The Half-Blood Trick

I am voracious reader. I can read, retain, and comprehend, quickly. It is almost alarming how well I can do this. I had my copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for roughly thirty-six hours before finishing it. I normally would not tear through a book at that speed. I like to savor fiction. I do not want to plow through it like a textbook or a news brief. However, Emily is a genius and she is training her sister Hannah to equal her in this genius. Photo: Dr. A as portrayed by Maggie Smith

On Saturday, I intended to read a couple of chapters in Half Blood Prince Saturday and then put it to rest and only read a chapter or two a day. During reading in Emily’s condo (where I am staying) I got up to use the bathroom and when I returned Hannah, who had been looking in the back of the book announced, “[insert nasty spoiler here]”

I was dumbstruck. I hate it when people ruin the endings of books. I realize that some people open their Christmas presents early, read the last chapter first or otherwise fast-forward to the ‘good part.’ I am excited about getting to the top of the mountain but I enjoy the climb as well. I also love mixing metaphors.

The spoiler Hannah announced? It was false. Emily arranged for Hannah to blurt this out as a joke on me to see what I would do. What did I do? Plowed through Half-Blood Prince like it was The History of War in the Western World to learn that indeed, it was not true.

I rate in the high genius level when subjected to an IQ test, a part of my annual mental health assessment. Emily is intellectually head and shoulders above me, I completely fell for it. McGonagall does not get run over by the Night Bus. She is not the one who dies and if she were, that is now how it would happen.

Comments

[golfwidow]

Harry Potter and the Gullible Blogger. (I'd've fallen for it too, if it'd happened to me. I've already finished it because I read fast, not 'cos I was pushing myself.)

[Kellbelle]

I cannot wait to get my copy. Unfortunately, all my books are the Scholastic paperback versions... so that means I have to wait another 2 years to ger my copy *sigh*

[Alex Vance]

Did you buy your copy at the Focus on the Family bookshop? It's wicked good!

[joanna]

I'd have fallen for it too but first I'd have killed her. Dead, dead, dead.

It only took me 14 hours of reading. I wanted to make it last but I couldn't help myself.

[Margaret]

I am a voracious reader too and should get into the Harry Potter crazy. (but have so far remained immune) I don't like anything to mean THAT much to me. People get fanatical. (Christopher???)

[CGG]

Getting hit by a bus... That's actually kind of a funny image. I tore through HBP as well. Now I'm going to go back slowly and soak it all in.

[melody]

christopher,
i have to say that you weren't to nice about the spoiler thing yourself.

I, being emily's roommate, did not have time to read this weekend. however, every time the book came up the two of them thought it was so delightful to tease me with false information.

thankfully, i am maybe half way through it...so i won't have to be tortured much longer.

oh btw, Christopher inspired me to do my own blog. go ceck it out! :)

http://nnaydolem.blogspot.com/

[Terri]

I have developed the annoying habit of reading the last page of any book. I tell myself it's so I'll be prepared for something bad, or to give myself something to look forward to. Really, it's just lack of self control. *sob* I just Dr. Phil-ed myself! :(

[Amber-san]

San,
An evil but fun prank to play and be played. Yes, I too was once a playa, however I no longer read (well, except for work), but I am reading your fine works of blog. Miss you buddy!

[Sally]

In between driving and driving and driving and having company and still more driving, I stood in line (#3472), got my book at 12:33am, and read it in 5 1/2 hours. Now comes re-reading it a few dozen times and waiting in agony for Book 7.
You DO know Harry is trampled to death by garden gnomes in the last book...

[candoor]

my roommates daughter and I spent six hours at the local Harry potter book release party and she started reading as soon as she got home... I picked up the book when she fell asleep and she grabbed it back when she woke up (so I napped) and I grabbed it back when she fell asleep and by mid-afternoon Sunday, we'd both finished it... I didn't do that with any of the previous books, in fact, I didn't start reading the series until after the forth book came out, maybe the fifth, actually... I think I've become addicted, so much so, that I am leaving random comments about Potter in stranger's homes... it is true about the garden gnomes, but only the green ones... the red ones try to save him, but fail...