Potter for the People - From the Muggles

Pottermore opened this weekend, much to the happiness of the non-beta testers for the site. After several delays and much wondering, it finally opened, letting all into the magical gates to Hogwarts. What do you all think of Pottermore: Yay or Nay?

FINALLY! Back in February, we told you that JK Rowling was working on a new book for adults, though no other details were revealed. Today, Little Brown (publishing company) announced details about the book that everyone has been so eager to hear about:

-Title: The Casual Vacany

-Release Date: September 27th, 2012

-Language: English

-Pages: 480

-Hardcover, eBook, unabridged audio download, CD

-To be published worldwide

-Plot Summary:

"When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations? Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults."

Join Anastasia, Al, and Christina as we discuss Daniel Radcliffe on SNL, The Golden Globes, The Oscars, The Woman in Black, and more. Anastasia gets sorted and we explore the dismay of finding out your REAL house on Pottermore. Piece of Parchment consists of chapters 8 and 9 in Sorcerer's Stone and we side track about Alan Rickman and Chicken Pot Pie.

You can listen on our podbean page or subscribe to us on iTunes!

Finally! The Harry Potter books can be read on an eReader! Amazon's Kindle now offers the seven-book epic to purchase virtually.

For more information visit Amazon's Harry Potter on Kindle page here.

Just yesterday, J.K Rowling announced on her website that she is writing a new book for adults, details about which will be announced later this year. 

The note on her official website:

"Although I've enjoyed writing it just as much, my next novel will be very different from the Harry Potter Series."

A new tweet by JKR confirming that the book will be released this year:

"As you may have heard, I have a new book out later this year. Very different to Harry, although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much."

We can't wait! What do you guys think the book will be like?

The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) gave an R-rating to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Emma Watson's new movie to premiere later this year. The producers of the film, however, were not pleased and are working on an appeal for getting the film a PG-13 rating. The MPAA gave it an R-rating for its drug and alcohol use and sexual themes. Do you guys think the movie should have an R rating?

In a sizzling new photoshoot for mtvnews.com, Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) is photographed by British photographer Idil Sukan, who is also the official photographer of the BIFAs. He looks so amazing and grown up, nothing like his adorable character in Harry Potter! What do you guys think of Matthew's new look?

Daniel Radcliffe recently opened up to theguardian.co.uk about the recent Oscar nomination snub for HP pt2, claiming that "snobbery" is what cost the last movie a nomination. "I don't think the Oscars like commercial films, or kids' films, unless they're directed by Martin Scorsese, I was watching Hugo the other day and going, 'Why is this nominated and we're not?' I was slightly miffed." Daniel told the website. Over ten years of the famous franchise, only 6 of the 8 movies have been nominated for art or technical categories, yet never for a single academy award. What do you guys think? Was this snub snobbery or just?

This Thursday, February 2nd, our very own Dan Radcliffe will be featured on the Ellen Show! DanRad will be interviewed as well as our first lady Michelle Obama. Ellen has always been a huge supported of the Potter franchise, so expect to see a brand-new clip from The Woman in Black!

Check your local listings to tune in. Are you guys excited?

Today, the nominees for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced, and we're pleased to see that DH pt2 was nominated for a grand total of 3 awards! Although the movie was not nominated for Best Picture, it was nominated for other prestigious awards. It was nominated for

Best Achievement in Art Direction (other nominees were Hugo, The Artist, War Horse and Midnight in Paris)

Best Achievement in Makeup (other nominees were Arthur Knobbs and The Iron Lady)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects (other nominees were Hugo, Real Steel, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon)

But DH pt 2 wasn't the only part of the Harry Potter family to be nominated, in fact, Gary Oldman (Sirius Black) was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy. Kenneth Branagh, (Gilderoy Lockhart) was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in My Week with Marilyn. The full list of nominees can be read here. Don't forget to tune in on Febuary 26th to see who the winners are!