Rating:  Summary: It's a good good book Review: I thought that although quite long, it was an easy read due to the fact that you could not put it down. J.K.Rowling was able to portray, what I felt like, were perfect adolescent examples in growing up. I know I often felt the same feelings at fifteen. Now where some say that this book teaches to disrespect parents and the government, I think it does not. Harry has always had the highest respect in the Minestry of Magic and the Weasley's who were rather like his seregate family. I think it instead to teach people that you shouldn't always believe what you here (such as in the daily prophet ridiculing Harry's account of Voldermort's rising the june before). That and to fight what you know is the right thing to do. In Harry and Dumbledore's case, it was to try to warn the wizarding world of Voldermort's return to try to protect everyone. I think it also shows that sometimes we also have to accept that those who are good make bad mistakes, such as Cornelius Fudge, but that if you can help them to see the truth, you can work together to rectify those mistakes. This book also helped Harry realize that sometimes he himself is wrong. It's a book full of morals sewn in so subtley you may not even recognize them. I think it's a wonderful series and I am constantly recomended it to anyone and everyone.
Rating:  Summary: Still has the Potter magic Review: I can only imagine the kind of pressure J.K. Rowling faces when she sits down to write a Harry Potter book. Though she's said she worked out the whole seven-book series on a fateful train ride she took in the late '90s, she couldn't possibly have imagined that the series would turn into this: midnight bookstore parties, record print runs, and a generation of children (and adults) hanging on to her every written word. "This" has now reached a new apogee with its fifth entry, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the longest (870 pages) and most dense (more characters, more complexity) book of the series. And Rowling once again pulls it off. Harry's adolescent funk "Phoenix" begins in the usual place, the Dursleys' house at number four, Privet Drive, in Little Whinging, England. The Dursleys, Harry's guardians, have become more frightened of Harry's magical abilities -- and the now 15-year-old Harry, having sunk into an adolescent funk of bitterness, anger and self-pity, is more than happy to keep them guessing. But Harry soon has bigger problems. Once he's back at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he's treated as a pariah by most students for his insistence that the evil Lord Voldemort is back -- and, indeed, played a role in the death of a student at the end of "Goblet of Fire." Only a handful of professors and Harry's close friends -- among them Hermione and Ron -- support him. Harry also struggles with the series' latest villain, Dolores Umbridge, a condescending representative from the Ministry of Magic who assumes a leadership role at Hogwarts. The students' psychological battles with the odious Umbridge are the best parts of "Phoenix," and Rowling writes them with a wicked zest. Rich imagination "Phoenix" does have its problems. The book starts running out of steam before the climactic battle, and that battle itself -- full of noise, flashing spells and wand-handling straight out of a grade-B Western as produced by Jerry Bruckheimer -- is the most poorly constructed scene in the book. Rowling also engages in a stylistic tic, the paragraph-ending ellipsis, that seems to have become more popular with thriller writers. (It's all over Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code," too.) Is something wrong with the humble period? But those are minor issues in the face of Rowling's rich imagination and robust writing. The scope of Potter's world seems boundless; Rowling has added new characters and new locations, and added layers to those already existing. Potter's world, though fantastic, seems utterly believable. That's doubly true of Harry himself. Rowling doesn't make Potter into an unblemished hero. Instead, he's a classic conflicted boy-man, struggling with issues both large (the death of both parents, fighting an evil power) and small (love, relationships and his own wildly changing hormones). He may not be as much fun as he was in Book One, but he's become more realistic and sympathetic. Well, when he wants to be. After all, he's a teenager. Recently, a friend asked me if Potter was worth the hype. I'm not sure if anything is worth the hype that the modern entertainment industry produces: overblown publicity machines for works that will vanish in a weekend. But if anything is worth the hype, it's Harry Potter. The books enrapture children, entangle adults, and are full of wit, wisdom and wonder. Who could ask for a more magical experience?
