Are you going to read the new Harry Potter book?

[downtoearth]

Harry Potter Fans, Rejoice! New Book From The Wizarding World Coming This Summer

Attention, Harry Potter fans.

This is not a drill.

A new Harry Potter book will be published this summer.

The book, called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, picks up the story of Harry, Ron and Hermione where the epilogue left off, according to author J.K. Rowling's website, Pottermore. The book is the script of a play by the same name opening this summer in London.

As you no doubt vividly remember, the series' final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, closes on a scene that takes place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts and Voldemort's downfall.

The postscript brings the epic story full circle, depicting the beloved characters standing on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters with their families. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione wave nostalgic goodbyes as their children board the Hogwarts Express and head to wizarding school.

The book ends with a reference to the series' most famous symbol: "The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."

From its title, the Cursed Child certainly hints that Harry's peace and parental bliss have been disrupted, but not much is known about the plot beyond the official synopsis, released in October 2015. It reads:

"It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

"While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

The script of the play opening this summer, which Pottermore bills as "officially the eighth story in Harry Potter canon," is a new tale by Rowling, playwright Jack Thorne and theater director John Tiffany.

The U.K. publisher Little Brown says the book will be released on July 31, after the play's official premiere, which is set for July 30. Scholastic will release the book at the same time in the U.S.

For a generation of readers, Wednesday's book announcement recalls feverish anticipation, endless speculation and early morning camp-outs in bookstore parking lots waiting to snag a copy of the newest Harry Potter installment.

This time around, digital editions of the Cursed Child will be published simultaneously with print copies, so parking-lot stakeouts won't be necessary. For avid fans, who — like Harry and Co. — are now adults, that's probably just fine.

It means more energy for the anticipation and speculation.

www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/10/466309986/harry-potter-fans-rejoice-new-book-from-the-wizarding-world-coming-this-summer

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I probably will. I won't buy it though, I'll hope it comes out on ebook at the library.

[penguingrrl]

I will! So excited!

[hopecounts]

Yeah, if there was any chance I'd get to see the play live anytime in the next few years I might not but since that isn't happening I will read it to see what the story is.

[gretchenindisguise]

Yes!

[bugandbibs]

Will it be in play format or novel format? I will read it either way, but I don't really enjoy reading plays.

[Vespasia]

I'm still confused as to whether it's a play script or in actual novel format. Either way I suspect I will read it eventually but I won't be rushing to pre-order or anything.

[OscarQ]

YES! I will probably be there at midnight, like I have with the last four HP books. I think I even left my H's 30th birthday party to wait for book 7 to drop.

ETA:  Yes, I totally left his birthday for the book release.  Ha ha!  Sorry H.  Although I'm sure he gave exactly zero shits by that point in the evening.

[2curlydogs]

Feb 12, 2016 12:46:53 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Yeah, if there was any chance I'd get to see the play live anytime in the next few years I might not but since that isn't happening I will read it to see what the story is.

This is my thinking as well.

[hopecounts]

Feb 12, 2016 12:49:20 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

I'm still confused as to whether it's a play script or in actual novel format. Either way I suspect I will read it eventually but I won't be rushing to pre-order or anything.

It's the script according to JKR original released July 31st then a 2nd edition with any changes they make during the soft opening of the play later on.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Um duh.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Feb 12, 2016 12:53:54 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Feb 12, 2016 12:49:20 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

I'm still confused as to whether it's a play script or in actual novel format. Either way I suspect I will read it eventually but I won't be rushing to pre-order or anything.

It's the script according to JKR original released July 31st then a 2nd edition with any changes they make during the soft opening of the play later on.

Damn It, why couldn't' this be in the Ted Cruz porn actress thread!  LOL 

[picksthemusic]

This is a huge 'duh' for me. I will buy a hardback copy, for sure. But that's my nerd showing.

[elleblue]

Feb 12, 2016 12:53:54 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Feb 12, 2016 12:49:20 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

I'm still confused as to whether it's a play script or in actual novel format. Either way I suspect I will read it eventually but I won't be rushing to pre-order or anything.

It's the script according to JKR original released July 31st then a 2nd edition with any changes they make during the soft opening of the play later on.

I feel like many people will be sorely disappointed. Reading a script is not at all like reading a book. 

[jigsy]

I'm seeing the play in September, so I was a wee bit annoyed by this announcement. I wish they would have waited to release it after the first run of the play concluded. Now I will either be spoiled, or have to avoid the internet for months.

[meshaliuknits]

Probably.

Publishers, please make this book match the other books so I can look at my shelf without my eye twitching.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I already preordered it.

[devonpow]

I'm seeing the play in August so am going to attempt to avoid spoilers/reading it until after. But I will buy it post play

[aurora]

Feb 12, 2016 15:15:44 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

I already preordered it.

I looked into preordering it. Just thinking I can get it earlier in the morning on 7/31 compared to waiting until Amazon delivery later that day.

In other words, yes.

[aurora]

Feb 12, 2016 18:55:07 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I'm seeing the play in August so am going to attempt to avoid spoilers/reading it until after. But I will buy it post play

I don't think it's going to be easy to avoid spoilers on this one. Do you remember the t-shirt that came out on like the day after HP and the Half Blood Prince came out that said "Dumbledore Dies"?

[devonpow]

Feb 12, 2016 19:01:20 GMT -5 aurora said:

Feb 12, 2016 18:55:07 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I'm seeing the play in August so am going to attempt to avoid spoilers/reading it until after. But I will buy it post play

I don't think it's going to be easy to avoid spoilers on this one. Do you remember the t-shirt that came out on like the day after HP and the Half Blood Prince came out that said "Dumbledore Dies"?

. I don't remember, but maybe because I had finished it by 10 the next morning lol

[Dumbledork]

[secretlyevil]

I don't know. A script isn't exactly easy to get sucked into. I really like that James Potter fan fic. I think I will just wait and see.

[threejs]

I feel like the only HP fan on the planet not overly excited about this. I will read it, but only out of obligation. Lol. I'll be surprised if I actually enjoy it.

[niemand88f]

Feb 12, 2016 18:40:26 GMT -5 incogneato said:

Nope. It's a script, not a book, and the writing is what I love about HP. I got SO excited and now I'm so bummed. Sad trombones playing everywhere.

Same here, I'll probably just read a synopsis at some point. 

[polarbearfans]

Yes! I will read both editions lol

I'm ok with script format. Once I get the image in my mind it's like being there

[isabel]

Feb 12, 2016 13:52:45 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Feb 12, 2016 12:53:54 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

It's the script according to JKR original released July 31st then a 2nd edition with any changes they make during the soft opening of the play later on.

I feel like many people will be sorely disappointed. Reading a script is not at all like reading a book. 

Yes. I'm going to read it, but I'm not really looking forward to it. I don't want a damn script.