Saturday, August 19, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
News from the Bookstore front....
Hi everybody!
We are already starting the planning stages for the release event for book #7. There is still no word on title or date of release, but since #6 is about to come out in paperback, we think news on #7 won't be too far behind. At least, "historically" it has always followed within a couple of months. If you would like to be invovled in the planning, just let me know (either by comment here or email me directly at russosbooks@bak.rr.com and just be sure to put "Jenn" and "HP" someplace in the subject line). We had 2,000+ people come to the release event for #6!
The official anniversary of the D.A. is August 18th, but we are having our "party" and the store's paperback release party for #6 this month, Friday July 28th from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marketplace bookstore.
The word on the next book circulating in the news (as you have already heard, I'm sure) is that, in an interview, J.K. Rowling said that 2 main characters die in the last book. What she said exactly was "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die."
This, of course, has sparked a lot of discussion here at the store. There was also a good "mini-article" in Entertainment Weekly that gave a selection of the main characters odds. The ones I found most interesting were the suggestions that it may be Hagrid, as one of Harry's last adult supporters, and Snape, in an act of redeeming martyrdom that shows Dumbledore was right all along about him. They listed: "Ron: 20-1, Ginny: 6-1, Hagrid: 3-2, Hermione: 50-1, Snape: 2-1, Harry: 9-2, Voldemort: even odds". You can visit this link http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=usatodayodds.gif to see what the folks at Mugglenet think the odds are. Mike Russo had a very interesting line of reasoning with the vote that Aunt Petunia and Harry will bite it, on the stipulation that Harry "comes back from the dead" and destroys Voldemort. His reasoning for Aunt Petunia is that as the books go on, we find out more and more about Petunia's knowledge and involvement in the magical world... and if Voldemort gets rid of her, there isn't the special bound-by-blood safe place for Harry anymore.
So, post your bets. We could say that who ever gets it closest to right gets an icecream sundae from the rest of the group... or something along those lines....
We are already starting the planning stages for the release event for book #7. There is still no word on title or date of release, but since #6 is about to come out in paperback, we think news on #7 won't be too far behind. At least, "historically" it has always followed within a couple of months. If you would like to be invovled in the planning, just let me know (either by comment here or email me directly at russosbooks@bak.rr.com and just be sure to put "Jenn" and "HP" someplace in the subject line). We had 2,000+ people come to the release event for #6!
The official anniversary of the D.A. is August 18th, but we are having our "party" and the store's paperback release party for #6 this month, Friday July 28th from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marketplace bookstore.
The word on the next book circulating in the news (as you have already heard, I'm sure) is that, in an interview, J.K. Rowling said that 2 main characters die in the last book. What she said exactly was "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die."
This, of course, has sparked a lot of discussion here at the store. There was also a good "mini-article" in Entertainment Weekly that gave a selection of the main characters odds. The ones I found most interesting were the suggestions that it may be Hagrid, as one of Harry's last adult supporters, and Snape, in an act of redeeming martyrdom that shows Dumbledore was right all along about him. They listed: "Ron: 20-1, Ginny: 6-1, Hagrid: 3-2, Hermione: 50-1, Snape: 2-1, Harry: 9-2, Voldemort: even odds". You can visit this link http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=usatodayodds.gif to see what the folks at Mugglenet think the odds are. Mike Russo had a very interesting line of reasoning with the vote that Aunt Petunia and Harry will bite it, on the stipulation that Harry "comes back from the dead" and destroys Voldemort. His reasoning for Aunt Petunia is that as the books go on, we find out more and more about Petunia's knowledge and involvement in the magical world... and if Voldemort gets rid of her, there isn't the special bound-by-blood safe place for Harry anymore.
So, post your bets. We could say that who ever gets it closest to right gets an icecream sundae from the rest of the group... or something along those lines....
Monday, April 24, 2006
Party & update
Hey crazy kids.... I hope we all had fun last Thursday playing HP Scene it and decided JKR's charity visit to Romania was also a covet research mission to write in a trip to the Balkans in book 7.
Exciting news! We are going to celebrate our one year anniversary a bit early in order to coincide with the release of the HBP paperback with a huge HP themed bash at Russo's! It's either the third or fourth Friday in July, I think. More details to come!
