Rating:  Summary: The best, by far . . . Review: As Harry's fifth summer begins, immediatly you know that this will be different. Harry faces more powerful emotions than ever before, as he begins the transition to adulthood. This book is the best of the series by far. However, as happy as I was with the book, I could not help being saddened at the end . . .
Rating:  Summary: J.K Rowling has done it again! Review: After reading the fourth Harry Potter book in a straight sitting of 7 hours, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the 5th Harry book. Three years and approximately 11 hours later, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has lived up to all expectations! As Harry Potter is fully experiencing teenage hormones, a war has begun between good and evil. J.K Rowling does an excellent job of revealing new quirks and mysteries as the reader progresses further into the depths of the book. Her abilities as a writer shine as she make the reader feel as though he/she were experiencing all Harry does first-hand. This book is truly amazing and well worth the wait. (Sorry, I wasn't about to give away any secrets!)
Rating:  Summary: Another Tour-de-force for J.K. Rowling - well done! Review: Well! It's going to be hard to confine myself to only 1,000 words when JKR had woven together so many thousands so well. Like her other novels about Harry, this one is well-crafted, plot-driven and very entertaining, spiced with both humour and horror. To me, her greatest achievement is the realism with which she portrays her young protagonists in their fantastic setting. Harry, in this book, is absolutely a teenager - snarly, unreasonable, impulsive, depressed - but loving and loveable, despite all this. And Ron and Hermione continue absolutely true to form, but, like Harry, gain more depth. Surrounding characters also get a bit more limelight and some interesting developments - particularly the Weasleys, Neville Longbottom, and Professor Snape!I do not want to say too much in this review - I don't want to give away any surprises! On the whole, though, I will say that the plotting of this book is excellent, the characterizations and descriptions sharp, and, though more sombre in tone than its predecessors, this volume still bubbles with humour. Be warned that there are some disturbing elements. Grownups, even those the young hero idolizes, have terrible faults, and evil is omnipresent and in places really horrifying. In fact, in my view, Harry Potter is no longer a book for little kids, if it ever was, but upper elementary, middle school and high school students will love it - and with good reason. Only a couple of things disappoint me in this book. One is the ending, which is both a little too pat and - oddly - not quite dramatic enough. The other is a certain amount of stereotyping. There is a new and very unlovely house elf, whose role is quite ambiguous, and who thus adds to the shades of grey in which JKR is now working. However, the whole house elf problem remains quite disturbing - all of these creatures, whether good or bad, are "Uncle Tom"-like in their servitude, perpetuating stereotypes of the happy slave. Equally disturbing, in my view, is the perennial "Madame Pince," the horrible Hogwarts librarian, whose main role seems to be keeping the books away from the students! As a Youth Services librarian, I wish J.K. Rowling would get rid of Madame Pince and invent someone a little more true to life! She has introduced a great new female character in this book, the Auror Tonks, who might make an excellent library assistant - or perhaps she could even kick out Madame Pince in a future novel and replace her with (gasp!) A MAN!!! But I stray from the point. You want to know whether J.K. Rowling has written a book worth reading. The answer is, definitely! Brava, J.K., Brava!
Rating:  Summary: Wow!! Review: This book was awesome. J. K. Rowling really outdid herself with this new book. It definatley gets darker, but I love the way she fleshes old characters out even more. This book also kept me guessing to the very end. I must say be careful when you read the book because once I got past the half way point in the book, I could not put it down till I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. This book also ties up some plot questions and has one doosy of an ending. If you haven't read the first books in the series make sure you read them first before trying to tackle this one. For fans of the previous book, you MUST read it!!
