Reply to question on HPforGrownups list

[justcarol67]

Lee wrote:
> I can certainly understand the need to close the list for a time to
give the elves reading and breathing space.
> 
> I know that if Amazon messes up this year like they did last year, I
won't receive my "pre-order" until a few days after release.  Last
book, it was a week after the release that I got my audiobook, and was
chomping at the bit wondering if I should have gotten from Barnes &
Noble on the release date.
> <Sigh>  But we who make up the retiree ranks try to save money so,
again, I pre-ordered.
> 
> However, I would say that, since seven is the magical number and all
that, maybe the time should be seven days, for the seventh book, for
the seven magical number. :-)

Carol responds:
Since the policy is chiefly for the benefit of the List Elves, I'm not
quite sure why we ordinary list members are being asked to respond.
However, since I joined this list specifically to comment on this
question, I'll add my two cents, anyway.

I live in Tucson, Arizona, which is seven hours later that GMT in
summer; I think that would make it eight hours later than BST. In
addition, I'm highly unlikely to wait in line at midnight to pick up
my book, which means that I'll have to wait until the Borders store
opens on Saturday (9 a.m. my time, 5 p.m. BST) to pick it up. Whether
I can devour the whole book in one weekend depends on circumstances
that are impossible to predict at the moment. I'm guessing that I'll
need at least till Wednesday and possibly till the following Saturday.
If the list isn't open yet, I can always start a second reading or
reread my favorite parts while I'm waiting.

So, yes, I think a week would be good. Any longer than that, and
impatient readers with time on their hands will be chafing at the bit;
any less time and those of us who need a week to read the books will
be deluged with posts by the time we're ready to post ourselves.

Carol, wondering how many hours it takes the average person to read
(not skim or speed-read) a 700-page book and also whether anyone knows
the word count