Exciting news! We are going to celebrate our one year anniversary a bit early in order to coincide with the release of the HBP paperback with a huge HP themed bash at Russo's! It's either the third or fourth Friday in July, I think. More details to come!
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
GOF Reading schedule
April 6: chapters 1-4
April 20: 5-8
May 4: 9-12
May 18: 13-16
June 1: 17-20
June 15: 21-24
June 29: 25-28
July 13: 29-32
July 27: 33-37
April 20: 5-8
May 4: 9-12
May 18: 13-16
June 1: 17-20
June 15: 21-24
June 29: 25-28
July 13: 29-32
July 27: 33-37
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
reminder
to send me your discussion points soon! if you don't, we will just have to make up crap because I don't have time to do anyone else's this week.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Discussion points for January 12 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 1-4
Chapter one. owl post. TJ
• Harry lied in saying that he wouldn't use Hedwig in post. Is that a bad thing?
• Why didn't the Weasly's use the money for normal life? They sure could use it.
• Why did he get a pocket sneekascope? It supposedly works but it never seems to. Is it supposedly broken or was it because something dangerous was about to happen?
• Why arent they able to go to hogsmeed when they are younger? Is it responsibility or because of the shrieking shack?
Chapter two, Aunt Marge's Big Mistake--Cindy
• Harry's birthday is ignored by the Dursleys.(not even a gift of old socks? )
• TV news reports that,Black, a dangerous convict has escaped. But never says what his crime was or from where he escaped. why? What are they hiding?
• Harry's birthday surprise is that Aunt Marge will be arriving soon to stay for one week. Uncle D. warns Harry to keep a civil tongue, hide his abnormality (magic) and pretend he is attending "St. Brutus's secure Center for incurably Criminal boys". Why would Mr. D. make up such a story?
• Harry develops a plan to secure his Hogsmead outing. He will promise Uncle D. to put up with Aunt Marge's vile treatment of him in exchange for a signed permission slip . Why did uncle D. agree?
• On the last day of A.Marges stay, she slanders the memory of Harry's parents. Harry turn her in to a human balloon. Was that an involuntary act or swift justice? or both? What will the ministry of Magic do?
• Harry in a rage packs up and leaves! Letting the Dursleys deal with "Aunti Balloon." What will harry do. will he be thrown out of Hogwarts for under age Magic...arrest him////
Chapter Three: The Knight Bus
• 33: The Knight Bus is supposedly "emergency" transportation, but in OOTP Hermione uses it just as it were a normal coach service.
• 37: Maybe Sirius looks familiar to Harry, not only because he was on the Muggle news, but because Harry saw a picture of him in the phot album of his parents that Hagrid gave him.
• 45-46: "Surely it wasn't usual for the minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic?" Interesting, especially in light of the events in OOTP--Fudge seems to make a lot of exceptions when it comes to Harry.
Chapter Four The Leaky Caldron--Chris
• Pg. 51: Firebolt sign – sign reads “price on request” implying how unique/special a purchase of one would be. So how does Sirius get one for Harry?
• Pg. 54: Harry recognizes picture of the dog on the Death Omens book. Why would Sirius choose an animal shape of a bad omen? Surely looking like an ordinary dog would be less conspicuous.
• Pg. 55: “Harry met Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, his fellow Gryffindors,…; he also ran into the real Neville Longbottom….” – Neville introduced separate from the other Gryffindor students.
• Pg. 57: “Scabbers looked thinner than usual, and there was a definite drop of his whiskers.” – he must know that Sirius is after him. Sirius raving, “He’s at Hogwarts….”
• Pg. 59: “Scabbers hadn’t shown any trace of interesting powers…” – why do the Weasley’s own a rat that possesses no special powers?
• Pg. 59-60: Is Crookshanks attracted to Scabbers because he’s a rat or because it senses something else? It is believed that animals can sense supernatural things…. Also, what special powers does Crookshanks have? The store’s name is ‘Magical Menagerie’, so you would expect the creatures sold there to possess magical powers.