Rating:  Summary: The Best One Yet Review: After pre-ordering the deluxe edition on Amazon and waiting to receive the delivery on Saturday morning, I read the whole thing in 9 hours straight. All I can say is that it is the best one of the series yet. The beginning is very confusing (personally I can't see an 8-year-old following the plot), but as it unravels bit by bit it just gets more and more captivating and suspenseful. It is certainly a lot darker than the previous books, and contains a lot less of the humorous escapades of Book 4. Harry experiences many more intense emotions and just develops more dimensions to his character in general. The most amazing aspect has to be that just when you think you know everything, the mind-blowing ending proves you wrong. The reader finds out something that has never been answered before (or directly asked, for that matter) and that changes the entire perspective of Harry's battle against Lord Voldemort. I am definitely going to reread it however, because it is too complicated and enjoyable for just one sitting. Don't make the mistake I did -- just take your time and enjoy the best Harry Potter book to date!
Rating:  Summary: Twice as long as it should be Review: It got hard to follow. It was as if Rowling was up against a deadline and couldn't figure out what to cut. (It's not like she was paid by the word.) Yes, the saga makes another step forward, and ties a few things together, but it seems like that's all it does.
Rating:  Summary: It will not disappoint you! Review: After three long years, finally the latest instalment of Harry Potter is out. In this book, Harry encounters many experiences throughout his 5th year. He is almost expelled and now that he has returned to Hogwarts, many things occur making him wish he hasn't. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and O.W.L.S. coming up, certainly do not help improve the situation. As though he has not enough to deal with, he now has mysterious dreams about a corridor leading to a closed door and his scar hurts much more regularly. On top of all that he is introduced to girls, a certain girl to be exact! Having so much to deal with it is no wonder that Harry is so angry in this book. Throughout the book Harry will be introduced to new characters and visit magical places he has not yet been to. He will be put through many obstacles and will have to yet again rise above what is expected of him. Harry will learn many new things in this book and will also be introduced to death even more closely. All 870 pages of this book are a must read, and are very well written. The reader will feel he is Harry and will experience the same emotions as him. So, I recommend everyone to buy this book or get it at your library, no matter what your age is.
Rating:  Summary: I absolutely loved this book! Review: I, along with thousands, had been anxiously awaiting this book's arrival, and I have to say that the wait was worth it. I love it and I am thinking about reading it again, just to savor it. Along with book three, it's one of my favorites, and I am not ashamed to say that I cried when one of the characters was killed. This seems to have been the worst year ever for Harry. Now I guess I have to brace myself for another long wait, I just hope is not as long as the last one...
Rating:  Summary: Right up there! Review: As with all sequels, I dove into this newest edition to Rowling's saga with a slightly wary attitude. I was not disappointed in the least, however, and have come away pleased and hungry for more! Little tidbits? Careful - if you don't like spoilers, read no further! Harry is indeed an adolescent - he's got an attitude (even with Dumbledore!) and a girlfriend in Cho...sort of. The new DATDA professor, Umbridge, is truly horrible - rather the epitome of a simpering, pompous nincompoop on a major power trip - and she ends up making life at Hogwarts miserable for everyone, both students(she makes Snape look like the Easter Bunny in comparison with her hatred for Harry and justice)and professors (McGonagall hates her). Needless to say, Fred and George have a hayday with her, but that only makes things worse. On other lines, Neville picks up some pretty nifty skills, compliments of the illegal defense lessons Harry gives to select students. Why the defense lessons? Because 10 of the worst Death Eaters, including the people who tortured Neville's parents, have escaped from Azkaban - or rather, were let go by the dementors. Finally, you'll probably feel sorry for Snape by the end of this book - we learn some interesting things about his past that are linked to Harry's father and Sirius. This is by far the darkest of all Rowling's books, and contains some moments that will probably scare young children. There are a few earth-shattering plot developments as well...so hold on to your hats! It's a great ride!
Rating:  Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review: I thought Harry mature'd a lot in this book. It has a darker tone to it too. OotP in my opinion is good if not the best in the Harry Potter series so far. In this book, a lot of realizations are made and the characters change some of their attitudes. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is extremely awful to Harry and his class-mates. Overall I thought this book was very well-written. Good Job JK Rowling! But make sure you read the other books beforehand!
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