Rating: 
Summary: What happened to the Greatness that was Harry Potter??
Review: I must say that I am truly disappointed in the fifth installment of the Harry Potter septology. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book- I couldn't put it down. What irks me is that (after reading it) I realize that it was so different from the other novels. It didn't even sound like JK Rowling's writing. If anything, I thought it sounded like well-versed fan fiction. *My Big Problem: The Predictability-
After all that hype about the reason Voldemort wanted to kill Harry and hundreds of pages leading up to that moment, I can't say I've ever been more disappointed. I was hoping for something big, something monumental, something...UNpredictable. But no, it had to be something so obvious that I figured it out before the book even came out. Pathetic if you ask me, totally lacking imagination. *My Bigger Problem: The Characters-
1."What happened to Harry?" is all I can ask. He has somehow transformed overnight into some problematic teenager in serious need of some anger management classes. When did he become so resentful towards the world, even his best friends?
2. "Ron is not Superman." If you ask me I think JKR tried to make Ron do something he was not capable of. I was totally against his joining the Quidditch team. Also, where are the laughs? Is he on A.D.D. meds or something?
3. "Ginny from H-E-Double Hockey STicks." What happened to the scared little girl Voldemort attacked in book 2?? She did a total 180 between books 4 and 5. Now she toys with the guys, helps with mischief and couldn't care less about Harry. Personally, I thought it was cute when she got all shy around him.
4. "Death by mollycoddling." I'm sure we all loved the maternal hug at the end of book 4, but apparently the love has been replaced with hard core maternal obsession. Molly Weasley has become extremely annoying.
5. "Cho-no!" I think not. I didn't like Cho in book 4 and I don't like her now. Keep the whining, flirty brat away from Harry!
6. "Bumblebee without a sting." Since when is Dumbledore playing the role of Harry's father? All of sudden he starts throwing out words of love and compassion and I have to ask, where is this all coming from? *My Biggest Problem: Sirius Black-
All I can say is, what happened? When did he become so pathetic? I loved him in books 3 and 4. I loved his stern paternal advice, but in OotP he suddenly becomes obsessed with Harry. He has it in his mind that Harry is both his son and best friend. He has some extremely pathetic lines throughout the book that irked me so bad I just wanted to scream "Grow up!" *The Ultimate Problem: The DEATH-
The person who died definately did NOT deserve to die. I thought the person's death was poorly written, especially when we hear the others' reaction to this person's death. I was appalled at this person's death and extremely angered. I do not believe this person will remain dead, however, like most of the population of Harry Potter fans. Despite my rantings above, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a very good book. It has many wonderful parts to it even if it wasn't all around good (like Prisoner of Azkaban) or have an amazing ending (like Goblet of Fire). Happy Reading!
Rating: 
Summary: The best
Review: I think this, along with the third book, is the best out of the series. J.K. Rowling has a new writing style, yet does not betray the way she has told the previous stories. She clearly shows that her characters are growing into teens, and you can tell. The book portrays a side of Dumbledore not yet seen, and tests Harry's ability once again, but emotionally. In my opinion, emotional challenges are much more difficult to overcome than physical challenges. He reacts to the situations presented as a true teenager would. With rebellion, anger, and denial. Being a teenager myself, I enjoy how Rowling shows Harry as a real boy in a fictional world.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: When my dad read the fifth book it took a long time. It was good.
Rating:
Summary: Growing Pains
Review: With Harry, Hermione, and Ron at the dangerous age of 15, a whole new era in this series is ushered in. The signs of a fledgling maturity begin to bloom in the three (well, two of the three - I'm not sure there is hope for Ron). In addition to the host of difficulties that come with being Lord Voldemort's favorite target, Harry must deal with insecurity, love, and the frustrations of understanding a good bit more than adults want to give him credit for. The argument over whether Voldemort is alive or not rages all around Harry, the school is in an uproar over the appointment of Dolores Umbridge as Grand Inquisitor, and even Dumbledore is under attack. And with all that going on Harry must deal with his feelings toward Sirius, his new godfather, and a great wave of qualifying examinations that will have much to say about his future. If he has one, that is - He Who Shall Not Be Named has other plans for Harry entirely. As you can see, there is a lot going on in this year at Hogwarts. Which may explain, at least in part why this volume is a mere 870 pages long. New relationships and minor cast appear in quantity, and each needs some time and attention. The themes for the remainder of the series are introduced, and several others are brought to a close. All of this takes time, and, don't forget, there is a story to tell as well. Rowling deserves considerable credit for managing all this and still keeping much of the reader's interest. I have to remind myself, on occasion, that this book was not written with me in mind as the target audience. Most of my issues with the book fall into the category of 'why this isn't great literature.' Of course, it's not supposed to be. It's a good story, well told, that seems to have gotten a bit away from the author. No doubt because the end is in sight, and Rowling has suddenly realized how much she still has to accomplish. I expect things will settle down a bit in the next volume. I think the tiny details that could have been edited out are really the very things that keep this from being a shallow fairy tale. Rowling has been very careful to built Harry's character as a real human who happens to have been born in the middle of a prophecy. The characters aren't heroes, but young adults struggling to make sense in an ever more complicated world. As such, I think there is both didactic and entertainment value here, which is a very difficult balance to maintain. Hats off to an author who has proved she can do exactly that.
Rating:
Summary: marvelous!
