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JO ROWLING HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SHE IS WRITING AND RELEASING A NEW BOOK FOR ADULTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven been waiting 5 years for exactly this sort of announcement.
In July 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released into the world. I got my book at Wal*Mart several minutes after midnight (all the Gryffindors went first. I only had a Slytherin bracelet that the Wal*Mart people had given me when I walked in). I stood there, holding my book, waiting for the rest of my group to get their books so that we could go to the checkout. First, I examined the lovely, orange cover: Harry looking fierce and determined with his arm stretched to the sky (catching a Snicth, perhaps?), Voldemort on the back, screaming and looking more dangerous than ever, both cast in a bright orange glow. As we walked, I hugged the book to my chest. Before I'd even touched it, I knew this was going to be my favorite book of all time. Before I even knew what the title was, when it was being released, what the cover would look like, anything, I knew I would love it. Before 2007, when people would ask me what my favorite book was, I would tell them Harry Potter Book 7. They would confusedly ask me how that could be my favorite if I hadn't even had the chance to read it yet, and I would answer calmly that it didn't matter that I hadn't read the book yet; I trusted Jo, and I knew she would deliver a wonderful finale beyond all my dreams and wishes. As I walked up to the checkout, I read the chapter titles out loud to those around me. When we came across a particularly exciting title, we would all squeal and chatter with delight. Finally, we got to the checkout line, and I finished reading the titles. I broke down. This was it; this was the end. I had waited 7 and a half years for this moment, and it had finally come. Everything was about to be over, and I was broken-hearted at that moment thinking of what that meant to me. I paid for my own copy, then made the decision that I would not start reading until I had walked calmly to the car. I think I tried to convince myself not to read until I got home, but I walked outside and saw the boy we had all met and called Snape (because of his long black hair) sitting outside of Wal*Mart with the book open on his lap. He looked up to wave and continued reading. Seeing that open book, seeing someone reading it, diving in, knowing that he was in that world already and that he was finding out what happened, well that was too much. I took off for the car and jumped up and down until my mother unlocked the door. I climbed in, turned on the mirror light, and dove in myself. That book did not leave my hand until 11:30 AM the next morning. I shed many many tears, I laughed, I screamed (screamed so much, in fact, that my brother and cousin came knocking on my door wanting to know what was going on...I locked them out and didn't answer). Not only was this my last Harry Potter book, but this was also my first all-nighter and my very first opportunity to read a new HP book all the way through in one go. It was magical. I can remember so much from that whole night. It remains one of the highlights of my life, and I'm sure it will always be that way, it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Now Jo is at it again. Her new book will be very different from Potter, but there's more to our love for HP than just the story. While the characters and the story are obviously the main part of what everyone fell in love with, most of us also fell in love with Jo as a writer. Her words, her style were all needed to make Harry as special as he was. That's why fan-fiction just isn't the same. It's not because it's not strictly canon; there are plenty of fan-fiction stories that are very creative and stay within the realms of canon. It's the fact that without that Jo Rowling touch, the story loses some bit of its magic. There's something special about Jo, and we HP fans know it. That's why we are so excited about this book. It's not left-over and unfulfilled excitement over Harry, it's genuine excitement over Jo. The magic is back. She will once again touch us with her words, with her ideas. And I, for one, cannot wait.
Most people seem to think this book is going to be a realistic fiction mystery, perhaps even a crime novel. A mystery does sound to me like something Jo would write, and I could definitely see this book as a mystery. I will not predict anything here myself because I don't want to. I don't want to guess what it is right now. At this moment, I want to savor that mystery of the unknown book, I want to relish having something to discover and learn about again, I want to enjoy the thought of something new. Andrew Sims on Hypable.com has mentioned midnight release parties for the book as well. I would simply adore that. I would definitely attend a midnight release for this book. In fact, even if my bookstore doesn't have one, I'll probably try to get one together anyways, just for the fun and excitement of it. Will I dress in robes and bring a wand? Perhaps not. Will I wear my Quidditch shirt, bring as many friends as I can, and celebrate this wonderful thing? Yes, yes I will. It warrants a celebration, and it will be a wonderful celebration; one mourning the end of the old and beloved HP but also the start of a new direction that may be just as wonderful in a different way. I don't in any way expect this to be "another Harry Potter". I think anyone with half a brain should know better. BUT, this is Jo. This is the woman who gave us something incredible that touched our lives in a huge and wonderful way that no one ever expected. I certainly never expected it to change my life when I unwrapped Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on December 25, 2000. This new book, however, already has a place reserved for it on my favorites shelf. Some might call that crazy and ask how I can possibly be so confident as to consider it a favorite book of mine already, but I have an answer ready for that.
I trust Jo. I am with her until the very end. Always.
And that is all that matters.
~Victoria
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