• Pg. 66: Some clarification please – Harry is 13 years old. Sirius was in Azkaban for 12 years. How old was Harry when Voldemort disappeared? How much leeway time was there between this incident and Black’s arrest? The first book mention’s young Sirius Black’s motorcycle so wouldn’t he have the trust of members of the OOTP? If so did Dumbledore oppose Black’s arrest? etc….
• Pg. 66: “Dumbledore not fond of Azkaban guards” - not happy about it but agreed to having them at Hogwarts -> another example of Dumbledore abiding with the Ministry, though opposed. Why doesn’t he like the guards? Is he worried about Sirius, or his students, or something else?
• Pg. 67: Moment of clarity for Harry (irony of enjoying freedom for the first time but really just as confined as ever)
• Pg. 67-68: Harry didn’t feel scared knowing Black coming after him. Why?
o full confidence in Dumbledore.
o “Escaped Voldemort 3 times already” – full confidence in himself, especially against Voldemort.
o Doesn’t think much of the guards yet.
o How would Harry feel at 16 looking back on these feelings? Would his perception change?
• Pg. 68: Ominous thought – “what to do when you know the worst is coming…”; if he only knew the half of it.
• Harry lied in saying that he wouldn't use Hedwig in post. Is that a bad thing?
• Why didn't the Weasly's use the money for normal life? They sure could use it.
• Why did he get a pocket sneekascope? It supposedly works but it never seems to. Is it supposedly broken or was it because something dangerous was about to happen?
• Why arent they able to go to hogsmeed when they are younger? Is it responsibility or because of the shrieking shack?
Chapter two, Aunt Marge's Big Mistake--Cindy
• Harry's birthday is ignored by the Dursleys.(not even a gift of old socks? )
• TV news reports that,Black, a dangerous convict has escaped. But never says what his crime was or from where he escaped. why? What are they hiding?
• Harry's birthday surprise is that Aunt Marge will be arriving soon to stay for one week. Uncle D. warns Harry to keep a civil tongue, hide his abnormality (magic) and pretend he is attending "St. Brutus's secure Center for incurably Criminal boys". Why would Mr. D. make up such a story?
• Harry develops a plan to secure his Hogsmead outing. He will promise Uncle D. to put up with Aunt Marge's vile treatment of him in exchange for a signed permission slip . Why did uncle D. agree?
• On the last day of A.Marges stay, she slanders the memory of Harry's parents. Harry turn her in to a human balloon. Was that an involuntary act or swift justice? or both? What will the ministry of Magic do?
• Harry in a rage packs up and leaves! Letting the Dursleys deal with "Aunti Balloon." What will harry do. will he be thrown out of Hogwarts for under age Magic...arrest him////
Chapter Three: The Knight Bus
• 33: The Knight Bus is supposedly "emergency" transportation, but in OOTP Hermione uses it just as it were a normal coach service.
• 37: Maybe Sirius looks familiar to Harry, not only because he was on the Muggle news, but because Harry saw a picture of him in the phot album of his parents that Hagrid gave him.
• 45-46: "Surely it wasn't usual for the minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic?" Interesting, especially in light of the events in OOTP--Fudge seems to make a lot of exceptions when it comes to Harry.
Chapter Four The Leaky Caldron--Chris
• Pg. 51: Firebolt sign – sign reads “price on request” implying how unique/special a purchase of one would be. So how does Sirius get one for Harry?
• Pg. 54: Harry recognizes picture of the dog on the Death Omens book. Why would Sirius choose an animal shape of a bad omen? Surely looking like an ordinary dog would be less conspicuous.
• Pg. 55: “Harry met Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, his fellow Gryffindors,…; he also ran into the real Neville Longbottom….” – Neville introduced separate from the other Gryffindor students.
• Pg. 57: “Scabbers looked thinner than usual, and there was a definite drop of his whiskers.” – he must know that Sirius is after him. Sirius raving, “He’s at Hogwarts….”
• Pg. 59: “Scabbers hadn’t shown any trace of interesting powers…” – why do the Weasley’s own a rat that possesses no special powers?
