Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining installment, but not the greatest action
Review: First of all, let me tell you that I am not a big HP fan. I am a medium-sized one, if I may say so. Nevertheless, I was very impatient to get the new volume in my hands. For your information: I am not a "fast" reader: I read from 30 to 50 pages per hour. It took me about 5 days with 6 hours per day to read the entire book. My aim here is to explain what I think the author could have done better and how she could have done so.Second of all: the writing. I have to admit that I couldn't put the book down. It's true that I was on vacation and sick, so I hadn't a lot else to do, but the reading was very easy and enjoyable. Some people complain that the writing level has risen and that the plot is too "dark". I, for one, am pleased with this new turn since I am 16 and I find Rowling should write according to how she feels, and not aim at a particular age group. My only reproach would be that the dialogs sometimes seem "underdone" -- meaning she (and/or the editor) should have worked on them more, because sometimes they just could have been better written (there are too many "Er -- okay, right, yeah." replies for one, and some other non "er" replies are lame); but this is a minor issue. The last two chapters of the book also seem unfortunately to have been finished off too quickly. The action is rushed and not very precise. I don't mind reading 100 pages more, on the contrary: if they help the plot being exploited and written out correctly, fine! Thirdly, the plot. I could not put the book down during my reading period, but once I had finished reading, I was somewhat disappointed; and this impression deepened as I read some bad customer review on this page. The general development is okay, but I feel JK Rowling could have done better. A good idea might have been to undertake less minor plots and stories and focus more on the big picture. The Umbridge part is good, but I think the author could have exploited this character more & better: more secrecy, a "darker" profile etc might have rendered the new DADA teacher more intriguing and simply made her a more interesting character. Instead she made her a power-seeking evil witch, which is good but not great. The final chapters of the book could have been handled better too in my opinion. The death of the major character is respectable since it is the author's choice and we readers must not forget that there are TWO more parts to be published -- so JK might have planned everything beautifully, and criticizing her unfinished work may prove to be foolish. So let's accept the character's death gracefully. The way in which the person dies is however lame: rushed, unrealistic, extremely anti-climatic ... even ridiculous! Dumbledore's final explications too are not satisfying. The final battle scenes should have been worked on more considering the 800 pages or so dedicated to the rest of the story, and Dumbledore's secrets should and, I think, easily could have been much more interesting. Another disappointing thing is the lack of Quidditch games and hype in the book. I find the part about Hagrid's tale is not very interesting either. What he did may turn out to be important, but I think Ms. Rowling could have handled that part of the plot differently and made something better out of Hagrid's mysterious absence. Harry's crush on Cho is a good idea, and I sincerely hope JK continues this realistic trend to develop Harry into a real teen, and not adapt to the children readers (the editor will publish adapted versions if necessary). The O.W.L.s are another good idea. The last remark I have here is that Rowling should have taken more time to examine the details of the plot (why didn't anybody --or everybody-- ask for Umbridge's resignation considering her outrageous behavior and greed for power?! What are the checks and controls over Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge? How is the M of M elected? etc). All in all, I think Rowling should have included:
1.More Quidditch games
2.More mystery concerning Umbridge
3.A better and more extensive final battle
4.More interesting and revelatory secrets from Dumbledore at the end
5.A better management of Minor and Major storylines (way too many pages about Mr. Weasley's attack, way too little in the last two chapters)
The general turn of the events is okay with me, but I was somewhat disappointed by the serious lack of major action and plot development. Fourth of all, I think Harry's evolution is a good thing. It is true, as have noted many customers here, that Harry shouts too much and is too dull. This is understandable considering his situation, but it really doesn't make for pleasant reading. In general, I was not too disappointed by this new installment because the not so agreeable things about it are bound to evolve with the new installments: Harry's temperament for example will certainly change with his coming of age. I am also sure that the minor lack of revelations and serious action in this book will also not be found in the volumes to come, since the plot is preparing us for "bigger" action (Rowling has decided to make this book a "stage setting" one, although many of us agree that even if seeking to do so, she could have done so in a slightly more "active" and "fun" way. On a more positive note, it is important to underline the fact that Rowling writes in a very agreeable way. One should also insist on the fact that the magical world (Hogwarts especially) she created is fascinating, so the HP series is always fun to read. PS-- I have not the slightest intention to watch the HP movies.
Rating: 
Summary: When's the next one JK???
Review: Because I can't wait for it! Harry is really starting to grow up here in the 5th installment of this much beloved series, and you can see he is firmly entrenched in the "terrible teens" What makes JK Rowlings writing so excellent is the way she lets you see the characters change and grow as time progresses. In this book Harry has become slightly less likeable character with constant tantrums and unexplicable bouts of anger but he is certainly more realistic. The focus is really on his own inner turmoil and his fight against authority figures to do what he sees as right, even though it leads to greater danger. Not dissimilar to the feelings most teenagers go through. Again a very realistic view point from JK. The pace is very snappy, and you always have the feeling as you read that something is about to happen...and true to form usually does. This book is certainly darker than the other four, but I enjoyed it just as much, and would of course highly recommend it to anyone who has read the other Harry Potter Books. There are still many humerous moments dotted through out the book, Fred and George are priceless and I just loved Harry's confusion about Cho and why she says the things she does. My only criticism...not as much focus on Hermione and Ron as I would have liked as they really seemed to be developing something back in book 4, but that is a very minor quibble, and does not in any way detract from the enjoyment I got from reading this book.
