Rating: 
Summary: Thank God I found a copy in Germany
Review: ... Regardless of the complaints that some people may have concerning character development and plot, no other contemporary author has encouraged such a surge in reading among adults and children... especially in our day and age of 5 minute attention spans. I eagerly await the next book and can only hope that it is longer! I dread completing the series, especially after experiencing the depression that set in after finishing Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. How many books are out there that make you care so much about the characters that the last page comes way too soon?
Rating: 
Summary: A Much Darker Potter
Review: This is by far the darkest book of the entire series so far. Order of the Phoenix reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Empire Strikes Back. Like Luke Skywalker in Empire, Harry Potter is a moody young man, coming to grips with who he is and his destiny in life. Harry's constant whining and impatience cause him to make poor decisions the entire book, typical of a 15 year old boy. Rowling's prose is much better than the last book. For the most part, Order of the Phoenix avoided the passive tense that plagued Goblet of Fire. My only gripe is that at 870 pages, Order of the Phoenix had too many subplots. If Rowling were to have just eliminated one, the book would have been considerably shorter. Nevertheless, Order of the Phoenix is my second favorite in the series (next to the Prisoner of Azkaban) and I highly recommend it. I can't wait for the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to finish it! The book was really captivating and it triggered a lot of emotions as I read it, I kind of wish I hadn't rushed through it like I did but it was soo good. I'm actually kind of at a loss for words because I don't think I can really say anything to describe how awesome it was without giving away something or sounding like an idiot (haha.) Let me just say that this is one of my favorite books in the series (along with #2) and I can't wait for the next one (obviously)!
Rating:
Summary: Long and worth the wait
Review: J. K. Rowling has the gift. She knows her mythology and literature and hero epics and uses this knowledge to enrich Harry Potter, the fifteen-year-old Hogwarts student and the plot that surrounds him in "The Order of the Phoenix" with amazing skill. Too long? Not really. For she is working the details of old and new characters into the life of a Harry who is coming of age, whose adolescence is hardly pretty, that of a morbid, moody, enraged young man whom many of us recognize all too vividly as the hormonal youth moving painfully on his way to manhood. What is the saying? If anything can get worse, then it probably will? Or is that Murphy's Law? Well it does seem to apply here, what with a Dolores Umbridge (and boy does she take umbrage--what a perfect name choice) stirring up the Hogwarts population, professors, students and all, and working in cahoots with Cornelius Fudge and the Death Eaters to fulfill her own power trip. What a toady woman, indeed! And Hagrid's turmoil, much more personal as well, sad and almost hopeless, serves to round out his character, from lovable buffoon to caring half-breed. The bonds of misfits are strong, even when challenged separately. The bonds of friendship continue and enlarge despite the more adult lives that fill schedules and preclude the delights of younger years. At times, I really disliked Harry, his moodiness and burning scar and all. But I was amazed at the truthfulness of his portrayal. Rowling obviously knows the adolescent boy persona. And she understands the pain of growth and struggle for life that supercede all magically peaceful resolution. There are many more mysteries here, fittingly linked to the Ministry of Magic's Department of Mysteries. A very adult tone emerges, not unlike the seriousness of a Tolkien hero. There are so many new characters in the mix in this book, enriching the whole story as they appear. And the humor is still there, especially in the strength of Professor McGonagall. What a woman! One sees Maggie Smith with each scene featuring Minerva. Just thinking of her is a bright spot. The touching things that come out in this book, the revelations about the Longbottoms, Luna and even the Snape of Harry's father's time, are remarkable. The importance of mixed blood begins to reveal itself as a metaphor for strength and virtue. Best of all, Rowling portrays the intensity of exams, the pettiness of rivalry, the confusion of early romance, the chaos of a school gone out of control, the suspense of rescue, all with the skill of a fine writer. Her ability to portray the horror of wizard battle is marvelous. And the fine lessons, life's truths, are beyond magic. Or perhaps they are the finer magic of the series. Yes, this volume was well worth the wait! Brava, J. K. Rowling!
