Harry Potter afterglow

Well, most people wouldn't regard the past few days of my life as anything exciting. It's not like my toenails have fallen off or I've been swept up in a New York panic attack, but I've enjoyed my little self-indulgence. I have been living the season premiere of Harry Potter: Sweeps Month Stunt! since Friday, and my raison d'etre for the entire past weekend was to get through HP7 without encountering any spoilers that would ruin my reading experience. Fortunately, my life is filled with people who either a) feel the same way, or b) have zero interest in Harry Potter, so by turning off the computer, radio, and TV, and rarely venturing from the safety of my armchair, I made it through the novel without anything being given away. Overall, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, though it probably ranks third for me in the series (after book 6 and tied-for-second books 3 and 5).

I'm aware that some of my reading audience may not have yet finished HP7, so you'll find no spoilers here. I will say that, in general, it was a satisfying read. J.K. Rowling could have ended the novel any of several ways; I approve of the choices she made in wrapping things up. She has said that she doesn't like the idea of another writer producing any further adventures of Harry Potter off in the distant future, and her conclusion of the series kind of sets any presumptuous hacks up to look cheesy if they try to do so.

Curtis and Norman kindly picked up my copy of the book at midnight on Friday. I tried and tried to stay awake, but I finally had to turn in. The last thing I heard before I conked out was the sound of Curtis' motorcycle taking off for the bookstore. I had arranged for the two of them to bypass the long line of customers -- about 600 strong -- and instead pick up Norman's and my books and Curtis' CDs in the VIP line, which was tucked away upstairs and only had about a dozen people in it.

Norman clutches the vouchers that he will shortly exchange for an all-encompassing weekend of magic and mayhem.