Bookworm
Rowling's Return
By: Danielle Gold, 11th Grade, John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore, NY
TeenNewsNet Creative Arts Editor
In late summer, the producers of the 6th Harry Potter movie announced that their creation would not be ready for the 2008 holiday season. Fans wrote angry blogs and mourned on Potter related forums. Some lashed out at fans of the Twilight series, another best selling tear novel with a winter movie release date. Many did not want to go two whole years with out anything new relating to J.K Rowling’s famous book series.
And lucky for us, they didn’t have to. Last week saw the release of Rowling’s Tales of Beedle the Bard.
Readers of Book 7 will remember it as the series of wizard child's stories: Dumbledore left Hermione, and the plot device that introduced the Deathly Hollows. But, the book is very entertaining and could be enjoyed by those who are not fans of the series; even those too young to handle the dark nature of the later novel.
In concept, it is similar to Quidditch Through The Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, two books published in 2001. All pass themselves as books from the wizard world mentioned in the novels. All have an introduction written by Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. And all of the proceeds from the books are to be donated to charity.
“Tales” is selling well. It is expected to sell at the same rate as its predecessors, which combined generated about 23 million dollars to charity. However, an early “Moonstone Edition” of the book sold for four million dollars at auction this time last year. One of seven of its type, that book is not available to the public. Although, die-hard fans still can buy a $100 collectors edition in addition to the $14 standard edition.
“The Wizard and the Hopping Pot”, "The Fountain of Fair Fortune”, "The Warlock's Hairy Heart", “Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump” and “The Tale of the Three Brothers” combine Harry Potter magic with family friendly Aesops. Tales of Beedle the Bard is a must read for this holiday season.
