Rating: 
Summary: Wait Until the Hype Dies
Review: I'm giving this four stars, yes, but if you would have asked me a month ago, I would given it at least five...maybe six, going so far as to dispute Amazon's rating scale. But we all know that hinde sight is 20-20, and I realize that "The Order of the Phoenix", while a decent novel, is nothing special. I've never thought of Rowling as a great writer, especially in the fantasy genre. After reading "The Lord of the Rings" three times, nothing else seems to compare, and she's a sub-par writer with an amazing story to tell, even if much of it IS borrowed from Tolkien. (Hey, all us writers do that every now and again.) The fact of the matter is that "The Order of the Phoenix" gave us too little, too late...even if it offers us nearly 900 pages of material. As a novelist myself, my first complaint is with the editors. While I'm sure they would not want to touch this "masterpiece--fearful, maybe, that Rowling would go elsewhere with the final two books--it needed some trimming. Words are reused constantly (the word 'crimson' comes to mind), and there are scenes and conversations that just aren't necessary, plain and simple. But despite these minor flaws, the book will generally be read by children who really don't care about grammar and what-not, and adults who are too busy wanting to find out more about the book to care about these things. So, with that out of the way, it's time to approach the story: I wasn't impressed, not really, anyway. I expected a war. I expected Voldemort to be present. Instead I found the main villian to be the new DADA teacher, who, I must say, was an extraordinarily well-written character. Still, she would have been better off in book two...or three...or any other before five. Three years ago readers were left wondering what would come of Hogwarts and its students now that Voldemort had returned. We learn in book five that nothing happens. In fact, I sometimes forgot that he DID return. Despite this, I found some of the scenes enjoyable, and I especially liked to see a raw Harry...no more boy wonder here. He has become a teenager, and it's about time he begin to show a little anger, or rage, or whatever you want to call it. I really don't want to go on much longer with this--I could surpass Rowling's word count if I keep up this rambling much longer. But the fact of the matter is simple: this book, while not superior to book four, in my opinion, is still an acceptable edition to the Harry Potter series. Yeah, this is the kind of book everybody would want to write, adding what they wanted, taking away what they didn't like, but we can't do that...not yet, anyway. A decent novel, but a good Harry Potter book. Fortunately it was just good enough to beat the hype surrounding it. Maybe George Lucas should have thought of that before he decided to make three prequels to "Star Wars." (I honestly expected this book to fail just as Lucas's "The Phantom Menace" did.) For us Harry Potter fans, we pretty much get what we want. And if you were disappointed--or even slightly upset, as I was--she still has two more shots to make up what she lost in book five.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Hyped Up
Review: I was always a fan of Harry Potter, but this book is not worth. I bet J.K.Rowling didn't even spend much time on this book, because she knew she could get by without writing well. She is, after all, 40 million dollars richer than the queen of England. She was a much better writer when she wasn't so big, but the fourth book made her famous. She probably though 'I'll increase the suspicion by making them waiting longer!'. People automatically bought the book, because they thougt it would be better than the fourth, as I think the third is better than the second and the fourth is better than the third. I think those who compliment this book so highly only do it, because they're fans and they are 'supposed' to do it, because they love 'Harry Potter' and the rest of the books, not the book itself. This is what happens when people go crazy and start making stores, movies, clothes, thousands and thousands of fan sites, stationary, and God knows what about ONE thing. I must admit, I was obsessed with Harry Potter before and loved all the fan sites, back when Harry Potter was good. But, I sincerely think all this publicity got to J.K.Rowling's head. SOOOO, the book was way too long, had only about fifty pages of actual action and was not worth the 'midnight parties', preorders, and SO MUCH DAMN PUBLICITY. Get over it, HP fans, this book's not that great, and you all know it. Please read 'Lord of the Rings', and you'll also see how MUCH she's stolen from there. I recommend The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, a wonderful trilogy by Philip Pullman. And remember, I'm not unsulting J.K...I'm just telling the truth. I just hope her next two books are worth the wait and that she actually uses her time wisely.
