Halloween Release Speculation (Was:Re: Clue to Release of Book 7?)

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 163312


> 
> Geoff:
> I'm not sure I read it the same way as you. If the date of 
publication is 
> either 07/07/07 or 31/10/07, this suggests that Jo Rowling has been 
> working to this timetable since before 1997 when the first book 
came 
> out.

Julie:
I don't think it suggests that at all. As Cat said, it would be
felicitious for the book to be released on Oct 31. Or call it
serendipity. Jo may not have planned to finish the books by any
certain date on any certain year, but she could have foreseen
the possibility of taking good advantage of either July 31 
(Harry's birthday) or October 31 during *any* year in which she
was releasing the 7th book. (7/7/7 is a different thing, and
I doubt JKR aimed for this date in any way).

Geoff:
> I agree that to have Hallowe'en 1997 as seeing the end of the war 
would 
> be neatly symmetrical but good stories do not always have such a 
> symmetry because this can appear to be contrived. Again, I believe 
that 
> the Celtic New Year will not be relevant becasue JKR is a Christian 
and 
> would not necessarily be influenced by that date.
>

Julie: 
Yes, it would be neatly symmetrical, and though JKR couldn't
have deliberately aimed for it, once again seredipity may
have stepped in, and she must certainly recognize the same
symmetry we recognize. Whether she wants to take advantage 
of it, *can* take advantage of it (we don't know when the
7th book will even enter the editing stage for sure, do we?),
or is thinking in another direction entirely is unknown.
But I hope she wouldn't dismiss the idea only on the basis
that it might *appear* contrived. That's a stupid reason IMO ;-)

As for JKR being a Christian, her religion has never had much
overt presence in the HP books. While there are certainly 
concepts and symbols in the books that reflect her religion,
there are also concepts and symbols from a variety of pagan
myths and legends, including Greek, Egyptian and Celtic, 
along with Tarot cards, Astrology...you name it, it's there.
So I don't know why Samhain wouldn't fit in as easily, should
JKR chose to reference it. Though she need not, since the
date is highly significant already as the day Harry's parents
died and Harry became "The Boy Who Lived."

BTW, Halloween falls on a Wednesday next year. That's not 
usually a day one would expect the final book to be released,
since the previous ones have taken advantage of the weekend
by releasing on Saturday. But I really don't see a problem,
because 1. Harry Potter is such a phenomenon that I can't see
the release day--be it a weekday or weekend day--having one
iota of effect on the sales numbers. And 2. Halloween is a
fairly big holiday in the U.S. now (not sure about England
or Australia) and a lot of schools give the kids that day
or the following day off, to avoid the whole crazy dressing
up/sugar high insanity. Still, even without #2, I can see
most parents more than willing to let their kids stay up
late on this one special weeknight that will never come
again. Can't you?

Julie, who has no more clue than anyone else when Book 7
will be released, but who would think it pretty cool if
it did happen on Halloween.