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Sixth Harry Potter novel breaks record
Two Harry Potter fans check out the new book. /
Photo by Kristin Bishop
By Kristin Bishop
July 25, 2005 | Sales for J.K. Rowling's
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince soared
well above the book series' previous record, selling
a shocking 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours.
The sixth installment of the series was released at
12:01 a.m. on Saturday and averaged approximately 250,000
sales per hour. Bookstores across the country were packed
with people and stocked with their fair share of the
10.8 million copies printed for the big event.
"This is a cause for celebration, not just for
Scholastic, but for book lovers everywhere," said
Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Children's Books,
in a recent interview with Matt Moore of the Denver
Post.
Since the release of Harry Potter and Rowling's introduction
into the world of her imagination back in 1997, the
series has become known around the world, selling over
270 million copies and being published in at least 62
languages. The series has captivated audiences of all
ages, inspired movies, and made Rowling the wealthiest
woman in Britain. Most importantly, the series has created
a love of reading among people all across the world.
"We broke another sales record," said Barnes
& Noble's Steve Riggio in an interview with Carol
Memmot of USA Today. "It's great to see
a book out-gross a Hollywood movie."
Potter Parties have consumed the past few days with
most being held at bookstores, restaurants and city
parks across the country. The majority of Barnes and
Noble bookstores staged face-painting booths, offering
children painted-on scars similar to that of their hero
Harry Potter. A number of stores also hosted costume
parties, awarding children with prizes such as broomsticks
and wands. Public readings of the book were also a big
hit, with crowds filling public libraries at 6 a.m.
on Saturday just to hear the first few chapters with
a group of friends.
"Everyone in my family had the book pre-ordered
months ago," Maren Bishop, an avid Harry Potter
fan said."It was great having them delivered to
our front step on opening day. I'm already on page 300
and plan to have it finished by the end of the week."
Richard Knight, the managing director of Nielson BookScan,
stated that it typically takes a good book four to six
months to go gold, with very few reaching platinum in
their first year of publication. Harry Potter and
the Half-Blood Prince set more than one record
by achieving platinum in less than one day. Rowling
is proud of her success yet is dreading the release
of the seventh and final book of her remarkable series.
Rowling has said that she fears what she'll do after
the final book is completed. She also mentioned that
using a fake name for any of her future work sounds
very attractive.
"I'll have less pressure and I can write any old
thing I want and people won't be clamoring for it and
that might be nice," she said in an interview with
Matt Moore of the Associated Press. "But one of
my regrets would be that I will never again have the
pleasure of sneaking into a cafe -- any cafe I like
-- sitting down and diving into my world and no one
knowing what I am doing and no one bothering about me
and being totally anonymous, that was fantastic."
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