Mike and I have half-joked for awhile about the "lockdown" that has to occur for the final Harry Potter book.
Reservations made for two books at the bookstore (greatest chance of like-minded readers) most likely to have the lowest population (cut the risks of someone waiting in line, bored, on the phone to another time zone, getting spoilers, sharing them) while also in the remotest part (cut down on drive-by spoilers by riffraff, per those asshats from Book 6) of the best area of town (again, less riffraff)? Check.
However... the grocery store around the corner is also selling them at midnight, and we're in a relatively remote area, with fancy homes nearby, so maybe slipping in to the supermarket is the way to go? Or will it be safer going to the bookstore, surrounded by a mob of readers ready to shush/punish any spoilers, than risking someone being a jerk over in frozen foods? And if we wait until 2 or 3 a.m. to go, once the hubbub has died down, will one of the cashiers, who has perhaps been absent-mindedly flipping through the book since its release a few hours before, make an offhand comment that ruins the end? But then the bookstore might be targeted by spoiler-makers looking for maximum impact or, worse, full of those readers who read the last page first and don't see what the big deal is. Argh! What to do? I DON'T KNOW!)
Plenty of Tivo'd shows and DVDs to keep us off the television? Check.
Enough library books to read until we can pick up the book? Check.
All chat channels turned off in World of Warcraft? Check. (But play The Sims 2 starting on Friday just to be safe. Damn Pacific time zone, running to catch up with everyone else.)
Pantry stocked with a variety of ingredients (no going to the store for a cup of milk) and convenience foods (no cooking once the reading starts!)? Check.
Desktop wallpaper reminding us not to use the internet (you never know what banner ad will appear or what a friend might accidentally say in an email) between Friday morning and the last page of the book? Check.
Blog post explaining whereabouts to anyone who tries to email or message between now and who-knows-when? CHECK.
Then this morning I braved a read of CNN.com because, hey, no major media outlet is going to ruin the book, right?
They didn't, but one of their blogs is reporting that, as of a couple of hours ago, the New York Times has.
Apparently the NYT has already put up its review of the book on its website. GAH. Obviously I can't investigate further without risking too much information, so that's all I can say. That, and again, GAH!
Sure, bad enough about time zone luck, bad enough that at least 120 copies were sent out early by DeepDiscount.com, bad enough that at least one made it to eBay (for only $250? I denounce the shoddy capitalism as much as the abhorrent deed), and bad enough that the whole book was (supposedly) briefly posted on Photobucket. You have a fighting chance to avoid the grapevines that would carry these spoilers, but who knew that, with still 36 hours to go, you'd have to stay away from the frickin' New York Times?
A little avada kedavra pointed toward the Grey Lady would not be unforgiveable just this once, I don't think.
Clearly no place is safe. See you on the other side.
ARGH! In the pre-baby days, I'd get the new Harry Potter and sit down with it until I finished, cursing calls of nature and the need to eat. My husband usually had a business trip around that time, so he never really had to witness the insanity (he just doesn't get it). and then I'd read it again. But now, with a baby.... it might take me a while. Your point about staying off the internet is well taken. I guess I won't be reading you/commenting for a while!
*sigh*
Enjoy!
Posted by: Heather in PA | 20 July 2007 at 07:09 AM