I'm counting on the whitefont, because I'd just read it in a huge gulp anyway. This thread will be the Cliff Notes edition.

I just bought 'The Time Traveler's Wife' for vacation reading until I can get my hands on a copy of Harry Potter. I asked Borders Dude what he thought my chances were of getting a copy in Italy on Saturday. While he didn't know, he seemed to be entertained by the question. Or maybe my desperation.

Enjoy it, Lilty. It's lovely and amazing.

I was wandering trying to think of what to buy, and then I remembered the Buffista recs, so I went to look at it and thought it looked badass. I think I'll start it tonight. I do better with vacation books if I've started before I left so I'm already into them.

There's an excellent guide to "What to Watch Out For While Reading the New Harry Potter Book" here (Part 1 and Part 2). The writer takes the first five books and breaks them down into the common event points that take place in the structure of each book (Introduction, The Dursley Episode, And We're Off, etc.) for a hint as what to look for when trying to figure out where JKR is taking the storyline.

It had never really occurred to me how much she follows a set structure in each book and how she inserts important clues throughout the book at key points. I usually just read it as is, and don't bother dissecting the book, but I'm going to see if I can predict her this time!

Early sales in Poughkeepsie.

Wizardnews also reports that AICN has what they (AICN) believe to be a complete list of chapter titles for the new HP.

This is also from Wizardnews:

Harry Potter fans get phone call from Jim Dale

"Hello, you reserved Harry Potter for 40% off at Borders Express. Hello, this is Jim Dale, narrator of the Harry Potter audio books, reminding you to pick up your reserved copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at Borders Express. Your book will be available at the stroke of midnight as Friday turns into Saturday, July 16th. All reserved copies must be claimed before the close of business on Sunday, July 17th. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be available with a fabulous discount at Borders Express in hardcover and as an unabridged audio book on cassette and CD. Cheers."

I will say, double-special points to the publcity people. Those who are into Harry Potter are eating all this up, and those who aren't know when to stay away from the bookstore.

In other news, I am reading the McSweeney's collection from last year, Astonishing Stories, and it's an odd bird. So far most of the authors have been vaguely literary, and vaguely timid over whether they're writing something openly counter-natural or not. I rather liked David Mitchell's "What You Do Not Know You Want," in spite of its exaggerated high-lowbrow narrator, btu the best story so far was Steve Erickson's "Zeroville."

I love that amazon's shipping area is called The Fulfillment Centre. It has a real "Hail Xenu, lord of the clams!" ring to it.

Super-saver Shipping -- now get free space clam overlord with every order!