Review: I bought the book a while ago, but hadn't gotten around to reading it because it is nigh onto 900 pages and wanted the time I thought it would take to read it. Boy, was I wrong! I read this book in two days. It could've been longer and it still wouldn't have seemed too long, that was how easy and enjoyable it was to read. I have all of the Harry Potter books and have enjoyed them all and yet I think this was one of my favorites. I am an adult that thoroughly enjoyed this book just as much as the younger generation. Another success for this author and I am looking forward to the next book.
Rating:
Summary: The best in the series!
Review: Rowling has done it again!I readit in two days! She has left a good cliffhanger at the end. This is a masterpeice! If anyone disagrees, the can say it to my fist. From Jake Bizley! P.S. I will not actually punch you. it is a joke. I am thirteen really.
Rating:
Summary: This gets 15 year old teenagers exactly right
Review: I don't see why some of your reviewers have a negative feeling towards this one - I thought that JK Rowling got the feelings, emotions and ups and downs of a bunch of 15 year olds exactly right. Unlike volume 4, which I did think was too long and was in danger of losing a coherent plot, I thought that Rowling got it exactly plumb to rights in this one. It is by far the best so far and if she keeps on getting better then numbers 6 and 7 will be truly magnificent.
Rating: 
Summary: Zzzzzz... Have they reached Hogwarts yet? I don't care.
Review: Oh, what a bad tempered slow burner this one turned out to be. There's so much shouting and animosity! If JKR was trying to tell us that she's fed up with these characters, she has totally succeeded. The formula is put to use again. No wonder there was so much hype - the fifth 'adventure' could never make it on its own merit. Voldermort bides his time until the end of the school year, Hermione does Harry's homework again, Ron is the same hapless loser he's always going to be... and incredibly, I found myself rooting for Draco, Neville and just about any of the others rather than Messrs Potter and co! The Weasley twins come out of this story far better than the whingeing self-righteous navel-gazer, and the authority figures from books 1-4 (ie Dumbledore and the other teachers) all appear to be deluded, incompetent and just plain stupid - all of a sudden. If anyone should be running Hogwarts, it's the bullied figure of Prof Snape. He actually gains a lot of credibility from this book, but it doesn't get put to any use. JKR doesn't allow any developement of his situation at all. Harry's parents come across as being over-indulged spoilt brats with the world at their feet - the kind of people it's easy to dislike. James Potter's adolescent tormenting of the put-upon Snape helps to show Harry up for what he is - a conceited and thoroughly unlikeable teenbrat.
And don't get me started on Hagrid's ludicrous role, and as for the inclusion of the preposterous Grawp - if ever a book had a "character of convenience" it is this one! What an insult to the reader! When I read a book, I want to be in that world for however long the story lasts - and then revisit it if the characters are worth 'being with'. But this? If the writer doesn't care about her characters, why should we? There's way too much cruelty - especially the sadistic way in which Harry has to write his lines out. If anyone had a bad time when they were at school, this book is a very difficult read and JKR has overstepped the line. Well, she has for me, anyway. I finished the book simply because I'd paid for it. It's not on a shelf with my other books, it is in a second-hand charity bookstore. I don't want to be negative, though, so I would like to recommend a title or two, if anybody wants a story that is full of characters who really care about each other, and live in magical worlds a small step away from this one. Try "The Odessa Stone" and also "The Guardian Of Time" by C C Chambers. They're big, wild adventures with horrible bad guys, but there's an underlying warmth and plenty of humour - and above all they value friendship and honesty of the main characters! I enjoyed being with them. There's none of the intolerance or anger of The Order Of The Phoenix, just plenty of willingness to be understanding. Plus the endings of both don't leave you saying "Yeah, right, the next one will be the same formula again and so will the next one and the next one and the next one and the next one and..." Besides, in The Guardian Of Time, it's good to read a story involving a deaf character. And they both have soundtracks! You might have to go to the UK Amazon site for them, but they're worth a look. I picked them up on holiday in England, and gave them to my neice when I got back - and I haven't seen them since!
Rating:
Summary: 1st Harry Potter book I would say is not for kids
Review: I reluctantly got into the Harry Potter series early last year and have since become obsessed. I've read the books at least 5 times each and I got my husband the audio books becasue he doesn't have a lot of time to sit down and read so he listens to them in the car.
I've always loved that they were interesting as an adult but could be fun and exciting to kids too. Having kids of my own I looked forward to the day they would want to read them (both of my daughters are under 5).
While I think that Order of the Pheonix is a very riveting story, very well written as always and an interesting 5th installment to the story, I would definately not give it to my kids to read.
It was very dark and very sad. I felt sick to my stomach almost the whole time I was reading it. That didn't stop me from reading it again of course and as an adult I can appreciate the depth it brings to the whole of Harry's story.
However it deals with so many things that I think are just too much for kids. I've been very skeptical of parents who are so against this series becasue I think the first 4 books are great for kids. My daughters love the movies and had no problem with the dark undercurrents. This book moves them more into dark tidal waves in my opinion.
I highly recommend this book to any adult or older teen Harry Potter fan, but I wouldn't expose it to my young children. Even though Harry is a teenager in this book he's still a child in many ways and kids shouldn't have to think about their schoolmates parents trying to kill them. There are many other facets of this book I think might be disturbing to youngsters, but that pretty much sums it up for me!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: i LOVE this book! i was very pleased when J.K Rowling added romance to the book! i think ron and hermione like each other and maybe harry and luna will too(you never know!)i hope the 6th and 7th book turns out that way! anyway i`ve read and bought all 5 books(and both movies!) and so far this book is by far my favorite! 5 stars well deserved!
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