Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5 Audio CD)

Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment
Review: This story could have been told in a tidy 345 pages. Even then, it only would have been mildly interesting compared to the first four novels. It was repetitive and filled with characters and scenes that had no bearing on the plot. And the big revelation at the end of the story was a no-brainer from book one. A major disappointment. I can only hope Rowling and her editors pull it together in Book 6.

Rating:
Summary: Questions Answered
Review: I love Harry Potter, and therefore this book was an automatic read for me. While it was incredibly long, it held my attention enough that I finished it in two days. It's the same sort of story Rowling has been dishing out through the series, but with this one a lot of questions are answered. The reader is finally allowed a deeper glance into the world around Harry, and why things are the way they are. It wasn't my favorite, the Prisoner of Azkaban has that honor, but it's ranked high on the Harry Potter totem pole. It will leave you desperately wanting more!

Rating:
Summary: It Should Actually Be 3.5 Stars....
Review: Its an OK book. Kinda tedious and all. Its really long, its ok for a while then slows, then speeds up, then slows, etc. The climax is also kinda long. The heart of teh climax is pretty good. There are many flaws/holes. A really pathetic part of the book is that it is really predictable. Many people might disagree with me, but if you think for a second once your halfway through the book, the plot unflods to you. Even though i am a fast reader, the book was really long. I was dissapointed when a character died, because he, in my opinion, one of the things that actually kept peole reading the book. I could go on, but i think this is enough to show you my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not the Best
Review: J. K. Rowling, in my opion, has lost her touch. In the four books before the Order of the Phoenix, she had me guessing constently, however in this book, I was able to correctly guess her in some parts. Although the book dragged on it held my attention with all the excitment and adventure. From how the book ends I can't wait to see what she has in store for the next book. I really don't want to go into deteals on the book because I don't want to give anything away. However, if you enjoyed the last four Harry Potter books, you will most likely like this one too.

Rating:
Summary: Other four kicked its butt
Review: to tell you the truth I was pretty disapointed with this one. It hardly even seemed like it was the same person writing. Dont get me wrong, it was alright. But after reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which is by far the best book I have ever read, I was expecting more. It was far to long for what it was and the teachers werent in it nearly enough, like McGongall. She is like my favorite charactor. Plus now Harry is a selfish brat and I dont like that at all! I wasnt really into the whole Order of the Phoenix, there should have been a better plot then that. Like I said, it was ok, but not the bast.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book continues in the great tradition of J.K. Rowling's writing. At the end it had me crying! Also, it is good because Harry deals with new emotions and issues that are what normal and non-normal teenagers face. This is one of her best stories yet, and I didn't mind the length, I actually prefer long books.

Rating:
Summary: The wrong title for a riveting book
Review: The plot of this book is predictable to anyone who read the first 4 books. Lord Voldermot is back bat he doesn't do much and lets his enemies quarrel between themselves. I.e., the ministry of magic versus Dambledor and the Order of the Pheonix.
At first I found the new Harry Potter book a bit dissapointing because the title was wrong! We learn very little about the Order of the Phoenix, so better names might have been: "Harry Potter and the High Inquisitor" or "Harry Potter and the lost Prophecy". Which brings me to the real problem in this book - the absence of one clear subject as it was in the previous books. Another thing that really dissappointed me was the death of an important character which was really crule considering its place in Harry's life and it's own misrable life - He deserved better.
So why did I give this book a 5? because it was intersting, Reviting, full of adventures and wonderfully portrayed characters. Full of twist and turnes in a world I have come to know and love, I can't wait to the next one.

