Two Good Reviews!
Posted by Sam
As Harry, A History's November 4th release draws near, the reviews have started their releases! So far, it's all be positive. I honestly can't expect anything less than great reviews, having already read the book.
Found from Simon & Schuster is this review from Publisher's Weekly:
October 6 - With infectious, at times frenetic, excitement, Anelli presents two narratives in this hip report on how a boy wizard became a rock star...As [Anelli] details her work with The Leaky Cauldron, readers get a view into the publishing world and the impressive tale of Harry Potter's ascension. Anelli also shares sweet scenes of meeting Rowling and the actors who portray the characters in the films. Fans will recognize themselves in these pages, and the curious might finally understand their friends.
Also, there was a fantastic (Starred!) review from Kirkus, an industry magazine that reviews pre-published American books.
October 8 - Chronicling ten years of Pottermania, Anelli dishes up a revealing, delicious insider's view of "small groups of people acting in ways they shouldn't, doing things they usually wouldn't, and making the kind of history that, without Harry, they pretty much couldn't." As both a journalist and longtime webmistress of the "Leaky Cauldron" fan site, she's in a unique position to carry it off. Though she didn't become an active fan until the weary interval between Goblet of Fire (2000) and Order of the Phoenix (2003), she made up for lost time, diving into a whirlwind of networking, press junkets, touring podcasts and, to top it off, encounters with J.K. Rowling that evolved from deer-in-the-headlights hellos at public events to intimate interviews. The author also takes readers onstage with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters, travels to Georgia for discomfiting conversations with would-be book-banner Laura Mallory and offers her own takes on such fannish topics as fanfic and spoilers, vividly capturing the exhilaration of being part of what was at once a community and a movement.
I hope to see you all at the November 5th book event Melissa is doing held in New York City at Columbus Circle! Don't miss your chance to be a part of Melissa's first book event following the actual release!
On facebook? RSVP to this book event over on facebook and see who else will be there.
Got it! Red it! Loved it! Extremely interesting!
Could not put it down! A must read for all HP fans! Much Thanks Melissa
i love potter cast and i love harry potter.i have your book on hold cant wait.are you have more book sinnings and were
Congratulations, Melissa!!! Kirkus gives out stars sparingly, so your starred review is a really big deal - and well deserved. I can't wait for my copy to get to me.
Now if you can just get Kreacher to bring you a sandwich.... ; )
"I honestly can't expect anything less than great reviews, having already read the book". Lol, and we know enough about you to tremble with fear if we have any doubt about it ;) So that's it, girl, you go all out positive on them critics. Super congratulations on the positive critical reception so far.
'...and the curious might finally understand their friends.' Hahaha so true! Fantastic reviews, we already knew it would be great :)
Of course it's great! I can't wait to read it myself, as every time Melissa posted on the Leaky Cauldron about a fan experience she got it spot-on and she's done so much for the fandom. I was surprised to read that Melissa didn't enter the fandom until 2000, as I'd assumed she was a part of it since 1997 or 1998. However, I thought that was nifty because that's the same year I became a fan. And a lifetime obsessed wizard person, cough, cough.
Yay, Melissa! You must be walking on air.
I've been eager to read the book regardless of the reviews. And now I'm salivating.
Thank you for recording it all. You've made a part of our lives more tangible. I'll be able to hand your book to my grandchildren someday and say, "I was there. I was part of this."
I just got an email from Amazon saying that I will receive the book tomorrow. According to UPS it's already in the local UPS office. I'm guessing that there isn't the strict release date requirements of the HP books, but I was surprised that I would get it so early. Looking forward to reading it.
WOW!!!
This is awesome Melissa!!!
I've been an avid PotterCast fan and I'm just so proud of you! Bravo!
I've already placed my order for the book - can not WAIT to read it!
I didn't expect anything less than fantastic reviews for this book, but seeing as I kind of feel like I embarked on this journey with Melissa and company through Leaky and through PotterCast, I wondered if the "outside world", the ones who didn't have an obsessive need for Potter "fixes" would truly understand why this book has the potential to be a classic in its own right.
The story of how people have come together from all walks of life, from around the world, with the initial common bond being a series of children's books is pretty unbelievable, and :could: be seen from an outsider's perspective as the stuff of a great fiction novel itself...but Melissa has championed Potter fans worldwide by inking a story about her journey, and indirectly, ours (as Potter fans).
I'm very much looking forward to getting my hands on a copy, and being able to hand a copy to any who love me and don't understand this part of my life, saying, "Read this and 'get' it."
Whoa! It is October 21st and I got a shipping notice from Amazon today!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! I can't wait!!!
Brava Melissa
I already am breathless waiting for my copy to arrive. Now you've made it worse.
OMT