Rating: 
Summary: Rowling's biggest blind spot
Review: Several reviewers say that the Weasley twins are the only characters with a personality in HP5. I disagree. To me, Severus Snape is the most interesting character in this novel - perhaps the only one with the potential to become a real character, not a 2D cutout. Rowling overlooks this, and this is her biggest failure (worse than the flat prose & exasperating overuse of ellipsis; worse than the endlessly shrill, angry tone of the book).The case? At first glance, Snape seems like just another grown-up bully. Piece together his past, though, and the story is much more interesting: he was cruelly, mercilessly bullied himself as a child and teenager, simply for existing; he joined up with Voldemort, but reformed (how and why? - that would be an interesting story) and is now one of Dumbledore's trusted agents; though he loathes Harry Potter because of his (arrogant, cruel) father's bullying, he still saves Harry's life on more than one occasion, because it's his job. Rowling has a complex, interesting character on her hands - victim turned victimizer, Death Eater turned good, adult still nursing unhealed wounds from childhood, yet mature enough to put aside personal hatred to answer the call of duty - AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN REALIZE IT. She still keeps trying to squeeze him into the mold she cast for him in the first book: the grown-up bully. The scene between Harry and Snape in the chapter "Snape's Worst Memory," where Harry is too caught up in his own worries (what else is new?) about his father's character to show any compassion to Snape, is the book's great failing. Yes, teenagers are moody and self-absorbed, but if Harry were as good as Rowling wants us to believe, this scene could have been the real coming-of-age in the novel: Harry could have realized that his supposed enemy was just a human being, that they have suffered the same things - he should have been moved to pity, and while it would have been grossly unrealistic for them to become bosom buddies, just a flicker of understanding from Harry could have started a crack in Snape's shell.
Rating: 
Summary: Bigger, but no better...
Review: So I've finished HP5. Is it any good. Yes. Is is great? Well, yeah. Is it mind-blowing? No. But that was the problem everyone expected it to be, wasn't it? After reading the 870 pages in 4 days, I found it just an exercise in moving the plot and not really getting very far from the start. So a major character is killed. Big deal. I didn't think of him as a major character to begin with, Harry didn't have much opportunity to get to know well, but it was made as if he lost his parents again. And there's the thing about Harry's 'coming-of-age' thing.I think in all fairness, it was written just for the sake of writing it, I felt I didn't help his character building much. Harry Potter was made famous for his child-like nature in the first 3 books, but in terms of being angst-ridden and angry at everyone, I think so many authors have done much better elsewhere. But the book isn't all bad. I think it was a great thing to expand on Neville's character and the best bit was his visit to St. Mungo to see his parents. So, its a case a bigger but not better. Give, say, Sue Thompson 870 pages to write and she can do better, I'd daresay.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I thought that this book was excellent. J.K. Rowling did a wonderful job capturing the frustration of an adolescent with too many responsibilities. He literally has the weight of the world on his shoulders. It is wonderful to follow Harry through his adventures and I can't wait until the next one!
Rating:
Summary: the fifth in the series i couldn't put it down
Review: I bought the book the same day that it came out. once i started reading it i couldn't put it down I believe that if the rest of the series is as good as this book i can't wait to see what else J.k. Rowling has in store for harry as the series continues.
Rating:
Summary: A More Mature Potter...
Review: Something a lot of people don't seem to understand about author J.K. Rowling is that she is not writing a series of childrens' books. Her books are about children who, through a series of seven books, gradually move into adulthood. Time changes people, hormones change people, and the "Order of the Phoenix" addresses that realistically. Do people really think that a fifteen year old boy would react to situations in the exact same way he did when he was eleven? Only a very sick individual would not have grown and changed considerably in a four year span. Yes, the Harry in OOTP is a darker, more complex individual. Yes, at times he is very angry and irrational. Do you know a fifteen year old who *isn't* angry and irrational at times? Given all that the character has been through, I'd say he's holding up quite well emotionally. So the people who complain that Harry isn't the same are either too young to understand this or too old to remember going through it.