• Pg. 59-60: Is Crookshanks attracted to Scabbers because he’s a rat or because it senses something else? It is believed that animals can sense supernatural things…. Also, what special powers does Crookshanks have? The store’s name is ‘Magical Menagerie’, so you would expect the creatures sold there to possess magical powers.
• Pg. 66: Some clarification please – Harry is 13 years old. Sirius was in Azkaban for 12 years. How old was Harry when Voldemort disappeared? How much leeway time was there between this incident and Black’s arrest? The first book mention’s young Sirius Black’s motorcycle so wouldn’t he have the trust of members of the OOTP? If so did Dumbledore oppose Black’s arrest? etc….
• Pg. 66: “Dumbledore not fond of Azkaban guards” - not happy about it but agreed to having them at Hogwarts -> another example of Dumbledore abiding with the Ministry, though opposed. Why doesn’t he like the guards? Is he worried about Sirius, or his students, or something else?
• Pg. 67: Moment of clarity for Harry (irony of enjoying freedom for the first time but really just as confined as ever)
• Pg. 67-68: Harry didn’t feel scared knowing Black coming after him. Why?
o full confidence in Dumbledore.
o “Escaped Voldemort 3 times already” – full confidence in himself, especially against Voldemort.
o Doesn’t think much of the guards yet.
o How would Harry feel at 16 looking back on these feelings? Would his perception change?
• Pg. 68: Ominous thought – “what to do when you know the worst is coming…”; if he only knew the half of it.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Some Updates and Discussion points for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chapters 16-18
But first some updates: The DA partay has been cancelled due to busy selves, and you, yes YOU, that means you, have an assingment. At Cindy's suggestion instead of me doing all the discussion points, we will all be in charge of one chapter, to see how that works out. These will need to be emailed to me by Tues, Jan 10, so I can print them, and have a day and a half to harrass you if you don't do your job. Here are the assignments for Jan 12:
POA Chapter 1: TJ
POA Chapter 2: Cindy
POA Chapter 3: Becs
POA Chapter 4: Chris
Ta dum! Comment if there are any questions. Ultimate Guides are available for borrow or purchase at Russo's, possibly at an additional discount (I will ask if anyone is interested). Also we might be going ice-blocking sometime in the next few weeks so express interest if there is any.
We might be getting some new members, as I wrote a blurb for Mike to put in the January newsletter if he doesn't forget.
Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets
291: Interesting that no one managed to look the Basalisk in the eye—I wonder if Ginny had some control over it or at least tried not to kill anyone. Might there have been some subconcious prevention? Or perhaps JKR just wasn't ready to kill anyone yet.
293: Dumbledore always said..." What? Now that the school really is in danger of being closed, I wonder what would have caused Dumbledore to make that decision. It isn't just the death of a student (Cedric). Does it have anything to do with the fact that McGonagall was one of the only few aware who actually opened the chamber last time (Riddle)? Could this be a clue that Hogwarts will closed next year, since Voldemort is back?
Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin
310: "Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her..." What secrets? What all does Ginny know? Jo has said there are no remnants of Tom's possession in her, but that doesn’t mean she may not remember things. It could be useful or not... or, because she has blank spots in her memory, she might not remember--she's blocked it.
313: and speaking of secrets--and our discussion earlier of Ginny stealing back to diary & writing in it again: "What if you found out how to work it, and I repeated all her secrets to you? What if, even worse, I told you who'd been strangling roosters?" What secrets, other than that she was opening the Chamber, could Ginny have been afraid Riddle would tell Harry? The fact that she liked him wasn't exactly a secret... But I get the impression Ginny began to write in the journal again to find out exactly what Riddle had told Harry. [Brothers' teasing, etc]
315: Compare to the phoenix song scene in HBP, also with Ginny. And here Fawkes is singing while he is apparating-ish into the Chamber of Secrets--was he going somewhere during HBP? Perhaps to the white tomb with Dumbledore, woe.
Do phoenixs get new 'masters' when their old ones die? Will Harry be loyal to Dumbledore at some point later on, and will Fawkes come to his rescue?
323: Difference in the British edition I noticed... too bad I don't have it to reference. Ginny pulls away from Ron when he tries to hug her--In my mind this scene is connected to the one in the underground in OOTP where Harry has just learned he may be possessed by Voldemort and is feeling v dirty/used.
