Harry Potter - The Deathly Hallows

Last evening, for the first time in my thirty-something years, I went and stood in a line to do something like a movie, book, or whatever. I wasn't as die-hard as many Harry Potter fans... I didn't stop in to get my "bracelet" (to get a book at midnight) early in the morning or afternoon BUT I did get to Borders in Harrisburg around 9:30. And yes, even then, there was a line going out of the bookstore just for those of us who had pre-ordered the book.

I saw a number of amusing sites last night... Harrisburg has now apparently become Harrysburg. :) How cool is that?!?

 

There were loads of interesting folks there at the Grand Ball...

One of the questions everyone asks is "is Severus Snape good or evil?" Although I have read the book, I will not give out spoilers. (Go read the book and quit googling it...)

Okay, so for the first time, I tried a few different varieties of Bertie Bott's beans. The Booger flavor was not too hot... Earthworm tasted a little like dirt (yes, umm, I HAVE tasted dirt before)... But although I thought earthworm was bad, I absolutely stopped trying them after rotten egg. In fact, that one stayed with me till I got in line for a coffee to scald out my mouth (and with the crowds present at the store, it took about a half an hour just to get one large black coffee).

There were fun and games... Obviously costume prizes given away, and a 'Great Snape Debate'.

The last photo here, I took at midnight, almost on the dot... The store was packed, people being lined up inside to buy the book - and this line outside - for people who hadn't even gotten a bracelet to get in line to buy the book (no this was NOT the book-buying line, just the line to check in if you were going to buy a book).

I got there around 9:30, but by the time I got my book it was a few minutes before 2AM.

Now it's 1:15am the next night, and yes, I read the book. Awhile back, I read the last Lemony Snicket 'Series of Unfortunate Events' book and there were tons of loose ends. I will have to commend J.K. Rowling on the lack of obvious loose ends... And, yeah, unlike Douglas Adams 5 book "trilogy" of the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I did not throw the book across the room in disgust - but at the same time, I just spent over $20 on it, so ...

I won't say whether I was happy with the ending or not, but I will tell you that it was well-written and kept me entertained for many of the last 22 hrs (Yes, I did stop and sleep for a few hours last night... )