The Leaky Cauldron - Books

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Reading Group Sorting Now Open

Fri Nov 20 22:35:00 -0500 2009

Sorting for the reading of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in our Lily and Stag Inn Reading Group forums has been opened over on the Leaky Lounge. Our Reading Groups offer Lounge members an intimate environment in which in-depth discussions about the Harry Potters novels take place with your fellow group members. For the Half-Blood Prince reading group, members will travel along with H...

"Harry, A History" Discussion Tomorrow in Fairfax, Virginia

Thu Oct 22 12:26:00 -0400 2009

Calling Harry Potter fans in the DC area! There will be a discussion about the phenomenal world of Harry Potter and the series by J.K. Rowling tomorrow in Fairfax, Virginia. Featuring TLC's own Melissa Anelli, author of "Harry, A History," the event will take place at 7:00pm (Eastern) tomorrow night and is free and open to the public. Directions to site of the event, the Fairfax County Governme...

Follow Up: Science of Harry Potter's World Display Now a Traveling Exhibition

Tue Oct 20 09:25:00 -0400 2009

Back in 2008, TLC first told you of a special Harry Potter display, called Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine which "explores Harry Potter’s world, its roots in Renaissance science, and the ethical questions that affected not only the wizards of Harry Potter, but also the historical thinkers featured in the series.” In conjunction with the ALA, three copies of the ex...

J.K. Rowling to Receive First Hans Christian Andersen Award

Tue Oct 06 10:16:00 -0400 2009

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has been selected to receive the very first Hans Christian Anderson Literature Prize next year in Odense, Denmark. Given in honor of the prolific author of classic fairy tales such as The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling and many more beloved stories, the Copenhagen Post reports:

"The literature prize is to be awarded to someone ...

Report from Harry Potter Translator Conference in France

Tue Sep 15 08:54:00 -0400 2009

Last week we told you about a special gathering of translators for the Harry Potter novels due to take place in France as part of the UNESCO International Literacy day celebration. Today, there is a marvelous audio report online from the conference that includes interviews with professors and several of the translators of the novels. Notable are comments from the Thai translator and her remarks...

Attorney for JK Rowling Says Scottish Book is Something to be Completed "Sometime in the Future"

Sun Sep 13 09:11:00 -0400 2009

Last week we heard from author Ian Rankin who gave an update of sorts regarding the long awaited Scottish book or Harry Potter encyclopedia from J.K. Rowling. As noted before, Mr. Rankin said the last time he saw his neighbor and friend, Jo was "was working on her Harry Potter encyclopedia" and "drawing family trees for all the characters, going back generations." Today, the Sunday Mail has mor...

President Obama Includes Harry Potter Story in Education Speech

Mon Sep 07 22:12:00 -0400 2009

Tomorrow President Barack Obama will address the nation as it goes back to school; the pre-released text of his speech (which you can read here) includes remarks on the beginnings of Harry Potter as proof that not all great ideas or ventures are accepted as such to start:

But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not e

...

UNESCO to Celebrate Literacy with International Translators of Harry Potter Novels

Mon Sep 07 19:46:00 -0400 2009

Tomorrow, September 8th, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will celebrate International Literacy Day with a special gathering of translators of the beloved Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling. According to the official release, "translators responsible for some 20 different language versions of the hugely successful Harry Potter book series, which has fired en...

Ian Rankin Says JK Rowling "Writing Family Trees" and Working on Scottish Book

Fri Sep 04 14:41:00 -0400 2009

Author Ian Rankin has given a new interview on BBC radio with Simon Mayo (download here) where he mentions his friend and neighbor in Scotland, J.K. Rowling. In the middle of this interview, Mr. Rankin notes that while he has not seen the Harry Potter author in some time, he said she "was working on her Harry Potter encyclopedia" and "drawing family trees for all the characters, going back gene...

Boston Globe Examines Relationship Between Harry Potter and Religion

Wed Aug 19 11:31:00 -0400 2009

The Boston Globe has published a lengthy article regarding the growing acceptance of the Harry Potter books among the religious communities and scholars. Citing the advancing moderate views by a number of religious scholars and theologians, the article relates their argument that the Harry Potter books "contain positive ethical messages and a narrative arc that is worthy of serious scholarly e...

Harry Potter, The Best Beach Book Ever

Wed Jul 29 20:49:00 -0400 2009

Ah sweet summer, the time when many of us take time off and head to the beach or holiday for rest and relaxation, and perhaps a fair bit of reading. As such, National Public Radio recently conducted a poll of the Best Beach Books Eve, and the Harry Potter series by author J.K. Rowling took the top spot. Out of a list of 100 books best read on holiday, the top ten choices were as follows:

1. The...

Fan Report: Deathly Hallows PaperBack Release Party at Scholastic Store

Tue Jul 21 14:15:00 -0400 2009

Two years ago today, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling was released. As readers will recall, several weeks ago in the midst of the flurry of the HBP movie release, Scholastic, US publishers of the Harry Potter novels, released the paperback edition of Deathly Hallows. Given the date today, we thought you might enjoy this fan report and photos below from TLC reader hpboy13 wh...

Harry Potter Artist Mary GrandPre Appearance Tonight in Washington DC

Mon Jul 13 15:18:00 -0400 2009

Artist Mary GrandPre, who created the cover work and illustrations for the US editions of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling, will be appearing in person tonight at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. According to the website, Ms. Grandpre "takes to the Corcoran stage to discuss her impressive career and to share her delightfully stunning illustrations which have earned her so m...

Art Insights Offers New Character Prints from Harry Potter Films

Mon Jul 13 11:09:00 -0400 2009

Art Insights, who sell official Harry Potter artwork, have updated with some new character prints from the Harry Potter films. Starting here you can see the new series of character prints which retail at $48.00 each. The website also has some very high end prints of two deluxe covers from the series by Mary Grand Pre; the Flight on the Dragon from Deathly Hallows, and Grimmauld Place from Order...

The Hardest Harry Potter Quiz Ever?

Fri Jul 10 14:46:00 -0400 2009

Attention readers of the Leaky Cauldron! Hollywood.com has thrown down the gauntlet and the challenge is this before us: Can you pass what they are calling the HARDEST Harry Potter Quiz ever? What say you?

Thanks to Hollywood.com for owling and trying to take on the smartest bunch of Harry Potter fans in the world. ;)