Rating: 
Summary: Adventurous and suspensful
Review: J.K. Rowling's books have been a great success. I think the most successful has been "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." It tells the adventure of a boy wizard's life. The main character, Harry, some how gets entered into the Triwizard Tournament at his wizarding school. Find out what happens to Harry when reading this exciting book. I felt it deserved four stars because it kept me interested the whole way.
Rating: 
Summary: Spellbound and waiting for more...
Review: Spot any child ranging from the age of 8-80 sporting a grin of satisfaction with a near constant bulge in their breast pocket, and I'd lay money on the nose they've discovered Harry Potter! The justly applauded author, JK Rowling with a delicious sense of adventure wrought by a playful imagination has already skipped through 4 volumes delving with us by ingenuous invitation into many sensitive life issues in her locus mundi of a school for wizards. Let's look at Harry - a little boy through whose character she deftly reaches out to children who have the experience of not being appreciated or feel estranged from the families in which they live. He can be accurately described as lacking nurture within the domestic situation in which we initially find him, sharing a sub-urban house with sub-zero affection from his aunt and uncle and their grotesque son Dudley ("Dudders" as he's 'wazzumly' known by his shriek of a mother). Forced to exist in a cupboard in their house, subjected on a regular basis to the family's histrionic and impassioned put-downs of his natural parents, the death of whom has orphaned him into his present circumstances, things look pretty grim for little Harry. We observe nevertheless his determined if slightly framed form somehow maintaining its grip on life in spite of his pristine aunt's viewing him as her receptacle for scraps, while the ghastly Dudders force-fed by mummy's infatuation founders of course on to colossal proportions. In spite of these tough beginnings it becomes gradually and comically revealed however, that Harry Potter is a pretty special little boy and the specialness in him radiates out until it's unmissable to a few other talented people, who when the time is right facilitate the changes to bring his qualities the support they need and his destiny starts to unfold. Prevalent throughout the book is the theme that even though we all have special qualities, in the world of the 'muggles' (humans who have no connection with magic or imagination), our special qualities might well be not related to. Through the world of wizardry, Harry expressing discomfort rather than arrogance about his personal recognition from knowing too the pain inside being the "famous" Harry Potter, slowly gains life experience and a sense of self-empowerment, which in order to meet his destiny he must embrace fully. As the books progress the author gets even stronger at presenting unpredictable but plausible turns in the plot, which certainly satisfy adult readers and children alike. The "owls are certainly not what they seem", to borrow a Twin Peaks metaphor, and there are certainly plenty of owls flapping excitedly here. Within the context of wizardry she explores quite centrally the inhumanity and suffering that develops from the divisive judgements used by one group within society towards another. Implicitly critical and illustrating of the snares within characters enmeshed in these choices, without proselytising or polemic she allows the reader's own sense of compassion and fairness to assess the issues. A point of pivotal significance being the fascistic persecution by the dark lord's supporters of the half-breed children who come from mixed muggle/wizard background polluting their concept of the 'pureblood' aesthetic. We smile with affection as Hermione, Harry's earnest and affectionately pilloried swottish best girlfriend, starts to take up with zeal the banner against slavery with her campaign for the freedom of house elves. She establishes an organisation called "SPEW" in this cause. The book also explores the value and enduring qualities of friendship. The feelings which live on beyond the pitfalls like jealousy and such which may rock friendship for a time, but which are eventually and gratefully overwhelmed by its loving bond. Hogwarts (Harry's wizard school world) definitely accepts that all human life is there. The problems of humanity are clearly demonstrated and explored using the device of a 'forest of Arden' perspective to encourage the reader to actually take a reasonably searching look at themself. The dark lord and his supporters are balanced by the wonderful Albus Dumbledore who makes the crucial point to one Cornelius Fudge (Fudge by name and a 'fudger' of the truth by nature): "You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!" It is this clarity that makes Dumbledore the one adult wizard feared by the dark lord. So, Harry goes on growing up and the more his qualities proceed to develop and shine, the more goodness he attracts to himself at his times of need. Also goodness then starts to radiate further from him spreading its contagion equally to those he comes into contact with. In short it's a lovely developing story, just made for bringing the best out in folks - big kids and little kids alike. I would quite like to discuss it with a 'little' kid and see how they find it compared to my 'big' kid perspective. Some parents have expressed concerns that the books have an unsuitability for children. While I accept that a child's psychology should necessarily be shielded from certain things in life, one can never change or hide the fact that a child is indeed living life. Children are not immune to the reality they are perceiving and experiencing in the big world - painful issues within their own families, death, killing, injustice, hatred, fear and separation. When addressed in a novel aimed at reaching them and explored in the context of there being also counter forces present which offer choice, I think that affords a child a place of safety, and is a responsible and supportive way of helping them have a rounded perspective of both the light and darker sides of life. JK Rowling does all this with delightful metaphor and has written a damn fine commercial best-seller series to-boot(!) ...and have I tempted you to read it...?
