I honestly am sick to my stomach I am so worried about stumbling upon Harry Potter spoilers. There is no greater time than now that I wished my job didn’t involve the internet so I could simply lock myself away for the next few days. I am not reading any of my celebrity gossip or entertainment news sites for fear of glancing a headline I shouldn’t see. Hell - I’m even avoiding Google News and Yahoo! News because those are simply aggregators that grab headlines and I don’t trust the people they grab headlines from not to use a spoiler. I’ve also been told there are people saying they’ll drive by the B&N midnight parties and scream out spoilers to people gathered outside. I’m telling you - if this book gets ruined for me somehow, I may never be at peace until I hunt down the responsible party tell them how evil they are to their face. And then maybe punch them.
All of that said - here is how I plan to read the book.
I’m obviously getting my book at midnight at B&N. Since I’ll be in the front of the line, I’ll get mine before the rest of my group so I’ll immediately start reading it. However, I’m taking my iPod and am going to have music playing in it when I go outside. I think the mob effect would scare anyone to try to ruin something inside (never underestimate the power of angry 12-year-olds) but when I’m outdoors - music blaring full blast in case someone things it would be cute to drive by and yell “Harry gets a sex change!” I man be pretty sure it’s not true - but it would be in the back of my mind the entire time and it would ruin the book.
From the time I leave the house to get the book to the time I finish the book - I will be on full media blackout. No radio. 2 days after I finished the last book - the DJs were discussing Snape killing someone (I removed the name but honestly? I think it’s silly to hide information published two years ago - but just in case, I guess). No un-TiVo’d TV that commercials and “upcoming news” reports can’t be fast-forwarded through. After the last book there were tickers on CNN that said “Fans upset over X’s Death” - so I want to avoid all of that. I will NOT check my email or even look at the internet. Media Blackout. Completely.
I’m not going to stay up all night Friday to read. Mainly because I have this kid who will need my attention the next day so I’ll want to be in good form for her. But also - I have friends in from out of town and want to visit with them on Saturday. And truly - I want to savor every second I’m reading. So, we’ll probably head straight home after getting the book to start reading. But I’m only going to read a few chapters before going to bed.
I plan on reading any time NikkiZ is asleep. I figure that is a good call, when she’s awake I’ll visit with family and friends, but when she’s asleep? I can read all I want.
Now - I truly want to savor this book and process what I’m reading as I go. I did better with book 6 about not reading so fast that I didn’t even realize what I was reading - but I still finished Sunday morning. I would like to take a little longer with this one. So - I’m going to do podcasts every 5 chapters. I’m going to record my thoughts on what I’ve read and do some free-form talking to myself about what I think is coming. I’ll post them here - but most of you either will be reading, or don’t care - but I want them somewhere so I can listen to them later. It also forces me to process what I’ve read before moving on. I’m hoping LilZ or any of my other friends will join me. If you do something similar - let me know.
That is my plan. Read slowly (which is hard), Podcast every 5 chapters, and a full media blackout until I’m done.
Extreme? Yes. Important? Yes. Krazee? HELL YES.
Pssst… I’ve already read book 6 so you didn’t spoil anything for me there, but you may want to disguise someone’s identity for other reader’s who haven’t gotten that far. Or else they might come to try to punch you, and you just wouldn’t want that.
Heee… Harry getting a sex change. Now THAT would be a twist.
I don’t think you’re krazee. I have a similar plan minus the podcasts, although I’ll definitely have to check out yours.
I’m debating a Harry Potter sleepover with some friends. They’re trying to talk me into it, but I don’t know if I can do an all-night reading party. I’m a wuss and totally need my sleep.
Awesome. Man, I’m excited.
Thank you, thank you for admitting your insanity. It makes me feel better about my own. My husband thinks I am crazy, but I can’t be if others are thinking in the same vein, right?
I’ve also decided to turn off the Internet until I am done. I suspect I will have a healthy case of carpal tunnel since I will have to read one handed while nursing and keeping a toddler in check.
I’m worried about spoilers as well, and am doing the exact same thing you are … no news articles, no HP websites, nothing, until after I’ve read the book. I will also be getting my book at B&N at midnight, and I’m terrified that someone in line ahead of me will flip through the book and scream out the ending or other important details. I really hope that doesn’t happen … I don’t want to have to cry like a baby in public.