Rating:
Summary: not the best of the series, but still a great read
Review: One of the many reasons why I like the Harry Potter series is the depth of its plot. While each of the previous books is mostly self-contained and centered around Harry, Book 5 literally explodes into a disturbing new direction. Don't get me wrong; Book 5 is still very much centered on Harry but, at the same time, it opens the reader up to a much larger scope, something you don't really see in the previous books. That particular facet of this latest installment appeals greatly to me because it gives a sense of truth that would have been missing had Book 5 been simply about Harry once again outsmarting Voldemort. I mean, seriously, how likely, given the universe of the story, would it be that a kid would be able to outsmart, all by himself, the greatest dark wizard of all time, five times in a row, with no one ever getting seriously hurt? I can hear a certain famous TV cartoon character yelling 'Boooring...' But, no. J.K. Rowling, wisely enough, takes the plot into a new direction. This is not anymore about Harry only and how great a hero he is. No. Now we see that, great a hero as he may be, he has flaws, he still is a kid, a teenager with all the uncertainties associated with that condition, and, most importantly, we see that he truly needs his friends and mentors if they are all to succeed. The stakes are too high to leave everything in Harry's hands, and Mrs. Rowling understands that. As another reviewer pointed out, Book 5 is a transitional tome. But it's not only about Harry transitioning into adulthood; it's also about the lives of the wizard people transitioning from relative peace to a state of war. The series is no longer a feel-good battle of good-versus-evil, but is transforming itself into a canvas for a much greater struggle than Harry's, yet parallel to it. Is this a somewhat depressing book? Yes, compared to previous ones. But that ought to be the case. We must have some nasty action, people getting seriously hurt, important characters getting killed, and so on. That's what makes the plot realistic within the boundaries of its fantastic world. After all, the greatest dark wizard of all time has returned. Surely, if we readers are to believe he deserves that title, terrible things must happen. Yet, I feel that the book could have been better. I would have preferred to read shorter sections on the battles (the battle against the Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic was far too long, dragging endlessly), briefer descriptions of the surrounding places and people, and more about the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius' family, or about Voldemort's plots. We learn much about Harry and his immediate friends (I particularly liked the subplot relating to Neville's family and his involvement in the prophecy), but little about the Death Eaters, how they joined Voldemort, and how the Dark Lord accomplishes his empowerment. Moreover, Rowling has made Draco, Hermione, and Ron prefects but didn't explore at all the consequences of that choice. Surely, Draco must have abused of his new power, which should have given Hermione and Ron a chance to shine outside of Harry's shadow. I'm sure many people kind enough to read this review will be thinking 'Are you nuts? The book is already almost 900 pages long!' Yes, and I would not have minded another 200 pages if they were used to paint the canvas with more character background. I can imagine that Mrs. Rowling must have felt exhausted after finishing writing Book 5, not only because of its length but also for the intensity and complexity of the events it deals with. That may very well be the reason why some of the directions she initiated were left unexplored. Whatever her reasons may have been, though, I congratulate her on another great addition to the series, flaws notwithstanding. My only hope now is that Books 6 and 7 come out very soon.
Rating: 
Summary: The commercialization of a real good (children) book series
Review: I gave 2 stars for the book because I was totally disappointed with the book's scheme.
Simply put: the book contained numerous unnecessary plots, half-cooked schemes, and pretentious teenager psychology (e.g. at the beginning of the book, Harry was horrified when he was notified of being expelled (by using wizardry outside the school). But later, he was just not care of such thing (Harry decided, recklessly risking being expelled, to sneak into Headmistress' office to satisfy his desire to know his father's character (by asking Sirius). The lingering wonder why the author did not mention a word about the actions the members of the Order (of the Phoenix) had done in order to prepare them for the eventual battle with Lord Veldemort? Furthermore, Dumbledore's action after exited the school seemed as he had just took a vacation, because the author failed to mention a word about what he did during this crucial time. In comparison, the author disclosed that Hagrid, after being forced out of school, took refuge at the mountain, waiting for the storm to blow over. Cho Chang's swing of going out with Harry and other boy, along with Harry's mood swing, all indicated the author was on the good track, but failed in presumptuous and premature probes into today's teenager's mind.
Like one of the reader expressed "this book is just far too long. Several hundred pages could have been eliminated without skipping a beat."
I can see the start of the commercialization of the book series. I will not be surprised to see Book 6 to have a thousand, if not more, pages long.
Rating:
Summary: Formulaic, but entertaining as ever!
