How will you read your Half Blood Prince?

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Thought I would add this as an extention of sorts to my other poll. Once you get your book in hand, what are your plans for reading? Please feel free to post and expound on your answers!

[Angel]

once i start reading i wont be able to stop - il read it until its done - then and only then will i be back on MP - i dont want to come across something on here i hadnt read about yet! and why waste valuble reading time on here anyways!!

il probably read 2/3 chapters the night i get it - go to bed - then read the rest the next day....

Angel
xXx

[Kingsley]

I will read as much as possible at both jobs and at home until it is done :cool:
I would stay up all night to read it but after a few hours of reading, my eyes go bad :o

[Alz]

Thing is I have no choice but to read it cover to cover all in one sitting!
Being part of a website means I have to read the book and get back here to make sure things are Ok ASAP.
If I dont read it all first I stand the chance of being caught out by reading posts of another member etc - so I will have to do what I did with OoTP and take the time away from the site till I read it all.
Another issues is that it is my sisters Birthday that day - so means I have to take a few hours break from reading to go see her etc :rolleyes:
I will be off early evening that day as I will be going to London - and not back again till I have read it all ... so make sure you all be good while slow Blaise reads the book - I am not the fastest reader in the world :o

[Fortescue]

I think i've mentioned this about three times already, but .... here goes :D
I will take a short nap when I get home from work that day ..... I'll be at the bookstore way before 12:01 to get my book .... hang out for a few to see all the cute kids dressed up .... the will drive home and read until I'm done ..... sleep .... read again ...... sleep ..... post :D

I have the week off work following the release so will be able to figure out all the things I've been wrong about :o

[Nagini]

I will be reading it all in one sitting more or less - hopefully!! Then back on the computer to check things out.

Seriously thinking about taking 18th July off work so I can read it again and really get some ideas for posting. *makes mental note to self* :D

[Tonks]

Well seeing as how im going to be on vacation this could be a wait-and-see type deal..

As far as OotP went, I think I might've gotten it while i was at my grandparentsh house and basically just sat down and read, stopped for meals and sleep, and then picked it up again.. had it done in under 24 hours with sleep and meals in there as well..

HBP though - I think the 16th might actually be the day we're looking to be traveling home - so at least i will have something to do for the 8 hour car ride (actually, i think its longer than that lol) .. :D

[Boing]

I'm going to try and read it all in one sitting - I might pay for it the next day when watching the kids, but ah well. When I read OotP, I started it on a family vacation and then had to stop because the person who owned it needed it back. But I got about 1/4 of the way through it in a couple hours. When we got home, I bought it and then just read it in a day. So, I'm going to do my best to stay up well into the wee hours of the morning and finish it up. I also don't want to check in until I've read it all as I don't want to see things before I get to it in the book.

[Padma Patil]

Hmm, I don't know if I'll be able to read it in only one sitting. My parents and or sister usually find someway to disturb me for a few hours. Like when OotP came out, they sent me over to Wisconson to babysit my cousins. (I live in Minnesota.) Though I took the book with and put in a few movies for my cousins so it wasn't all that bad. Though it still took me two days to read it.

So I voted to read non-stop because I know that is what I'll do, intentionally or unintentionally. :D

[kashlie]

My choice was 'other' because as much as I would like to read it non stop, I have two children to think about!! Or at least be made think about :o

But then again, now that I have had a brainwave and remembered I am single, I can get the girls father to have them that weekend MAYBE EVEN TWO NIGHTS lol!! Then I can be up nice and early on Saturday to go and get the book, then have the weekend all to myself to read. If that is the case then it will be non stop for sure! NOT EVEN FOR FOOD!!! I can't risk getting the pages dirty!

I will have a sign on my front door that says 'DO NOT DISTURB' with some sort of Harry theme (they should market those, I bet they'd sell!) and I will take the phone off the hook, run my mobile battery dead, turn off all the lights except the one to read by and pretend I am not home!! Well, fantasy wise I won't be, coz when I read/listen/watch Harry Potter I am actually at Hogwarts with him :)




Reading my post again I really sound weird. Ah well, I am unique, just like every one else!




