Those who think that only generations X and Y will stop everything next weekend to discuss every detail of the final Harry Potter book after it’s release on July 21st, would be mistaken. The Potter phenomenon is surely sweeping across the business world as well, or so an article in Entrepreneur.com explains. This article talks, all in good fun, of many business people who will devourer Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows right along side of the eight year-old fans, standing next to them in line at midnight. The piece even notes some of the magazines own employees who will either be taking the Monday following the book off, to read or catch up on sleep—maybe both.
The article also advises companies to be relaxed about the first Monday with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as one company did when they organized a showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for their employees, with soda, popcorn and snacks included. The result of the event according to Drew Waters who organized the event for his company in San Diego:
“It was crazy. About 275 people showed up,” Waters says. “There was even a waiting list and phone chain for people who couldn’t show up. Everybody loved it.”
I plan to do what I did for the last four books: HP and the DH will be delivered to my doorstep, I will sit down and start reading from page one (no skipping to the end!), I will get up every few hours for food and other necessities….I may fall asleep in the wee hours, drooling in my armchair, only to awaken and continue reading…
Friends and family have been reminded not to call or visit for several days ;-).
Once I’ve finished, I’ll start all over, since I KNOW I’ll have missed something…and JKR writes so wonderfully its just a joy to re-read.
I’m taking the Monday off, and supposedly getting the book delivered on Saturday morning. But I’m a little worried that there’s been a postal strike in the UK every Friday for the past two weeks and it isn’t resolved yet :o/
I decided I couldn’t trust the US post to send me DH on time, and so I am going to a midnight release on the 20-21st. AS a result… I am completely missing work the next day!!! ;) love this article.
Also, dunno if you noticed, Jason Isaacs is hosting a sort of documentary on the movies ” in order to find out Harry’s future” on A&E right now. I can’t remember if there was a post on this or not. ;)
i work at the movie theatre & fridays are very busy especially that one because of The Simpsons. But i took off that friday night and saturday just to party and then read. :]
Well, I booked the release day off work, like I did for HBP. Canada Post has a deal with online Canadian retailers to ensure that those who preordered will get the book early morning on Saturday. I’m just hoping that this time around, no one in my family ends up in the ICU for 3 months.
This doesn’t surprise me at all, actually. I’ve just started a new job myself, but I’ll be off on Friday night and all weekend… and I’m SO glad. I don’t think I could have survived knowing that all my friends were getting to read the last book and I wasn’t. :P
Didn’t they say the same things when the last book came out? lol. I can swear I remember something about people calling off of work or something. I think it’s great.
Well, I go back to uni this week – but luckily I happen to have Mondays off this semester! I was originally upset that I got Mondays instead of Fridays like last time, but now I’m seeing it as a blessing. 3 whole blissful days of uninterrupted reading (I’m an abysmally slow reader :S)
Yup, I’ve taken off work on Friday to sleep in and prepare for our local (Atlanta, GA) release party, which starts at 5 pm. My husband took Monday off; I sort of wish I had. ;)
I am fortunate in the fact that I am an elementary school teacher and therefore have the summer off. I don’t have to worry about taking time off in order to sleep or read. My biggest problem is deciding how to read it. Do I read it as fast as I can and get it over quickly or do I read it as slowly as possible and savor the experience of the final book as long as I can? Hmmmm, decisions, decisions.
I am glad that so many of you are being able to take the days off that you need to read the book and then catch up on the sleep you will have missed. Happy reading to you all.
I wish I could take off the Monday after! :( I’ll just have to read fast! :)