As for the writing style being different...Rowling's style has changed with each book she has written. "Sorcerer's Stone" does not read in quite the same manner as "Chamber of Secrets". And "Goblet of Fire" is far removed from both of them; it reads more like "Order of the Phoenix". True, "Order of the Phoenix" is darker and more philosophical, but one must remember that Harry has had to deal with the return of Voldemort and the death of a classmate since then. All in all I'd say Rowling's progression has been smooth and very natural of a boy moving into puberty. But it is a more mature book and if you are young--and if you felt that "Goblet of Fire" was dark enough, then I'd advise you to leave this book for a few years. It's a wonderful read, fast-paced despite its length and very true to Harry. But it is also sad, angry, and even a trifle disturbing.
But then again...wasn't life like that at fifteen?
Rating:
Summary: She got the power
Review: J.K. stunmed me with the power of her new book. It was so sad toward the end. I think that the order of the phoenix is her best book yet. If you liked the series so far you will fall in love with this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Another J.K. MASTERPIECE
Review: HP and the Order of the Phoenix is BRILLIANT to say the least. I think it can best be said in the following quote, "You know you've read a great book when you turn the last page and feel as if you've lost your best friend." This book will leave you with a craving for more so don't miss out on this continuation of a fantastic tale. Buy it NOW you'll most definately be glad that you did.
Rating: 
Summary: Downward spiral
Review: While Book 4 showed first signs of it, book 5 manifested it in full force: there is little creative freedom left in Mrs. Rowling's writing.
1. Too many loose ends need to be remembered and taken care of, thus much of the book unnecessarily details, explains and prepares for the next book, or even the final (few failed to notice that, or am I mistaken?).
2. It is sad, that there is more and more of Hollywood influence in Rowling's books: sometimes you cannot escape the thought "well, that is supposed to look lovely on the screen", or should contribute to the list of potential merchandise.
3. Very heavy weight of expectations is also felt - I do not think that constant pressure of readers' unbelievably high expectations helped in any way. There is much less magic, sincerity and true feelings in Book Five compared to previous, especially first 3 books. Obligation spoils creativity.
4. I also believe, that the purpose for writing the Potter story has also changed -it used to be an escape for a jobless mother, possibly means to get out of the harsh reality, then it became the source of income, and then it became sort of property of millions and millions of readers around the globe. Mrs. Rowling is likely more of a "keeper", than an "owner" of the story. Could there be true creative freedom under such circumstances? Sad, that I no longer count days waiting for a Potter sequel...
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. Sure, it was good writing and very thrilling, but Harry was not a very nice child in this book. He was disobedient, got away with all his wrong doings and rule breaking and was rude and "cheeky" to his elders. I found that this book had a lot of violence in it: i.e. when he had to write lines and the words were carved into his hands and bleeding and swelling up. I think that this book teaches other kids that it is okay to disobey those in authority and to back-talk your elders. The use of bad language and language that in England is unknown to Americans, but is actual cursing.... very bad cursing, was totally inappropriate and unnecessary. I would not recommend this book to anyone as I found it quite horrid in parts. I am done with this series......
Rating:
Summary: Simply fantastic
Review: I'm a real Harry Potter fan and I've read all books and I enjoined every single page. And although I'm from Austria I read the fifth book in four days(and I'm really not good at Englisch). I think people are right when they say it's a dark book, because there are very few funny scenes(like the DA sessions, the way fred and george left hogwarts and the time when the DADA teacher is Headmistress).Mainly life is very hard for Harry at Hogwarts,(and it's a bit of his fault, cause he is always angry and so on)especionally at the end when this special person dies(I'm sad about this and I think it's not the way this person should die,cause normally people don't just vanish forever).Even dumbledore makes mistakes(big mistakes!),which proves that he's only a man either-but read it yourself(you won't regret it). And I want to add that it's not dangerous like the australien goverment and many people(like my mum)say. It's the best book of all,J.K.Rowling is the best author and I haven't read a book yet,which you can compare with(or say it's as good as) Harry potter. It's simply fantastic! (If there are mistakes in the text above please overlook them!)
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