Rating: 
Summary: Emotional Rollercoaster
Review: For those of you readers who are Harry Potter fans, I hardly believe that a review is needed because you probably already have the book. For everyone else - this is the best work yet of J. K. Rowling. She has managed to capture the emotional rollercoaster Harry must be feeling as a 16 year old boy who is older than his age would suggest. His frustration at being looked after for everything without direct respect from the people he admires instills a rebellous nature in him. But his true-to-nature friends stick by him through it all, even if their down to earth rationalization on things (especially Hermoine) doesn't seem to fully penetrate Harry's skull.The book on a whole brings you through several loops, twists and turns that keep you burning for more, and yet manages to give a higher level of depth to its characters, new and old. Rowling tests your Potter knowledge constantly by tying in the plot of this book with the previous editions, but she has succeeded in being consistant. However, do not be surprised to find yourself wanting to re-read the other books after this one, making sure the whole story makes sense. Overall the book is a great edition to this series, and though this book keeps you momentarily sated with its ending (especially since we've only been waiting forever for it to come out) before long you will be wanting the next edition. Four thumbs up and a toast of butterbeer to Rowling, her son Harry and all the characters in 'Order of the Phoenix'.
Rating:
Summary: The Order of the Phoenix: a Highlight of my Summer
Review: After three eternal years of waiting, Amazon delivered my copy of Order of the Phoenix on Saturday morning just in time to give me the thrill of my summer. From the day I read the first Harry Potter book just to discover what all the fuss was about I've eagerly delved into Rowlings magical world and been carried away like millions of other adults and children. Rowling pulls me in with Harry and his friends, experiencing and feeling the passion, excitement, thrill, and danger of an imaginary world that in spite of the fantasy manages to feel so very real. This latest installment in the narrative of Harry's adventures lives up to our expectations. In Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts we find him questioning the basics of what he believes, angry at his lack of knowledge or control, and rebelling against a system which seems to oppress and manipulate. We truly feel compelled by his adolescent angst and his struggles as he comes of age in a dark, uncertain world. Rowling aptly portrays his journey through first love, jealousy, anger, and grief at the death of someone very dear to him. Yes, keep ahold of your box of kleenex for this one, Harry-lovers out there. The world and power of the evil Lord Voldemort have very real consequences in Rowling's fantasy world, and dear characters we love are no longer safe. We receive greater insight into the why of Harry's parents' death, the motivations of the darkly love/hateable Snape, and we have another Defense against the Dark Arts professor to despise. (Get ready, this one's marvelously hideous). Rowling pulls off this character, and many others with style. Through it all, Rowling manages to touch on some serious and thought-provoking themes. Racism, prejudice, slavery, political corruption, and friendship to name a few. She even manages to weave in her old, delightful humor amidst the dark tones of her emerging story. All told, the book is right up there with Rowling's other novels; a gift to the reader. The book is beautiful, enjoyable, and profound. Readers everywhere will read, and reread this delightful piece of the Harry Potter story. I, for one, would like to know how long I have to hold on for Book 6.
Rating:
Summary: Very good story
Review: Harry is becoming more and more of a real person with all of the headaches such a transformation entails. His mastery of magic progresses nicely as does his understanding that nobody is perfect, least of all him. The book is a little long but moves along very well. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Rating:
Summary: A normal teenager, but magical
Review: Harry Potter's life is so wonderful in it's magic, but his challenges are often those of any other boy.
In this book Harry's trials seem more than before - he is angry, lonely, confused, he confronts so many normal teenager challenges - girls, ambivalent feelings about the attention he receives, finding out what his parents were like at his age), in addition to his own special trials. The writing is, as always, great. New creatures are introduced - it's a pity they weren't in Harry's "text book" - Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them. The new evil teacher so easy to hate, as is Snape, although we may now feel some understanding of his character.
Criticisms of the book - having to wait 3 years to get this, and we'll have to wait at least another year to find out how Harry did in his OWLs.
This book, perhaps more than the others, should not be tackled by someone who has not read the others. Read them all again, absorb all the details, and come to this one with an understanding of how well the stories are woven, how one builds on the other.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful...
Review: Will provoke every emotion you possess, extreme hapiness and joy to the most terrible pain imagineable.
Rating:
Summary: JK Rowling Has Done It Againl
Review: I laughed, I cried, I loved I loathed - I couldn't put it down!
Order of the Phoenix was a roller coaster of emotion - both Harry's and mine. The characters I have come to love (and some that I love to loathe) become even more developed, and the new players are exception ally well defined. Pent up anger as well as the normal teenage frustrations of life are brought vividly to the forefront as our heroes enter Year 5 at Hogwarts. It's not
all emotions though; there are loads of twists and turns, surprises and adventure, enough so, that I couldn't put the huge
book down but to order a pizza. Next stop: BANG! The Audio Edition.
Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Harry is at it again!!! I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX-J. K. ROWLING
Review: We all now know the thrilling tale of Harry Potter -- the Boy Who Lived. In this novel, now his fifth year at 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry', Harry has many new exciting adventures. Last year, when the Dark Lord Voldemort returned to power, Cedric Diggory, another Hogwarts student died. In this novel Harry tries to pursue a relationship with Cho Chang, Cedric's former girlfriend. He is also having dreams -- more like nightmares. He dreams he sees a secret weapon that Voldemort plans to use to rid the world of good. But when he dreams that Voldemort is torturing his godfather, Sirius, he goes to stop the Dark Lord. But is it a trap? Here in this fifth installment of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Saga, Harry has more troubles than ever before. Though I gave this book five stars, the other novels in the series have more depth. Here, in this book, you can tell she struggled while writing this 'confusing-but-not-at-all-bad' book!
Rating:
Summary: Another great book
Review: The new Harry Potter book follows in the footsteps of the rest of the series, and is quite possibly the best yet. Here are some points that come to mind for me.
1. Harry's teenage rebellion is clear cut from the beginning and portrays the feelings of a teen quite well. It seems that Rowling over-emphasizes this fact at some points in the novel, but it doesn't detract from the book.
2. The writing keeps you constantly guessing. From what lies around the next corner, to why Dumbledore is acting so, to who will die. The story leads Harry on quite a journey, and it's quite exhilirating at times.
3. The various names are occasionally hard to keep track of. If I could have done something different, it would have been to re-read the Goblet of Fire, and refresh my memory on some background characters.
Overall, a great book I'd recommend to anyone. I hope the wait for the next isn't too long!
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing story-telling from JKR
Review: After per-using the 5th installment, one is surely in wonder of JK Rowling's amazing story-telling abilities and in awe of her details as well as focus on the big-picture. Order of Phoenix starts off brilliantly, holds your interest throughout the weighty middle and delivers a thrilling climax. And there is no skimping on the dramatic events either with a rather important character (very unexpected to me, since i thought it would be a fringe character) being bumped off towards the end. All in all, an excellent read and highly recommended.
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