The clock is ticking and the new Harry Potter book will be released at 12:01am, less than twelve hours from now! The scene will surely be crazy and something that this city hasn't seen since...well, Wednesday when people lined up for a canvas grocery sack.
JK Rowling bids farewell to the boy who made her billions with this final novel, and she's feeling a bit buggered about the reviews that came out before the book hit the shelves. As reported, the NY Times ran a review on Thursday, as did the Baltimore Sun. Both papers said they obtained the book "through legal and ordinary means." No matter, Rowling and her revelers were still, understandably, riled up.
The author made a statement saying, "I am staggered that some American newspapers have decided to publish purported spoilers in the form of reviews in complete disregard of the wishes of literally millions of readers, particularly children. I am incredibly grateful to all those newspapers, booksellers and others who have chosen not to attempt to spoil Harry's last adventure for fans."
While we agree it was pretty petty of those papers to run the reviews (which they clearly did just to be "first"), is it really that difficult to avert your eyes if you don't want to know what happens? The Times book editor Rick Lyman defends Michiko Kakutani (pictured, as, um, Snape) and her review, saying it didn't give away significant details (however it does reveal plot details).
Bloomsbury and Scholastic (the books publishers in the UK and US) spent millions trying to protect the contents of the novel. A spokeswoman from the former said the Times review being run was "very sad" and that the paper could have waited another day. Very true - but then the Bloomsbury spokesperson gets all British and likens the event to the Boston Tea Party!
