As they couldn't get their hands on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” until midnight, many muggles settled into the Missoula Public Library for a Potter film festival. The library was showing the first four films in its downstairs meeting room Friday. The last screening, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” was scheduled to end just as bookstores were opening to disburse book No. 7.
Some fans carefully portioned their day's activities.
“I'm gonna get home and not even sit down,” Cook said. “I'll just fall down and finish reading.”
For others, it was a way to bone up on the highlights of Harry's school career in a hurry. Although several of the films left out significant subplots and favorite scenes, they did cover the basics with admirable fidelity.
“I've read all the books at least two times, and the sixth one three times,” said Alex Anderlik, 11. “I like the movies a lot, but some of them take out more stuff than others. And some add stuff.”
Occasionally, the movies have tipped author J.K. Rowling's hand before her books did. The growing romance between lead characters Ron and Hermione has been obvious since the second movie, while it hasn't been clear on paper until book No. 4. On the other hand, huge portions of Rowling's magical world have failed to reach the big screen.
“If it was just the movies, like ‘Star Wars,' I don't think I'd be interested,” Anderlik said. “You wouldn't have anything to complain about missing afterward. The books were bigger.”
They've been good for the library, too. Children's librarian Karen Gonzales credited their popularity with a noticeable surge in youth reading.
“We're seeing the long-term results already,” Gonzales said. “There's more teenagers reading and coming to the library than ever before. And it's not just here, but everywhere. They were talking about libraries closing, but we're getting more people all the time.”
Four lucky library patrons received free coupons for book No. 7 during the film festival. The rest of the fans had plans to grab their copies at midnight when bookdealers were officially allowed to release them. The temptation's been tough. Most Missoula copies arrived in unmarked boxes Thursday afternoon, but even the store owners were prohibited from opening them until Friday night.
It's a big new world for some folks.
Niel Mondana, 6, was coming to one library movie Friday afternoon but hadn't read any of the books yet.
“There's some scary parts, but that's OK,” he said. “My mom has three of the books, and she's gonna give them to me, when I learn how to read more.”
Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)