Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite Book 4
Review: I received the book on Saturday morning, June 21, at about 10:00 AM. By 7:00 AM on Sunday I had finished it; I suppose that suggests that the book keeps one's interest.
It is unquestionably the darkest book in the series, virtually unrelieved by humor, except humor which is itself dark and at times depressing. Harry himself is less likeable; possibly this is characteristic of his being 15, (and maybe I'm having trouble remembering back that far), but the rages begin to wear thin after a while, and the reasons for them aren't always apparent.
It's not giving away a secret to say that a major character dies at the end, but much of the traumatic impact of that death is lost because that character has become flawed throughout the book; I, at least, had a sense that he had no future, and therefore didn't think it a great loss when he was gone. Had that same character died in an earlier book, I would have been much more affected.
Even the climactic seen at the end lacked the power of the confrontation in book 4 (or even of book 2).
I would still like to see more of Snape; I still don't know why he saved Harry in book 1, and what turned him away from Voldemort. I would also like to see more of Aunt Petunia, now that she has opened up a little; possibly both of these issues are waiting for one of the two remaining books.
The end of book 4 left me wanting to know more; I couldn't wait for book 5. I'm sure that I will buy and read the next two, probably just as fast, but without quite the same excitement. I'm a little disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Order of the Pheonix
Review: This book is a phenomonom! Harry is now fifteen years old and apart from that voldemort is trying to make a come back. His relatives house was bad enough, but school is way worst because now the school is dominated by an evil defense against the dark arts teacher. The only thing that keeps him alive now is their new D.A group and Quiddich. what's more he keeps on getting these weird dreams at night. Join harry for the fifth book of the 7 book series.
Rating:
Summary: Great! Getting continually darker...
Review: I, like many other die-hard fans, read this book on the day I received it, eager in anticipation to find out what happens to Harry et al after the rise of Lord Voldemort at the end of the 4th installment. J.K. Rowling has once again brilliantly conceived an intricate story, wrought full of action, heroics, heartbreak, and adolescent woes. The story is more detailed; more characters are introduced into the complex tapestry of Harry's world. The borders of the story are extended beyond Hogwarts and Privet Drive, taking Harry to several points in London, including the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's among others. The book reads quickly, as the previous 4 do. There exist more prevalent tones of discord and rebellion associated coming of age through the turbulent mid-teenage years, as Harry and friends are now 15. There is a much more dark side of Harry exposed, as he feels somewhat treated still like a kid, even though he has experienced much in the hands of evil. Throughout, he often has very negative feelings towards all around him, and alienates himself from those who he loves most. The ending is brilliant, and more is revealed about Harry...questions are answered that have plagued readers since the Sorcerer's Stone. This book, to its strength, also lets Harry know that all those around him, those he has placed on high pedestals since the magical world was revealed to him, are not perfect, but human. J.K. Rowling has performed her own bit of literary magic yet once again...this book is great.
Rating:
Summary: A one-word review -- "WOW"
Review: Can you imagine anything more exciting than Book 4 -- Goblet of Fire? Well Book 5 -- Order of the Phoenix is it! Almost 900 pages -- took the better part of one full day to read -- couldn't put it down -- it must be her most complex book ever! WOW
Rating: 
Summary: This IS NOT the book you expected!!!
Review: I got this book a couple of weeks before it came out from a distant cousin. I read the book rapidly until i realized it [stinks]! It doesn't have any of the great key elements form the first Harry Potter and all the new characters are confusing. I went and returned this book as soon as it was released! Dont waste [money] on book that's not all that great! Use your money to get a book like Holes 2!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the wait
Review: I don't know what to say, except the my mind is crazed with so much information. After 3 years, it was so worth the wait that I almost cried when I saw it. In all, the book was a fantastic, moving story that flowed very smoothly for its length. It may upset younger readers when a beloved character dies, but then even I cried at that part. In his 5th year, Harry finds he must face the most difficult problems he's ever had. It all starts with the horrible Dursleys and a slight problem with underage magic. Then, not only does he have to deal with an entire school and the wizarding world thinking he is a disillusioned and ridiculous show-off, but he has to deal with puberty, a horrific new teacher, girls, and Voldemort. Not to mention, this Quidditch season has some surprises in mind for the Gryffindors. But in the end, he learns the truth about Voldemort and finds himself going home to the Dursleys having met many new fascinating characters and losing several old favorites. I strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially if you've read the first four. It is the darkest in this series and will make you laugh, cry, and wish for the next one. Happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: a classic read, not to be missed.
Review: Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of children's books. Several weeks ago I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Harry Potter #5 and had preordered it. When I woke up this morning, I found the book right at my doorstep. Elated, I quickly opened the package and started reading. I just finished the book, and I am not one bit disappointed. J.K. Rowling's writing style is still ever-present in this book, vivid and wondrous as it had been in the previous four books. There are many surprises in the book (like Ron getting to be prefect while Harry doesn't), but I also think that a lot of the details in the book were extraneous. The book was also a bit on the dark/moody side. When I read it, I was constantly disturbed and worried, and the book no longer had the flippant and jovial tone that the first book had, the original reason why I enjoyed it so much. However, that doesn't stop this book from being so great. Again, the magic of Hogwarts accompanies Harry, Hermione, and Ron throughout the book, but some developments in the book are disturbing, such as Percy's separation from the family, Dumbledore's aloofness in the beginning of the book, and the somber tone on which the book ends. The only characters I felt were unmarred by the morose theme stretched throughout the book were Fred and George Weasley (they operate a joke shop throughout the book). One of my complaints about the book was the length. This installment of the Harry Potter series is the longest at 870 pages. There are only two reasons I can think why J.K. Rowling would do this: 1) She gets paid by the word so the more she writes, the more money she makes.
