and dimension that
can only come with imagination. The films, no matter how good - are
just different. Nothing beats what you think or can think!”
 What
happens in the book? Well, don’t look here - I don’t want to give
out any spoilers! The only thing I will tell you is you will like
it. I took my time with the book and I found it is complex but
profound and sensational writing. I could not put it down - then
again I am a loyal Harry Potter fan!
There will be a point in the book when you say,
“Oh no!” or rather there will be several. However, you will come out
at the end saying - that Hallows is a terrific end to the series. I
did feel that Rowling rushed through it a little but she lays out
the story supremely and wraps up loose ends from the first six books
- no doubt a monumental feat on its own. And, of course, there are
the great battles and the climatic conclusion we all are looking
for.
One note - don't get too attached to any one
character - you never know who will or will not be alive in the end.
Also, the epilogue of Hallows feels added on and kind of reduces the
possibility of a book 8 - but then again you never know.
Reviewer Alice Fordham from ‘The Times’ writes
that “Rowling’s genius is not just her total realisation of a
fantasy world, but the quieter skill of creating characters that
bounce off the page, real and flawed and brave and lovable.” Fordham
concludes, “We have been a long way together, and neither [Rowling]
nor Harry let us down in the end.”
Now that the seventh and ultimate book is out -
what will Potter fans do? Well, you can re-read the series all over
again, you can watch the movies and there are two more left to come
out (Year 6 and Year 7). And, you can move on to other reads...but
will any come close to J K Rowling’s wonderful epic saga? Maybe.
Maybe not. Will there be a Harry Potter book 8? The answer is we
don’t know, but I can bet confidently that the world and all of
Harry’s loyal fans will certainly be watching and waiting and
hoping.
Priyanka Narayanan
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