Rating:
Summary: Review
Review: Speaking as a fan, the book Harry Potter and the Order of Pheonix is amazing. But, as a critic, maybe I won't be so lenient. This is the fifth book of a seven book series. The events that happen next are bigger and better than ever. To truly understand, you should read the book. Do not let my enjoyment persuade you. I do have some ideas.
There is no flowery wording. That is not the purpose of the book. Rowling's books are driven by plot. There are, however, several different words that help shape the story. I imagine Rowling being very critical when it came to choosing her words and expressions of the wizard world. One of the many specifically chosen words are "Muggle". This is a common wizard name for a non-magical, mortal person. The word alone sounds like something negative. Maybe that was not the original intention, but that is what is perceived. There are several wizards who look down upon normal people. This is the most obvious separation between the wizard and the magical world. Other words that were well picked, are "O.W.L." and "N.E.W.T." These two acronyms stand for wizard testing. The "O.W.L.s" stand for Ordinary Wizard Level testing, while the "N.E.W.T.s" are Nastily Exhausting Wizardry Tests. It was very clever to incorporate typical witch associated animals. This gives the reader the feeling of living in the wizard world.
Sometimes one needs to be changed to stay fresh and interesting. Although I disagree with the way J.K Rowling is changing Harry, it is necessary. Harry is not as accepting as he used to be. Being tortured for so long is mentality taxeing. His character is very different from the first time readers met him. A little more anger, and weariness is apparent. In the beginning he had a lot of fearful respect for Dumbledore. Now Harry seems to waver. There are out bursts with teachers due to a lack of patience. "'DON'T TALK ABOUT SIRIUS LIKE THAT!' ... he was on his feet again, furious, ready to fly at Dumbledore, who has plainly not understood Sirius at all, how brave he was, how much he suffered..." Harry now seems like a bad adolescent. This may seem like a weakness on Rowling's part. In actuality, this is very witty. We come to see a new side. Harry Potter really is a lonely individual.
A question that drives readers wild is...will Hermione and Harry ever get together? That is the burning question of many readers. I wish J.K. Rowling would make it clear so that our question will be answered. Harry and Hermione seem to make such a cute couple. Yet they won't get it together because they are too close of friends. Yet this relationship with Cho seems to be going no where fast. " 'Harry, you're worse than Ron....Well, no, you're not,' she sighed.... Look-you upset Cho when you said you were going to meet me, so she tried to make you jealous. It was her way of trying to find out how much you liked her." (572) They are together but they fight and argue. Harry and Hermione seem to fit better. She is the brains while he is the brawn. They are very good friends that work well together. "It might have been a good idea to mention how ugly you thing I am too.' She said 'but I don't think you're ugly,' said Harry." Maybe the love and trust will come later. It is just a fairy tale kind of thing that many people would enjoy similar to the relationship that James and Lily had. The mother was the brains while the father was the brawn, showoff type. I realize it keeps you wrapped in the book. There is always the little question of will they get together. This is a good luring tool for readers. You are forced to want to find out what will happen next between those two.
J.K. Rowling seems conflicted herself. Maybe she knows the direction in which she wants the story to go, but she doesn't really know how she wants Harry to develop. It seems as if she is struggling with weather or not to make him on top where he has always been and will be because of his nature and life situation. We see she is bringing him closer to average. It seems as if she is being true to how people would normally react to a person of that stature. It really disappoints many people because they like to see Harry in that position. I am frustrated seeing Harry not made prefect. I'm frustrated when I see he is taken out of Quidditch. I'm aggravated when I see he does not get the grades he should. It disgusts me when Snapes insults him all the time.
Hopefully Rowling will wake up from her spell and figure out what she really wants to do with Harry. One can not have it both ways; you can not have your cake and eat it to. She is at a cross road. What will happen to Harry next? How will he develop? Will he be on top? Chose one. Either way people will be disappointed. Some want him in the spot light. The people who want him to be average will think he is pompous. Those who want him to be average, the people who want him superior will think he is not being justified. Three is no winning everyone over. She has to decide, and is the only one that can. My only hope is she will do this with an action pack and interesting storyline as before

Rating:
Summary: A page tuner! Exciting! Thrilling!
Review: At first when I read this book it was the same beginning as always. Harry is at the Dursley's wishing he could go back to school. Of course something unusal happens and Harry must defend himself and his cousin Duddley? Dementors? What are they doing here in the muggle world for? What's this door at the end of a corridor haunting Harry for? Why is it that the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher keeps messing up everything at Hogwarts and is pretty much in command? Why is Ron Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditdh team? Why is it that Harry is feeling Volder...oops. I mean He-who-must-not-be-named very near. Can Harry really count on his friends to help him out or is everyone against him? Can he count on the loyalty of his friends? This book is one of a kind. Its a page tuner! I found as I was reading I didn't want to stop. I had to find out what happened. Within that time frame of reading, I read for two hours! You don't want to give this book just a glance. I love how J. K. Rowling puts so much imagery into her writing it seems as if you were there with Harry step by step.
I think J.K. Rowling knows what it means to be a teenager and how difficult it is to cope with what life gives you. I agree with Rowling on how its not easy being a teenager and losing loved ones.
I'd say if you just wanna get away from life for just a few hours, read this book. Its almost like your looking in the mirrior and asking the questions Harry is asking. J.K. Rowling knows her stuff and I would recommend Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Rating:
Summary: The long awaited disappointment
Review: I was very hesitant to purchase any of the Harry Potter books. After the first one, I was hooked! I LOVED every book up until this one. 1st, its too long. This book could have been condensed to about 300 pages without losing any of the story line. It was very slow getting into, and the ending was horrible! I believe we all like the Harry Potter books for the adventures at Hogwarts, this book didn't have much of that. I really hope the movie of this book isn't as disappointing as the book itself.