Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5 Audio CD)

Rating:
Summary: Best Book in Harry Potter Series
Review: I received this book via Fed Express from Amazaon on 6/21 and finished it today 6/24. It is the best in the series and answers many questions.The ending is just as exciting as the earlier books. One point that won't give away the plot is that in this book the reader learns that the stairway to the girls common room in charmed so as not to admit boys. It's pointed out that girls can go to the boys' common romm but not vice versa. No doubt the author added this in reaction to some critics whe would do anything to foil her success.I am 52 but have read all the books and seen the movies.This book also holds out assurance that the sequels should be ever as good.

Rating:
Summary: getting darker book by book...
Review: Poor Harry. His fifth year at Hogwarts, and seems all the fun has been sucked out of attending this most magical of schools, both for Harry and for the readers. For too much of the book there is no Quidditch for Harry, no Hagrid, really, and scant "romance" with Cho (the one area of teenage-hood Rowling seems to have the most problem understanding or describing is, well, SEX. I can hardly imagine a single kiss is all a couple 15-year-olds can manage... and R. doesn't even write of it, just Harry's brief comments to Ron afterwards.) O.K., teenage lust is not the point of these books, it just struck me as odd.
As far as new relevations about Harry, Voltemort, even Neville... well, nothing in Order of the Phoenix compares to the fourth book, which I do think is superior to this tome. The only "cool" new bit is the formation of what Ginny names "Dumbledore's Army", and the kid's (ultimately misguided, alas) battle with the Death Eaters. It feels that it is Dumbledore, and not Harry, who has to "save the day" in this book, which is a let down. OK - obviously I was a bit disapointed overall by Order of the Phoenix, but then Rowling has, with the past four books, escalated our expectations and perhaps created for herself a hard act to follow (if you follow what I am trying to say!) I expect as the story winds down the last two books - particularily book 7 - shall prove quite exciting. Book 5 just feels like we all had to get through another school year.

Rating:
Summary: Dark, moody--and the best so far
Review: Already finished! --Now I'll have to wait another three years to find out what happens next. Guess I'll just have to read it again...

Seriously, J.K. hasn't lost her touch. Quite the opposite: I think this is her best so far. I do have to wonder about all the 4-, 6-, and 8-year-olds who'll try to read it, though. As you've probably heard already, this is an even darker story than Goblet of Fire. Nothing is completely black and white anymore; at various times, Harry has reason to doubt everything and everybody he'd once believed in, including Hogwarts and Dumbledore. He even discovers that his father, who has always been held up as a paragon of goodness and character, was perfectly capable of being an cruel, arrogant jerk at age 15. At the end, while Harry and his friends prove to be as brave and resourceful as always (including some you wouldn't have expected), it also turns out that Harry has screwed up big-time. Not entirely his fault--certain adults have screwed up, too--but all the same, the result is the unnecessary death of someone he cares about deeply. (This is the famous death that's been endlessly guessed about on the Internet, and no, I'm not going to tell you who it is.) Rowling doesn't sugar-coat this, or leave Harry an easy emotional out; the end is not a downer, exactly, but it is quite moving. In short, Harry has to shoulder burdens that no 15-year old should have to bear--even as he's also going through an all-too-recognizable phase of being a moody, misunderstood teenager. He's finally getting angry at the situtation he's been thrust into by fate (and Voldemort), and isn't above lashing out at the very people who are trying to help him.

I don't want to make this sound heavier than it is. The story really MOVES; 870 pages doesn't seem long at all. And Rowling's sense of humor is still very much with us, even when tinged with poignancy. I highly recommend the so-hilarious-you'll-want-to-cry portrait of two barely aquainted 15-year-olds and their hopelessly inept first date. Oh yes, and Harry does get his first kiss.

Rating:
Summary: Spectacularly Written!
Review: I just recently finished the newest installment in the Harry Potter series and I feel like J.K. Rowling has not let me down. This masterfully written book takes you into a whole new world for Harry. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Indeed, I feel like this is the best Harry Potter book yet. I was immediately drawn in to the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially Harry's fans.

