First day, first book
R. KRITHIKA
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July 21 dawned bright and early for some. It was an important day…as the last and final Harry Potter was released.
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Photo: R. Ragu
All for Harry: Kids at the bookstore waiting to pick up their copy of the book.
It’s 6.00 a.m. on a Saturday morning but there’s a queue stretching for about half a kilometre outside Odyssey Bookstore in Adyar. Surprised? Well, you shouldn’t be. It was July 21, the day the last Harry Potter book hit the stores. For some the wait started as early as 3.00 a.m. At Landmark, Nungambakkam, the staff were not surprised: their queue started when some enthusiastic teenagers landed up a little past midnight.
Excitement galore
Anirudh, who first considered not going to school today, finally got permission to get to school by 9.30 a.m. The not-so-lucky ones were in their uniforms, ready to go straight to school with their copy. And if you thought the craze was restricted to youngsters, think again. Adults — some on escort duty, some picking it up for their kids, some on their own behalf — formed a large percentage of the crowd. One mother glared at her son. “On other days, there’s a battle royal to wake him up. But today…” she was too indignant to speak. Her unrepentant son just grinned. “It’s Harry Potter, ma.”
And there were major discussions obviously continuing from previous days: Were the Internet leaks true? Did the New York Times review published in two city newspapers give away the end? Does Harry Potter die?
Uttara, fanatic enough to celebrate Daniel Radcliffe’s birthday on July 23, squealed in dismay. “It’s okay,” offered Steven helpfully, “you can cut a cake for his death anniversary next year.”
A weeklong battle in Trinethra’s house about who was going to read the book first: 10-yearold Trinethra or her mother was resolved amicably. “I’m a slow reader and if she goes on asking me if I’ve finished, I never will. So I’ll wait my turn,” young girl smiled mischievously at her sheepish mum.
A cheer rent the air at Odyssey as the shutters went up a little past 6.25. Landmark had opened earlier and those in the queue at Adyar had already started receiving calls from friends who got their copy sooner. As those lucky enough to get the first copies emerged, excitement was rife. Most ripped the cover open; some turned feverishly to the last page; others climbed into their cars or on to the bikes their noses already buried in the book. One boy was profuse in his thanks to a friend who had made a detour to pick him up.
A group of students from std. V to IX, asked to compare the books with the movies, unanimously plumped for the books. “I’d go for the books any day,” said Yashasvi emphatically. “So much gets left out in the movies,” said Shruti and Mekala. And most opted for Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire as their favourites so far. The Order of the Phoenix was not very popular, though they felt the weakest book was Chamber of Secrets. “Very childish,” as Yashasvi and Shruti put it. Anusha, who studies in Dubai but is here for her holidays, felt the Half-Blood Prince was the best of the lot so far. “The introduction of the horcruxes and Dumbledore’s death made it different from the others … more twists and turns,” she smiled. Apart from reading, she plans to get in touch with her friends in Dubai to find out about their “Harry Potter morning”.
And does the Harry Potter craze end with this? “I certainly hope so,” said one exhausted father.
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