Rating: 
Summary: the series just gets better and better....
Review: So what is it about the Harry Potter series that makes it so appealing to people of all ages? I can only speak for myself, but there are just so many reasons. Rowling is incredibly skilled at what she does. These books take fantasy and make it so realistic anyone can relate to some of the events the characters go through. Sure, we may not have an evil wizard out to kill us, but we've all had teachers we hate, problems with friendships, way too much homework, and people who don't understand us. Even though these are labeled as books for children, the events have a very mature tone, and none of the language is 'dumbed down'.Another thing I love about Rowling is her ability to bring all the characters alive. They are highly believeable people existing in a very realistic world. And like most real people, not everyone can be easily put into categories of 'good' and 'evil'. Life is more complicated than that. And with realitic characters, I really do care about them. This is one of the few books I know of that made me laugh out loud and cry a few tears. Read this book - I couldn't put it down. There were a few nights where I stayed up til 3am because I couldn't close it. It's a wonderful page turner.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: It was A brilliant story!! It is long and detailed and I also felt as though I was in the story too. I can make lots of sensory images in my mind and I have lots of feeling and expression in the story.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: The fifth book of the popular Harry Potter series coasts along, with no apparent sense of who its audience is or how to keep the action going other than by a new death. By the time the death of a fairly important character comes, it's very difficult to care. The first half of the book is a big yawn, with many repetitious scenes involving Harry repeating his mantra of no-one-understands-me-and-all-I've-been-through. Those speeches -- too many of which are shouted in capital letters -- include a laundry list of what occurred in the first four books. One such recitation would have been sufficient for those foolish enough to try to step into the Hogwarts world in mid-series. But after the third or fourth time, it is beyond tedious. Harry does so much sulking and self-pitying throughout the book that it is really hard to care about him. Take for example the 850 or so pages of anger at Dumbledore -- for what? We read over and over again that Harry is angry, but there is no real explanation, other than that he seems to resent Dumbledore trying to protect him. He is angry that people expect anything of him, and he is angry when they don't trust him to take on Voldemort single-handedly. I suppose the point was supposed to be that Harry is going through adolescence and all the annoying behavior and mood swings that involves. But could that not have been portrayed in, at least, an interesting way? The book finally picks up about mid-way through, but it never builds to anything like real suspense, and the showdown at the end (nice of Voldemort to always wait to do his mischief until the end of the school year!) is not worth the build-up. Parents should be aware that there are some scenes that are inappropriate for children -- perhaps especially adolescents -- as they involve what can only be called torture and may appeal to the fascination some kids have with self-mutilation. Unfortunately, those are among the scenes that are repeated ad nauseum. In the end, the best that can be said is "Thank Merlin for Fred and George!"
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Summary: The best harry Potter book yet !
Review: I started to read Harry Potter shortly after the books came out. I have all five books now and love to read them all. But in my opinion this is the best Harry Potter yet. It is very well written and like always they capture your imagination and make you want to read on to find out what happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Good effort
Review: I felt this book could have been better edited to create a more seamless storyline; there were times I felt the prose was a bit rambly and not particularly pertinent to the story. However, I am so impressed by JK Rowling's ability to really engage all ages of readers and to have young children excited about reading the book. Harry is DEFINITELY a teenager! JK did a great job of capturing the angst and anger. Younger kids may not quite be able to relate to that aspect. Looking forward to the next one!
Rating:
Summary: If you still bear the somewhat gothic ending ...
Review: ..of the 4th volume in mind, you might find yourself eagerly gulping down this one, searching for clues of Voldemort's return.. But, I found myself breathlessly reading ... and ... reading ... and reading ... through almost 600 pages till the first encounter of the impersonated good and evil occured. It somehow felt like this whole volume was sort of an interlude to prepare the grounds for volume 6, where the ultimate battle might begin. However, Rowlings storytelling is as terrific as ever, and I particularly enjoyed her side blows on the media and her empathetic description of the main characters maturing and experiencing teenager turmoil. Now I have no alternative but to wait impatiently for volume 6.
Rating:
Summary: Rowling casts the success spell again
Review: Every fan of the Harry Potter series has waited for the Phoenix to come out. If you were like me, you devoured the first four books as they came out. I was stopped after the fourth for around three years, and I was anxiously waiting for the fifth. Finally, it has come out, and the wait was well worth it. The previous four books have been innocent and kid-like, with the three friends bouncing through adventure, and managing to keep Lord Voldemort in check. However, he has returned now, as was depicted in the Goblet of Fire (Doomsday Tournament), and his effect is beginning, already, to take hold upon the unwary. The Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have been unwittingly placed on opposite sides as Minister Fudge believes Dulmbledore and Harry's claims of Voldemort's return as an attempt to cause chaos and ursurp Fudge from power. Meanwhile, Harry is faced with problems of his own, as he has troubles with girls, but Cho Chang seems to be looking towards Harry with more interest. (One thing I couldn't stand was how clumsy and stupid Harry was when it came to girls.) This book was excellent.
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Summary: Harry Potter has a bad day, and another bad day, and another
Review: With all due respect, in "Phoenix", Rowling fancies herself an author not a story-teller. After reading over 300 pages so far, I keep thinking, "Is this a Minchner book?" -- meaning, "When does the story begin?" Potter and his allies are portrayed as worrisome yet utterly powerless nincompoops endlessly if not creatively vicitimized by bureaucratic and evil nincompoops. It reminds me of the movie, "Pulp Fiction", in which everyone is a complete idiot. The author asks us to accept the proposition that Potter's hard-earned and generally positive reputation in the wizarding community can be easily swept aside by ridiculous name-calling in the Daily Prophet. I understand Rowling's message about the unsophisticated masses and the incompetent bureacracy, but Phoenix is incredible. That being said, I can live with incredulity for a time as long as there is an actual story. So far, the main theme of the book is about the 'persecution of Harry Potter, international boy of mystery.' Tortured and hopeless...
Rating:
Summary: hp
Review: I love HP.It is a must read for all fans.
In my opinon Rowling is the best aouthor.
You are not olbliged but read it!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Some inconsistencies but otherwise stunning
Review: The fifth installment of Happry Potter is excellent aside from a few minor inconsistencies which I won't get into because there were bound to be some in a series so long with a book so long. That said, the fact that the characters are given more complexity and that they are growing up makes the book that much more enjoyable. Teenagers will be teens, and the fact that Harry and Cho didn't work out made it that much more believable. Isn't that so high-school??I loved it. One thing that I wish could be more fully developed is the one-dimensional nature of the evil kids - Malfoy, Crab and Goyle - if we see slightly wicked sides of Harry, Hermione and Ron, shouldn't we see a somewhat tender side of the former three? I just don't want them to have just that one side to their characters. And as for the death, that was a stroke of genius. I didn't want it to happen, and I liked that character a lot, but not only did it serve to show that random things happen and there is no explanation, as well as Harry now having to grapple with yet more pain making him the true 'hero' figure, but the readers who are upset about it and think it was a useless death are exactly why it was a good move. There is no rhyme or reason for it, and that's true to life. BRAVO! Umbridge was excellent as the evil of inflexible rule, and Neville - who would have thought that he had so much to him! The only one who disappointed me was Dumbledore and his excuses at the end - not really plausible but then again it makes him, too, fallible (though he's really 'sposed to be :( )His reasoning for Harry's home on Privet Drive was intriguing, however, and I was glad to see that aspect. All in all, well done, and keep 'em coming!
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