Rating: 
Summary: This book should be half as long.
Review: Book Five was extremly disapointing, too long, not nearly enough editing. Most of the time when I picked up the book, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. I LOVED THE FIRST FOUR BOOKS. I have read them all at least five times. They are very entertaining. It makes me feel good when good vanquishes evil. This does not happen in Order of the Phoenix. Evil and bad feelings rule in this book. I finished it, but it was very painful. I will not read it again, and I will not buy the CD version. I own the CD versions of the first four books and still listen to them all the time. I would not be surprised if this is the last Harry Potter book. Rowling will buy her way out of writing the last two books. I have not met anyone who enjoyed this book. It stinks.
Rating:
Summary: The darker side of Harry Potter
Review: J.K Rowling is the best author ever she shades the charactors, which have gotten darker but still hold there plucky, witty feeling. Harry shows a more angery side of him self. Ron gets less but more respect than he has in preavios books. Hermione is about the same and hasnt changed much. Hagred is not in the first half of the book, and he has had the worst summer of them all including Harry. Every one has there own oppinion on this book but i give it five stars. Now i hope u like the reveiw im hoping one day to become a professanal reveiw writer for a magazine so be honist with your opinion on if this reveiw helped you in the purchase of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Harry does act like he is 15
Review: I am a 15 year old and I really relate to Harry's ranting and raving. I felt that the book was extremly realistic because of all the side plots. I don't know about other readers but in my case at least life doesn't just focus on one aspect of a person and JK Rowling was able to capture that magnificently. This book was so realistic and I didn't feel that it's charm was lost in any way. I loved learning about all the characters and seeing Harry change and grow up in a very realistic way. However I agree with some of the other people that the death of the person was not very neccessary to the plot and only made things more difficult for Harry who has so much to deal with without the death of a loved one. I am hoping that this death will somehow make more sense later in the series.
In reply to someone's comment about the death and the time turner, Buckbeak wasn't really brought back from the dead in the Third Harry Potter book, he never died in the first place, Harry and friends only thought that he did because they heard the thud of the axe and Hagrid crying. Read the book again to notice this. Also one of the conclusions of the third book is that time is too complicated to keep turning back, if they used a time turner to bring the person back from the dead many other things could have happened, maybe even other people would have died.
I advise everyone to read this book and notice the small details as they are just as important and significant as the story with Lord Voldemort.
Rating:
Summary: Do not compare Harry to Holden
Review: The Order of the Phoenix transforms Harry Potter from a generally likeable geeky-type person into an annoying brat. People say that it is an accurate portrayal of what a teenager is like... pardon my language, but that's bull. Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix is that whiny kid that nobody wants to hang out with or talk to because he can't shut up for five seconds about how bad his life is. Most of us take things like that in stride with a "Screw it" attitude until we crack and get sent to psychiatrists who quickly prescribe us medication. Why? Because nobody cares. Period. Not a tragedy, a fact. People reach this conclusion quickly by thinking "do i want to hear them whine... no... and they aren't listening to me... ok i'll shut up now" Unless they're whining for attention in which case they're irking as all heck... there's just no escaping the fact. Holden Caulfield was a cynic, people could relate to Holden Caulfield. Harry Potter is just annoying. You can't really call Holden whiny because he never actually whined out loud to anybody except when he kind of lost it. Harry does almost nothing but whine. Which we could've ignored if the book had a better plot, but nothing happened. You buy the book expecting the start of a war or something and you get 800 some pages of *filler*. Really, if she was going to do character study couldn't she have done it better? As far as I can tell all the characters fell flat fast. Sirius was probably the best character in the whole mish mash. Not to mention how utterly predictable and ornery the whole thing got. The fifth book lost something that the other four had. And it wasn't Harry growing up, we all knew that had to happen. It's just that Harry grew up to be stereotypical rather than typical and really you expected more from him and Rowling. Not everyone becomes [difficult] when they turn fifteen. Nice people *stay nice* for the most part. The story and the writing fell flat. That and the bad characterization just made this book horrible. Anna Karenina, which dragged a lot more was much better- it had plot, it had characters, it was a novel. This book is not a good novel. The only reason people could even attempt to call it that is because it's Harry Potter. Big deal. I think the worst part about it is that I liked the first four a lot. They were gripping, I wanted to read them. I found that quality lacking here. Talk about disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Still magical, just not as
