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'USA Today' picks 'Deathly Hallows' as book of the year 
DECEMBER 26, 2007 at 10:24 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: USA Today via Yahoo! News
With 2007 slowly coming to a close, the last book in the Harry Potter series, Deathly Hallows, has been chosen
by USA Today as their book of the year.
According to the newspaper:
This year's choice had to be the final Harry Potter book. The reasons are as varied as the different wizards' wands found in Diagon Alley. There were the numbers: Hallows sold a record-breaking 11.5 million copies in the USA during its first 10 days on sale in July. Then there was the pre-publication hysteria: Would Harry die? Could the world's children - and a lot of adults - handle it? Was an early version posted on the Web the real thing? (Yes.) Months after the book's publication, Rowling triggered controversy by revealing that Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore was gay. The blogosphere went wild. But none of that matters. Hallows is the book of the year because Rowling gave her story an ending that was as graceful, unpredictable and satisfying as the series itself. She reaffirmed that magic can exist when someone opens a great book and enters a world created from words on paper. She made us believe that the imagination - like her own little wizard, now all grown up - still lives.
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Witch
Points: 614
Harry_Hermoine_Fanz says:
Wow!! That is cool! But it's true that the ending was unpredictable, graceful, and satisfying!! DH rocks!
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 10:39 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 430
Dementors Shadow says:
That is so cool. It deserves it. That was an amazing book.
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 10:46 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1187
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
I'm not surprised at all. No other book had a chance against DH. Being the highly anticipated final book, not to mention the best of the series in my opinion, there is nothing better than DH!!
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 11:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1524
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
*raises her Firewhiskey in honour* Here, here! I am in total agreement with what is written and that's all I can say. Deathly Hallows was everything I hoped it would be.
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 11:30 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2663
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Thats so true. I myself find that because of Harry Potter I love to read fiction and love to read books. The last book totaly derserved the reward. I loved it, except for some little stuff (see my screen name for clues) but other than that it was just amazing. And the weird thing is, I don't feel like the series ended. I always keep on thinking that it can't be over and that theres going to be more. Hopefully my wish comes true with maybe a prequel or another sequel, but chances are very slim.
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 11:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 846
OffTheLoop says:
haha no surprise there! But I loved that description they wrote about the ending- so true. That's a great honour but what other "book of the year" will ever be able to compare to it? :)
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 11:53 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2262
Tokio Hotel Fan says:
Well that great Jo really did a good job ending Harry Potter. Hopefully there will be another book. Congrads to Jo.
Posted Dec 26, 2007 at 11:55 PM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 25200
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
Hehe
wooo for DH!!!!
=)
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 12:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 761
Khay says:
Yay! It deserved it! Well done JK :)
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 12:44 AM EST
Honeydukes Eye Candy
Points: 3338
Pansyful says:
Not only in the US but almost all over the world. it's a known fact that the last HP book is the one that sold out in hundreds of cities worldwide. it should be no surprise for us now.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 2:12 AM EST
Antipodean Snow Goddess
Points: 2735
Tikihaha says:
This book has resonated with me like no other ... put it this way: I listen to it every day on my iPod and NEVER get sick of it.
I gave the audiobook to my mum, she put it on her new iPod Nano, and she listens to it each night before she goes to bed.
My aunty listens to it when she has chemotherapy and it gets her through the bad times. It is just a brilliant, funny, entertaining, witty book.
Could not agree more ...
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 5:56 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1348
smart hermione says:
Deserves that title... ts was a relly long awaited book, but satisfying
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 6:19 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2031
Nataly says:
The imagination till lives! They are so rright! :) Totally deserves it! :) GO JO!
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 7:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2916
Anastasia Popovick says:
What exciting news! Congratulations! It is a expected in my eyes...but maybe not it others. As much as I and others love the stories, it only makes sense that they should win awards such as this.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 8:31 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8052
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
How could they pick anything else. It is amazing that they would even consider other books this year. End of the series, most sold on first day, etc. Nice justifications listed.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 9:01 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2676
Chogiiiirl says:
What a fabulous award for a truly fabulous book!
Great job, Cheers Jo!
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 9:55 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2209
Scarlett Kent says:
A wonderful choice, though I can't see how they could possibly have chosen any other book! I haven't even read DH for a second time yet - I am still letting the impact of the first reading settle in.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 12:07 PM EST
Heart Of Music
Points: 3535
_-_~*ZeE*J@Y*~_-_ says:
It truly deserves it ..this book is the most entertaining book Ive ever read ..I loved every edge of it.
Tikihaha , Wow ..you are like a Pottery family hehe..
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 12:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1522
~Harry's true love~ says:
This is seriously great news! I'm so Happy, that book deserves every award out there. It is my favorite book in the world and It's really close to my heart. Harry Potter has always been there when I wanted to get away from anything, when I was mad, sad, or annoyed. I knew that I could open any of the seven books and go away. I lost myself in them. So Thank you Harry Potter, because you have been a great friend.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 1:36 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1960
PHOENIX5625 says:
Well of course it won, was there any competition at all. Good job to JK hope she writes another HP book and the encyclepedia.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 2:00 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 56
lineman#23 says:
I totaly agree with Usa Today.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 4:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 949
Weasleyismyking!/R/Hrfrv says:
Deathly Hallows really deserves to be the book of the year. It was a fantastic end to a wonderful series.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 4:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1353
hellothere says:
Deathly Hallows easily was the book of the year. It's very rare for a book to unite so many people. It's rare for so many people to buy a book the day it comes out, and read it nonstop. Harry Potter is truly a phenomenon.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 4:57 PM EST
Squib
Points: 174
iheartlockhart says:
That is officialy amazing!!!!!!!! I don't know why it wouldn't be!!!!
iheartlockhart
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 6:17 PM EST
Squib
Points: 195
Artep says:
Yes I definitely agree. I wrote on my first page that it was definitely one of the best pieces of work.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 7:05 PM EST
Squib
Points: 141
Madam Marsh says:
Sorry to be the wet blanket. To Tikihaha, I wouldn't take the book away from you, your mom or your aunty for the world. But I listened constantly to the Jim Dale audiobooks, the first six, anyway, after reading the books themselves, and kept a notebook full of clues I gleaned and theories about future events, and awaited the last book with as much desperation as any other fan, and got my copy at midnight and ran home with it. But it was not long before I realized that, while some parts were good and in keeping with the rest of the series, JKR had veered off from some very fundamental themes for which I'd revered her, and replaced them with some uncharacteristically sloppy plotting and a gaggifying happy-ever-after ending. This is not said lightly or in a snotty spirit to those who truly love the last book. But I am inconsolable. I thought JKR was braver than that. Her convictions about her own story must not have been as strong as I'd thought. So, as to the last book getting the big kudos from USA Today, well, I'll give it one out of the three: it was unpredictable. Graceful and satisfying? I'd laugh if I could, but I'm too sad.
Posted Dec 27, 2007 at 7:10 PM EST
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