CBBC Does UK Book Event Roundup

CBBC Newsround has done a bit of a roundup of Harry Potter events all over the UK.

What to Read When You're Done with OotP

Columnist Jacqueline Mroz has written an article on what to read once you're done with OotP. She even suggests some fanfic.

Sour Grapes from Canadian Bookseller

Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe bookstore owner Linda Spiegel refuses to sell OotP books because of how Raincoast treated her when she put Goblet of Fire out for sale two days earlier than anywhere else. Article in The Star.

Harry Potter as a Jewish Teaching Tool

A fascinating article from Jewsweek, a Webzine for American Jews, about how some are using the Harry Potter series as a teaching tool for Judaism.

First and Only U.S. Signed Copy of OotP Flown Over Last Night

According to this press release, the signature on the first and only US signed copy of Order of the Phoenix was penned in J.K. Rowling's study Wednesday night and flown over to New York last night. It is currently being kept in a locked box at a secret location pending its pendingContinued...

Harry Potter and the Adult Fans

The Orlando Sentinel has an article interviewing some college-age Potter fans. Nice to see people catching on that adults DO in fact enjoy the series.

Paxman Interview Teased

Thanks to the readers who have sent this in - there's a commercial about the Jerry Paxman BBC interview circulating on television - here's what it says:

JP: There's a death in the next book?

JKR: Mmm-hmm

JP: The death of a significant character?

JKR : Yes

(JKR holds up a copy of Book 5, Bloomsbury edition, whichContinued...

Commentary: One week Left - 48 Hours in the Wizarding World

We're here. 3 long years later and we're finally down to the last 7 days. It's been a fun ride though quite somber, as J.K. Rowling has told us it's the end of an era for Harry and just the beginning of deaths.

One thing that is sorely lacking from the launch of Goblet ofContinued...

60 Minutes Replaying Rowling Interview

On Sunday, June 15th it appears CBS' 60 Minutes will be replaying their September 12, 1999 interview with Rowling. This interview is particularly interesting because it shows some of her own drawings for the various characters in the book as well as her filing system which consists of lots and lots ofContinued...

Charlotte Church Almost Got Part of Hermione in Movies

According to the CBBC, famed teen singer Charlotte Church said she almost got the part of Hermione in the Harry Potter movies but it was decided she was too old.

British Teacher to Attempt World Record Speed Reading of Book V

We received the following press release this morning:

Anne Jones, a Leicestershire schoolteacher who is the Mind Sports
Olympiad World Champion at Speed Reading, will devour the new Harry
Potter book starting at 12.01am BST on June 21st. She is expected to
read the entire book in approximatelyContinued...

Scholastic Winner Thomas Pardee Profiled in Modesto Bee

Yet another Scholastic Winner profiled in their local paper. Thomas Pardee's essay stood apart from the rest because it injected a bit of humor - which was needed to offset some of the other more serious and emotional essays.

NJ.com Profiles Scholastic Winner Sudipta Bandyopadhyay

Sudipta Bandyopadhyay, who won the Scholastic essay contest for his paragraph on "compelling a wicked man to experience the painful suffering of his victims and the tragic consequences of his actions", was profiled in NJ.com today. Here's an interesting quote:

"I absolutelyContinued...

TLC, NIMBUS - 2003 Referenced in Philly Inquirer About Book V

An interesting article looking at how fans are anticipating the next book quoting Melissa Anelli from TLC.

LA Times Looks at Miscommunication with Book V Audio Clip

(SPOILER ALERT)

An article in this morning's LA Times (Free registration required) looks at all the miscommunication surrounding yesterday's release of an audio clip for Order of the Phoenix.

Fans first stumbled across the audio excerpt Wednesday through America Online and the LeakyContinued...