Home :: Books :: Audio CDs  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs

Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5 Audio CD)

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

List Price: $75.00
Your Price: $47.25
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 .. 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 .. 496 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: back to hogwarts with a bang
Review: It took me much will power not to read this book too fast. The best i managed to do, though, was delaying the pleasure for 4 days. It seemed almost unreal to me to be finally able to read what came after the haunting book 4 final words "What would come, would come, and they would have to face it when it did."

Harry's back in our lives for good. Or is he? The first 100 pages contain many surprises, as we once more leave the hideous Dursley household (although a new light is cast over old Aunt Petunia) for the dark hallways of 12, Grimmauld Place, headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry is dead set on knowing the truth about You-Know-Who's whereabouts, only to find everyone eluding his questions. Why does he keep dreaming about a mysterious black door? Why does he have to learn Occlumency and close his mind to emotions? More problems include Ron trying out for keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, a new , deliciously evil Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and a whirlwind romance that leaves Harry very uncertain about how girls think and feel.

Many of the old characters are back, some gaining a lot more space in the spotlight than us fans could have ever imagined. Some of my personal favourites, such as the Weasley twins , reach new heights of genious in their comedic performances.

This book is a definite must-read for all Potter fans...let's just hope we won'y have to wait another 3 years to read book n.6!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: YAY!!!
Review: YAY! I am so happy that this is out! ^^

Well, in this book, Harry acts a little strange.. so does Dumbledore, and you really don't figure out why until the end. There is a bit of *romance* (well, for a teen) and some confusing things... but actually, a lot is explained. I like Hermione's new twist, and though Umbridge is really bugging me.. she does really add to the story and explain how distrustful the ministry is of Dumbledore and Voldemort. *oh, and to answer, whoever asked about the timeturner thing and the dying person in the 5th book... well, first of all, I don't think any of them had a time turner to save *that person* and not only that, I don't think any of them thought of that... and then, I doubt they would want to go back in time to see that, and then you wouldn't beable to really save him... and then I don't think you can go back in time more than a day... wouldn't you say? I dunno... anyways. This is a good read! Took me 21 hours to read, while a tv was in the background and numourous interuptions, and my brother 11 hours. (no interuptions) So, read away!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: hp and the order of the phoenix
Review: okay let me tell you that i am not a harry potter fanatic. I read the books and I've seen the movies but that's about it. I don't talk about the books with my friends or go on hp boards and crazy fan stuff but I have to admit, the books are pretty good and that's why I read them (obviously). Actually, it isn't that bad but compared to the other hp books it sucks. It's very long and droning too. Not a lot happens except that the ministry of magic is in huge denial about Voldermort and the ministry takes over the school. Some parts were interesting such as the end but a lot of the story was very predictable. Probably because everyone's been saying someone is going to die. It's kinda expected that this person gets killed and it's stupid that he/she does! Also, Harry is always angry in this story. He's seems to always be taking his anger out on other people, which is understandable but it gets annoying after a while. When Dumbledore tells Harry "everything" it's not that great. I mean, he does explain the prophesy but basically that's it. And I think the prophesy is pretty stupid too. I don't want to give it away, though it's nothing spectacular. The ending leaves a lot of open questions lingering and it seems like J.K. Rowling was in a rush to end the story. The whole thing with Cho was stupid because at the end he doesn't even talk to her and has to find out from his friends that she's seeing someone else and Harry just doesn't care. J.K. Rowling kinda just threw their whole fling away. There were other things about the story that made me disappointed but I don't want to give the book away if you were planning on reading it. It was bearable to read but I felt that I was just skimming parts because they got so boring. It's a very repetitive book too. Throughout the book Professor Umbridge, sent by the Ministry, keeps making all these rules and becomes crazier and meaner and making Harry's life worse and worse. It's agravating reading about how mean she is over and over. I don't regret reading this because I do plan to read the whole series and I hope the books do get better. If you like Harry Potter books you should just read it for the sake of reading Harry Potter books. Just don't expect it to be that good and hope for the best. However, this is just my opinion. I've only talked to two people who've completed the book and liked it a lot and they're very young, obsessed with reading, and they're pretty much Harry Potter fanatics. I hate to critzize Harry Potter books because they are usually full of imagination and adventure but I have to say, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was basically 870 pages of disappointment in my opinion. Hopefully the sixth and seventh books will be better.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ...
Review: Given that there are over 3000 reviews of this book as I type this, I had to read the 1 Star reviews to see what people had problems with in regards to Phoenix.

