Friday, July 20, 2007

The World's gone Potty

Trusted sources tell me that the first few words are:
The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. For a second they stood quite still, wands directed at each other’s chests; then, recognizing each other, they stowed their wands beneath their cloaks and started walking briskly in the same direction.
Apparently a few of us cannot wait anymore. So words and phrases and rumours are doing rounds. Relax, am not about to disclose anything here on the lines of 'Snape killed Dumbledore'. Betting sites are doing brisk business on 'Harry and Ginny Dying', 'Ron and Hermione dying', 'Regulus Black being R.A.B.' and, hold your breath, 'Minerva McGonagall being the humble servant of Voldemort in Hogwarts'. News anchors who have not read a single Harry Potter book are getting very excited about the entire thing. Almost everyone knows that the new book gets released tonight.


Somehow I feel nauseated with this marketing/PR operation being run by publishers and retailers. It seems like an overdose of Harry to my muggle mind. I do understand that some of the excitement is genuine and anticipated but the mass hysteria is a cleverly managed production of the marketing types. I think the entire campaign should have been a little muted and controlled in its execution. For the last 50 days, there has not been a single day when I have not encountered media coverage on something related to either the Celluloid or Cellulose format of JK Rowling's creation. Am tired and in a way relieved that this tamasha is finally coming to an end. Here's hoping that JK Rowling writes nothing of Harry's adventures anymore!

Disclosure: Have pre-ordered the book. Would like to proclaim myself a victim of the sales exercise.

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