Rating: 
Summary: She was right!!
Review: J.K. Rowling said that her fifth book in the Harry Potter series would be a lot darker that her fourth and I thought to myself, "No way, she can't go darker than that." But I was wrong. Rowling delivered a brilliant, mind-blowing, action packed story. I read the book in 15 hours and 32 minutes, and no, I did not sleep. It was impossible to put aside for a bare second. I was still amazed, yet again, at the way she got all the events throughout the book, and the previous books, tying in together to create a masterpiece. Everything just falls easily into place. I admit I was very shocked when I finished the first three chapters because the only emotions exploding from Harry are anger and frustration. For the first time Harry looses his happy face and we can really experience all the bottled-up feelings. And anyone can see that he has matured a great deal between the 4th and 5th books, and forcibly matured again when the Prophecy was told to him. It's very refreshing to see Harry is not always an angel. I must point out that I am pleased with the way Hermoine has come along, especially in this book. She handles Harry's tantrums and rebellious acts very calmly, much in the same way Dumbledore does whenever he wants to get himself heard. I do hope she continues in this manner in the 6th book. She has always been my favourite character. Ginny and Neville's confidence growth came as a pleasant surprise. I have absoloutely nothing negative to say about this book. Oh yeah, just a second, I have one very important question: What's going on between Ron and Hermoine, Jo? :)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, worth the wait!
Review: The Order of the Phoenix shows a more evolved Harry, and we watch the teen go through long expected teen angst. The book showed our hero in a new light... human. We experience Harry's confusion, rebellion, fear, and grief. Far from being the innocent first year he was, Harry now displays a more realistic character. Harry not only shows us his extraordinary power as a young wizard, but his weaknesses as well.Although the writing is far more dark, I think that this is only to be expected with the rise of Lord Voldemort. Rowling has shown the audience a whole new level of her writing, and I think this book is the best yet!
Rating:
Summary: The best ever! Emotional and prophetic.
Review: From a literary standpoint, this is the best book of the series! The reader feels he almost is Harry, feeling everything as Harry does right along with him. Much less time is wasted re-capping previous books as was done in the previous four, and more time is devoted to developing old characters from previous books along with some new locations, giving Harry's life more depth than just what happens at school. Since the reader always sees events through Harry's eyes, the 15 year old gives the book a more mature outlook on good and evil; the "good guys" are not perfect anymore (harry must re-learn to love and accept James and Sirius despite thier youthfull arrogance), and some of the inner fear that drives Voldemort is revealed. Even the cruely unfair ex-Death Eater Prof. Snape is given a chance to show that he truly sides with Dumbledore and, however grudgingly, with Harry. At the end, Harry must confront a startling prophesy and readers are left wanting more - even if book 6 is three times as long! (Hey I finished this one in 2 days it was so good.)
BUT, speaking just as fan of Harry Potter - good literature or no - it still makes me incredibly mad who Rowling decided to kill off - read to find out...
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: I loved this book. I read it in a little over 12 hours with little to no sleep. I was totally taken into the story. In the past my favorite HP has been The Prisoner of Azkaban but The Order of the Phoenix has topped it. It is alttle more dark and alittle more grown up for us adults who can't get enogh HP. JK Rowling has gotten better and better with each novel. I'll be biting my nails until the next one comes out. And of course reading this one over and over again (like the others) until I have it virtually memorized. Read this Book!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: 870 pages and every page as good as the previous one
Review: A long two year wait finally ended!! The negative impact for writing a very good book is that each new work is compared with the best among the previous ones. So where does Order of Phoenix stand among other harry potter books? In my humble opinion, its not as gripping as Prizoner of Azkaban, but still a shade better than at least two of the others. Ms. Rowling has that superb style of storytelling, that makes you keep turning the pages till you reach the end. The plot was interesting enough for me to take a half day leave from my office. The priorities will be reset for any avid harry potter fan. Mysterious, scary and spellbounding from the very first page, OOP certainly stands up to the global hoopla it created before its release. But, while the first previous four were quiet independent (remember even quidditch has been described in detail in at least three of them), Ms Rowling is not so liberal with the first timers in HP-5. After all she gave us two full years to know in all details the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. If you plan to join the harry potter bandwagon (have you not done so yet) with OOP then its not a very bright idea. But make sure that you finish this one before the sixth one is released. In fact OOP makes us want even more of Harry Potter and talk has already been started about possible release date of HP-6. (Is it called HP and Green Flame Torch?).