-a truthful 12-yr-old
Rating:
Summary: Room for improvment
Review: I feel that those who have read the previous 4 books should continue, but dont expect any amazing revelations or incredible plot twists ( like prisoner of azkaban) . but the fact that she kills the person in the end is somewhat silly. She should have atleast sent him out in the blaze of glory, protecting Harry or somehting. and the thing about the gift sirius gave him. really silly. i mean why didnt he have the brains to open it and find out he can use that instead of going to umbridge's offcice and getting fooled by Kreacher?
But other than that, u get to see harry shout at dumbeldore, and dumbeldore sheds a tear (both unrealted, somewhat)
Rating:
Summary: Expected better
Review: I've never been a huge fan, and didn't assaulted the book shops the day the book has been released, but I was looking forward to read it. And well, I must say that I'm a bit dissapointed.
Despite the many hundreds pages, there is not much going on, and after I went through the book, there was some hollow feeling within me. The story is not very deep, and there is almost no suspense, no big enigma solved, but just a few drama as the author finally kills a character. This fifth book seems more like a huge foreword to the next books than a story on its own.
Despite that, it's a pleasant reading. You can't help but being hooked by the wonderful setting and attractive characters. And, better late than never, there come some changes in the way of thinking of characters.
I expected better, but a catchy reading nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: This book was GREAT!
Review: In this 5th instalment of the Harry Potter series,Harry and friends are on their longest journey yet.There's raging hormones,mad teachers,old friends and new.There's even death.Harry is having a hard time coping with everything going on in both the magical and muggle world.I sped through this book in 3 days and i can't wait to go back to Hogwarts in the Fall.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This an exciting volume to the Harry Potter Series! I Highly reccomend this for everyone to read. It is truly an excellent book series. It is sure to delight people of all ages without an exception!
Rating:
Summary: JK Rowling Has Outdone Herself!
Review: Although I enjoyed books 1 through 4, this is definitely the best of the series so far. In addition to excellent plotting and scene-setting, Rowling has added to her characters' humanity by making Harry somewhat unlikable -- a typical 15-year-old boy, as everyone knows! -- and all the more human and believable for his foibles and personality quirks. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and some newly-developed characters at Hogwarts whom we've met earlier all add to the sense of familiarity and fun, and the added intrigue of the Order of the Phoenix and goings-on at the Ministry of Magic make for a page-turner. I bought this book on a Sunday noon and finished it first thing Wednesday morning, after staying up 'til all hours and getting to work late two days in a row! You'll love it!
Rating:
Summary: Not excellent but it has some good things going on.
Review: First of all, we all should remember this book was born as a kid's series, so it isn't corny or silly all of the love theme that Ms. Rowling writes about.
The book indeed is pretty slow at the beginning, and Harry's attittude got into my nerve some of the times (i keep saying Harry shut up every time he would start rampaging over his friends) but hey he's a teenager, and those of us who had past that time, we know how it was, even Dumbledore says it at the end of the book.
I didnt like when the character died (cause he was one of my favs), but I think it should be interesting how J.K. manage to use it as a way to encourage Harry's own attitude just as the image of his own bullying father.
Slow beginning like i say but the last 200-250 pages, you wont be able to put down this books. I just hope JK could get herself a new coffee place so she can write the 6th one faster.
My list goes (favs first): 1. Prisoner's 2. The Order. 3. Goblet 4. Sorcerer's stone 5. Chamber.
Rating:
Summary: the book was awesome
Review: I felt the book was just as good as previous ones in the series and I found the ending where Voldermort fights Dumbledore and they capture the death eaters especially good.
Rating:
Summary: Actually, 4 and half stars...
Review: Minute details bog down the first 112 pages of this most recent addition to the series. It took me two weeks to read as far in the book. Once Harry arrives at Hogwarts for his 5th year, the story takes off at a feverish pace. Dolores Umbridge is perhaps the most hated character ever to be introduced in the series (perhaps even more than Volde... oops, He Who Must Not Be Named). J.K. Rowling's literary style has matured along with Harry and I anxiously await number 6 in the series.
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