Review: Recognise this story?; Harry Potter is staying at the Dursleys, where things are very dull. He gets into some trouble, then goes off to school. In term 1 he is scorned by most, except Ron and Hermione - but even manages to argue with them. His problems get worse. In term 2, his problems get even worse, and some of his suspicions about things that Voldemort is up to get confirmed. In term 3, his problems are horrible, and towards the end, he fights with Voldemort. Yep. Pretty much the first 4 books in a nutshell. And this one. JK is onto a winning formula - but this time, she really seems to hate Harry. No wonder he's shouting and screaming - he'd probably wave his wand and shout at JK, if he got a chance, for all the things she puts him through - and who would blame him? Come to think of it, many of the other regular characters don't get off lightly either - no wonder many see this book as depressing. However, not everyone had a happy Hollywood fifth year, year 12, or whatever the equivalent is at your school for those aged 15-16. For the first 600 pages or so, then, this book is a joyful romp through familiar terrain. Joyful for us and Rowling, rather than Mr Potter and co, of course. Everything is satisfyingly there - and then some. Rowling spares no expense on the details - we could be at Hogwarts, in Gryffindor house with solid friends - and enemies! There are many surprises and wonderful jokes and tricks from the Weasley twins, magical gadgets, creatures, spells and classes - and a little love interest. Just a little - JK doesn't want Harry to have too much fun - obviously, since he's under age. If you have read any of the earlier books (and who hasn't now?), or seen any of the films, this is a deeply engrossing and satisfying read, until the somewhat flimsy ending - which is why it only gets 4 stars. We don't get to know Harry's OWL grades - surely those arrive before he leaves? And some of the mistakes - particularly in historical references (to other HP books!) are understandable in a tome of this thickness, but mean I'll just have to buy a later editiion. Summary; Essential reading (of course!), but flawed ending. On the whole, very, very enjoyable!
Rating: 
Summary: Decent read but not as good as previous books
Review: ~The plot of the Harry Potter series is pushed along in this edition, which by itself warrants 4 stars. No character is ignored in this book and new ones introduced. However I feel that there are a few things that detracts from this book. First, the heavy emphasis on the teenage psyche is prevalant throughout. Sporadic mentions might add to the realism and detail, but the quanitity in this book get repetitive and downright annoying especially if you do not happen to empathize with Rowling's~~ interpretation. (though perhaps as a 19yr old, I cannot see my teenage years as clearly compared to Rowling's 20odd years of hindsight though she never raised teenagers). Another issue I have concerning this book is the unbelievable stupidity of the characters in the book. The actions of many main characters are unbelievably stupid and this includes the top minds in the wizarding world Dumbledore and Voldemort. For a while it seems that only Hermione has any brain at all. This made it difficult~~ for me to empathize with the characters as I did in previous books. Another problem I with this book is the lack of emotions. The supposed emotional scenes seem contrived and forced. Sometimes, the fight scenes reads like a movie: action without feeling. Other minor issues include a slow begining, not a very organized plot and a weak ending. The begining of the schoolyear was almost boring, the author did not weave her subplots as seamlessly as she did in previous books, and there was no shock~~ during or after the pivotal moment of the book. All in all I think this book is a good read compared to the competition and would deserve four stars if i didn't account for the unrealized potential this book had.~
Rating:
Summary: Harry shows more depth of character
Review: Harry has aged 4 years since Sorceror's Stone; it shows in his attitude and the interactions of the other characters. Since he is older and the story line more complex as the series progresses it becomes less accessible to the younger readers. Humor continues here, though. An adult reader can absorb the subtlties. New fans of Potter may find this book hard to get into. At 870 pages it is also a significant commitment of time. During the summer this is possible.
Key elements: Harry and his friends face a rift in the wizarding world because of his claim that a dark wizard has returned. He faces resentment and censure. At School he also faces new obstacles. He is no longer the wonderkind of the first book. The Dumbledore character is enchanting and mysterious as usual although the beginning of the book would have you believe that he is being unfair to Harry. The Order of the Phoenix does unfold into a captivating yarn once settled in at Hogwarts. In this book that's about page 200. It is a fair installment in the Potter series, yet I think that the age appeal is creeping up.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Enchanting!
Review: Absolutely enchanting, unless you are a complete Muggle and don't have a drop of Magical blood in you. I just could not put it down. Rowling again weaves the completely impossible into the entirely inevitable: Hagrid sent away from Hogwarts? Dumbledore dismissed from Hogwarts? Harry banished from Quiddich? The story line is more believable than the Goblet of Fire, the last one in the series (where you got the feeling at the end that the story line was a bit contrived.) The tension continues to mount throughout the school year, and as exams commense, the inevitable confrontation between The Boy Who Lived and He Who Must Not Be Named occurs. As JRR Tolkien observed about his own magnum opus, the most consistent criticism will be that, even at 870 pages, the book is too short. Grab some Floo powder and get down to Diagon Alley, or better yet, pounce on your mouse and Apparate (virtually) to Amazon (who says magic doesn't exist?) and start reading. You can't have my copy: I am reading it asecond time, and then my kids can have a turn.
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