Rating:
Summary: Longer is better!
Review: I'm 14 years old and i can't help reading through these Harry Potter books in 2-3 days. Well this one kept me tide over for almost 4-5 days! I loved this book and all the other Harry Potter books. If you are against Harry Potter I dare you to read one of them and see if you're still against it!
Rating:
Summary: What's so great?
Review: Harry Potter has a twist that is hard to describe. Those who've read the books can relate. Rowlings words are bursting with feeling and vivid color. Her pictures create incredible images and the text is realistic. The good wins the war, but loses a few of the battles. I have read tons of books in my lifetime but never one this good. If you haven't gotten your mitts on this one, you are most definatly missing out.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Get Sirius For A Minute
Review: Siriusly folks, I liked this one the best. The book opens up with, you guessed it, Lord Voldemort. And yes, it ends with Lord Voldemort. Rowling's fourth effort largely revolves around the Triwizard Tournament. As a consequence, Quidditch playing is kept to a minimum in this book. The guts, the middle, of the book are not boring or dry. In fact, they entertain. The characters of the Potter World are given a more thorough development. Also, there is the additional benefit of finding out that Hogwarts is not the only wizarding school. In fact, some very interesting characters from two of these schools make an appearance to compete. Intrigue is at an all time high and many things in the book are not as they seem. Particularly, this book allows us a glimpse into who among the peripheral characters is for, or against, Voldemort. These "Death Eaters" come out in the open at the close of the book. What I like about Rowling's work, and this book is a great example, is that she is too sophisticated of a story teller to end a book badly. For one thing, she can end a story. Many fantasy writers provide the reader with an 800 page book which really turns out to be one unfinished chapter in a 7,000 page saga. Rowling doesn't rip you off in that way. She avoids many of the obvious "hooks" to bad fantasy writing (i.e., the obviously good guy turns out bad). You will not be disappointed by this book. I was very pleased and had the pleasure of savoring this fourth book over the course of a whole week. The only thing I wonder about is: When do we get to find out about Harry's fifth year and will it end badly with Lord Voldemort?
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely brilliant!
Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is definitely the best book from the Harry Potter series, and the best book I ever read. J K Rowling is a genious. The book is exciting and spellbinding, full of humor and not boring for even a moment. The plot is more interesting than ever, and J K Rowling cleverly hides hints about the ending, which you can only notice the second time your read. No matter how much you try, you could never guess what's coming next! 743 pages of the most fascanating fiction I ever read!
Rating:
Summary: Harry is moving on to greater things
Review: In the fourth book of this series, Harry is at the Fourth Year in Hoghwart's and not only his classes are getting more difficult, but his life also. Compared to the previous books, this one is more complex; it's full of plots and subplots, but that doesn't detract from it. In fact it enhances it!!! We're introduced to a lot of new characters and keep meeting the old ones. Harry is growing up and it shows!!!! The ending of this book is great and sad at the same time (probably because life is sad and great at the same time too!!). Some of the facts of Harry's past and future are starting to unravel and the promise of more to come is there for Book 5. A great read. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't have said it better myself
Review: Well, hands down I loved it. I think that the fourth book might be a little advanced for younger readers under the age of 8. There is a lot of things that a younger person would not understand. But other than that the plot was clever which leaves suspension for the next books. All I have to say is that I hoped you love it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: We need more....
Review: This book is excellent but I felt it left too many loose ends. But i am sure these will be tied up in book 5, which sadly won't be out till next year. (I think!) The Goblet of Fire is great, you can not put it down till you have read it all! The ending is so heart wrenching and Miss Rowling shows she has the Magic! All I say is buy this book, you will like it, it's as good if not better than the others. I can't decide which is my favourite-book 3 or this. Truely brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful as usual!!
Review: Once again JK Rowling managed to grab my attention and retain it throughout 700+ pages. Imagination abounds as Harry faces a very challenging and trying situation. The book was funny, witty, and inventive. However, I was a little disappointed with the sad ending and felt that it was unnecessary. As I'm sure peple would not like for me to reveal the ending in case they have not read the book, I will refrain from divulging the ending. Still, it cast a slight shadow over the book.
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