Re: Here, bloody, here!!!!
> We've been having 'events' in our library in the run-up to the wretched
> release. Why can't they make fuss over a selection of releases for kids,
> instead of just her piffle.
You may as well be asking why the media can't make a fuss over a selection of football clubs from the Greater Manchester area, rather than endlessly gushing about Man Utd. Can you see 55,0000 people queuing to see a football team comprising 4 players each from Oldham Athletic, Stockport County, and Man Utd? Nobody gives a flying fondue set about players from the lower reaches of Division 1, but put Man Utd's first eleven on the pitch and enough people to fill Old Trafford 4 times over will not only willingly be extorted, they'll even queue for the bleedin' privilege. Like Man Utd, the Potter books are an extremely lucrative cash cow.
> If anything, I bet it's put a lot of kids off reading cos they'll think
> all children's fiction is about wizards and dross like that.
I'm afraid you appear to be suffering from what's commonly referred to as Potterphobia; a condition often resulting from childhood desires that were repressed or thwarted. A common example is an achingly heart-felt desire to get a special magic wand for Christmas, only to have your hopes cruelly dashed against the rocks each year with yet another My Little Pony. Fear not, however, for there are organisations offering free counselling to troubled souls like you. See http://www.victimsofwanddeprivation.com for useful phone numbers etc.
Get well soon. xxx