Rating:  Summary: Harry Potter the hormonal boy who wished he hadnt lived Review: In this book i found that Harry is struggling to keep his temper from going arye. he constantly has rows with his friends and teachers. throughout the whole book the minister of magic is constantly trying to prove that Harry and Dumbledore are crazy for saying that voldemort is back. along with that harry has to deal with dementors expulsion O.W.L.s and the dark lord's return. the end of the book has a great swashbuckling style of writing with tons of dueling. also in this book a certain person dear to harry ends up dead. overall this boook is an excellent read. it keeps you entertained during all the 870 pages. There are only two depressing things in this book. first is that someone dear to harry dies and second is that you will immediately want to pick up the sixth book and start reading, and the sixth book isnt out yet.
Rating:  Summary: Rowling is Back on Track with Book 5 Review: Book 5 is a pleasant surprise after book 4 which, in my opinion, was not as well written as the first three in the series. Rowling is back in top form and book 5 shows it. In this book Harry Potter is reaching his teen years and becoming quite defiant in his dealings with the Dursleys. The story is darker, scarier, more intricate and more intense than any of the others. It is a bit long and, perhaps, could have been shorter. As other reviewers have said, there are small bits of the story that don't seem to go any where in particular. Still, there are two other books to be written and those parts, if Rowling it true to form, will play roles, may be even significant roles, in those books. The saga continues. This is shaping up to be one of the fineist fantisy series ever; and book 5 will, I am sure, be one of the best books of the series.
Rating:  Summary: What a disappointment... Review: We all looked forward to the latest Harry Potter installment, but I felt it was very disappointing. There was NO cohesive plot, just a lot of babble. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did (at least not until the end!). What I love about reading, that feeling of being on the edge and not being able to wait to turn the next page to see what happens, just never happened with this book. Harry was surly, rude and disrespectful to everyone, even his friends. If I had not wanted to know who died, I would probably not even have finished this book. I also feel that this book was written strictly toward being a quick, cheap movie that will put more $$$ into JK Rowlings already over-flowing pockets. The death of what I consider to be a minor player was not worth the hype we've endured for so long. Over all, this was a very disappointing book and I hope JK Rowling forgets about her pocketbook and goes back to writing great fiction for our kids and ourselves.
Rating:  Summary: very good Review: This book was very good, only was too long. Some parts in the very beginnig were very boring. Other than that, this book rocked and was very fun to read.
Rating:  Summary: harry potter---wuts sum of you people's deal? Review: ...(harry is annoying and way too angry and cant accept responsibility) how would you feel if you had to deal with this??? look at the people he's lost! j.k. rowling has the right idea because most teenagers would react the same way and harry has every right to feel the way he's feeling. harry's shows more bravery in this book than ever jsut by not killin himself with all the [stuff] he's had to deal with...i stand by my opinion that this book is AWESOME! and maybe the best of the series so far! I LOVE HARRY POTTER AND I CANT WAI T FOR THE NEXT ONE!!
Rating:  Summary: they just keep getting better and better! Review: I must admit this isn't my favorite book in the series, but it was full with as much magic as the last four books. This book in the series has a lot more sensitive issues and darker meanings. Especially with the return of Lord Voldemort. But, still, it will entrance readers and they will not put it down till they're at the final 870th page, just like me and the rest of the world!
Rating:  Summary: Best Harry Potter book yet!!! Review: This books is the best in the series. It shows Harry as a teenager, and he is starting to question a lot of things that he never questioned before. He doesn't like how the Ministry of Magic is trying to interfere with Hogwarts, and that no one believed him when he told them that Voldemort is back. This is without a doubt the best Harry Potter book, it takes you deeper into the story, and the magic is darker. I finished this book withing two days of recieving it. I can't wait until J.K. Rowling releases her 6th work of art!
Rating:  Summary: Entertaining read, but not the best. Review: As previous reviewers have stated "The Order of the Phoenix" follows the previous four books in formula and style. Unlike the first four though, "The Order of the Phoenix" did not grab my attention in the beginning, the first 200 pages were filled with a bored, stiff quality that it seemed unlike the Harry Potter series. Many unnecessary and unoriginal scenes abounded that did not add to the story, should have been cut. Rowling should have focused on a fast paced story that rivets the reader. I really had high hopes for a book that would top the series as one the best. "The Order of the Phoenix" was still entertaining as light reading though, retaining the magic of the first four which gave me some hope that the series is not turning stale. I just hope the last two are more original.
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