harry potter book sales

andrew · Postby **andrew** » July 21st, 2007, 2:11 pm

I understand why people queue for new electronic gizmo's that have low production rates like the Wii which I still don't see around here in montreal. But books are printed en masse. Why would you go stand in the cold or rain for a book release? Especially since a book is like a one time read most of the time. Your thoughts please.

Steerfortj · Postby **Steerfortj** » July 21st, 2007, 6:01 pm

People really like Harry Potter, so they can't wait to read the last chapter first and spread spoilers all over the internet.

IronKnux · Postby **IronKnux** » July 21st, 2007, 9:04 pm

It's simple: books are an inexpensive form of entertainment that you can enjoy anywhere. If one is standing in line for a highly anticipated video game, not only do you shell out $50+, you also have to have the system (at least $249, assuming it's a Wii) and be at home to enjoy it. You can take books anywhere, and books never grow dull or repetetive like video games often can, so sometimes they can last longer than video games.

As for the lines at the stores... let's face it, there isn't a large group of people over 40 years old that play video games. Books, in particular the Harry Potter series, are enjoyed by people of any age and sex. Naturally there are going to be more people buying them than video games. That's not to say there are absolutely NO female gamers or older gamers, but there certainly aren't many.

Atarifever1 · Postby **Atarifever1** » July 21st, 2007, 9:15 pm

[QUOTE=IronKnux]It's simple: books are an inexpensive form of entertainment that you can enjoy anywhere. If one is standing in line for a highly anticipated video game, not only do you shell out $50+, you also have to have the system (at least $249, assuming it's a Wii) and be at home to enjoy it. You can take books anywhere, and books never grow dull or repetetive like video games often can, so sometimes they can last longer than video games.

[/QUOTE]

You sound like you still read too. Nice to know you, we are few these days.

Michael D · Postby **Michael D** » July 21st, 2007, 10:32 pm

[QUOTE=IronKnux] As for the lines at the stores... let's face it, there isn't a large group of people over 40 years old that play video games. Books, in particular the Harry Potter series, are enjoyed by people of any age and sex. Naturally there are going to be more people buying them than video games. That's not to say there are absolutely NO female gamers or older gamers, but there certainly aren't many.
[/QUOTE]

It would seem that the times are a-changin' for gaming, though. I personally know quite a few females of various age groups who are into gaming, including my mother. In fact, I was at the Otakon Anime Convention in Baltimore for the past two days and saw many people with DSes, and a lot of them were female (I even saw a couple of middle-aged women playing their DSes).

Blah · Postby **Blah** » July 22nd, 2007, 1:03 am

[QUOTE=Atarifever]

[QUOTE=IronKnux]It's simple: books are an inexpensive form of entertainment that you can enjoy anywhere. If one is standing in line for a highly anticipated video game, not only do you shell out $50+, you also have to have the system (at least $249, assuming it's a Wii) and be at home to enjoy it. You can take books anywhere, and books never grow dull or repetetive like video games often can, so sometimes they can last longer than video games.

[/QUOTE]

You sound like you still read too. Nice to know you, we are few these days.

[/QUOTE]

There are?
I didn't know that so many few people read here!
P.S. I just finished the final book. I thought it was great.

wur1 · Postby **wur1** » July 22nd, 2007, 1:52 am

This thread is beginning to make me feel guilty. I often brag about not watching TV, but all of the websurfing/videogaming/ipoding I do is just as bad as TV, and I haven't read a novel for about a year. Oh well, I at least have the excuse that I do enough reading in graduate school.

Postby **VideoGameCritic** » July 22nd, 2007, 9:52 am

Don't feel bad. I haven't read a novel in many years, and the only one I've read in its entirety since high school is The Hobbit. Part of the problem is that it takes me about 15 minutes to read one page. I guess it takes practice huh?

It's funny, when I only buy a book when it has a lot of big pictures. Recently I got the Art of Pirates of the Caribbean - basically just a collection of drawings. Love it!

Are there many other non-reading gamers like me out there?

PS: I do read the newspaper everyday, and reference books for work. Of course, those are just in bits and pieces.

Alienblue · Postby **Alienblue** » July 22nd, 2007, 1:00 pm

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a BIG reader.... but of NON FICTION ONLY! The last time I TRIED to read fiction was five years ago...I got a box of Star Trek novels at Salvation Army for a buck. I tried to read what looked like the most interesting and made it to page eight, then quit. I LOVE Star Trek, but to WATCH not read. Well, I read comics, notably Manga, and that may count as fiction. But for the "big word books"... this month I bought $80 worth of books. A large hardcover Dinosaur Discoveries: The latest Finds, two Colectibles/price guides, An astronomey book and 3 manga titles. I read more than I play games but only non-fiction/comics. On the other hand I WRITE almost constantly, and it's all fiction! Nothing I say is true! Every word is a LIE! Figure that paradox (pair o' docs?)

feilong801 · Postby **feilong801** » July 22nd, 2007, 1:05 pm

I love reading. I read books as often as I have the time to do so. I generally read either political books or fantasy/sci-fi. I also read a great deal of sportswriting, especially Bill Simmons of ESPN.com and Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star (with the latter being especially provocative and the former very funny).

Recently, I've been reading "The Letters of Tolkien." He his correspondance is as amazing as his books.

-Rob