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From
the witching hour on Saturday June 21, fans of the boy wizard will
be able to get their hands on the long-awaited fifth book in the
Harry Potter series.
Eager
young muggles are expected to flock to bookshops across the county
to get their hands on JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix which goes on sale from midnight on Friday.
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| The
book is expected to break publishing records |
Hundreds
of advance orders have already been placed at Gloucestershire stores
- and staff are pulling out the stops to make sure the launch of
what is expected to be the fastest-selling book in history is a
truly magical occasion.
At
700 pages and 38 chapters the book is more than a third longer than
author J K Rowling's previous book, Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire, which broke all previous bookselling records on the first
weekend of its publication in July 2000.
And
among all the excitement there is bound to be some sadness, as JK
Rowling revealed this week she has killed off one of Harry's chums
in the new book.
In
an interview with ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman she said she was
so upset after killing a "significant" character - whose
identity she refuses to reveal - that she burst into tears, but
believes
that children's authors have to be "ruthless killers".
Here
are some of the activities planned at county stores to celebrate
the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Ottakar's
in Regent Arcade, Cheltenham has joined forces with Cheltenham
Children's Library to stage a Hogwart's Midnight Feast at the library
in Chester Walk from 11pm on Friday to 1am on Saturday.
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Young
Potter fans are invited to bring a sleeping bag, torch, pyjamas
and a parent and enjoy a spooky hours read and feast - places are
limited so call 01242 571779 to book your free golden invitation
ticket.
Wizard's
breakfast
If
you miss out on that don't worry, there will be a free wizard's
breakfast from 7.30am on Saturday outside the Regent Arcade store
on Saturday morning - the area will be transformed into Hogwart's
Reading Room with the aid of props from the Everyman Theatre.
The
morning's entertainment will include the chance to meet live owls
- courtesy of the Gloucester-based Barn Owl Centre - plus games,
quizzes, a DVD screening of Harry Potter films and a competition
to guess the number of Bertie Botts beans in the jar.
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| County
bookshops will be beseiged by young witches and wizards |
The
afternoon sees a fancy dress competition with prizes for the best
Hogwart's characters and a charity auction of Harry Potter memorabilia
in aid of Book Aid International, which helps to supply educational
materials to the developing world.
Barbara
Pendrigh, head of the children's department at the store, said:
"It is a big occasion for us and we will be looking forward
to seeing lots of Harry Potter fans."
Waterstone's
in the Promenade, Cheltenham, has already taken more than 1,000
advance orders and will be open at midnight and from 7am on Saturday,
with staff in Hogwarts fancy dress, a wizard to entertain youngsters,
and Potter-themed quizzes and competitions.
WH
Smith in High Street, Cheltenham, will be open from 10.30pm
with a video, quizzes and games to pass the time until midnight
when the book goes on sale - admission is by invitation which can
be picked up in the store.
On
Saturday store staff will be dressing up as wizards to take part
in a Harry Potter Readathon.
Ottakar's
in Gloucester will be open from 7.30am on Saturday with entertainment
including a gnome-tossing arena, a chance to design a phoenix-feather
collage, and a treasure hunt for golden snitches (used in the Hogwart's
game of quidditch) hidden throughout the store. The Cirencester
branch will be open at 6am with lots of wizard-related activitites
WH
Smith stores in Tewkesbury, Stroud, Gloucester and
Cirencester will be open from 7.30am to cope with the expected
rush of customers.
>>Find
out more about Gloucestershire's Harry
Potter connections and how a county schoolgirl won
a magical trip to Hogwarts.
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