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Summary: Just for kids? I don't think so...
Review: Hello. I am a 17 yr. old female, and I have read all 4 Harry Potter books, and I have to say Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is by far (so far) the best in this series. The book's fantastic author, J.K. Rowling, creates an awesome atmosphere. She takes you inside the mind of Potter in his 4rh year at Hogwarts and you feel all the, anticipation, relief, sadness( and yes, I cried) and all other feelings as the summer, and year progress. This well written Novel unfolds with many twists, surprises and (surprisingly) even some problems children will face in real life. Yet, it is not a book solely for children. My father has also read all four, and we both eagerly await the arrival of the 5th book in the United States!
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Summary: The magic's back in a double dose
Review: This fourth installment holds the same page-turning attention of its three predecessors. This is the kind of book that makes a fast reader lament. Each page has its surprises, and holds the reader in suspense--but it is one page closer to the end. And the end of the book means another long wait for the next installment. J.K. Rowling is as inventive as ever, and graciously gives us a longer book to enjoy. It was well worth the wait. Let the waiting for book 5 begin!
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Summary: Don't be fooled, Harry Potter books are for adults too!
Review: After devouring Book 4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in two days I couldn't be more frustrated. Now I have to wait another year for the next Harry Potter book! J.K Rowling weaves a tale as few author's can. If the fact that these books are published as children's fiction is deterring adults from reading them, they are missing a rich tale of magic, friendship, adventure, love and the nature of evil. This fourth book shows an adolescent Harry Potter and as Harry matures, so does the storyline. As promised by the author, this story is darker than the first three, the characters are "dating", and we learn more about Voldemort, our hero Harry's nemesis, and the nature of his evil power. Without giving anything away, the last chapters are page-turners and give us a glipse of what is to come in future stories as Harry matures and continues to fight evil in his magical world. I, for one, can't wait until Book 5 of the Harry Potter series is published. I sure hope J.K. Rowling writes fast!
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Summary: Not really for 9 - 12 year olds
Review: I think that this book is a reasonably good mystery-genre for the "young adult" and adult market. I would not recommend it to 9 - 12 year olds, because I believe that it is too psychologically dark, as was Book III in the series. It is not as frenetic as Book III though, so I would recommend it for above age 12. A small quibble: In this series of books, I have become fairly tired of the author's constantly poking fun at fat people, and equating obesity with greed etc. For a more interesting use of hefty weight, I'd recommend a look at the character Dr. Pawson in D.W. Jones's "The Lives of Christopher Chant".
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Summary: J.K. ROWLING HAS DONE IT AGAIN!
Review: Go Harry Potter! Like the other three Harry Potter books from the series, this is mysterious and thrilling! Very funny, indeed and of course, MAGICAL! This is the best book, yet! Unlike the other books, it's deeper and darker. Interesting, don't you think? I recommend this book to everyone! Grown ups, too. Who cares if you're 99 years! Read it!
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Summary: "The Goblet of Fire" takes Harry to a new level.
Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is not only as riveting as the first three books, but it considerably expands and deepens the trajectory of this series: good versus evil. But the evil is not only supernatural; it's also clearly becoming identified with the attitudes of those who believe that Muggles are a corrupting force and an abomination in the wizarding world. And although it's done with some humor, there's an interesting subplot about house elves and slavery (remember Dobby?) It also develops the characters further, some unexpectedly; for example, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and even Hagrid. And though one of the characters dies (I'm not going to spoil it by telling), Rowling's humor remains intact. The conflicts between Harry and Ron, and Ron and Hermione, are particularly well executed; and the reader never forgets that the three main young characters are kids (and ones now coping with puberty), even if they can perform magic. Rowling includes the blind alleys and red herrings she excels at creating, which provide their usual suspense. As Rowling has said, this is the pivotal book, and she's pulled it off again.
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Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Everyone in my family (myself, my husband and two sons, 16 and 11) has been eagerly awaiting the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, along with the millions of other adoring fans worldwide. It was worth the wait! Ms. Rowling has very effectively shown how Harry and his friends are growing up. Even the vocabulary seems more advanced than in the earlier stories. The plot is meticulously crafted; at the beginning of the story, we encounter He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who has plans for Harry that are darker than ever. The pain in Harry's lightning-bolt scar lets him know that trouble involving Voldemort is ahead, and as he returns to Hogwarts for his fourth year, he is thrust, against his will, into a yearlong competition for the Triwizard Cup which proves to be the greatest test yet of Harry's maturing powers as a wizard. As in much classic literature, the struggle between good and evil becomes ever more important in this installment; I found myself thinking back to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is hard to say too much more about the story without revealing what happens, but once again, Ms. Rowling has invited all of us, no matter what our ages, into her parallel universe where we laugh, cry, celebrate and suffer with Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid, Dumbledore and all the others.
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Summary: 700+ pages and anxious for more!
Review: After hearing the news that Harry Potter 4 weighed in at an unbelievable 750 pages, I hope you can forgive me for thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, JK Rowling could have used an editor. "What was she thinking," I found myself asking as I hefted the book. Well, I've lost two night's sleep completing the thing, because I could barely bring myself to put it down. She needed every one of those pages to tell a gripping story that I adored. If anything, this book is better than the first three: richer, darker, cleverer. I would quibble somewhat with the "James Bond villain disease" that seems to pervade the evildoers in these books ("here, before I kill you, let me explain my nefarious plot"), but Rowling manages to tie together something like 5 or 6 distinct plot lines in an explosive conclusion while only resorting to this device essentially once. I love the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are growing up. There are several tender and awkward moments as they come to terms with the fact that Hermione is a girl -- something that was never important before except in the context of who was allowed in which bathroom. It is amusing to see several characters providing exaggerated phonetic pronounciation hints to "Hermione" -- I wonder if this is the most common question Rowling gets from the American audience?
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Summary: A great addition to the Harry Potter series!
Review: Don't be put off by this book's length! The newest Harry Potter book is fantastic, altough its plot remain similar to the last three installments. The first chapter, while dark and menacing, is excellent. The following 100 pages, however, are rather dull and may leave the reader regretting their purchase. Thankfully, the plot picks up quickly and soon you can't put it down. New additions like the Yule Ball and the Triwizard Tournament keep things interesting, but I couldn't help noticing how alike the outlines of the series' books are. The pattern for every plot goes like this: Harry gets rescued from his uncle's house by Ron, Harry goes to Hogwarts, Harry meets new Dark Arts teacher, Harry fights in climax, Harry discovers DA teacher's mysterious secret, Harry goes home. This isn't nessecarily a bad thing, but it could get tiresome by the next book. Nevertheless, if you liked the last books, or haven't read any of them, you won't want to miss this. J.K. Rowling's references to everyday life such as her thoughts against racism and the troubles of the poor add to the storyline. Anyone who takes the time to read through its 750-plus pages will find themselves satisfied (and surprised!) upon finishing it. And a final word: If you haven't read the last three books, don't start with this one. It gives away all of those books' best secrets.
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Summary: My son is on his second time through
Review: This has brought my son, age 14 (haven grown with Harry) pleasure, joy and a wickedly fantastical weekend, reading like a love-starved puppy. I also listened to all 20 hours of the audio cassette. This installment in a series that is so overwhelmingly wonderful, is, itself, wonderful. Though the book is a little more graphic then the other three, it is no more frightening, and continues to come up with new and imaginative moral lessons and fun in general. A totally engrossing time for all.
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