Who's going or went at midnight to get OotP?

[jerseydevil]

I was just wondering who if anyone was going to get the book at midnight. I was actually planning on going. Our Barnes and Noble will be selling it at midnight and I would like to see what they're having. It might be fun. :D

[Elvengirl]

I'm going at midnight. :D I know, there will be hundreds of little kids dressed like wizards :rolleyes: , but it might be fun. If not, then I can go hide in the adult fantasy-fiction section of the store. :D

Edit: It turns out that I'm not going :( Oh well, I'll get the book tomorrow

[Cirdan]

I'll be in bed dreaming of the FEDEX girl.

[mithrand1r]

There is little that I would go out during midnight to get when I could get the same item the next day or later in the week.

Besides it is raining heavily in central NJ tonight.

I never read any HPotter book, though I hear it is interesting read.

[jerseydevil]

Well I went to leave at 11:15 and I took my car out and discovered it had a flat tire. I called to have it fixed - they came out - but I didn't get to Barnes and Noble until 12:30. They had just given out their last ticket for unreserved books. So needless to say - I didn't get one. The unreserved book line was halfway through Market Fair (a mall). I couldn't believe how many people went out in the rain - I thought it wouldn't be that bad.

Now I have to try first thing in the morning and see if they have any. If they don't then they won't be getting a shipment in until Monday or Tuesday. I knew I should have reserved it.

[Heather Wooltoes]

I just got back from Walmart where I stood in line for two fricken hours. I made it home with a copy for my 13 year old daughter. I was going to surprise her with it in the morning but the little snot was already awake and snatched it out of my hands 2 seconds after I walked in the door. Oh well, I can use this next time she whines how I never do anything for her.

Im going to bed.

[Salquënòrëwen]

My whole family went to this "party" at a bookstore from 11:00 to 12:00 to get my book. All I did was stand in line for about an hour and 10 min with my dad.....:rolleyes: But my sister made me a wand! *swish and flick* ;) :D

[Cirdan]

The FEDEX guy just came. What was I doing?:)

[jerseydevil]

I got my copy at 9:00. I got the store about 7:45. There were several people already waiting. It didn't seem like I needed to be too concerned - they tons TONS of boxes behind the counter. I ended up getting the standard and the special edition - because I like leather bound books (although those I hardly ever read).

I was surprised - I only paid $19.95 for it at Barnes and Nobles - I thought that was only for the pre-orders. That was much better than the $30 it would have been and I was expecting. :D

[Sheeana]

I had to work, drat it all, so I sent the BF out to get it (it came out at 11.01am NZ time.) I got a "I brought it on June 21st" bag and all. Yippee!

[Elvengirl]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
I was surprised - I only paid $19.95 for it at Barnes and Nobles - I thought that was only for the pre-orders. That was much better than the $30 it would have been and I was expecting. :D

Yes me too. The book is 40% off for the weekend. I was happy about that :)

[HOBBIT]

I wish I had the real English version of all the books. The translation into "american" isn't that great. Hosepipe :P

[Hasty Ent]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
I wish I had the real English version of all the books. The translation into "american" isn't that great. Hosepipe :P

not surprised...that's why I ordered mine from Amazon's UK site:p

on the other hand, you already have a copy, and I'm still waiting for mine to arrive via Royal Air Mail...:mad:

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
I wish I had the real English version of all the books. The translation into "american" isn't that great. Hosepipe :P
How is that a crappy translation into American? That IS what a garden hose is called in ENGLAND. If they were going to translate it to American - it would say "garden hose" or just "hose".

Here is how to make a Hosepipe Wreath (http://www3.sympatico.ca/thecraftygardener/garden3.html) It's a CANADIAN site - so as you can see - hosepipe has NOTHING to do with it being an American translation. :rolleyes:

I actually didn't find ANY American translations in the book. They keep most, if not ALL, of the British phrases and words such as "bedclothes", "binning them", etc. The only things they translate into American English are kilometers to miles and spelling - from colour to color.

EDIT - Here is UK Garden Store - Hosepipe Bollard in turned oak (http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/pages/moreinfoa.asp?RecordID=HGEFFC&companyid=1306) And this link from the BBC - UK 'to Escape' Hosepipe Ban (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/364449.stm) And here is a 4 Way Hosepipe Split (http://shopping.lycos.co.uk/2302en500031.html) for sale on the Lycos UK site.
Before criticising the the words as being a poor translation into American - it would help if you knew British English. :rolleyes:

It's funny how you and Hasty Ent criticised the words as translations into American English and are complaing that the books are in "crappy" American - so you need the "superior" British version - when you can't even tell the difference or even know British English. :p :D

[HOBBIT]

Did you not read what I said? I said it was a really bad translation into american. Have you seen the British version of the book? No, so you really have no idea how much of the British phrasing they kept. Obviously they changed a lot of it and kept some of it. I'd rather that they just keep all of it.