I’m with you on the media blackout…and will probably stay away from the internet til I’m done. I was thinking of taking Megan to B&N with me, and making HER go in and get the book while I stayed in the car blasted Led Zeppelin.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
I am really worried as well. I can’t start reading it until next Thursday(!!) because the bar exam is in the way. I can’t read it until that’s over because I know I would be tempted to stay up all night instead of sleeping before the most important test of my life.
I don’t know how I’m going to avoid spoilers, but I may just not turn on the radio or t.v. at all. But I have a long plane flight just after the bar - perfect!
And I totally agree - I will cry when I finish. I can’t believe the series is coming to an end. I have never loved a series of books so much.
Hm, good idea with the mp3 player. I haven’t been to a release party yet but I’m planning to go this time. Any tips? How about any resources for last-minute HP gear? Wish I planned this out a while ago…
OH and I’m so looking forward to seeing your costume!
I, too, am scared of drive-by spoilers on the night of the release. I’ve actually thought of calling the bookstore to ask what their plans for privacy are, but don’t really want to share my crazy with clerks that might not truly care. I’ve heard that during book six’s release party there was a local teenager who wrote on a posterboard “X dies on page 856″ (or whatever page it was) and stood outside the bookstore showing it to the line of people waiting to get their book. This freaks me out, but not to the point that I’m going to skip the event. I’ve never done the midnight thing, and this is my last chance.
I like the podcast idea! I might try something like that, even though I detest the very sound of my voice. Good idea, Zoot. My plan for reading the book is very similar to yours, except that I will not be getting mine at midnight (in the front of the line, no less). Quickly, but not too quickly. And I have to share with my husband which could complicate things. Damn him.
I have relatives coming up (inlaws) - think they’ll notice if I foist my children off on them and sit in a corner to read?!
I can’t find 4 of my other books. And i wanted to reread the last one but of course now I have to go out and go on this book search to find the missing ones.
I ordered mine so the day of the release I think I should be getting it probably the next day. I don’t plan on talking to anyone and going on a complete blackout until I am done.
My kids start school on Monday so between the hours of 830 and 230 I am free to read. Except when my toddler needs something!
Good luck with your uninterrupted reading!
I just recently caught the HP fever. I’m reading the books out loud to my eight-year-old son and we’re about halfway through book 5. I’ll tell you, it’s tough not getting any spoilers with the movie out now!!
I don’t mind for myself (too much), but for him… I would be so sad if he heard something!
He hasn’t seen any of the movies yet because I want him to build it all in the world of his own imagination and create his own ideas of what everything looks like first. It hasn’t been completely do-able since Entertainment Weekly (for which I have a subscription) keeps doing articles about the books/movies/cast. So he knows what the movie producers think Harry, Ron, Hermione, etc. look like. When we’re done reading them all, we’ll have a family movie marathon and see them back-to-back.
My family and friends know to ix-nay on the arry-Hay plot points until we’re done with the series. (And at the rate we’re going, it won’ t be long!)
ACK! So now? I have to avoid your blog as well!
My well-intentioned but misguided mother-in-law informed me that she had pre-ordered the book for me as part of my birthday gift. My birthday that is July 31. TEN DAYS POST HARRY! And so I really can’t read it before then because that would be bad, right?
And um…I’m going to be on vacation until August 4…and won’t be seeing my mother-in-law until AUGUST 11!!!! When we’re on a family reunion/vacation weekend thing where I will really not have time to read.
Hoping like anything that this doesn’t get spoiled for me like the murderous Snape incident (you’re right about the damned news tickers!)
Like Laura, I can’t start reading until after the bar exam, so I’m terrified I’m going to stumble on a spoiler. I’m fairly confident none of my regular bloggers will reveal anything, but random gossip sites are less reliable.
Of course, this all begs the question, what the hell am I doing reading random gossip sites when I should be studying for the bar, right?
And does it make me kind of pathetic that I actually weighed the option of waiting until February to take the bar so that I’d be able to enjoy the book?
I’m adjunct teaching a class this fall (a blogging class! Whoopee!) and have a ginormous book I hoped to finish by the end of this month, so I could dedicate August to planning my syllabus. However, I am also terrified about waiting too long to read it and stumbling across spoilers. You’d think the media would GET A CLUE and just shut up about it, but of course no dice.
I am doing the same thing. No surprise media announcements, no public gatherings where someone might slip up.
If you do finish up and want to talk about it there will be a well marked, discussion only in the extended entry, post going on over at Overdue Books probably by Sunday night-Monday morning.
I am using every precaution possible to keep spoilers from people and still manage to gush over it with those who have finished.
Good luck with the blackout!
