Rating: Summary: Another thoroughly satisfying read. Review: In this most complex (and lengthy) book of the series so far, wizard-in-training Harry Potter finds himself drafted into a competition among three wizarding schools. Since he is technically too young to enter, and since partipating is supposed to be voluntary, Harry's not the only person amazed by this. Nevertheless the adults in charge decide to let things proceed.Is there a connection between Harry's name ending up in the "goblet of fire" with those of older students, who entered the competition on purpose, and a frightening incident during the Quidditch World Cup just before the new school year's start? If so, who is involved? Some of his enemies Harry knows, including the One Who Must Not Be Named. But he has others, apparently - and those he doesn't know about he cannot guard against. Nor can his headmaster and professors, or his friends. In addition to its more involved plot, this book is darker than the three previous ones. Its existing characters gain depth and motivation, while newly introduced characters play significant and appropriate parts. I found it a thoroughly satisfying read. --Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Rough Rider"
Rating: Summary: my favorite in the series Review: This was my favorite Harry Potter so far in the series. After a lengthy visit to an international Quiditch match (as a spectator) with his friends and the Weasley family, Harry returns to Hogwarts only to find that he will shortly be competing in a very prestigious contest of his own - against students from other wizarding schools, not just one of his own classmates. In this book, Harry, as appropriate for an adolescent, is subject to mood swings, sulkiness, and indecision, which is his downfall, from minor things like finding a partner for a ball to deciphering the contest clues. At the end, the competition takes a deadly turn, which I will only say involves You Know How. And on a lighter note, Hermione gets her first boyfriend.
Rating: Summary: Longwinded & in desperate need of rigorous editing Review: Rowling comes from that fine tradition of prolix British authors such as Tolkien & Churchill, none of whom ever met a modifier they didn't like. These authors firmly ascribe to the philosophy, "why use one page to describe a scene when you can do it in 10 pages?" Some people think that the never-ending stream of prose represents great compositional skill & mastery of the language. Believe me, any graduate student can pad a seminar paper as skillfully as Rowling has Books 4 & 5, but the graduate student is writing to a different audience. What is going on here? I am guessing that because of the success of the series, Rowling has been allowed to run amok, and no editor has the nerve to rein in a money-making rogue elephant. Unfortunately, it appears that Rowling has some difficulty sustaining a coherent narrative over such a long period of time. I can only imagine what Books 6 & 7 will weigh in at, but it wouldn't surprise me if they end up being 1000-1200 pages apiece. The narrative will only collapse under the weight of a book that long, and would ruin a series that got off to a good start. If Rowling is interested in the quality of her work and not simply in raking in the cash, she needs to understand that more is not necessarily better.
Rating: Summary: I Couldnt Put It down!!! Review: I read this book in 4 days and i am a REALLY SLOW reader. I couldn't put it down. This book is the best one yet!!!!!! Harry has to figure out how to get through the triwizard tournament alive, while the whole school thinks he just wants more attention. And not to forget that Voldermorts servant has returned to him. When you finish this book you will kick yourself for not figuring out the ending with all the clues. Its like a unintended mystery book. I loved it!!!!! This is one of the books in the Harry Potter series that really got me to love to read. I guarantee you will love it to!!!
Rating: Summary: ANOTHER YEAR IN HARRY'S LIFE Review: Like all of her books, this book keeps you wanting more. J. K. Rowling is an exceptional writer that knows how to keep her readers captivated. This installment, the fourth in the Harry Potter Series, is as amazing and magical as all the others. This year starts off with Harry attending the Quidditch World Cup with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Mr. Weasly. But strange things are happening at the Quidditch World Cup. Someone even releases the "Dark Mark" into the sky. Then at school Harry is told that there will be no quidditch this year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And you will just have to read the book to find out why. Amazing! Simply Amazing.
Rating: Summary: They just keep getting better! Review: Ok...now I am fully addicted to these books. Who says they are for children. I am an adult (at least I think I am) and I am thoroughly enjoying reading Rowling's series. Not only are the books well-written and well-plotted, but the characters are being fully fleshed out as people. Growing up I read series books and waited til the next ones came out...Madeline L'Engle was one of my favorites, and the Potter books are reminescent of those books. Rowling puts important lessons in her books, about the value of friendship, about courage under pressure, about doing the right things even if it puts the person at a disadvantage, about learning to not judge others by race or by looks. This particular book is one heavy tome. But my niece and nephew gobbles these books up, and as always, it is great to see kids reading. I hope Rowling does not hang up her pen too soon. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of pIttsburgh
Rating: Summary: Harry Potter Review: The fourth and most exciting year of Harry Potter's wizarding education is told in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. The story brings new and exciting characters, creatures, and breath taking twists. The story starts off two weeks before Harry is to go back to Hogwarts. He is retrieved by his close friends the Weaslys. Where they invite him to join them to spectate at the year's quitich world cup. This year at Hogwarts the quitich season is canceled due to the coming of two new schools and the tri wizard competition. Most of the students were very disappointed but once the competition was under way they forgot all about that years quitich season. I would tell you but I am pretty sure you can already guess who participates for the Hogwarts team. The competition is fierce and treacherous and not only does harry have to think about the Tri-wizard competition but he has Voldemort and his dark followers after him. There are many obstacles in Harry's way see how he escapes death numerous times in the fourth book of the series. As I read this book I grew more excited and curious. I had many questions and the only way to find the answers was to keep reading. I could almost feel the emotions as Harry set forth at many tasks. J. K. Rowling has out done herself yet again in this better then ever Harry Potter story. If I were to rate this book I would give it 4 out of 5. The only reason I discarded one point was because at times it could get a bit boring. This was only at a few places through out the book. To become a part of the magical word all you have to do is pick up the book and it will take you away in its phenomenal way as it does children from 8 to grandparents at the age of 90.