OKAY, VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THIS BIT AT LEAST!!

do i get my book before all of you? how does the time zone work? it is 9.24am in Australia when i post this edit. My bookstore will release HBP at 9.01 am on the 16th...so will i be reading it while you are all still eagerly awaiting it?

[Tinkerbell]

I intend to get home and start the reading the book til I drop! I would also like to take the 18th July off work, but have a meeting I have tried to get out of but can't so will probably read up til the last minute that day!! I am hoping that I will get it finished over that weekend, and then take a more leisurely read of it once I have been on site and seen how the posts are going on it!!

Am intending to go and get book at midnight and start reading asap, but being an oldie may have to have a nap at some stage!! :o

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I had voted on two options, first getting together with some other fans, some kids and a few friends, and as soon as we get back from buying our books we will sit and take turns reading. But most if not all of them will likely fall asleep, but, that is when I keep going and read till it's done! Just 45 more days! I'm really just too excited. I wasn't even into Potter when OotP came out, so this is my first "long awaited" book. . . I'm about to bust! :D

[psychgirl83]

I will be standing in line to get the book and plan on starting it as soon as I get on the Metro to head home. Then I will read all night and probably all the next day until I finish it. I've already blocked out the whole weekend on my calendar as HP6 weekend! lol ;)

[yarvelling]

I voted for 'A chapter a day...'. I'm hoping to be on leave over that week and weekend: British Grand Prix the weekend before (can't miss!!), and then I think just for S's and grins, I'll go to my local W.H.Smiths where I have my pre-order in, for the midnight opening and see what's going on! I doubt I'll be dressing up - a bit old for that kind of lark (!!). Once I've got it, I'll be hot-footing it back home, crack open a beer, and start to read! I know I'll probably have to read the first couple of pages a few times over 'cause it'll be hard to concentrate initially! The excitement and expectancy thats been building over the past weeks just knowing that July is just around the corner will have reached it's peak and you KNOW that Friday 15th is going to seem like the longest day ever!!!!
I can't believe that a bloke of my age is getting so worked-up about the release of a bloody childrens book, but I openly admit that I am!! And I know that all you 'mature' readers here are feeling exactly the same!! :D
I just hope that the CD audio book from Stephen Fry doesn't take too long to come out either.....I love listening to those in the car on my way to work. I find that those fill in a lot of blanks too because I know that I read too fast and miss parts!

[Alz]

I voted for 'A chapter a day...'. I'm hoping to be on leave over that week and weekend: British Grand Prix the weekend before (can't miss!!), and then I think just for S's and grins, I'll go to my local W.H.Smiths where I have my pre-order in, for the midnight opening and see what's going on! I doubt I'll be dressing up - a bit old for that kind of lark (!!). Once I've got it, I'll be hot-footing it back home, crack open a beer, and start to read! I know I'll probably have to read the first couple of pages a few times over 'cause it'll be hard to concentrate initially! The excitement and expectancy thats been building over the past weeks just knowing that July is just around the corner will have reached it's peak and you KNOW that Friday 15th is going to seem like the longest day ever!!!!
I can't believe that a bloke of my age is getting so worked-up about the release of a bloody childrens book, but I openly admit that I am!! And I know that all you 'mature' readers here are feeling exactly the same!! :D
I just hope that the CD audio book from Stephen Fry doesn't take too long to come out either.....I love listening to those in the car on my way to work. I find that those fill in a lot of blanks too because I know that I read too fast and miss parts!
Hey the thing is we can all totally relate - we are all a little older than the intial target audience and well - we are all just as excited!
I know Potter fever is hitting when I am actually considering going to London for the midnight release - I am not a fan of our capital but these things can only happen once more and I just think it will be cool to be surrounded by fellow fanatics as we all embrace the new offering!

[ChienNoir]

As much as I will be tempted to read it all in one sitting, I'd hate myself for having no more brand new Harry to read the next day. I'm going to tough it out -- one or two chapters a day to make it last. Nothing beats a chapter read undisturbed with a nice cuppa tea and some chocolate!

