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

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

List Price: $75.00
Your Price: $47.25
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Definitely not sweetness and light
Review: I'm a lot older than the typical reader of Order of the Phoenix--I'm 40--so I'm guessing I had a slightly different take from the norm. My wife and I read the book aloud together--we've done that with the previous books as well--so it took a while. We enjoyed it enormously, but here was my major thought: you couldn't pay me enough money to be a fifteen-year-old boy again. (No offense meant to all of you who are or soon will be fifteen--it's a wonderful age, but, as Harry exemplifies, a very challenging one.) The first three hundred pages positively drip with Harry's anger, bafflement, resentment, his sense of injustice... oh, and did I say anger? My wife, who teaches high school, nearly stopped reading with me around chapter 16 or 17--too much teen angst! Ms. Rowling is attempting something truly difficult as a writer--most novel series either freeze their children in time or have them jump, unseen, from one age to another--a la the Narnia series. To follow Harry--and his friends--closely through all their adolescent trials is both exhilerating and a bit painful! For me--and my wife--the book really clicked into gear once Harry and friends founded the DA. The rest of the book was the sort of rollercoaster ride we've come to expect, full of fun, surprise, and even a kiss, thank god. (Personally, I could have done without Grawp, but I suppose Rowling has something planned for him in the next book or two.) The lack of drive that some of the reviewers above have complained of came for me not out of the final sprint to the conclusion at the end, but from the thoroughly bristly beginning. It made sense that Harry was ticked at absolutely everyone--but I could have done without 300 pages of it. Another thing--the death of a major character. I don't want to speculate too much, because if I'm wrong, what use have I served, and if I'm right, I've spoiled the next books, but let me ask this: the fourth book started with the death of a character we didn't know and ended with the death of a character we had come to like, but weren't that well acquainted with. This book ended with one of Harry's most beloved mentors taking that dark trip through the old one-way door to 'that bourne from which no traveler returns.' So what's she left us for the next two? Again, I have some ideas, but I'll refrain from sharing them.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Tedious.....
Review: I read the first Harry Potter book hesitantly, but was overwhelmingly surprised and impressed by the creativity and imagination of J.K. Rowling's contrived world. Unfortunately, the creativity pretty much ended there. I love the core characters and therefore enjoy the books, though it's pretty much the same story retold five different times. The Order of the Phoenix is the worst, in my opinion, for two reasons:

1. It's way too long. I'm all for long books when essential to the storyline, but this read more like the publishers were too anxious to get the book on the shelves to bother with actual editing. If an abridged version is ever released, I'd highly recommend it.

2. The main weakness of the first 4 books is the unrealistic creutly and manipulative schemes carried on with inexplicable success by the Malfoys and Dursleys. Unfortunately, this type of garbage is the central theme in book 5. There's enough in reality to get me incensed that I see no point in employing a piece of entertainment to do so. The whole idea of books and movies is the idealistic fantasy of it all. I kept putting this book down in irritation for weeks at a time. After 700 tortured pages, the story finally became great - only to have a very unhappy ending.

On the whole, the writing and story left a lot to be desired, and I was really disappointed by the ending. I was glad to see Hermione come around as a likable female character, with things like SPEW shoved off to the side, only to have Cho personify the very worst in female stereotypes. I can only hope that Ginny will emerge as the young female role model.

In the end, no matter how tedious these books become, I will forever be a faithful fan of my beloved Harry, Hermione and Ron. I just hope for the reader's sake that they fare far better in books 6 and 7.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Plot hole: Did anyone notice?
Review: This book was great- but there was a rather large plot hole that really screwed up the book. Did anyone else notice it? All in all though this book was great. It got away from the everything is wonderful theme and you could really feel the character's emotions. I laughed, I cried and I'm waiting for #6.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Th Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ais book was OK
Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix always kept me at the edge of my seat, always ready for more and always wanting to pick it up again. J.K. Rowling writes this book so well I would recommend it for any fantasy book reader.
I think that this book is really good because it always keeps you on your toes like when Harry ends up fighting dementors right in the beginning and I totally didn't expect that right away. I liked this book because she put in a little romance and drama. This book also reflects a lot of Harry's personality when he is around girls.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Welcome to the Wonderful World of Magic
Review: The book I'm going review is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix written by J.K. Rowling. I rated it five stars. If you haven't read this book, welcome to the wonderful world of magic. This is the book because full of magic and adventure. It is about Harry Potter getting weird dreams about a corridor and the evil Voldemort. In the middle of the book you might miss Dumbledore, because I did. Also something awful happens in the end. To find out what awful thing is, read the book! I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a challenge and adventure.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This one only deserves 5 stars....
Review: After waiting anxiously for this book for years, it was finally released and on the day of release I was at the shops at 9am waiting in the line for it. I got a book and read it within 10 hrs (practically non-stop) and when I got to the end, I was disappointed. Not with the book, because it was great, but that I would probably have to wait at least another 3 yrs for the next edition of Harry Potter. This is definitely not the best in the series so far... but compared to so many other books I have read, it deserves more than a 4. [The author] deserves [her success] for how many kids she has gotten involved into reading. I personally recommend any one who hasnt read a Harry Potter book to start.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Up another notch!!!!
Review: Once again J.K. Rowling delivers the goods. I was very curious after Goblet just where this story is going. I must admit that she managed to kick up another notch. I am eagerly anticipating book 6.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: From www.inspiredbyfaith.tk
Review: Let me start off by saying that I do understand that many Christians will not read the Harry Potter series. The magic in the book tends to offend some people. I do not feel this way. I understand that the magic in these books is pure fantasy. As a very wise friend of mine once said, "You can wave a stick around all you want, but it isn't going to do magic." Baring this in mind, I am going to review this book from a literary and family-friendly standpoint. Unfortunately, the book tends to fall short on these two ideas, anyway.