What I meant was that obviously hosepipe was an english word and they kinda missed that several times - either that or they did it on purpose. I would definitely rather that there not even BE an 'american' version. Thanks for the pointless links btw - i KNOW its a british word. I just meant that with everything it just didn't seem to fit. If they keep some words, why not keep em all?

Don’t be so condescending you should have known what I meant – and I think that you did.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
Did you not read what I said? I said it was a really bad translation into american. Have you seen the British version of the book? No, so you really have no idea how much of the British phrasing they kept. Obviously they changed a lot of it and kept some of it. I'd rather that they just keep all of it.

What I meant was that obviously hosepipe was an english word and they kinda missed that several times - either that or they did it on purpose. I would definitely rather that there not even BE an 'american' version. Thanks for the pointless links btw - i KNOW its a british word. I just meant that with everything it just didn't seem to fit. If they keep some words, why not keep em all?
Your statement makes NO sense. The only other thing they call it is garden hose and that is also in the book. Just like in America - there are synonyms in Britain.

[HOBBIT]

Bah, get over it - i know that hosepipe is a british word. I could have been more clear in my original post. I wish that I had a British version and that still stands. It seems like that they did a sloppy job translating into American - why not just have ONE VERSION instead of American and British then?

Hosepipe was a bad example and I could have been more clear. I was just in a rush to post because I was reading the book. Hosepipe is NOT in the american vernacular ;) For the american version I would think it would at least be changed to garden hose. whatever

its not that big of a deal - same story, just I think that it loses a little bit after being "americanized." - as if we are too stupid to read and enjoy the original british.

Would you like a nice americanized copy of LOTR? I mean why not, it might confuse ppl , especially kids, right? ;)

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
Did you not read what I said? I said it was a really bad translation into american. Have you seen the British version of the book? No, so you really have no idea how much of the British phrasing they kept. Obviously they changed a lot of it and kept some of it. I'd rather that they just keep all of it.

How do you know they changed a lot of it though? Have you seen the original? I assume you have heard of search and replace. :) If they were going to translate it into Ameircan - they would use a lot of search and replace. :D

What I meant was that obviously hosepipe was an english word and they kinda missed that several times - either that or they did it on purpose. I would definitely rather that there not even BE an 'american' version. Thanks for the pointless links btw - i KNOW its a british word. I just meant that with everything it just didn't seem to fit. If they keep some words, why not keep em all?

It didn't sound that way to me. It sounded like you were saying they screwed up on the translation and translated an Englsih word to "hosepipe".

I agree they should keep the British phrases - but I see nothing wrong with translating spellings and distances. This is a childrens book - not Charles Dickens. 9 and 10 year olds who are American - read this. They know that in America color is spelt c-o-l-o-r.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
Would you like a nice americanized copy of LOTR? I mean why not, it might confuse ppl , especially kids, right? ;)
Lord of the Rings isn't a childrens book.

[IronParrot]

Uh, it says "hosepipe" in the British/Canadian version. That hasn't been changed.

Lord of the Rings isn't a childrens book.
The very arguable "children's book" status of Harry Potter does not justify American bastardization of the language involved.

As for having seen the changes myself? Yes I have, thank you very much. However, there's a much more comprehensive list at my fingertips here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/help.html#british).

[HOBBIT]

I was reading British books as a 9 year old ;)

Did not confuse me.


These books are also for adults as well. But you are right the main marketing group is like 9-12. Can you imagine young kids reading an over 800 page book? I can't ;) Kids old enough to read these books would appreciate the British.

I shouldn't have said hosepipe ;) I didn't say what I meant by using it as an example.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
Bah, get over it - i know that hosepipe is a british word. I could have been more clear in my original post. I wish that I had a British version and that still stands. It seems like that they did a sloppy job translating into American - why not just have ONE VERSION instead of American and British then?

I still don't think they did any translating other than spellings and measurements, i.e., kilometers into miles.

Hosepipe was a bad example and I could have been more clear. I was just in a rush to post because I was reading the book. Hosepipe is NOT in the american vernacular ;) For the american version I would think it would at least be changed to garden hose. whatever

But how do you know ANY of it is translated like that? I don't think they chnaged any of the phrases. Everyone is concerned about getting the British because of one translation from Book 1 and that was Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone. And I really didn't see much problem in that either - especially since the guy was a sorcerer - not a philosphy.

its not that big of a deal - same story, just I think that it loses a little bit after being "americanized." - as if we are too stupid to read and enjoy the original british.

