ONE NIGHT, ONE BOOK: As we roll into blockbuster season it can be easy to forget that there are no more Harry Potter films to come. Fans know this, they've dealt with it for awhile now, but still, an emptiness is still there for legions of followers. But magical parties and gatherings still spring up hither and yon, from camps for grown-ups to dress-up balls to night-long, single-book readings. That last event is a true fan favorite, because digging into a single book over the course of a few hours via a bevy of talented readers is a pretty rare occurrence. But Fairytale Town in Sacramento is up for the challenge on Friday, May 3. That's when J.K. Rowling's first tale -- "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," of course -- will be read aloud for a group of excited wizards and Muggles. Read aloud in full.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? Well, how long does it take you to read a 76,000+ word book? You likely read it in a few sessions -- we know, we know, there are some dedicated Harryians out there who read it one sitting -- but reading it aloud is a different matter. The first reader will start at 6 p.m. on May 3 and the last reader will speak the words "The End" in "the wee hours of the morning" on Saturday, May 4. Guests are welcome to bring sleeping bags and picnic dinners, as you might expect. You'll want to settle in for a long night of listening, but you'll want to be comfortable while doing so. But not too comfortable; you'll want to wear a costume, too. Truly, there are fewer Harry events these days, what with no more book or movie launch parties, so this is a fine way for fans to gather and rock those lightening scars in unison. All while revisiting a favorite book.