The 870 page book has Harry coming off age. Harry has to suffer the double attacks of voldermolt and the ministry of magic. In fact, in large parts of the book, the ministry is the villain and both professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter are made to work out ways to tackle them instead of Lord Voldermolt. Nobody in the wizarding world wants to beleive that You-know-who is back in full power and ready to unleash the terror. Further insights has been given into many old characters and several new characters, like Luna Lovegood, Proffessor Umbridge, Bertha, Grawp et. al. play a very significant role. There are answers to the questions left in the previous books, viz. Why does Voldermolt wanted to kill Harry just after his birth, Why some wizards/witches turn into ghosts after they die, Where was Sirius hiding all this time, and many others. But OOP leaves more questions than answers, and the most important of them will be What Next? That makes you even more desperate for the next release. Whatever said, the OWLs (ordinary wizarding level exams for fifth yearites), the new joke shop of fred and George (that they started with Harry's triwizard winnings), the ruddy attitude of the ministry of magic, the new DADA teacher, the prophecy, the radical change in the Gryffindor quidditch lineup, new places like the St. Mungo's Hospital and ministry of magic (where a significant part of the action takes place) coupled with the brilliant style of Ms. Rowling makes Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix an amazing read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best nor worst of the series
Review: J.K. Rolling does an excellent job of using detail when it is not needed and crams more fact than is neccissary in each chapter. Towards the end however, her writing style dramatically shifts and when the detail is neccissary it is not there at all. this book I would rate second to the Goblet of fire.
Rating: 
Summary: Beware--Possible Spoilers!!!!
Review: I'm sure I can't add much to what has already been said in the multitude of reviews already posted. I give this 4 stars because after all it's a Harry Potter book and we've waited so long! Still well-written, imaginative, and many of the wonderful things we've come to expect from JK Rowling. HOWEVER. I am completely devastated by the (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER) demise of an absolutely key character. WHY? It was so unnecessary and gosh darn it, if Ms. Rowling doesn't find some way to resurrect that person in the next book, well....I'm going to wait until the SECOND day Book 6 is available before I buy it!!! Yeah, that'll really show her.... I think we all knew the books were getting darker, starting with Book 4 especially. But I re-read Goblet of Fire before picking up this one, and I really REALLY enjoyed it more the 2nd time around. I found Book 5 to be a bit of a let-down, but maybe it too will become more enjoyable after a two-year break and a re-read. Sure, maybe by that time, the whole plot will have changed, and climactic battle scene will turn out differently.....SIGH. JK Rowling....oh where is the fun? More Quidditch, more Hagrid, more fun in classes, more Hogsmeade....more FUN in Book 6, PLEASE!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Review: The best book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I loved this book it seemed to be the best one in the series J.K. Rowling has done it again she breathes life into these incredible characters. Every page has a twist and turn of excitement and adventure though a person died that all readers including myself of Harry Potter will be really upset about this death. Though one thing about Harry has got my attention through out this book he seems to be coming a little more darker, meaning his anger and temper are wild. But I seriously like the change though he needs to control it more often, it should that he is not the 11 year old boy that we first started out with, he has girl troubles, teacher troubles as a new defense against the dark arts teacher comes into the picture, friend troubles, and family troubles, he has quite the time getting through all. All I know was this book seemed like a tease because now I am dying for the 6th book! I think that no matter how old I get I will always have a craving for Harry Potter and Hermione and Ron and all those characters. All I know is that these books make me laugh cry and enjoy myself. Jk Rowling is truly a remarkable writer!!! And every book I pick up of hers I know it will be EXCELLENT!!!!!!!! If you don't like these books you seriously need to try them and understand the wonders she puts in her books. I recommended this fabulous book to all age's even adults and kids alike would know the wonder of Harry Potter. A definite READ!!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and school rebellion!!
Review: the books get better and better! Best pasrt, the school rebellion of Umbridge (including teachers!!)!!! A lot more darker and scarier than even the 4th book! GREAT JOB Rowling! It gives me pleasure to read this book, over and over!! Love it!! I can't wait for the 6th book!! and the 7th book, or the 8th!!
Rating:
Summary: Thick Spines Don't Always Indicate Thick Plots
Review: I've read all of the books in the Harry Potter series and work at a local library where I often help children with book reports about the series. As such, I have a pretty firm base in the series and came to admire it. However, I found the latest installment, namely the Order of the Phoenix to be nearly 900 pages of vinegar flavored cotton fluff. Some may say that this book acts as sort of a prelude to the following books, but even a prelude deserves a decent score to hold up the series. The book creeps along like a diseased snail as Rowling gives background information and happenings in the Hogwarts school that seem all but inconsequential to the plot. I'm not saying this is a terrible book that nobody should read - I'm merely saying that it's not up to scratch with my expectations. Of course, if you're knee deep into the series, you must read it; there's no avoiding it. Let us hope that the ones who believe this to be the beginning of the end of the series are right and that the Hogwarts Express gets back on track post haste.
|
