http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36965066
The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script has become the fastest-selling book in the UK this decade. It has sold more than 680,000 copies in its first three days alone, beating Fifty Shades of Grey which sold 664,478 in a single week in 2012. At its current rate, it is on track to become the second biggest single-week sales for a book since records began. That title is currently held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, according to The Bookseller. The final novel in the Potter series sold 1.8 million copies - as well as 780,000 copies of the version aimed at adults - in its launch week in July 2007.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has also become the fastest-selling script book, said publishers Little, Brown. Meanwhile, the script has also sold more than two million print copies in North America in its first two days, according to publishers Scholastic. Reviewers have complained the script is an "incomplete experience" as the story "demands to be seen", but theatre critics awarded the play five-star reviews. The stage production in London's West End is currently sold out, but a new batch of 250,000 tickets is being released on Thursday.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 04 2016, @10:42AM
Let me get this straight. The fastest selling book isn't a 300 page picture book of which every page is a photocopied image of Randall Munroe's hairy pooper? Well shit. I'm so fucking disappointed right now.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday August 04 2016, @12:19PM
I'm not sure whether this should be modded "off-topic" or "informative".
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday August 04 2016, @05:39PM
Or -1, what you smokin', boy??
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Interesting) by isostatic on Thursday August 04 2016, @10:57AM
Other headlines considered
"Current Harry Potter Book fastest selling book since last Harry Potter Book"
"Current Harry Potter Book not selling as fast as last Harry Potter Book"
"Is this the end of our love of Harry Potter?"
"Is this the next chapter in our love of Harry Potter?"
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 04 2016, @11:23AM
Not my best headline, hahaha.
SEMEN EXPELLIARMUS [youtube.com]
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(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Thursday August 04 2016, @01:40PM
How about Harry Potter, Fastest Pirated Books Ever? I don't actually know, but wouldn't be the least surprised if a leaked copy hit pirate sites several days before the official launch. After all, that often happens to movies. On the other hand, I recall hearing they were taking extra precautions against leaks.
(Score: 2) by isostatic on Thursday August 04 2016, @02:59PM
Your tenses are all wrong as it's been in the shops for days. There was no talk about leaked copies, or even spoilers from people who had seen test-screenings of the play.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday August 04 2016, @12:43PM
For what it's worth, when my children were too little to remember, my wife and I bought the first Harry Potter book audio edition on cassette, read by Jim Dale. It was enjoyable, and we went on to listen to the whole series. Turns out Dale invented hundreds of unique character voices for the series, was fantastic, and I believe won an award for it. I highly recommend it to anyone who might have a lot of driving time or some other chance to enjoy it.
Today the kids all love Harry Potter and I have to wonder if it's because of hearing that when they were very little.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by takyon on Thursday August 04 2016, @12:46PM
Yeah, I love Jim Dale's readings. [dirtypotter.com] :-)
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 04 2016, @01:31PM
Surely Stephen Fry's versions are better?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday August 04 2016, @01:54PM
https://youtu.be/RbiqV36BINg?t=11m12s [youtu.be]
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(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday August 04 2016, @01:55PM
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by n1 on Thursday August 04 2016, @02:46PM
I'm sure there are many different reasons why so many love the Harry Potter series.
I did ask Mrs. N1, as she is a huge fan of the series, but was 20 something when first reading the series. Her reasons are centered around the strong characters that you can relate to, the writing investing you in their journeys and the detailed world building. A world which is full of fantasy, but just close enough to reality that you can see yourself in it.
It gives her an opportunity to recapture the world as a place of wonder, like it was being a child.
I think that's probably a fair assessment for why a lot of people, old and young love the series, and how it's captured the imagination of so many. It being developed into a successful film series too, has enabled the series to remain relevant and reach audiences of all age groups and dispositions for almost 20 years now.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Thursday August 04 2016, @03:29PM
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday August 04 2016, @06:00PM
I feel old when I talk about playing "Land of the Giants" as a kid and people say, "WTF? Is that?"
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Informative) by theluggage on Thursday August 04 2016, @03:03PM
Reviewers have complained the script is an "incomplete experience"
I take it those reviewers saw the bit on the cover where it says "script"? What were they expecting? There's a reason for all those bits you get between the dialogue in novels.
I'll wait for the novel/movie/radio play/inadequately flagged internet spoiler.