Harry's Reign Over Books Ends

Muggles everywhere may be saddened to know that as of the New York Times Book Review of May 11, the Harry Potter books will have fallen off the best-seller list after a 10-year reign

At least one of the seven books, written by British author J.K. Rowling, has appeared on a best-seller list for 10 consecutive years, or 485 weeks. The seventh and final book was published last summer.

So popular was the Potter franchise that the books were the very impetus for the Times to create a separate children's books best-seller list in 2000: At that time, Harry Potter books held the three top spots on the hardcover list for more than a year.

Of course, a book series' record time as a best seller is not necessarily a testament to its quality.

The previous record had been set by Danielle Steel in 1989. One of her novels had been on the New York Times best-seller list for 390 consecutive weeks.

On the music front, the record holder for most consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 goes to Pink Floyd's 1973 album "Dark Side of the Moon," which held a spot for 591 weeks.

Liz Gunnison