Released a minute past midnight 21st July 2007, probably it will become the greatest selling fiction (non-political/non-religious) book of all time. In contrast “Da Vinci Code” *only* sold 65 million copies. Also, according to Daily Express on Sunday, about 300 copies of Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat’s book “My Rewards” had been sold in a few hours. I mentioned this because Tan Sri Chong reportedly said: “On 21st July two very special books are launched: The seventh book in the Harry Potter series… and my book.”

Will it outsell the top-selling book of all time: The Holy Bible itself (so far sold about 6 billion copies)? Well, only time will tell…

And probably it will be the most pirated book of all time, the full version of which is available freely on the web (i.e. all 36 chapters excluding epilogue) at least 24 hours before the book launch.

More trivia:

The Independent (UK newspaper) said the book sold 20 million worldwide in 24 hours. That works out to be a staggering 231 books SOLD PER SECOND for the first 24 hours of launch. Mary Chin described Tan Sri Chong’s book as “selling like hot cakes.” Well, if 300 copies in a few hours is deemed selling like hot cakes, how do you describe 231 copies in one second?

Probably will outsell the best selling Harry Potter book so far (the 1st in the series): 107 million copies sold so far.

Discounting the earliest birds, officially the first person on the planet to read the published novel from cover to cover is Anne Jones, 55, the 6-time world speed-reading champion. She finished all 600+ pages in 47 minutes and 1 second: that’s 4,251 words per minute: 4,000 faster than the average adult, and an unofficial world record. Asked what happens at the end of the novel, she said “Oh, I don’t want to spoil the ending for people.”

Christianity-wise, reaction is mixed on the series as a whole. I read that Pope Benedict XVI warned of the occult themes in the book. But the Archbishop of Canterbury (leader of the Anglican church [the biggest Christian body in the United Kingdom]) had declared himself a fan.

The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, reduced author JK Rowling to tears with his praise.

In the US alone, 12 million copies had been ordered in advance. Absolutely amazing, that’s like you know you will strike the jackpot, it’s just money waiting to drop from the sky!!!

By Monday (2 days since launch), it reportedly has sold 72 million copies worldwide.

Released in 93 countries simultaneously.

But is it the greatest novel of all time? I think not yet, there’s a book (forgot title) that won either the Booker or the Pulitzer prize, then got its author the Nobel prize for literature some time ago.

….I wonder how the audio book version did…

ref:

• torrentfreak.com
• hooqs.blogspot.com
• The Independent UK
• Hollywood Reporter

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