Rating:  Summary: The Best Yet Review: Wow. I have been waiting for this book for over three years. It was worth the wait.This book is incredibly sad. He faces problems with his so-called -girlfriend, Cho Chang; a Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher that gives him horrid detentions and refuses to let them use magic; the death of someone very special to him; a month of torture at the Dursleys; the Daily Prohet insulting him and Dumbledore; horrid nightmares about dark corridors with locked doors; things he loves taken away, ect. It is his worse year at Hogwarts yet. Also, charictors from previous books are brought back, such as Professor Lupin, Professor Moody, Professor Lockhart, and Sirius Black. Luna Lovegood is introduced, and so is the clumsiet witch alive. All of the books end with a big event, normally facing Lord Voldemort, and this book is no exeption, though it is alot bigger this time. Harry, five other students, six adults on his side, and atleast ten enemies. A very frightning three chapters. This is a must read. I could not put it down, and read it in about twenty hours.
Rating:  Summary: This book is so wonderful! And the ending is SO sad! Review: Wow. Like others have already stated, this book is perhaps JK Rowling's best to date. Old characters return, and previously marginal characters really flesh out more, grow up a little, and add a little humor as well. Harry really grows up as well. Unlike earlier books, he isn't the king of absolute serendipity, such as when the coveted position of Prefect goes to Hermoine and Ron instead of him; when everyone in the school, and perhaps the entire wizard/witch community, thinks he's mad; when he no longer has Dumbledore there to protect him; when Hogwarts seems to be nearing extinction; when Harry gets his first kiss and with Cho of all girls. You also get to see much more of the Twins (Fred and George), more of their character, more of their involvement in school, and wicked bow out towards the end. Neville, the oafish clutz of Harry's entering class, starts to show signs of becoming quite a wizard himself and contributes greatly to Harry's truimph in the end (we also find out an extraordinary tie between him and Harry). Best of all, Ron makes the Quidditch team, and true to his character, he's absolutely horrid as a keeper. But probably the most interesting revelation is perhaps the longest scene we get to see of Harry's parents. Harry gets to see into the past and learns that his father is not quite the man he's always believed him to be, and that Snape, for all his callous criticism towards Harry, is not undeserving of sympathy. Some of the draw backs of giving more ink to marginal characters is the disappearance of old characters. Dumbledore is mentioned althroughout the book, but he rarely enters the scene. Hagrid is also gone throughout most of the book on a secret mission. Snape gets his usual press. Lupin, however, makes a return. All in all, if you're a Harry Potter fan--and I'm sure you are--you'll be amazed at how Rowling could have possibly topped the success of her previous four novels. You'll cheer and laugh and cry...
Rating:  Summary: 870 pages is just too many -- and why can't HE BE NAMED? Review: Harry's life seems to be spiraling out of control in this adventure, but what can one expect of a young wizard who is adopted by mean muggles and is world famous and secretly wealthy? JK Rowling did another superb job of it, but I think it was a bit stretched out and tiring. "HE WHO SHOULD NOT BE NAMED," really is getting worn out, why the heck don't we just call him by his name and pare down the page count, Ms Rowling? What's the big deal about saying his name -- VOLDEMORT? It's really a silly old name, you know. I am not devouring this book in the same manner that I relished the first four books. It's hard to pinpoint what the problem with the writing is, although I can start with too much familiarity in the plot development. There is also alot of jibberish baggage in the subplot evolution, for instance - I forget who Cedric is, and what are Phineas? It gets more complex as the plot thickens... Honestly now, JK Rowling has all the money in the world...I think she should stop writing now while people still pay attention. Perhaps the sixth book will not be such a show stopper after # 5. Have fun reading this one....it'll take a while. All 870 * pages of it; pass the VISINE !
Rating:  Summary: The Horror of Harry Review: I was appalled at how disappointing this addition to J. K. Rowling collection was. It was heinous to make reader sit through over 800 pages of that garbage. Truly disgusting.
