>http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993799
>
>Harry Potter 5 has already sold more than a million in advance sales, 17 days before the announced publishing date (through Amazon).

Though not through Amazon, we are an advanced purchaser at our local Barnes & Noble bookstore. My daughter and I have read outloud the first 3 together. We just started the 4th book this week. My wife also listens in as well. Although we have always read to our children, reading the Harry Potter books has become a "family thing" and helps cut down on TV watching. Each book is longer than the previous, and book 4 is 700+ pages. I see book 5 at 896 pages follows that trend.