2) She is afraid that once she writes all seven books, then she will have nothing more to write about, so therefore, she has to write as much as she can before the momentum of her series is over. Both of those are bad reasons why the book should be long. While the writing isn't Joyce (concise and perfect in all ways, but slightly unhumanistic), I think that a lot of it is overly verbose. However, I don't feel that the length of the book is something to complain about. Other people disagree though: in fact, upon hearing that HP5 was 870 pages, he responded, "HOLY...." That doesn't mean the book is bad though. I would still highly recommend this book and would agree that it is _on par_ with the previous writing of JK Rowling. Even though it is slightly depressing at times, it's still an excellent read. Now, for a brief summary - don't read ahead if you don't want the book spoiled. Harry is first caught fighting two dementors near Privet Drive. As a result of his breaching of the Underage Misuse of Magic, he has to go to a trial, where he defends himself so he won't get expelled from Hogwarts or get his wand snapped in half. Wizards from the Order of the Phoenix, an underground anti-Voldemort society, come to rescue Harry and take him to a hideout. Once Harry is acquitted of all charges, he finds out that Albus Dumbledore is extremely aloof and that Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley do not believe that Voldemort has come back to power. Percy is cold and disattached to the Weasleys because he "betrayed" the family when he went to work for Fudge. Harry also finds out that Ron and Hermione are prefects for Gryffindor, and he is not. Once Harry makes it back to Hogwarts, there are plenty of things to worry about. Aside from the new Defense from the Dark Arts Professor, Umbridge, who is working as a "spy" for the Ministry of Magic, Harry has to contend with O.W.L.'s and people who don't believe him when he tells them that Voldemort is back. Ron is made Keeper for the Quidditch Team in addition to being a prefect. Fred and George are selling pranks and pills for their joke shop. Tons of homework plague Harry and Ron, causing them many sleepless nights. Also, Umbridge inspects all the teachers as Head Inquisitor and she also disbands all clubs and teams (including the Gryffindor Quidditch Team), so they must reapply for reforming. This happens just as Hermione, Ron, and Harry decide that they are going to create a Defense Against the Dark Arts "study group" themselves. Later on, Harry and the Weasley twins are banned from Quidditch for life by Umbridge. In the middle of the book, Mr. Weasley is attacked. Harry has an out-of-body experience where he is actually a snake and attacks Mr. Weasley. It is even suggested that Harry is being possessed by Lord Voldemort. Harry eventually takes Occlumency (anti-mind reading) lessons from Snape. Right after the first Occlumency lesson with Snape, Harry realizes that the door at the end of the long, dark corridor in his dreams is the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. The next day, Hermione, Ron, and Harry find out from the Daily Prophet that ten Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban. Dumbledore eventually leaves the post as headmaster of Hogwarts and Umbridge takes over. It seems worse and worse everyday and that Voldemort is getting closer and closer to victory. Eventually the book climaxes and as you might suspect, Harry and the rest of the D.A. (Dumbledore's army) find themselves on a rescue mission to the Department of Mysteries. There is a showoff with Voldemort.
There is a main character who dies. I won't tell you who it is, but it is a main character (not someone minor like Cedric). The book ends on a somewhat sad note, with the Ministry admitting their wrongdoing and that Voldemort is back, aka the start of the "second war." Let's hope that Harry can withstand two more years at Hogwarts with Voldemort around...
Rating:
Summary: Rich, dark, very good.
Review: I have been waiting for Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix since I fininshed Goblet of Fire. As Ms. Rowling promised, this is darker than the previous books. There are still smiles, and wordplay, though, for example, a new house-elf named "Kreacher." In this book, Harry is very angry at times, and in my opinion, rightfully so. However, his major relationships are maintained. We learn more about the school days of James and Lily Potter, and a lot more about Professor Snape. Mrs. Weasley gets one of her dearest wishes early on. A major character does die, but I found this death to be less surprising than the death in Goblet of Fire. No less sad, but less surprising. We learn a lot more of the inner workings of the Ministry of Magic, and it may be slow going at times, but the action always picks up in a few more pages.. Dumbledore finally tells Harry why he has to spend at least part of the summer with the Dursleys. This is the first book in the series, in my opinion, that really cannot be read without reading the others first. And yes, there is a new Defense Against The Dark Arts professor, and it's not a good one like Professor Lupin, who reappears in this book.
Rating:
Summary: J.K. Rowling do it again!
Review: I have to say, I was almost worried to begin reading- what if soemthing horrible happened, what if the three year wait for this book wasn't worth it!? I was relieved when the book began true to form and swiftly picked up speed. Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts is by far the darkest yet and is likely to be highly appealing to older readers looking for some excitement. Harry's struggles with adolescence will resonate with any teenager. The events of the school year proceed quickly- Rowling crafts a suspenseful, at times scary tale. Mysteries from previous books are partially resolved, while tantatlizing hints are scattered throughout the book of what is yet to come. This is a wonderful continuation of the saga of Hogwarts school. I was happy to be re-admitted to the world of Hogwarts!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Yet!
Review: I think that this installment in J.K. Rowling's series is the best so far. The text is richer, the events more interesting, the teachers worse than ever, and Harry's life more complicated. For fans of the series, this one is a hands-down winner!
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