Here is my podcasts of chapters 1-5. It’s very raw and unedited because I don’t have much time as I’m sure the baby will be up soon. But, I hope, if you’re reading it too - it will feel like we’re talking about it. Remember - Comments are on Moderation but I’m not approving any until I’m done reading. Even then - I will NOT approve comments with spoilers, so if you want to make a specific comment about something specific, email me instead. Although - I won’t check that until I’m done reading either!

WARNING: Comments may contain spoilers. Don’t read the comments unless you’ve read the WHOLE BOOK.

Holy Crap. We made it. I’m about to leave for the bookstore frenzy. I’m in costume and will send loads of cell phone pictures to flickr while taking some with my camera to post later. I’m going to eat up the excitement and wash it down with a dose of sadness over saying goodbye to characters that I’ve come to love over the years. I hope you’ll join me.

I don’t know when you’re getting your book or when you’ll finish, but I hope no matter what, you close the book and the series with no regrets. I know thats what I plan on doing.

I’m going to pop in here every five chapters to upload a podcast. I will put ample spoiler warnings so that the only people who get spoiled are people who knowingly click “Play”. Since my comments are in moderation, and I won’t be moderating until I’m done reading, I’m not going to bother opening up comments on the podcasts. Feel free to email me, although I won’t be checking that until I’m done either. I hope to finish by the time I go to sleep Sunday night - but just know I’ll post as soon as I’m done. And I promise not to post spoilers until long after I’m done. Thank you for being part of the frenzy and joining me in the excitement the last week. Here’s to Harry, Ron and Hermione. I wish them the best of luck.

(For those of you non-Harry Potter fans, I’m sorry I seem so one-minded these last few days. Thanks for not hating me for that.)

If you are breathlessly waiting for Book 7 and are scared to go anywhere on the internet for fear of being spoiled - I must encourage you to go to one place. JK Rowling.com. Click on the eraser on her desk and go to her office. For once, the door just opens when you click on it. No clues or games. Just open the door. She has written a letter of acknowledgments that you must read. I cried throughout the entire thing. She mentions all of the people who helped her in this journey and even though I know none of them, I felt proud for them as she sincerely thanked them all. And then the part to her daughter? Just read it. And bring tissues.

Would it surprise you to know that I dreamed about the book release last night? In my dream, my costume sucked and the kids at the front of the line were making fun of me. This says a lot about me and my insecurities, doesn’t it? Last night my my Mom said something to me along the lines of, “You kinda scare me with this Harry Potter stuff.” Hee.

I woke up early to clean up my house a bit since I’ll have company tonight before we head to Barnes & Noble. Of course, it’s really hard to motivate yourself to scrub a toilet when the seventh Harry Potter book will be in my hands tonight! This day is going to take forever, isn’t it?

As The Leaky Cauldron is reporting, the NY Times posted an early review with spoilers of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This is why my current media blackout is involving even respectable news outlets. This pisses me off to no end. Of course, I’ve never read anything as respectable as the NY Times, I prefer my news to come from trashy tabloids. For once? This is a good thing.

The Leaky Cauldron has given you a letter to write (or write your own - of course) to the editors there to express your irritation. I’m going to do it, and I’m posting it here in case you want to as well. Send the following to letters@nytimes.com. I’m actually sending it from every email address I own - just to make sure my irritation is heard.

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my disappointment that your publication printed an early review and details of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This goes against the express wishes of the author and anyone that calls themselves a true Harry Potter fan.

It is hard enough for a Harry Potter fan to avoid spoilers on the Internet and news stations now that the book appears to have leaked; now we have to avoid trusted outlets as well. You’ve not only disappointed millions of children around the world with your actions, you have disappointed the millions of adults who look to the New York Times to be a bastion of good taste and standards. When the New York Times succumbs to such tabloid tactics, who won’t?

Many ask why we care - why fans aren’t all so rabid to get the book that we’ll sop up any illegal download or purchase. There’s one simple answer: We respect the author. We thought that a newspaper like yours, where so many of your reporters become authors themselves, would understand and respect that. We’re so saddened that we were wrong. We feel let down by you and your editorial board.

Sincerely,

Your name here
Harry Potter Fan, and member of Jo’s Army