Chapter 18: Dobby's Reward
329: Voldemort "underwent so many dangerous, magical transformation" such as making the horcruxes--perhaps splitting one's soul can have an effect on one's appearance.
332; Ultimate Guide 134: ancestor vs. descendant. Were the Riddles the very very last? Dumbledore says yes, but perhaps this is his big mistake...
331: "Impaled on your own sword, Gilderoy!" Dumbledore knew Gilderoy hadn't done the things in the books... but there was no one else for the job. Still perhaps the lesson was enough for Dumbledore to call out favors on friends to serve as DADA teachers for the next three years. Also he wanted Harry to have a good teacher.
Ultimate Guide 134: What did other people at Hogwarts know about Ginny's involvement? Hermione probably knew but other than that no one else...? Malfoy must have known but did he tell Draco?
POA Chapter 1: TJ
POA Chapter 2: Cindy
POA Chapter 3: Becs
POA Chapter 4: Chris
Ta dum! Comment if there are any questions. Ultimate Guides are available for borrow or purchase at Russo's, possibly at an additional discount (I will ask if anyone is interested). Also we might be going ice-blocking sometime in the next few weeks so express interest if there is any.
We might be getting some new members, as I wrote a blurb for Mike to put in the January newsletter if he doesn't forget.
Chapter 16: The Chamber of Secrets
291: Interesting that no one managed to look the Basalisk in the eye—I wonder if Ginny had some control over it or at least tried not to kill anyone. Might there have been some subconcious prevention? Or perhaps JKR just wasn't ready to kill anyone yet.
293: Dumbledore always said..." What? Now that the school really is in danger of being closed, I wonder what would have caused Dumbledore to make that decision. It isn't just the death of a student (Cedric). Does it have anything to do with the fact that McGonagall was one of the only few aware who actually opened the chamber last time (Riddle)? Could this be a clue that Hogwarts will closed next year, since Voldemort is back?
Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin
310: "Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her..." What secrets? What all does Ginny know? Jo has said there are no remnants of Tom's possession in her, but that doesn’t mean she may not remember things. It could be useful or not... or, because she has blank spots in her memory, she might not remember--she's blocked it.
313: and speaking of secrets--and our discussion earlier of Ginny stealing back to diary & writing in it again: "What if you found out how to work it, and I repeated all her secrets to you? What if, even worse, I told you who'd been strangling roosters?" What secrets, other than that she was opening the Chamber, could Ginny have been afraid Riddle would tell Harry? The fact that she liked him wasn't exactly a secret... But I get the impression Ginny began to write in the journal again to find out exactly what Riddle had told Harry. [Brothers' teasing, etc]
315: Compare to the phoenix song scene in HBP, also with Ginny. And here Fawkes is singing while he is apparating-ish into the Chamber of Secrets--was he going somewhere during HBP? Perhaps to the white tomb with Dumbledore, woe.
Do phoenixs get new 'masters' when their old ones die? Will Harry be loyal to Dumbledore at some point later on, and will Fawkes come to his rescue?
323: Difference in the British edition I noticed... too bad I don't have it to reference. Ginny pulls away from Ron when he tries to hug her--In my mind this scene is connected to the one in the underground in OOTP where Harry has just learned he may be possessed by Voldemort and is feeling v dirty/used.
Chapter 18: Dobby's Reward
329: Voldemort "underwent so many dangerous, magical transformation" such as making the horcruxes--perhaps splitting one's soul can have an effect on one's appearance.
332; Ultimate Guide 134: ancestor vs. descendant. Were the Riddles the very very last? Dumbledore says yes, but perhaps this is his big mistake...
331: "Impaled on your own sword, Gilderoy!" Dumbledore knew Gilderoy hadn't done the things in the books... but there was no one else for the job. Still perhaps the lesson was enough for Dumbledore to call out favors on friends to serve as DADA teachers for the next three years. Also he wanted Harry to have a good teacher.
Ultimate Guide 134: What did other people at Hogwarts know about Ginny's involvement? Hermione probably knew but other than that no one else...? Malfoy must have known but did he tell Draco?
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