Wow, that is some hard-core fansanity right there. Sometimes I wish I’d jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon at some point.
I will be on vacation - far removed from all media when the book comes out. I will also be far away from the book being delivered for me so this presents some huge issues for me. I might cry. (clearly I was under a spell when I made the vacation arrangements).
A DJ on the radio this am claimed to have a book and was going to read the last chapter on air - of course I know it was a bit but it pissed me off big time to thing someone would do it on Monday……….
Too funny! I’m the SAME way! The radio this morning started talking about it and right before they were going to say a spoiler, a fellow Harry Potter fan was like “turn us off if you don’t want to hear spoilers!” And I immediately changed stations.
A girl I work with always reads ends of books first. I have told her I will kill her, a slow, painful death, if she tells me what happens.
And I know people who still don’t know who who died in Book 6.
I always wished I would have gotten into this when it started. Sounds like so much fun. Maybe I will go to Barnes and Noble just to check it out and get the book, then I will go back and start at the beginning.
You may want to screen your comments somehow too. I could see someone being a jerk and posting something here because it means so much to you. Maybe have Mr. Z read them all before you do or not reading them until you have finished? Just a thought:)
I’m absolutely not as disciplined as you are. I re-read all the books, finished Book 6 again right before bed last night (sobbing ~ even though I knew what was coming). So at 12:01? I am racing with my book to my car and I’m reading the last chapter first and then I’ll drive home to read the book in it’s entirity. Beginning to end and nothing is happening here at my house until I’m done. Fortunately, I read fast, as I am due at a cocktail party Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. . . . if I’m not done, the book goes with me to the party.
I want to enjoy this last book and really take my time with it the first time through. In order to do that, I will have to read the last chapter first. Then I won’t be racing to the end just to read the end. I can take my time and enjoy the journey there.
I’m finishing up Book 6 (again) so that I’ll be ready for 7. I suffer from your affliction — I honestly don’t even remember reading Books 5 & 6 because I read them so fast. The headlines are KILLING me but I’ve not clicked them. And I know karma is gonna get me — I slipped and let the ’secret’ of Book 6 out to two different people, so it’s my turn.
I just started to think that there might be spoilers out there. That makes me sad. Why would people WANT to ruin it? They are just mean.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to read the book in the way that I’ve read them in the past. Having a kid sure does change that.
Hopefully my husband will help me out by watching our kid. I need some free time to read alone.
I’m looking for to being able to discuss this all with everyone once we’ve read it!!
Good call…I had a horrible experience today, I was reading news online about Harry Potter spoilers (not what they were, just about how excessive they are, etc) and I clicked on a link thinking it was for more of these stories and it TOOK ME TO A SPOILER SITE where the supposed “killed character” list was at the top. They might not be true, but now they will sit in the back of my mind until the book is over. I was royally pissed and other than blogs, am on media blackout now until Friday. :-/
I accidentally got spoiled using my StumbleUpon button (it’s an add-on for Mozilla Firefox that sends you to random webpages on the ‘net).
But! A friend of mine also got spoiled, and our spoilers are contradictory. So some of us who got spoiled may not actually be spoiled yet.
And as for the guy who went and yelled all that stuff outside a bookstore? It’ the same bookstore I’ll be working at Friday night, when the books are distributed.
Good idea on the headphones, I’m going to do that.
OOOOO! All on board for your podcasts. I will read it in similar fashion so that I can enjoy.
Sooooo over excited, I can’t stand it!
Did you reserver a “deluxe” edition or a regular one? I did regular but I’m a sucker for a marketing ploy.
Okay..so I am at work today and out of nowhere, this colleague and I get into this intense discussion about the final book. I didn’t even know he read them. He was equally surprised.
I am very worried that I will not be able to pace myself with the reading. As it is, it will take every ounce of restraint not to skip to the final couple of chapters and read them first.
How in the world are you going to control yourself?
Ha, I’m doing exactly the same thing. I’m trying so hard to avoid spoilers, its ridiculous.
However, I’m going to be reading the book straight through - it comes out 11.01am NZ time, so I’m going to be reading nonstop until I’m done. Luckily I’m an extremely fast reader. I know its good to savour it, but I am not taking ANY RISKS.
I’m so petrified to log on anywhere the next few days. Yet, I have 9 other people counting on my on my online game tomorrow… But that same game is the one that ruined book 6 for me. I just don’t know what to do! =(
All I know is, I can’t wait. =D
I am only on Book Four and feel like everywhere I look online, there is some sort of spoiler out there! Help!!!