Ok let's cover what I feel were positives about the book:

1. Harry grows up. What do people expect that he will be the naive 11 year old of Sorcerer's Stone forever? Harry delves into emotions he has never experienced before. Harry pops off and shares his emotions (he's always done that, it's just before now they've mostly been happy ones). Guess what 15 year olds are moody, don't know how to handle emotions well and some times make bad choices. Harry is a normal teen (wizard), even if he is special.
2. JK makes 870 pages fly by. There is no doubt that it is long; however, I am equally confident that in some ways the book is too short. My one complaint is that she failed on some of the details that we have come to love (like the House Cup, Dumbledore's end of term speech, etc). Sure you could have cut out some parts and sure she could have expanded others, but the bottom line is the story is still great and JK had a lot of explaining to do and she did it. Basically she wrapped up most of the questions asked in the first four books, even if she left the "little details" of book 5 unfinished.
3. Book 5 is all about answering questions. It is almost as if the first three books detailed the life of wizards with a weak and non-"alive" Voldemort and book four and five deal with a "live" Voldemort and the damage he is capable of inflicting. This means six and seven must be about the conclusion and the completion of the prophecy. Not quite three trilogies (shout out to star wars fans) but close enough and more than enough books to sufficiently cover the subject.
4. The character to die was in fact the most likely character to do. His sense of bravado, ego, and love for Harry were all mixed into his recklessness and risk taking which lead to his death. Could the scene have been written better, probably, but in the end, JK did just fine and I will cut her some slack on this one because killing him was hard.
5. We learn more about the future. O.W.L.'s and possible careers are discussed even though we full well know what Harry's future career will be (if he survives I assume), however there are many sociological facts and features in the book as well which give us a closer look to this special community.

I mentioned earlier my only negative and I did catch one error, Hermoine and Harry have their wands confiscated by Malfoy before they march in the forest, yet they have them in the Ministry and JK never explains how they got them back. Hmm.

I loved this book and look forward to re-reading it soon. It's worth it's price in gold because it will be read again by my kids someday, as a part of the one of the most fantastic tales ever.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I love these books!
Review: This one wasn't as action packed as the last, but it creates some really great suspense for the next books. I can't wait for the next books to come out!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Way to long..
Review: I have waited a long time to get back to my adventures at Hogwarts and to say the least I am very confused. What was the point of this story? Why was everyone so upset? Why didn't JK play up some of the more interesting tidbits in the story. Petunias letter. Hagrids suprise. Etc. I hope this was not all just to set up the last two books.All and all it just left me feeling empty. I always enjoy Dumbledore giving out house points and the closing feast. Oh well. Maybe next time. Oh yeah. Will I have to wait two years for the next book?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Darker, Funnier, and even more touching
Review: Although this book is full of much sadness and great pain for Harry, it is by far the best in the series. When you read most sequels they are really bland, over played and the story is just lame. but J. K. Rowling is one of the greatest authors I have ever read! Of course I know some people won't agree with me, but this was one of the most emotionally encapsulating novels I have read in ages. I laughed, I cried, I was angered into complete tension, I was saddened to the point of mourning...it was an amazing emotional journey.

We welcome a few new characters and welcome back old ones as well. Number 12 Grimmauld place, Hogwarts, and the ministry of magic are the mainsteads of this book, and of course we welcome professor Umbridge, Professor Firenze (the centaur), and we even get to get closer to Cho Chang, Ginny Weasly, Professor Dumbledore, and get even closer to the dark and evil Malfoy's.

Jokes a million from prankesters Fred and George and their new cohort Lee. Ron gets serious for a change, O.W.L.s are intense, and of course the love grows. professor snape gewt cornered, and Lucious Malfoy gets his! Don't miss this 5 installment of Harry Potter and the Order Of The Pheonix.

I promise you will be glad you read it, now whether you like it or not is your own business.