RELIGIOUS//POSITIVE CONTENT: Harry and his friends are devoted to each other. Despite Harry's constant moodiness (which became annoying quickly), they still stand by him. One character even risks being an outlaw in order to keep Harry out of trouble, by taking the blame for something that the title character has done. Characters, on more than one occasion, risk their lives for one another. Even nasty Professor Snape has chosen the good side, though this doesn't help his disposition.

The only thing that alludes to religion in the book, other than the Death Eaters' insane devotion to and . . . indeed, worship of . . . Voldemort, is the comparison of a couple of buildings to churches.

ADULT LANGUAGE/CONTENT: Several characters, mostly young teenagers, swear. They words are minor, but still do not belong in a book that is marketed to children.

Two characters are treated badly by their peers. One of them doesn't appear bothered by it. However, we get the feeling that the tormenting of the other has resulted partly in his foul personality.

Fred and George, Ron's older, twin brothers, are constantly disruptive and disobedient. They collect items that are illegal, completely disobeying their mother. They torment an authority figure. While this particular person is not exactly the nicest person, this could still give impressionable youth a bad message. To top it off, they drop out of school during what is the equivalent of their senior year so that they can open a joke shop. Once we see how well they are doing with this shop, we realize that the author has glamorized their actions. Is that the kind of message that we want to send to the children who are likely to read this . . . That we don't have to take school seriously?

One character actually removes his eye.

VIOLENT CONTENT: Mostly bloodless. People are blasted by with magic, which seems to take on the appearance of a laser gun battle from a science fiction movie. One beloved character, probably my favorite in the entire series . . . on a personal note, comes to Harry's rescue and, in the ensuing battle, makes the ultimate sacrifice. Ron is attacked by a disembodied brain. One man's head is magically shrunk into that of an infant.

In a particularly disturbing punishment, Harry is made . . . by a teacher . . . to write, "I must not tell lies," despite having told no falsehoods. The pen with which he writes the lines magically CARVES THE WORDS INTO THE BACK OF HIS HAND AS THEY ARE PUT ON THE PAPER. Though they immediately heal at first, they become longer lasting the more he writes. The author describes the pen's wounds in all their bloody glory. And I used to think that it was bad for my mother to make me stand in the corner.

CONCLUSION: The maturity level of the Harry Potter books really increased in The Goblet of Fire. This book continues that trend. Whether or not you have allowed your children to read about Harry Potter's adventures in the past, one thing is for certain . . . The Order of the Phoenix is not a children's book. Adults, who are mature enough to know that the magic is fantasy and that it is NEVER a good idea to drop out of school, may enjoy it. Just keep it away from the kids.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not as good as 3 and 4
Review: Although this was a pleasant read (as all Potter books are) I felt that Rowling repeated herself too much. The school year, arguments between Harry and Draco, arguments between Ron and Hermione, blah, blah, blah. Its exactly the same as all the other books. Even Fred and George could have made more appearances and been funnier. Usually they are so funny - not so much this time. Not a very well planned out book. I think she only wrote this book to tell us about the land of the dead or whats behind the veil.
The only interesting part in the book was were sirius died and even though that is the case I'd prefer he didn't.
Anyway, from my point of view this book was a disapointment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another Masterpiece from J.K.Rowling
Review: This is another masterpiece from Ms.Rowling's marvelous imagination, and if anyone is able to find a copy of it for themselves, prepare for more adventures with Harry and his friends, because you'll have fun from the moment you begin reading!


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