Rating:  Summary: Catcher-in-the-rye-meets potter. Review: If book had been shorter, I would have giving it 5 stars. About 400 or so pages are used to explore, feelings andhidden corners, but they're nessasary,to answer questions raised by the previous 4 books. The Harry Potter series, does a much better job of exploring what teens go through, male and female. Than "Catcher in the rye" or Mark Twain
Rating:  Summary: Excellent book but just a slight disappointment Review: The fifth book is longer, faster, and better. Longer, meaning the pages; faster, meaning you can finish it in a couple of hours if you put your mind to it; better, meaning that it was fascinating. How fascinating? Can't say much, utimately it's better the all the other four books.
Rating:  Summary: Wow Review: What can I say? Wow. This book was absolutley fantastic. Not only did it surpass the level of the previous four books (which were good as well) but it raised the bar to a completely new level. Ok, so I think I just said the same thing twice. But anyways, In Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, Harry is set to start his fifth year at the Wizarding school Hogwarts. With numerous encounters with Deloris Umbridge(Hogwarts new High Inquisitor) and dreams about long hallways, the order of the Phoenix does not dissapoint. It was utterly amazing. You just have to read it for yourself. I can't wait for the next one.
Rating:  Summary: A worthy sequel to the Harry Potter saga Review: Rowling does a great job of making Harry and his gang act "their age", and the pubescent heroes of this volume are well-rendered: mood-swings, girlfriends and boyfriends, fears and identity issues, etc. The story is driven by mounting suspense and deeper, more complex character introspections. While some have found it slow, I found it as engrossing as any of the others, and certainly read it as fast. As is the case in any Harry Potter book, the main dramatic "plot" isn't what makes it so wonderful to read, it's the richly drawn interactions between characters, the living and breathing universe that they inhabit.
Rating:  Summary: The Plot Thickens Review: While the book is certainly long, I don't think that any attentive, serious reader can complain that anything in it is superfluous. Rowling has always made it plain that a great battle would be coming, and in this book we finally begin to see that event becoming a reality. More than the previous four novels, Book Five reminds me very strongly of Lewis's Narnia Chronicles because of its seriousness and its scope. Rowling's power as a storyteller has increased, and she balances a lot of details and plot threads really well here. I'm glad that she took the extra time to write this book -- the story is too important to be rushed! While you are waiting for Book 6 (I, for one, am going to be rummaging the Web constantly for news of its contents and release date!), I suggest the Narnia Chronicles for those who haven't read them, and Lord Dunsany's gorgeous fantasy, The King of Elfland's Daughter, as similarly thoughtful, though not heavy-handed, works of fiction. There's a lot of bad fantasy on the market that gives the genre a poor reputation, but the widespread appeal of Rowling's works with kids and adults should remind us that "genre fiction" can be just as well-written and meaningful as the "serious" works that are so often forced upon us as the only sorts of novels that can be called Art. By the way, don't start Book Five unless you have some free time on your calendar. I couldn't put it down until I found out what had happened!
Rating:  Summary: Bah- people who bash a good book Review: Bah, people. You all tend to whine to much, this book is too bloody long, its too boring, its too scary. Its none of thsoe things. If you don't like long books, then why read? And thsi book is not boring, nor scary. More over, it is an insgihtful book into the minds of people, much akin to LotR. The book is chuckfull of themes of rebellion, independence, moraltiy, and very good universal themes. I dunno how anyone can bash this book. And the scary factor is really not a thing of fear and being scared, but of realizing how evil human beings can be, and what power, arrogance, and ignorance cna do to the spirit. I loved this book, and after finishing it in a day-thats how boring it is- i reread it, and found it just as enjoyable. The only hp bok that i like better is PRsioner of Azkaban. I just wish there was more of Lupin, and more Pensive scenes, it adds another layer of depth to the story. Anywho, i've been rambling, so cheers to you all, and read this book, its great!
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