Male teen angst, female hormones, and all of the other things you feel as you are growing up are captured nicely in this book! 3 cheers for fellow witch J. K. Rowling!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Three Years Late Was Worth the Wait
Review: "A long corridor... pearly blue lights... darkness falling." The newest edition of the Harry Potter seven-year series finally arrives after a three-year wait, with more cryptic night illusions than ever (like the one I first quoted). "Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix" arrives with more mind twisting mysteries, heart-pounding sensations, darker unbearable secrets, and new hormonal/adolescent anger.

Harry Potter returns to his fifth year at Hogwarts after spending one more filthy summer at the Dursleys'. After having a near-death encounter with Voldemort in the previous year, Harry is going crazy that the wizard world is still calm and ignoring Harry's declarations of Voldemort's return. Not only that, he has nothing but sour feelings for his "supposed" friends Ron and Hermione, who have distanced themselves from Harry without contact.

After having clearer and clearer dreams of walking through dark corridors, Harry is kept on the edge of his bed, and realizes that something dark and mysterious is happening, involving you-know-who and his return. Yet Harry has no clue, and is dying to know about it, and some weapon that the Order of the Phoenix, an anti-Death-Eater organization, is preparing.

As the story bypasses, you'll come across some previous characters, like Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody, the previous Defense-against-Dark-Arts professors. However, you'll meet new characters, including a new Defense-against-Dark Arts teacher who will probably make you feel like leaping into the middle of the story and give her a smack or two on her toad-like wide-lipped face.

Also, the Hogwarts fifth-years will put their five years of magical education to the test on the dreadful Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams. Plus, more enchanting secrets will be revealed after years of curiosity, like why Professor Snape has always disliked Harry and his father for no apparent reason.

Harry will have to encounter many hardships in this sinister year. For one, he is exposed to his sacred destiny in life, and his romance with a certain person goes bad. Speaking of things going bad, the Ministry of Magic and its minister really seem to be losing their touch; the minister, Cornelius Fudge, makes the most ignorant decisions that it makes it seem like an ape is running the place.

Well, still J.K Rowling is a very truly talented writer who seems a lot like Rita Skeeter, who just grabs her quill, and can make the book hang on to your hands for dear life and never let go, because readers will not want to put this book down.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Just because it's Harry Potter...
Review: Of course everyone is going to order and read this installment of the Harry Potter series, so why write a comment about it? Because it might be worthwhile to parents of younger children. If you want a relaxing and fun read, this is definitely NOT it. I am going to try and hit on a few points without giving the book away.

For one, too much politics! I understand that Rowling had her hands full with the ending in "Goblet of Fire." But still, I was so sick and tired of the constant whining going on that I got a headache!

Secondly, when did Harry develop this sudden attitude problem and rage? I know Harry turned 15 in this book, but it's really too sudden and shocking.

Third, why all of a sudden is Ron breaking out from under Harry's shadow? It seemed like Ron was the major upbeat character in this one while Harry was off being angry at everything. Why now? We never found out. (Yet anyways.)

Fourth, the entire Harry and Cho scene (without giving anything away) was simply ..., odd, and disappointing. Why even bother?

Finally, we come to the ending. Could someone please slap me? I suffered through the entire book for that? Has Rowling run out of imagination? That's the best she could come up with after four years? Ridiculous!

Needless to say, I was quite dissatisfied. I am hoping it was a 'set up' book for the next one. (You know, like the last "Star Wars" movie.)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Still, a wonderful read
Review: This fifth book in the series is certainly up to par as far as the story line goes, though most of the action is concentrated in the second half of the book. A wonderful series of evil happenings occur so just when you think Harry's world can't get any worse it does.
On the negative side, though this really has nothing to do with the story itself, is the writing. Rowling has resorted to the tactic used by mediocre and lazy writers (which she certainly is not since the book is 870 pages) of putting Harry's emotional outbursts (of which there are many) in caps, rather than showing us by the way he acts what he is really going through. It seems a small thing, but Harry has become a teenager and pages and pages of his shouting and capitalized lines eventually get boring. I found myself skipping large sections of this kind of dialog.
The end of the story is wonderfully done and a great prelude to what's to come. Still, in the previous books of the series, Rowling has shown herself to be a much better writer than this book illustrates.


<< 1 .. 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 .. 496 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates