Harry Potter Sightings

Last Saturday I went to the 11:15 adult class at my local school of taekwondo. When I arrived there were a couple of kids from the previous class waiting for their rides. One of them was holding a big book. I said, "Is that what I think it is?" It was. The boy had gone to one of the bookstore events the night before but only stayed until 11:30 so he couldn't get his book. He went back to Barnes & Noble that morning before his martial arts class to get his book. The store had one for him because he preordered. I mention this because one of the instructors said he was sorry he hadn't preordered a book.

Then today I was back at my local school of taekwondo to assist with a junior advanced class. When we finished up a friend of mine was out in the waiting area waiting for her kids and what did she have but the new Harry P.--the English edition published by Bloomsbury. The family had gone to London July 8th (the day after the terrorist attacks) and returned home yesterday (the day before more explosions in London). They had gone to a bookstore in the middle of the night, too, which meant they got their book 5 hours before anyone in the U.S.

So, I am making my way through the book. I'm not hating it, but I do think it tends to drag a little. And I'm finding the bad guy characters a little over the top. However, as I'm reading of all the heightened security in the wizard world, I can't help but think about what's going on in London right now. It just seems as if the book went on sale at a moment in time when it can sort of provide a backdrop to reality. Which isn't exactly how I want to put that. Maybe a better way will come to me later.