I don't think it loses anything - because I think it's only the spellings which have been translated. I don't think that is such a terrible in thing in a children's book or a book which is sold in America. We have a different English than the British - that's all.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by IronParrot
The very arguable "children's book" status of Harry Potter does not justify American bastardization of the language involved.

How is it a basterdization of the language? We speak a different English than the Birtish.

As for having seen the changes myself? Yes I have, thank you very much. However, there's a much more comprehensive list at my fingertips here (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/help.html#british).
I do see that there are a lot of changes in the previous books - I still don't see a problem in it.

How many 9 - 12 year olds are going to know that "the baker's opposite" is a "bakery" or "cooker" means "stove"? I just don't think American English is an inferior language to British English. I can see where a lot of those words SHOULD be translated so the people who the books are GEARED toward can understand them. It would be very difficult for the targest audience to get through it and then to look in the dictionary for a meaing and not find the word.

NOTE: I would like to read the British version - but only for the same reasons I would like to be able to read Pinocchio in the original Italian or Crime and Punishment in the original Russian. I have no problem with reading it in American English however.

Thanks IP for the link - now I can do my own translation.

[Sheeana]

Hehe. I'm interpreting some weird and wonderfuls as well. There's a bit where the house elf is "snogging the pants" which to me translates as "kissing", but I'm guess she means "stealing." And then there's the bit about "keeping peckers up" which to me translates as not particularly PG-13, but I'm assuming she means "noses"..... :p

[jerseydevil]

Yeah - I would say snogging is stealing - becuase several places it's used. But the "keeping peckers up" is funny and wouldn't really be pg-13 if it had the same meaning as what it would be in America. :D :p

[Elf Girl]

I went at midnight. I decked myself out as Prof. Trelawney and read everyone's palms. It was fun.

[Diaxion]

i did, i went to boarders but i wasn't the second person to get it like last time.

[HOBBIT]

Actually - ive noticed a heck of a lot more British than in the last books and I did some research - in this one, they barely changed anything except for the spellings of words and distances.

They got too many complaints from ppl that they changed so much in the other books, that they left all the British words in this one.


Haha, don't you ppl ordering from the UK feel silly now? ;)

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by HOBBIT
Actually - ive noticed a heck of a lot more British than in the last books and I did some research - in this one, they barely changed anything except for the spellings of words and distances.

They got too many complaints from ppl that they changed so much in the other books, that they left all the British words in this one.


Haha, don't you ppl ordering from the UK feel silly now? ;)
i didn't think this one had as many if any changes when I looked at it. I knew the other ones - particularly Sorcerer's Stone had a lot of changes. With that book and the next 2 - they didn't even think adults were an audience.

I am glad they didn't change the sayings - because it makes it more realistic. I however do not feel that American Englsih is a "crappy" version of English - or inferior to British English.

[The Ben]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
I was just wondering who if anyone was going to get the book at midnight. I was actually planning on going. Our Barnes and Noble will be selling it at midnight and I would like to see what they're having. It might be fun. :D

I went to get it at midnight

[sun-star]

Originally posted by Sheeana
Hehe. I'm interpreting some weird and wonderfuls as well. There's a bit where the house elf is "snogging the pants" which to me translates as "kissing", but I'm guess she means "stealing." And then there's the bit about "keeping peckers up" which to me translates as not particularly PG-13, but I'm assuming she means "noses"..... :p

No, I think it does mean kissing. I have no idea about the second part though :confused: Whereabouts is that in the book?

I still don't think they did any translating other than spellings and measurements, i.e., kilometers into miles.

I'd be surprised if they needed to convert kilometres into miles - I'm pretty sure it's miles in the British edition :)

[Radagast The Brown]

I didn't go in the same night. I went the next night, and there were about 5 books. (in the British edition. In the american there were about 15... Probably not many baught the American, since it's not the original one.)

[Sheeana]

Originally posted by sun-star
No, I think it does mean kissing. I have no idea about the second part though :confused: Whereabouts is that in the book?


Can't remember where, but someone caught Sirius' house elf snogging a pair of pants - in retrospective, I agree with you - he probably WAS kissing them, given how he was so fixiated with Sirius' awful mother.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Sheeana
Can't remember where, but someone caught Sirius' house elf snogging a pair of pants - in retrospective, I agree with you - he probably WAS kissing them, given how he was so fixiated with Sirius' awful mother.
Yeah - because after Harry goes with Cho to Hogsmeade he tells Hermione about the disaster of it all. He said "... she was telling me...how she used to go and snog Cedric in that stupid tea shop..."