Of course, since the advent of Mr. Sirius Blue, (scientific name: Greyhoundus Obnoxicum,) the reality of it will be more like this:

1. Open book.
2. Read 1.1416 paragraphs.
3. Grab puppy before he eats the geranium. Put puppy in crate.
4. Puppy howls loudly about the unfairness of confinement. Put puppy outside before neighbors call the police.
5. Read rest of second paragraph.
6. Hear puppy outside learning from big dogs how to dig really big holes.
7. Bring puppy inside. Wipe doggy doo off shoe. Puppy, exhausted from digging really big holes, falls asleep.
8. Read another paragraph. Phone rings. Puppy wakes up.
9. Rip phone out of wall.
10. Read another paragraph.
11. Watch puppy dragging an entire bedspread into his crate.
12. Replace bedspread.
13. Return from replacing bedspread to discover puppy dragging book into his crate.
14. Retrieve slightly soggy book. Hear husband come home.
15. Hand puppy to husband.
16. Lock self in bathroom and read rest of chapter.

--Le Blaque Dawg

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Gee. . . and I thought it bad to have 5 kids interupting me! :D Sounds quite familiar! (this is why I am nearly always up till 2:00 am!) But I will tough it out, I just can't wait that long. . . I can't even diet, and you think I could deprive myself of Harry!!! :eek:

[Fortescue]

I will worry about pacing myself after the third or fourth time I read it - until then it's page after page until I'm done. :D

[Boing]

I was thinking the same thing. I'll read it all through and then go back and pore over the pages again and again and again and again . . .

I wonder if I can wrangle my husband into watching the kids in the morning after . . . he'll surely roll his eyes when I tell him why I'll be so tired . . .

[Fortescue]

All I have to worry about are Ron and Hermione, (my cats). As long as I feed them twice a day and clean the litter box they'll be just fine. I already plan to unplug the phone, turn off the cell phone and lock the door - :D I love it when a plan comes together :D

[LovingHarryPotter]

I have already warned my roommates that its ok if they dont see me leave my room for anything other then food/bath for about 2 days so I cant completely read the whole book.

They think I am nuts, I think I am a dedicated fan!

[yarvelling]

Blaise,
I'm sure you already have plans, but could you set-up a seperate forum area for those who DO read through HBP in one shot...
You know they're going to want to start discussing, analysing, etc the book; a kind of 'Spoilers only' section....
I remember before I was half-way through OoTP, I read in a an innocent looking thread on one forum or another, about Sirius's death - I was so p'd off I almost didn't want to finish it!!
Cheers :)

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Blaise,
I'm sure you already have plans, but could you set-up a seperate forum area for those who DO read through HBP in one shot...
You know they're going to want to start discussing, analysing, etc the book; a kind of 'Spoilers only' section....
I remember before I was half-way through OoTP, I read in a an innocent looking thread on one forum or another, about Sirius's death - I was so p'd off I almost didn't want to finish it!!
Cheers :)

I already suggested it, but have realized, it just won't work really. You will just have to discipline yourself not to come on here untill your done, or risk the spoilers. If you do come on here, just limit yourself to threads not related to the HBP. But basicaly we can't confine "spoilers" everyone reads at different speeds, some Brits will be posting on here I'm shure before this U.S. reader is allowed to buy her copy! :mad: There will be others that may not even get the book finished for months. Some may have never read any Potter before, and be drawn in by the GoF movie in Nov. So, I mean to allow free speculation and discussion, there is just no real way to limit spoilers, just your own self discipline.

[ChienNoir]

The spoiler dilemma is a tough one. 'Tis true everyone reads at different speeds and will get the book at different times. I agree that there is no practical way to avoid spilling the beans.

Personally, I hereby promise to put "HBP spoiler" or something similar in my subject line if I am posting about something that might spill an Every-Flavor Bean or two. Typing 10 letters is a small price to pay to avoid ruining a reading experience for somebody.


:D Cheers and barks,

LeBlaque Dawg

[yarvelling]

Thanks Chien ;)
Hopefuly then, everyone will follow your example... :)

[jburden]

non stop here as well....took me two on the fifth book, so hopefully two on the next one....july 16 TT.....why so long the wait!!!

month and two weeks...