Rating:
Summary: Not Rowling's best work
Review: I was very disappointed with this installment of the Harry Potter series. I am a HUGE fan, but felt this one did not fit in the same caliber as the others. Not only does Harry have a lot to deal with, but he is stripped of many of the things and many of the people he needs to get through the problems. It was my feeling that this was not necessary to the story line and the fact that he essentially has no adult to turn to at all, for most of the book, is unfortunate. There are some good points in the book and a necessary read to those of us who want to follow the series, but as Harry is angry and unpleasant through most of this book, for one reason or another it is not as much fun as the others. There was not a lot of happy feelings to make you want to read on, and I found I was reading to get to the part that lightens up the situation some. . it never really came. I hope this book does not spoil the series for the many young people who are so involved. I am now waiting for book 6 to hopefully bring back the smile that the first 4 left us with.

Rating:
Summary: Prof. Rowling's World Getting A Little Darker...
Review: This book magically arrived (by owl, no less) on my back porch at 1:15 AM, June 21st. I assume that's how long it takes to fly from Borders when you don't encounter any particularly hostile traffic. In any event, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" has taken over my life for the past three days, but I've finally escaped from the grasp of its dreaded talons. My recommendation to any potential reader is to a)call in sick or b)quit your job so you won't be interrupted; c)Make a nice cup of tea, d)take the phone off the hook. Now you may start reading. Not to give anything away, but I have a new found appreciation for Professor McGonagal and for George and Fred Weasley after having finished the book. As for Harry, adolescence is tough kid, but I think you'll come out just fine. I have a feeling that Ms. Rowling has the formula for the series all sorted out and just needs to sit down and fill in the blanks, which she seems to do quite well. Unfortunately, I'm getting along in years, and might have to retire to the "Graveyard for People Who Can't Wait For the Next Harry Potter Book" soon. I'm also getting kind of tired of the Dursleys, and I hope that Harry can permanently move out of their house in the near future. And I think that Ron's father should get a raise, because he really deserves one.

Rating:
Summary: It was great!
Review: In my opinion J.K. Rowling has really outdone herself with this one.It was a real page-turner.Once you started reading it you didn't want to put it down. I finished it in merely two days. It is very suspencefull and well thought out. I recomend this book very highly.

Rating:
Summary: Rowling Outdoes Herself
Review: I loved this book!! It shows faithful readers that even though Harry has to deal with escaping the most notorious wizard in history, he is also a teenage boy who has to deal with crushes, friendships and all of the other issues that go along with adolesence. As a teenager myself, I thought that Rowling knew as much about life as a teenager as if she were still one, instead of beng an adult. While reading the book, you are sucked into the plot, when a charcter is angry or happy or at the point of sadness beyond grief, you feel their emotions. I was HUGE Harry Potter an before I read this book. But now, I am a much bigger one, if that is even possible.

Rating:
Summary: Banish the Editor to Azkaban
Review: To start, I loved the book, Potter fans shouldn't be disappointed, I enjoyed the plot and many of the new characters. Ms. Rowlings wrote another winner.
HOWEVER! Who edits for Scholastic? Can they read? There are numerous stupid errors, probably from typesetting, that should have been found by editors. I'm reading a conversation, Snape says something, and I stop because SNAPE WASN'T IN THE ROOM. In Potterworld all sorts of strange things do occur, but I re-read the section twice before I figure out it was an error. I also find a close parenthesis ")" without its opening mate. 5 points for the author, 50 points from Scholastic.

Rating:
Summary: Once again a great book
Review: The new Harry Potter book (Harry Pottter and the Order of the Phoenix) is another of J.K. Rowlings master pieces. This book is much darker than the past four books, yet it's not missing anything from the others. In addition, the book starts to deal more into the feelings and problems of teenagers (problems that some of us can relate to). Furthermore, this book is as magnificent as the others, while still having a new conflict and a darker plot. I would recommend it to everyone. (If a child under 7yrs of age is going to read it, I would recommend that the parent reads it prior to allowing their child to read this incredible book.)
Everyone must read it, it's great!!!

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