Rating: 
Summary: Cover to Cover...in a day
Review: I picked up this book for my daughter on Monday while she was away for the day. We read the Harry Potter books together each night before bedtime. Well, I picked this book up to "browse" through it about 3pm, and didn't stop until 5am... when I finished the entire thing! This was by far one of the best Harry Potter books. I think Ms. Rowlings is a gifted writer, who is very consistent! It doesn't cease to amaze me how terrific each successive book is. This series is the most well written, suspenseful, humorous, and dramatic I have ever read. Bravo to J.K. Rowlings! Another AWESOME adventure with Harry!
(now I am forced to keep from daughter that I did such a horrible thing by reading it first! the guilt!)
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the Best Book EVER!
Review: The first harry potter book was excellent but childish, the second was scarier but dull and the third had that annoying subplot about the stupid hippogriff. the fourth, however, brought people in because it was so dark and scary. whatever. basically the reason people liked the fourth was because it was more complex and could be enjoyed at different levels. the fifth puts that one to shame!! the story line is complicated and some portions seem irrelevant, but altogether the book is FANTASTIC! it made me laugh (the twins of course!), made me cry (people die, harry has nightmares that are sad you know that old chestnut...), made me SO MAD (At Professor Umbridge...)and made such an impact! i couldn't help crying for reasons unknown even to me, and yet there were parts that should have been sad that, well i have to say it, weren't! the book basically outlines harry's fifth year at hogwarts and his continuing struggle with not only acceptance from his classmates but with his need for the whole wizarding world to believe him. the ministry of magic has become interfering (it drives me CRAZY) and it seems as though Hogwarts is falling apart. A fine example of "falling apart" is the mere fact that Professor Snape is relatively NICE in this book! it's completely uncharacteristic and off-putting. Either way it's a cracking good read, i bought it at the midnight release party and i didn't put it down all night (why should sleep stand in my way?) so i finished it the day it came out! i was a little bit disappointed that not all questions were answered (hard to explain, you'd understand once you read it) and by the fact that the questions that WERE answered were somewhat unsatisfactory. perhaps because now there's no mystery left. although it is a great book i do not plan to read it a third time because i already know what happens. usually i can read books over and over but i can't with this one. it was emotionally taxing the first time, but now i find that i just would rather wait for the sixth book.
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: Okay first of all this book is not for people who aways want happy endings to a story. This book is much more realistic and muture then the other books. In the begining Harry is mad and frustrated by not having any news from his friends about whats going on in the wizarding world and what Lord Voldmort is up to. Through the whole book he's confused for he keeps having weird dreams and the fact that Dumbledore will not look or speak to him. With the Minitery of magic interfereing at Hogwarts and with Harry having girl problems life is hard enough for him, then when a main person dies Harry is left with a sense of dread his life will include or end in muder.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprise
Review: From the first four books we were expecting much more from J.K. Rowling. We waited long months for the average novel. Harry was VERY annoying and stubborn, and seemed to have grown a skull as thick as the book's spine over the summer. Most of the trouble he had caused through this time was not to rescue others but to let out his own anger. Its a mystery how Harry remains Dumbledore's favorite. However I would like to congratulate the Rowling on the beginning and a few interesting moments.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Potter- stupendous, yet syndicated
Review: At last, the moment thousands of Harry Potter fans have been anxiously waiting for- the fifth instalment in J.K Rowling's epic tale! Or so we thought... To be honest most of us assumed that the sheer size and the wait for 'The Order of the Phoenix' would equate to a literary extravaganza with more thrills, spills, twists and turns than ever before. Sadly, this volume seems somewhat diminished when compared to the magnitude of its media hype and the expectations of Rowling's fans. Personally, after reading and re-reading the 'Order', I was left feeling a bit like Gilderoy Lockhart- slightly bemused but somewhat empty. However, I must also admit that I found it nearly impossible to put down once I began reading it. A competent young reader should not feel daunted by the size of the book but there are a few moments where the length of detail is unnecessary. For instance, it takes Harry 166 pages just to get on the train, whereas the climatic ending is only a paltry 48 pages. The editing could have been a little more brutal and leaving in Hagrid's brother for the purpose of intrigue was unnecessary. The consistency of her books has always been one of Rowling's hallmarks but there are several cases when things seem to have 'apparated' out of thin air. Dumbledore's confession at the end of the book also feels somewhat intangible, as does the issue of Sirius's mirror. As for the protagonist, I had first felt that Harry's new attitude was a bit over the top. I have always been the same age as Harry but this time around I found him a bit hard to relate to. That being said, I have just begun the muggle version of O.W.Ls (the Cambridge AS year) and I must admit, most teens do become moody, suspicious and surly at this age. Yet once again too much time is devoted to an issue, which is not entirely essential, and his short temper does seem a little inconsistent for a person who used to let nothing get him down. The action in this book was also somewhat sporadic and was not helped by the lack sufficient 'Quiddich' moments. The end was also a letdown as it lacked that sharp, unpredictable quality which Harry Potter fans have come to love. I was also somewhat surprised by the lack of a big showdown between Harry and Lord Voldemort, especially after all the suspense created in the previous book. As far as I'm concerned, the 'Goblet of Fire' is far superior in suspense and sustained action. This is not to say that the 'Order of the Phoenix' not have its good points. The Weasley twins have remained amongst Rowling's most vivid and entertaining characters and the "pallid, toadlike" Delores Umbridge is deliciously vile. As an agnostic I also appreciated Luna Lovegood's subtle suggestion regarding what comes after death, after the demise of a prominent character. Overall, this cynical teen found J.K Rowling's latest edition entirely spellbinding, even though she ignored the proven fact that less is generally more. Her description and character depth were to her usual high standards as was her continuation of previous subplots and minor characters. She also has another two volumes in which to prove that her standards have not slipped entirely. Fortunately, I am sure most of her younger readers will be able to over look the less than enchanting plot in order to once again appreciate the magic of Harry Potter.