Might be on my bed all day my body covered over it.
since it will be summer vacation xd

and considering i don't mind not eatting...well....bathroom is the way to go
and yes...please the spoilers....

but i will be curious ><

[Alz]

Blaise,
I'm sure you already have plans, but could you set-up a seperate forum area for those who DO read through HBP in one shot...
You know they're going to want to start discussing, analysing, etc the book; a kind of 'Spoilers only' section....
I remember before I was half-way through OoTP, I read in a an innocent looking thread on one forum or another, about Sirius's death - I was so p'd off I almost didn't want to finish it!!
Cheers :)
Plans are afoot to have a dedicated area to the HBP.
This will hopefully include subforms that will capture all what the general forums offer - just specific to HBP.
All posts rfelated to it will be made in here and all threads will contain a prefix - so anyone who comes wandering along will see that it is HBP related.
I might close off the other forums while we are going through HBP mania just to avoid someone being nasty and posting loads of details in the general forums.
We will come up with the most workable way to ensure a balance between discussion and the need to not want to spoil it for others :)

[Sirius Potter Fan]

sounds like a good plan Blaise. I think we would want to go back and support or renounce some of our previous opinions in the old threads, but we could do so in the "new" section and then have it merged later on. There would probably be a time limit I assume before we merge everything and go back to free discussion?

[jburden]

I have a...er...suggestion about the HBP sub forum.

How about a password? or a question?

Basically, those who have read the book would pretty much know a answer asked about the book. So basically if they wish access to the forum about HBP, they have to answer the question or questions.

If they answer them correctly ,or at least have a idea about what they are talking about, they get the password to the forum and can go to speculate.

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I don't feel that to be necessary at all. I believe that simply having an area set aside will be sufficient. If someone chooses to go into, and read in the specified forum when they themselves haven't finished the book, that is their choice to take a chance of spoiling their own reading. Really no different than going to the last chapter and reading it first. If they choose to do that, that is their problem. As long as it is clearly marked, like going to a page "Discussions on Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince", visitors/members will know it might contain information they haven't read yet, and if they don't want the info, they will stay away untill they have finished reading. I myself will not be here till I am done.

[kashlie]

:( i had never thought of reading the last chapter first, but now that thought is in my head!! i hope i can resist the temptation!!

I agree that a seperate section should be set aside for HBP discussions, as long as they are clearly named!!
I won't turn the computer on until I have finished reading it though. I might even take out the power cord and give it to my daughters to take with them for the weekend. That way I can't give in to temptation!!

[Boing]

Well, after last night, I might have to change my response for how I will read the book. Sooo, my husband had a huge project he was working on and asked me to stay up with him. I decided to read OotP while I was up. I went to bed after 3.5 hours and had only read 250 pages. So, if I start my book at 1am or so, I will only be slightly over a third of the way through by 4:30am! I don't know if I can handle that. I might have to read into it a bit and then save most of it for the 16th. We'll have to see now . . .

[PrettyMS.Potter]

WOW! how will I plan to read my HBP. well I will start on Sunday morning (meaning early like 5:00am and read it all day and night until Im done with it. I did that with Ootp. Start on Sunday because I dont have to work. :) I get hook and I can't put it down so I will have to read the whole things before I put it down. Then come in on Monday and talk about it on MP. :) I'm so excited!! can't wait.

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Well, after last night, I might have to change my response for how I will read the book. Sooo, my husband had a huge project he was working on and asked me to stay up with him. I decided to read OotP while I was up. I went to bed after 3.5 hours and had only read 250 pages. So, if I start my book at 1am or so, I will only be slightly over a third of the way through by 4:30am! I don't know if I can handle that. I might have to read into it a bit and then save most of it for the 16th. We'll have to see now . . .


Don't worry! You'll make it Boing! Just remember, you have read OotP before, most likely like the rest of us, several times before, so it really didn't hold you glued like a new book would. I plan on taking a good nap in the afternoon, stocking up on cappucino, and go till my kids won't leave me alone anymore, which just may give me time to get all the way through!

