Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon
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Book Overview
The Harry Potter Books Were Just The Beginning of the Story...
During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who would remember what it was like when the Harry Potter saga was still unfinished. What it was like to seek out friends, families, online forums, fan fiction, and podcasts to get a fix between novels. When the potential death of a character was a hotter bet than the World Series. When the unfolding story of a boy wizard changed the way books are read for all time. And as webmistress of the Leaky Cauldron, one of the most popular Harry Potter sites on the Internet, Melissa Anelli had a front row seat to it all. Whether it was helping Scholastic stop leaks and track down counterfeiters, hosting live PotterCasts at bookstores across the country, touring with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters, or traveling to Edinburgh to interview J. K. Rowling personally, Melissa was at the center of the Harry Potter tornado, and nothing about her life would ever be the same. The Harry Potter books are a triumph of the imagination that did far more than break sales records for all time. They restored the world's sense of wonder and took on a magical life of their own. Now the series has ended, but the story is not over. With remembrances from J. K. Rowling's editors, agents, publicists, fans, and Rowling herself, Melissa Anelli takes us on a personal journey through every aspect of the Harry Potter phenomenon -- from his very first spell to his lasting impact on the way we live and dream.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1416554955
ISBN13:9781416554950
Release Date:November 2008
Publisher:Gallery Books
Length:368 Pages
Weight:1.25 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"
Age Range:8 to 12 years
Grade Range:Grades 3 to 7
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
She Took The Words Out of My Mouth!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I really, really enjoyed Melissa's book. As a long time (adult) Harry Potter fan, it's great to read this anthology of all things Harry that allows us to really think about the impact of J.k. Rowling's Harry Potter. Anelli is a Co-Host of the popular Podcast Pottercast and surely knows her stuff. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who seeks to understand what all the hype is about!
Wonderful Insight into the Harry Potter Community
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
When I first saw this book, I was completely unintersted in it. I love Harry Potter, but I didn't much feel like reading about the culture surrounding it. However, when B & N put up their HP displays for the release of the 6th movie, I picked it up for some in-store reading. Immediately, there is a connection between you, the author, and anyone who has anticipated a Harry Potter release or even a page turn. Melissa Anelli is easily identified with in her book, and describes an adult's obsession with Harry Potter in a very relatable way. This book has fascinating insight, that really helps you appreciate the opportunity fans have had to read this wonderful series.
Thank You, Melissa
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Everybody has a story about how they came to read the Harry Potter series. Everybody has a story about how they celebrated the series once they realized how powerful it was. And everybody has a story about how they felt about its eventual end. Each story is unique, in its way - but, they all share the same threads. The more we say them out loud, the more they sound the same...in a good way. The fans that Harry gained before the release of "Deathly Hallows" knew that they were a part of something huge. And now, those fans who will never have to wait years between release dates - who will never know how much anticipation of a thing can influence the scope and greatness of the thing itself - can read all about it. Melissa Anelli is the spokesperson for those of us who spent countless hours discussing, theorizing, converting...online, offline, in living rooms or at the bus stop. Even though she was "there" in contexts that many of us never got to be - she does a remarkable job at making the story she tells in "Harry: A History" OUR story: everyone's story all at once. "Harry: A History" is the work of both an indispensable participant and an extremely talented narrator. I am impressed by Melissa's writing, and happy to add this book to its rightful place - on my 'Harry Potter' shelf at home.
More than a history of fandom
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is the perfect book for any Harry Potter fanatic; it provides a lovely stroll down memory lane. For the casual reader, it provides an insight into a world they may not have the patience or fanaticism to enter full time. As a Harry Potter fanatic, even I learned new things, especially about the fandom before I entered it. Melissa also narrates her own personal story and how entwined it became with the world of Harry Potter. It's the perfect illustration about how a little imagination (and a lot of magic) can change your life.
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