Rating: 
Summary: Why do people think this is such a bad book?!
Review: Oh come on people, this book is awesome. Now I am only a kid,and I liked it. But my mom is in the middle of it and LOVES it. I think it's the best book I have ever read besides the Bible. I can not describe how good it is and can NOT believe that some people still hate Harry Potter! Ok one thing I do have to admit is that someone gave this book 2 stars but commented about Harry being cranky and he yells at Ron and Hermione all the time. Which I think was a mistake in the beginning, but it comes out to a great end. THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, but still some fun
Review: I found book five to be a big let down. Forget that Harry Potter seems out of character because he's so often a jerk in this book. That may be like most teenagers, but in the first few books, he was distinctly not like other kids. The real bummer is that book isn't as tight as the first 3 books. In book 2 the egotistical professor who uses memory charms on everyone else, gets a dose of poetic justice when he zaps himself with same. That's fun. In book 5 the nasty Umbridge gets snagged by centaurs. What!?!? She needed to get a ripe spank in the back side and then some. I have to agree with those that suggest the last two books need editing. While it's fun to continue to read about the characters we've come to delight in, it's a let down to have them be so inconsistent. Book 5 is so oppressive and long winded that when the big surpise happens towards the end you're left saying, "What?!"...is there a paragraph missing from my copy of the book? In the end I felt just about as frustrated as the main character. I have hope that what seems random and poorly thought out might make sense in book 6 and 7, but I suspect that it's more likely that book 4 and 5 show a trend towards the author really losing focus. Like everyone else, I couldn't wait to read book 5 and I was frustrated with Rowlings for taking so long. Now I must say I'm not very eager for book 6 because I fear it will be an even bigger disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: The Darkest and Most Satisfying Potter Book Yet
Review: Even though Harry Potter has now become a media conglomerate (movies, toys, games) J.K. Rowling proves that it all stated and comes back to her superb books, and this fifth installment is one of the best books I have ever read, period. Harry is now in full blown adolescense, undergoing rapid changes that sometimes pushes his temper to the boiling point, and Rowling captures all the angst and anger with wit, charm and the most inventive metaphors I have ever read. The book starts off with a bang as Harry has to fight off a dementor attack in his own neighborhood of all places. Then, Harry learns of the magical governments insistense that Lord Voledmort is not returned and well, and have even discredited Harry and his beloved Albus Dumbledore in the process. Also, in a move to humiliate and control Dumbledore in his own school, Cornelius Fudge uses one Dolores Umbridge to pratcially undermine Albus and rule Hogwartz with an iron fist. To compound Harrys' problems, Hagrid is missing, the dreaded O.W.L. tests are upon him this year and he has frequent run-ins with Umbridge. All the while, Harry knows Lord Voledmort is slowly regaining power, and Dumbledore, once very open with Harry, is strangely distant and disconnected until the books end, which offers startling revelations and insights to the truth behind Harrys' scar and his ever stranger relationship with Voledmort. The last 250 pages of the book has to be the most enthralling piece of literature that has been released in many years. The one problem with the book may be that it is uneven at times, paricularly the section following the aftermath of the dementor attack and Harry returning to Hogwartz. But this turns out to be a mixed blessing. As a whole, it helps the book seem thrillingly alive (borrowed that from Peter Travers) brimming with character, incident and a realism that makes the world of magic seem closer to reality than anything else before it. Bravo.
