So I’ve been binge-listening to Book Riot’s podcasts. If you like keeping up with the world of books, you should put this on your listen list. Recently they were talking about Harry Potter and how only The Deathly Hallows made it on the top 20 best selling books in Amazon’s history.
The first reason for this is the most obvious, the beginning of the series was releasing through the beginning stages of the internet and online shopping. I would say it’s only in the last 8 years that most people have become comfortable shopping online. And with physical bookstores becoming a little less common in some areas, it’s easier to order online rather than driving “into town” to pursue the bookstore.
The real reason I think only the last Harry Potter made it onto the amazon list is because of the experience. Harry Potter fans loved and love dressing up. Midnight release parties were a big deal for Potterheads and standing in line with fellow book lovers debating what was going to happen in the book you were waiting for was part of the fun. Games and food and special tickets with 9 ¾ were all part of the world Harry Potter created. So even though Amazon made it possible to have it in your hands immediately without waiting in line, no one wanted to miss the party there local bookstore was going to throw.
This experience is something that many publishers and bookstores have tried to recreate with other books, but of the release parties I’ve attended none were as great as a Potter Party.