By Staff
Local readers catch Harry Potter fever
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
Ask Michael Brannon what his favorite Harry Potter book is and he will quickly tell you "all of them."
Last Friday night, however, it was the newest book in the wildly popular series that was on his and everyone else's mind. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released last week to record-setting sales. Brannon and about 25 others gathered at the Hartselle store The Book Cellar for a Harry Potter release party.
Store owner Karrol Dean, dressed in a Harry Potter t-shirt, said the hype around the book has been incredible.
"I've never seen anything like it," she said. "The security was tight for the third one, but nothing like this."
Around 11 p.m., Dean said the crowds filled her store. She opened her boxes of books at midnight, June 21, the earliest time allowed by publishers. Eager fans filled the time by taking a Harry Potter trivia test.
And, despite the book's heft – it's nearly 900 pages long – Andrew Kermish said he can't wait to read it.
"They are just the best books ever," Kermish said.