Rating:
Summary: Not Up to Par
Review: For me Prisoner of Azkaban set a standard for all Harry Potter books to follow. Goblet of Fire was starting to get too tenuous and slow-paced to read. Order of the Phoenix seemed much worse. Attention to trivial details was overemphasized and many things happened that I found myself too incredulous. The characters were painted in personalities that were overstretched. Harry's character became too dark, too angry, in contrast to his previous personality. Dumbledore as he would later admit became too senile and dumb, in contrast to his enormous wisdom in the first four books. Professor Snape was much too haunted by a past experience that for me is really not a big deal. Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge, and the rest of the Ministry of Magic ,except for Amelia Bones, Arthur Weasley, and two old wizards, were too unreasonable. Even Snape was not that unreasonable. Lastly, when a character (I won't tell) died, I never felt Harry Potter's sadness, just his anger at being kept in the dark and at his being stupid. Yes, I understand that he would be angry at first but up to the end, the book narrated Harry Potter's grief in a matter-of-fact way so unlike the first four books. In an afterthought, the character never had to die. There was for me no compelling reason to kill him/her. It was not like s/he was outmatched or facing Voldemort or something. The relevance of Harry Potter's prophecy is also suspect. Overall, I think J.K. Rowling overstretched her imagination this time. I just hope she can redeem herself in the sixth or the seventh might become too unbearable to read.
Rating:
Summary: ***** Still Working Magic *****
Review: Full of Dark overtones, I was highly satisfied with all 870 pages of Harry's 5th year at Hogwarts. For naysayers who were disappointed with Harry's moodiness, angst or hormones - it's simply "real". In this volume, Harry Potter is amazingly human. He's 15! Find me a fifteen- year-old who is not moody or conflicted with their feelings on a daily basis. From the moment I began reading I knew that a new mood was being constructed, beginning as a shift in tone in the 4th novel, but now comes to the forefront. Will the last 2 be as dark I wondered? Maybe, maybe not... BUT, Is it worth it? DEFINITELY... There is so much dimension and depth added to Harry that you can nearly reach out and touch him. He appears this time as the hero, but a hero with scars, burdens and pain. Harry is a true hero, but, a hero filled with all kinds of desires that blur the lines between good, evil and a nasty self-fulfilling prophecy. J.K. Rowling - I'll wait 10 years if need be for the next volume, as long as you make it as amazing as this one. I can't wait to hop on the next Hogwarts Express...
Rating:
Summary: Teenage angst
Review: It's amazing to see so many, presumably adult, reviewers complaining about Harry's behavior in this book. Adults whining about teenage angst is not very convincing. It seems like these people have never outgrown their own teenage angst. If someone can't understand why Harry might be a little cranky while reading this incredibly well written story, he or she must be lacking in both imagination and emotional depth. I wish that the reviews for the audio book were seperated from those for the hardcover book. Jim Dale's performance is remarkable. It brings the story to life in a way that even the most vivid imagination couldn't. His rendition of Dolores Umbridge is particularly effective. Just reading the book can give you an idea just how creepy this character is, but hearing her brought to life by Mr. Dale in this audio book will make your skin crawl. He is just as effective in bringing the other characters in the book to life. His performance clearly demonstrates just how brilliant a stroryteller that Ms. Rowling is. The book is outstanding. The audio book is truly amazing!
Rating:
Summary: a good book?
Review: Of course it was a good book, unfortunetly it was not even close to being as good as books three and four, the book got a lot longer, however the main storyline failed to move along, there were many side plots, but nothing really happened in the main story only one or two things developed. It was a bit dissapointing.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the wait
Review: Rowling has again weaved a tale that is worth the hype and the wait. The characters - new and old - do not disappoint and every page is waiting to be turned. The next book can not come out soon enough -with some old questions from the previous books being answered and new questions being raised. With shockers, humor, laughter, and tears- Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix has it all.
Rating:
Summary: She does it again!
Review: I wanted to put in a word on this little known book ; ) What hasn't been said? Probably nothing, but all I can say, as a father and teacher is that Joanne Rowling is a wonderful storyteller. She has woven her tale beautifully and this adult loves to read these books as much as any kid. So does my wife. I think re-reading is in order this summer! Keep 'em coming Ms. Rowling please, we just hope we don't have to wait too long...
Rating:
Summary: TOO GOOD FOR WORDS....
Review: all i have to say is that if you are a HP fan then you will love this book. Rowling's pulled it off. The story plays like a movie and the characters are more real and alive than ever. I can't wait for the rest because I have to know what is gonna happen. I recommend this book to everyone. The Lord of the Rings is my number one series but Harry Potter is definitely number two. Enjoy! I DID!
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