I left movie night at about 11:30 pm and got to Border's about midnight, and since I was so late I got the 340th and 341st tickets, which allowed me a book and an audio cd at 40% off. The UK edition, which was shipped by Amazon UK friday, had a price reduction about a week or so before it was released and the price was reduced to 47% off. Since I got such high numbers it took until 1:24 am to get my book and cd's. I looked around to kill time and wound up accidentally buying some more books and a couple of movies. The Potter Party wasn't very interesting, but I did get there three hours after it started. Hardly anyone was in costume. I was going to take some pictures but it was dead boring. People shopping. Seen it. I took the time to read part of a book I spotted in the kids section and liked the look of, and now I'll buy it, but wait until I read HBP to finish it. Now to head home and read Harry. I heard a spoiler on the way home, on the BBC, but it's early Saturday morning there, people probably are done reading the book by now. I'll let you know what I think as I go along, and not let any major plot points out as I go along. That spoiler happens less than 14 pages in, and it's kind of in the background.
2:00 am Chapter 1 - Fudge unexpectedly gets sacked and is now the ex-Minister of Magic. Who didn't see that coming?
2:20 am Chapter 2 - What's going on with Snape and Draco's mother.
2:40 am Chapter 3 - Harry finally puts in an appearance and Dumbledore visits the Dursley house. He makes drinks hit the Durleys in the head.
3:00 am Now for a short nap.
8:24 am Time to get up and have some porridge and tea, very English, eh. And time to get readin'.
8:35 am Chapter 4 - Horace Slughorn, I never heard of him before, he's a new teacher.
8:51 am Chapter 5 - An Excess Of Phlegm, what a title, and Harry's back at the Burrow. I just love the Weasley's, especially Mr. Weasley, but I wouldn't want to marry him. Break up that lovely family? No way! Arthur has a new job and hopefully a raise. Fleur Delacour returns, ohh, she's hot, she still makes Ron swoon.
9:30 am Chapter 6 - Our trio run into Draco in Diagon Alley, words are exchanged. Draco's awful mother is there. She's scum. Finally we got to Fred and George's shop. Yea. They have some cool stuff. Those boys have done well for themselves.
10:20 am Stopped for a bit of tidying up.
10:35 am Chapter 7 - The Slug Club, ummm, viscous. I would never touch a slug, perhaps, not even, with a stick. Onto the Hogwarts train on page 135. Finally. I occasionally remember my trips on the train. I once had two 36 hour trips, my mother, my brother and me, we had our own compartment, slept there two nights, ate in the dining car, spit out the opening between cars, it was great fun. This was in the early 60's, trip from Winnipeg to Churchill and back a year later, ending my year in the near Arctic. We lived in a house and a house trailer.
10:50 am Chapter 8 - After a bit more tidying up. I had been meaning to put some of this stuff away away since the last Harry book. More Snape, who gets a deeply desired wish fulfilled, much to Harry's dismay. Who likes him? Who thinks he's a vampire?
11:25 am Chapter 9 - Titled The Half-Blood Prince. Now I'll get to find out who this guy is. Everyone gets their class schedule, onto the N.E.W.T. level in the start of 6th year. A clue to the half blood prince? Who the hell is he? No ones telling me anything!
Noon Chapter 10 - Titled The House of Gaunt, I wonder who's that guy, jeez. This is the cover from the $60 deluxe US edition. That's Harry and Dumbledore following Bob Ogden. Bob Ogden, who's that guy? Flashbacks tell the tale.
12:27 pm Chapter 11 - In which Hermoine helps out and Harry flies his broom. Zoom,zoom,zoom. Stan Shunpike finally gets in trouble for lying. Remember that kids, don't lie where people can catch you.
12:45 pm Takin's a break to go out for lunch.
2:10 pm Back from lunch, after accidentally buying more books at Half Price Books. Finished Chapter 12 and half of 13, at the Old Country Buffet, a local graze-a-thon chain that has home style cookin'. There have been some shenanigans in Chapter 12 and Harry has another private lesson with Dumbledore in Chapter 13.
2:40 pm Chapter 14 - Now there's snoggin' and jealously, that's always fun. Everyone seems to be doing it, there's even little birdies.
3:15 pm Chapter 15 - More jealousy. Lots of parties with the new treacher, who knows a lot of important people, he'll tell you. More deep dark secrets overheard.
3:42 pm Chapter 16 - Back to the Burrow for Christmas, even Percy shows up to his dismay, and Harry has a showdown with the new Minister of Magic. Wow. Perhaps young kids growning up today might develop a nice mistrust of government. You know I do.
4:10 pm Takin' a break.
4:25 pm back on the job. Chapter 17 - More lessons with Dumbledore, more back story. Oooh, that Tom Riddle, ee's a nasty little blighter, he is.
5:00 pm Stopped to make somethine to eat.
5:10 pm Chapter 18, more attacks, back to St. Mungo's. People get hurt a lot in the Potter universe.
5:35 pm Chapter 19 starts with hopital visits, there's some Quidditch and more people are in the hospital. That's one tough school that Hogwarts.
6:06 pm Chapter 20 - More of the Tom Riddle back story from Dumbledore.
6:30 pm Time to clean up before company. I have to uncover some chairs that I know were here a few months ago.
9:40 pm Everyone left and it's onto Chapter 21 where all the 6th years are learning to apparate. Magical teleportation, now that would be handy, not having to drive.
10:03 pm Chapter 22 - Something huge in the forest dies and get buried. Harry gets some information for Dumbledore, by being clever. Good for him.
10:28 pm Chapter 23 - This chapter has a lot of soul, baby, it's the key.
10:47 pm Chapter 24 - Nasty curses, couples breaking up, it's still dangerous at Hogwarts. Then there's more kissing. Wow.
11:07 pm Chapter 25 - Harry learns more about the prophecy and Snape, then he's off on a mission with Dumbledore.
11:22 pm Chapter 26 - Wow, that's some fucked up shit right there, let me tell ya. Wet zombies and the Dark Mark too.
11:39 pm Chapter 27 - Draco unplugged, and the worst of the werewolfes. Nasty, those people on the Dark Side, yuck.
11:55 pm Chapter 28 - Now I know who the half blood prince is but people are dead.
12:06 pm Chapter 29 - Brought tears to my eyes.
12:24 pm Chapter 30 - A good ending...soon will be the time of vengence, but after the wedding.
I liked it. It's a good chapter.
Now that it's done, I guess I'll have to read one of couple of hundred books I bought in the last six months. Been stocking up on young adult and some kids novels to tide me over until the next book. Now it's 1:10 am and I need to go to bed.