UK vs. USA Books

[lupinesque]

Betsy wrote:

> Checked out a website that was recommended earlier on this board. I 
> was interested in purchasing the UK version of the paperback books. 
> They have a box set of all four books for 28 sterling or 40.74 USA. 
> Is it worth it to me to spend $40 on the four books (not including 
> shipping). I have only paid about $6 each for the USA versions.  Is 
> there a big difference in the two versions.  Opinions please.

Big difference?  Well, it all depends on your POV.  It is almost 
entirely small changes in language, i.e. "jumper" changes to 
"sweater," "do his nut" changes to "go ballistic."  You can have an 
almost identical reading experience with the US editions and can 
always look up the differences on the Lexicon if you want to know 
exactly what the UK edition says.

The other major difference between the UK and US editions is the cover 
art and the fact that the US edition has small illustrations at the 
start of each chapter.  

I'm from the US and held out for the UK editions because I'm a purist 
and wanted to read the books exactly as JKR, who is after all British, 
wrote them.  (She did approve of all the editorial changes, IIRC.)  I 
also figured that I could go look at the Mary Grandpre illustrations 
in the library anytime I wanted to.  But I didn't pay extra for 
shipping and all; I just waited (impatiently) 'til I got a chance to 
go to Canada and bought them there.  Even if you don't live near the 
Canadian border, you might be able to order them from a Canadian 
source such as www.chapters.ca and save money.  Gotta love that 
exchange rate.  As far as this group has documented, the Raincoast 
editions (Canadian) are identical to the UK--same text, same cover 
art, only difference being the publisher's info and the price on the 
back being given in $ <g>.

Hope that helps,

Amy Z
who can't believe she's going on record endorsing a megacyberbookstore