Review: It was definitely the worst of the series. Granted the book the book starts out rather quick (Harry gets expelled in the first 30 pages) However, then all that happens in the next 700 pages is that a house gets cleaned, we meet a new teacher you'll hate, Hagrid brings his half brother to the Forbiden Forsest and Harry yells a lot. I really think that Rowling just lost some of her magic, she was doing so well then at the end of year 5 it seemed that she was just being paid by the word. In this book Harry is just an angry teen, he doesn't learn any new skills, he doesn't even learn any new knowlege save that he's in some prophecy(like that couldn't have been predicted, Rowling could have atleast put some twist on it, like he needs Malfoy's help bring down Voldomort or something else that wouldn't be imagined). Harry does teach some the stuff he knows to other student, for example he teaches a group of students to conjure pratonus and do some of the other stuff that made Harry stand out in the previous installments, but who really cares about that, its just something else to take focus off the book's namesake. He doesn't even learn anything about girls except that its not a good idea to persue one who's previous boyfriend died in odd surcumstances while you were present. He is simply a year older than he was when the book started. I mean I'm sure he has more hair where the wasn't hair before at the end of this one but, aside from the aging thing, he didn't earn it. One of the best charactors dies meaninglessly, Rowling could have at least givin the reader more insight about him that Harry could have learned from. The only good that brings is a rather funny scene with Harry having a tantrum destoying some of the stuff in Dumbledore's office(Though the scene would be better off not existing, because the events that lead up to it shouldn't have happened). If Rowling was trying to convey the idea that people we care about die suddenly and for no reason, she did a good job, but it wasn't needed. Ron and Hermeone just bicker throughout the whole thing making you ask yourself; Why don't they just go someone and snog for a while? I say this as one of the books good points, it doesn't get tiring(but maybe that's just realative to the rest of the book) it just leaves the reader with a smirk on their face. The other good point part is happenings around Fred and George. They were quite funny and their flight is the culmination of everything the the Twins have done throughout the series. Lastly, as always Rowling descriptions of the magical world are truly that, magical. Overall, it was good, but compared to books 1-4 it wasn't. Rowling still has some of her touch, I do hope she's doing this this because she wants to tell a great story and for no other reason, this installmeant does put doubt to that. Perhaps that bad things in this one make Book 6 incredible, but one thing is true, by reading this one it will be easier to wait for the next.
-
I do realize that I'm critising something that I couldn't do in a lifetime and appologize.
I would appologize for revealing some of the things that I did, but I know anyone who wanted to read this book would have done so already and wouldn't be waisting their time reading reviews, the other books should be all the motivation anyone needs to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Rating:
Summary: Look at it logically...
Review: I thought that this book was positively amazing. Not only has Ms. Rowling continued to manage the complex wizarding world she has created in the last 4 books, but she has continued to make the emotions and lives of her characters real and down to earth. Creating an entire society with laws, governments, thousands of citizens, as well as dramatic events and problems, while managing to keep all the details straight cannot be easy. Also in this book you can truly see how the characters are growing and changing with the times. Harry's rage, while at first annoying and unwelcome, later shows the response of any humane person. He is worried about the safety of his friends, he is cut off from any useful information, he is put under enormous pressure in preparation for O.W.L.s, he is being called a liar, many beliefs and ideals he has clung to for support have recently been crushed, and much more. Perhaps it is just me but under those circumstances I'd be upset and full of rage too. I'm fifteen and a sophomore in high school and it took me about 15 hours to read the book (I'm somewhat sorry I read so fast). I firmly believe that while many of the decisions Ms. Rowling made in the writing of this book were widely unpopular (as is evident by many of these reviews), it was honest, realistic, and absolutely amazing. If anything had been changed or left out of the book I think that it would have lost much of the realism and brutal honesty we have come to expect for the wonderful world of Harry Potter.
Rating: 
Summary: Why would the "Weapon" be a weapon?
Review: I enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. But I'm confused about the key element that drives the plot -- the so-called "weapon" that Voldemort seeks. How would Voldemort benefit by acquiring the weapon? He knows the difference between Harry and Neville. He knows Harry has extraordinary power. He already wants Harry dead. Would anything change if he acquires the weapon? Would his goals change? Would he be more powerful? The entire plot was based on the promise that it would be a great calamity if Voldemart acquires the weapon. I don't see the calamity.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!! *****
Review: I just finished HP 5 and I really liked it. it made me laugh and cry and kept me glued to my bed all day. I do not know what other reviewers are talking about. For God's sake, do you want a character that behaves like a toddle at age 15? He is a teenager and after all he has been through, he es entitled to all the whinnig. Besides, KJR does not condone careless behavior on teenagers. If you remember Sirius explaining to Harry why he and James bullied Snape, you can see how Harry will look back into the past one day, and repent for all those actions that only teenager can commit. And please, if your audiotapes broke or you did not read more that 200 pages, do us all a favor and save your bad - pointless - reviews!
| 
