How does this compare to the release of GoF?

[mongo62aa]

No: HPFGUIDX 61379

I did not start reading Harry Potter until the first movie, but I do 
remember that there was something of a circus at the time.  I also 
remember that a lot of people were upset at how dark the book was, 
compared to the first three to come out.

Now, from all that I have heard, OotP is dark.  Very dark.  Do you 
think that there will be as much of a reaction to this as there was 
for GoF?

Also, before GoF a lot of people apparently thought that Ron would 
die.  People were surprised when the 'Big Death'turned out to be as 
minor a charactor (through the first three books) as Cedric Diggory.

However, this time the big death is of somebody much more central 
than Cedric was.  (I think I know who, but will not spoil it)  Do 
you think that this book will be too Angsty?  A lot of 8-year-old 
children will be reading it.

Bill