Rating:
Summary: Avid Potter Fan Bitterly Disappointed
Review: Well, ok. Perhaps I'm being a bit dramatic. We must understand that when I say bitterly disappointed I am judging not by ordinary standards, but by standards previously set by JK Rowling herself in the first four books. Overall, this is a phenomenal series that has succeeded in dragging todays kids away from their computer games long enough to open a book. And, ok yes, I still read this fifth book from cover to cover barely putting it down once. I did feel, however, that there were distinct signs that the author has lost interest in the series and is now just writing to fulfill her committment. Signs such as an inattention to detail and a lack of follow through on story threads that are begun but never pursued. In the previous 4 books loving attention to every detail was perhaps Rowling's greatest strength. Other downfalls of the book include a plot which is dark and gloomy and perhaps a little overserious for the large majority of Rowling's audience, and a lack of "the unexpected" that seemed to lurk in every page of the preceding novels. I would never say that the book is not worth reading, or even that I am not already eagerly anticipating the next book, but for those avid fans out there who have been waiting on pins and needles for such a long time, brace yourself for a book that when all is said and done leaves you with the feeling that it was not quite worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I didn't need to wait this long
Review: May be it's the waiting that heighten my expectation ( by too much). Don't get me wrong, the book is good, and JK Rowling is a good writer ( as always), but there seems to be A LOT in the book - actually a bit too much that make it seems dragging on (and "all over the place") . I guess ( or I hope) that's because the author needs to lay down enough hints to lead up to book 6 & 7. Anyway, the book is full of non-eventful events, the best part is the very end, when some ¡§actions¡¨ really took place¡K Comparatively speaking, I still love the previous 4 books in the HP series more ( esp book 3 & 4) and I am still looking forward to Book 6 to come
Rating:
Summary: The Order of the Phoenix-Maybe even the best Potter yet
Review: Rowling yet again ensnares and enchants readers in this fifth book of the Harry Potter saga. Everything is drawn together beautifully-the writing is fluid, the story engaging, and Harry Potter is more believeable than ever. Rowling adds more depth to Harry as she plugs in the inevitable teenage boy surliness crankiness, and moments of confusion, grace, and humor as Harry deals with death, love, and rebellion against the new and irritating teacher. I'd have to say this may be the best one yet. Don't let the many pages daunt you; this is worth the time, and every page is magic quickly gobbled up by the eager mind. Once again, go out there, grab this book(go buy it, borrow it from a friend or library, just please don't steal, and ACCIO HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX will NOT work ;) )-just read and be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: Hem, hem...
Review: I, having read all of the previous Harry Potter books, was not able to put this one down even moreso than with any of the others. From the first chapter, the plot is different than anything readers have seen before, even including happenings at the Dursley's. This pulled me in right away and I finished the entire book in a matter of days. I think what I love best about The Order of the Phoenix is that it brings back all the best characters from the other books. Even Gilderoy Lockhart, who I thought we'd never see again. And near the beginning of the book, all of these characters are in one house together, making for great situations. I also love that we get to see farther into some characters' pasts (e.g., The Marauders, Snape, and obviously Harry). A lot is explained that was left mysterious before. This book certainly takes on a tone of epicness that was slightly absent in its prequels. We saw the beginning of what would be an ongoing epic in the end of The Goblet of Fire, but now it is truely starting. And with the wizarding world on the brink of a massive war, suspense runs high. Some have complained that this book is too dark and not as light-hearted as the others. I for one belief that the story had to progress in this direction. Yes, it takes much more serious tones, but with a war coming and Harry facing the truth about his own destiny, it seems impossible that it could not. Another complaint tends to be that Harry is too moody and angry at everyone all the time. I too was slightly annoyed by this at first, but then I realized that this book is really about coming-of-age. Harry is growing up and facing the real world, where there is not always someone to protect him, as is seen by Dumbledore's actions in this book. His emotions make sense as he becomes a teenager and learns to deal with problems on his own. And as for the death of a main character, all I can say is that I think it was well enough written that while it was sad (it was one of my favorite characters), it was not horrible. It made since to the plot, and made since for Harry learning to fend for himself as well. However, this combined with the war and Harry's mood does make the book darker and more serious than the others. But don't worry, Fred and George still pull some amazing stunts :)
Rating:
Summary: J.K. Rowling does it again..
Review: Again, J.K. Rowling has written another wonderful book. I absolutely loved reading this book and I can't wait for the next installation in the Harry Potter series.
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