[kaz]

I have kids too, so I chose the 'other' option. I am going to get Daddy to stay home with the boys for the day, and Im going to Kashlie's house and blink my torch in morse code in her window so she knows its me, then wait for her to unlock the door- Gringott's style- and we are going to each hide in a bedroom and read cover to cover or we will make strange little 'Ohhh' and 'Awwww' and 'Hee hee' noises and then ask each other 'Which bit are you reading'....then we will come here and post...and post...and post. Then, I will go home. :D

[kashlie]

um kaz...you are gonna have to get to my house before i lock the door on July 16th...coz they are on a Bio-dome style counter...

or else we just come here straight from picking the books up...that way i can securely seal the door knowing there is no one left to come in...

i think we are both speed readers too...i will have to try to slow down for this one so i don't miss anything!!

[kaz]

:( i had never thought of reading the last chapter first, but now that thought is in my head!! i hope i can resist the temptation!!

I agree that a seperate section should be set aside for HBP discussions, as long as they are clearly named!!
I won't turn the computer on until I have finished reading it though. I might even take out the power cord and give it to my daughters to take with them for the weekend. That way I can't give in to temptation!!


PS: DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ANY MORE CORDS!! She has already cut the lead for the PS2 controller! How can we play Simpsons now?....... :eek:

[Boing]

I still haven't talked to the husband about taking care of the kids . . . but good point about the speed reading. I think I'll just be so excited, though, that I'll have to read it quickly and then go back and read it again more slowly to pick up on those nuances . . .

[Alz]

One big cramp in the plan is that this is my sisters birthday - but I have warned her that I will be reading most of the day when I see her .... :D

[Jenelle]

I'm gonna sit down and read it all the way through, it doesnt matter when we get the next one. I'll just re-read like I have been doing. Although my fiance is getting it for me....little does he know that he wont be seeing me for about a day and a half! He understands though, I dont know how but he is going to wait till the movie comes out!!!!

[Fortescue]

I've said I will read nonstop and that hasn't changed, but now I don't know which book I will read the first time through - the Deluxe Edition or the regular - I suppose it doesn't matter, but it still gives me shivers :p

Only 13 days left. :D

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I've said I will read nonstop and that hasn't changed, but now I don't know which book I will read the first time through - the Deluxe Edition or the regular - I suppose it doesn't matter, but it still gives me shivers :p

Only 13 days left. :D

awwww geesh! what a delima! :rolleyes: wish that was all I had to worry about! :p personaly Fort, I'd go with the delux first, the pics will be much better, and aid the imagination :D

My daughter nearly blasphemed today. We are finishing up OotP together (she is 7 and I read to her) but with company in town we have fallen really behind schedule, and at our current pace we won't be done and ready to start HBP till 3 days after it is released. I told her we will need to do some make up time to catch up, and what did she say????? . . . "we could just wait to start the new book till we finished OotP." :eek: :eek: :eek: I have read the whole series through to her 2.9 times, so it's not like she doesn't already know what happens in OotP. I expected her to say something more like "we don't have to finish Ootp if you don't want to, I know how it ends" but NO! Well. . . whether she is with me or not. . . I'm still reading HBP at 12:30am on July 16!

[kashlie]

Well, I thought this yesterday - the next time the girls are with their dad, is the weekend of HBP!! THAT seems so much closer than 13 days!
I still have to convince him to have them Friday AND Saturday night though...but it shouldn't be too hard, because I think he is up to it.

Then I shall be getting to the bookshop as early as possible to wait in the line!

[Lily]

Well.. I had PLANNED to read it in one sitting.. I had been DYING to read it... but would you believe it, I was moving houses on the same day the book came out, so I couldn't sit down and read it till that evening... oh, it was painful! Painful!

I had moved to the Aussie country, and they have one department store there, I had placed an order for my book ages ago, I think it was back in May.. and on the day it came out, I got up early - before the store even opened - thinking that there would be a lot of peple - but I was the only one!!

Some people dont know what they're missing!

[Vault713]

I always read it cover to cover when I buy it, then I listen to the audio book. I have just finished the audio book for the second time. I read all of them at least three times...I always think about things and refer back to the different years. I never get sick of it and it just keeps getting better!

[Alz]

Has to be non-stop all the way baby!
It would be like committing literary suicide coming on-line when it is released and not reading the book first!
But, and this will be a first - I will be getting it 8 hours later than in UK as I will be living in US when it comes out!
OMG - it is going to be both so sad but also so happy - we reached the end all and guess what - we are still going!! :D