Rating: 
Summary: Different than the others
Review: Order of the phoenix is different than all the other books! Though it clocks in at almost 900 pages, fans of the book will fly through, seeking answers. What they find will leave them angry, awed, and breatheless. Be prepared for changes in Harry, as hormones take him over, and be open to new and interesting characters. Most importantly, watch for clues, as Rowling lays out the answers to many of the readers questions along the book. Though darker and far more creepier than the past four books, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is amazing, and worth the three year wait.
Rating:
Summary: So good, but over too quickly for me
Review: I've been reading almost steadily since I got the book and I just finished it. Devoured it, more likely. In a way I wish I hadn't read it so quickly because who knows how long the wait for the next book will be. Anyway...on to my review. So many mysteries are cleared up and yet others are still there. The biggest battle so far ensues. Harry feels much of the angst that any other 15 year old would feel as well as everything else that is added to his burden. Great to see some of our old friends again. Several heart-stopping moments. Some teary moments. I'm not going to write any spoilers since the book is still just out. But it was fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Hoping for the 6th soon--this ending hurts more than book 4!
Review: Well written as always, if dark enough to be more than a little foreboding at the start. Hard to put down, however--completed it in a single sitting with only a few short breaks for food. Not fot the faint of heart!Thanks!
Gwenne
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: I am not writing this to give away any of the plot, simply to review a great book. This is JK Rowling's longest book yet, and it shows. The begining of the book (the first 300-400 pages) is slower moving...it has to do with Harry's moods. I think that the rages she put Harry into were somewhat unneccisary at some points in the book, but overall she did a great job conveying how testy and confused he had become in his adolesence. I gave this book five out of five stars because its that good. Its what I have come to expect from Mrs.Rowling. The plot in this book was much more complicated than in the first four books, and I really appreciated that. There will be some who question some of the themes of the book, but to that I say this book is about life, wizard or muggle, it matters not. The book is craftily written, and I hope that everyone else enjoys this read as much as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: believe the hype
Review: J. K. Rowling has written another gripping tale sure to satisfy her burgeoning ranks of fans, child and adult alike. Her longest and most complex effort yet, the wealth of information at times seems daunting. The plot, however, moves along at a brisk pace, powered by some of the most gleefully convincing characters yet. Rowling's sense of humor is in fine form, her wordplay fresh as ever, and this reviewer found herself laughing out loud several times throughout the book. Still, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the most subtle installment to date, tackling more adult themes in a minimally reductive manner. Writing in a genre that so rarely does so (well, two: children's and fantasy), Rowling manages to include quite a bit of grey among the good and evil. I would say it's her best book yet, but some younger readers might find it disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: An Exciting Journey Deeper Into The World Of Magic!!
Review: Having read the previous 4 books at least nearly a dozen times, I was in awe and amazement at what I came across with J.K. Rowling's last journey into the world of the young hero Harry Potter. Now having just turned 15 Harry has changed. Harry is now an adolescent dealing with issues bigger then he has ever faced. Issues ranging from dealing with Voldermort, to dealing with girls, to being ready for the up and coming O.W.L's exams. Rowling has a way with captivating the spirit and magic of the previous books while at the same time going deeper in the world that she has created. We come across new characters...both we which to learn to love and others we'd love to hate...(Umbridge anyone?) Now coming to terms that not everyone is on his side, Harry finds himself in the midst of finding out who he can trust and dealing with just what exactly Voldermort is after. Note-the end is not one for the faint of heart. It is depressing and revealing in the sense of events that will make your jaw drop! This book is captivating in keeping the reader clued to the pages. I know I was! With its emotion and beauty, Rowling is one the leaves you wanting more, much more! Let's hope the wait for book 6 is not long and that our appetite for the magical world will be satisfied faster then we can say Quidditch!
Rating:
Summary: The latest greatest
Review: What a wonderful story. Much more gloomy than the other books in this series and reminiscent of Catcher in the Rye with teenage angst and practical life concerns. This book reflects a maturity of writing and imagination that has developed in the author for the past 10 years. It challenges the reader and stimulates the imagination. I love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Just finished reading the book - a bit dark but brilliant - chomping at the bit for harry 6 - get to work jk...love and thanks
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Rowling Does It Again!
Review: This latest installment from J. K. Rowling is nothing short of an outstanding, monster of a book. Intended for children? Perhaps, still, primarily. But Harry is growing up, and so are the size, scope, and depth of the novels. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a great step in the development of the series leading towards what promises to be an exciting denouement. This is not just another Harry Potter book, if such a thing exists. Perhaps not as big a jump as the difference between "Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Goblet of Fire," "Order of the Phoenix" definitely kicks it up a notch from its immediate predecessor. No spoilers here, but be prepared for many more "mature" themes and intense scenes as Harry matures himself intellectually, emotionally, and, of course, magically. The book delves into the nature and strength of friendship, typical problems of middle adolescence, builds on the theme of challenging authority by taking it to a whole, new level - Harry challenges the intentions and competency of the world which he only years ago became a part of. This book is a real jewel, the most exciting in the series yet. It was well-worth the wait, no matter how painful that wait was. To prepare yourself, you should review "Goblet of Fire" so you know where things left off a couple years ago. I am sure most of my fellow reviewers will be saying the same thing: pick up a copy of this book and all costs. Do it soon, before the whole plot is spoiled for you by ill-meaning "friends" and would-be muggles. Suitable for all ages, but be prepared for a marginally more intense reading experience than before.
Rating:
Summary: Cry Havok, And Let Slip The Dogs Of War
Review: The 5th book in the Harry Potter series starts with a whimper and ends with a bang. I give it 4 stars rather than 5 because there's a bit too much deus ex machina in the climax, and a monologue by Dumbledore at the end that, while cool and extremely intriguing, just comes out of left field. On the plus side, this is the best character development in a book that I've seen in a LONG time. Harry comes across as a perfect adolescent (at least to my recollection, and it wasn't that long ago), alternately angry, confused, and full of righteous indignation. For the first time I felt connected with Harry, and I genuinely cared what happened to him. While it seemed to me that Ron and Hermione got some short shrift in the development department, almost all of the other characters were extremely well fleshed out. A lot of backstory is revealed and I left the book with a sense that I understand the characters. Snape is no longer just a jerk; the Twins aren't just one trick joke ponies. The list goes on and on. This book is definitely darker than the previous volumes in the series. The book does a wonderful job of bringing up tension for the climax that might disturb younger readers who don't realize everything will (probably) turn out right in the end. One other warning though: while the book stands alone very well, I last read the previous volumes several years ago and had to keep consulting my girlfriend on the relevance of some events and characters (she having read them more recently). The book is jam packed with reference to previous events, and it would be very useful if the reader were to read this after a careful rereading of the previous volumes. This is definitely the best in the series so far, and if J.K. Rowling has to get sued, get married, contract writers block, and/or take another 3 years for the next volume, so be it. I'll be there at 12:01 AM sometime in the next few years for the next volume.
|
