The Veil of Secrecy - Marketing OotP

[Leon Adato]

No: HPFGUIDX 60921

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, RSFJenny19 at a... wrote:
> In light of recent events (ie. people getting copies of the book
early, spoilers discovered here and there), I've started to wonder,
why is it J.K. Rowling and publishers were so desperate not to let
reviewers get the book to review? 

(snip)

In looking at JKR's focus on the kids (it seems like the adults
reading the books are almost a nuisance to her - she avoids ANY hints
when asked in interviews, but some kid at an assembly asks her and she
spills the book title, etc), it makes sense.

JKR does not want the grownups (book reviewers, tabloids, etc) to ruin
it for the kids. When a child hears a bit about what's in a book,
especially filtered through an adult's perception, it could change the
child's experience of the story.

That's not the same thing as being afraid of a bad review. It's more
about wanting each child to have the best chance to experience the
story *on their own terms*. Sure, other kids will talk, but that's
also part of the KIDS experience. It's very different to hear the news
anchor, the librarian, the parent, etc talking about something that
the child can't get access to (how many 3rd graders watch the 11:00 news?)

Plus, (still in the "think of the children" vein) surprises are FUN!
Why be all muggle-ish about it? Who cares what a NYTimes Bestseller
list hack-in-a-suit tells us ahead of time? It's a book, not a
marriage. Get it (buy or borrow, both are fun in their own way), read
it (some or all), and go on with your life.

I think THAT is the point of the secrecy, IMHO.

Leon