Rating: Summary: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review: Well fellow muggles, you are about to see, or hear, out of the 4th book of Harry Potter. It all begins at Riddles' house, yes, Tom Riddle's house. He and another person were having a conversation, something dark they were talking about. Untill Harry woke up and his scar was burning, but not as much. He wrote a letter to his godfather, Sirius Black, about what happened. Later on, Harry's uncle, Vernon Dursly, got a letter from the Weaslys. The mail was covered with stamps on it. He talked to Harry about this. The letter was an inventation to the International Quittich World Cup. Harry told him that he has to send a letter by owl so the Weaslys can get his response. It took a long time for Vernon to understand what Harry has to do. So finally, he sent the letter that was attached to Pedwig's leg to the Weaslys. At the evening of the day where Harry was to be picked up, he and the Durslys heard a noise that came from the fireplace(the same one where letters from Hogwarts were swarming the house everywhere). The noise was Ron's dad, Fred and George. Vernon had to take apart the electrical fireplace that was blocking the hole. So then Harry went with them and back to Ron's "house". So then Harry and the Weasly family went to a campground that was near the stadium. There, Harry and Ron sees Hermione. So they all went to see the match. The next day, something bad happened. There was a dark mark that appeared in the sky and people where runing away. During this event, Harry realized that his wand was missing. So Harry, Ron and Hermione searched for that wand, untill Harry found the wand, but it was another person's hands. It turned out that a house elf had it, however it was not Dolby. Instead, it was a she, her name was Winky. Her master found her with the wand in her hands. So what the master did was that he gave her some clothes. That's right, if a master gives the house elf clothes, then the house elf is free. Usally the house elf is happy once he/she is free, but for Winky, she cried liked she never cried before. Hermione understood Winky's feelings, but it didn't make any sense to her. As we go along the book, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the other students went back to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the Great Hall, Proffeser Dumbledore, head of the school, made an announcment that there will be no Quittich match this year. Instead, there will be a twillizard contest. What is this contest? Is Harry going to be involved with this? Are we going to hear from Winky or Dolby? Will Lord Voldemort come again? Only way to find out is to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire(Year 4)!
Rating: Summary: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review: I have read a great book. It is called Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This is my favorite book yet. In this adventure Harry must overcome his fears and face challenges he would never expect. The book starts out with Harrry and the Wesley family going to the Quiddithch World Cup. While they are watching the game there is a giant green skull up in the sky. This sign is the Dark Mark. It is a sign from Voldemort telling his followers to come join him. Throughout the school year kids at Hogwarts are forced to live in constant fear that Voldemort is back. Near the end of the year Harry is entered into the Triwizard Tournament. He is not old enough to compete in this test of skills and bravery, but when the Goblet of fire says your name you are forced to enter. Harry did not put his name in the Goblet. Someone must have put Harry's name in for him. But who would want to enter Harry into a dangerous tournament with witches and wizards older and more advanced than him? To find out read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Rating: Summary: The Best "Potter" Review: After reading all five books in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, I can safely say, that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was by far the most excitng, interesting, and well written book. This book was pure excitement from the beginning to end. Even though it was considerably longer (300 pages) than the first three books, I thought this book couldn't have gone on long enough, with twists in the plot which made it impossible to put down, and an ending which made the thought of waiting for the next book unbearable (which, lucky for me, had already been released). In the fourth book, Harry Potter returns to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his fourth year. Unlike the first three books, in which Harry proceeds to Hogwarts within the first 100 pages, Rowling took her sweet time, and had Harry visit the 'quidditch world cup' first, which occupied about the first 300 pages. It was an interesting varriant from the other books. Once Harry finally arrives to Hogwarts, he is entered in the Tri-Wizard Cup, a competetion between 3 wizarding schools which is sure to create intriguing adventures for Harry. What really sets this book apart from the others, is Rowling's disregard for the traditional conventions of children's fantasy, which are evident in the first 3 books. Although we still see the "comic relief" character, the obnoxious house elf, Dobby, The Goblet Of Fire is a significantly darker book. With its share of betrayal, murder, and a freaky satanic ritual, this book's ending is almost frightening. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling has certainly created a classic of fantasy literature, to be in league with the work of Tolkien and Lewis. Combining fantastic worlds and creatures, twists and turns, a dark subplot, and J.K. Rowling's enthralling writing style, The Goblet of Fire is a winner.
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