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Summary: J.K. Rowling does not dissapoint us!
Review: Wow! How long we've waited for the 4th Harry Potter! I can tell you, it was no dissapointment. After reading it's 734 pages in less than 48 hours, I was already trying pre-order book 5! Even with the increase in length, Rowling still leaves you hungry for more magic! As warned, book 4 does get darker, with the first deaths close to Harry (I REFUSE TO TELL! ) and a VERY close encounter with You-Know-Who. J.K. Rowling has certainly got me under her spell!
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Summary: Modern-day Storytelling Done Just Right
Review: Like most fairy-tales, the plotline of the fourth Harry Potter books is predictable (Harry goes to school, confronts a mysterious evil...), but that doesn't mean it isn't complex, and that doesn't mean there are no surprises. Book four is meant to be a culmination of the last 3 Potter books, a service it renders quite nicely: Harry returns to Hogwarths with his dear friends (and enemies) for his fourth year. The legendary Triwizard Tournaments is to take place, and Harry finds himself an unwilling contestant -- and once again also finds himself the epicenter of an ongoing battle between rising forces of evil and powerful forces of good.Rowling has a tight control over the plot, and just as importantly, her imagination. The world she has created is real enough for the modern-day reader to empathize, yet far-enough removed that the book seems something like exploration in a foreign country. No detail -- the tiny spastic owl, Pigwidgeon, Dudley's fatness, Fred and George's continued antics -- fails to delight. Rowling gives a nod to our social sensibilities, by expanding the world of wizardry to include various nationalities, while Hermione, armed with badges and a cause, embarks on her own crusade to stamp out the world's injustice. Rowling gently reminds us, too, of the vulnerability of young teenagers -- gawky boys discovering girls, cheeky girls encountering their own feelings about love and friendship. Harry and his friends are growing up. There is death, there is evil, and there are serious matters a-brewin... as Harry learns more about his past, we see that the lives of the various characters -- Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid, Draco Malfoy, and Voldemort -- grow more intertwined. Harry Potter is no longer just a boy, or a book, or a series -- he's a movement. And to miss out on this movement would be a shame. The audience can rest assured that Rowling has the story under control. All that remains, once the book is read, is to reread it, analyze it, discuss it, speculate, and wait for the return of Harry Potter in Book 5. Reading it is only half the fun -- anticipation of what's to come is the rest.
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Summary: Harry Potter IV Is a Cliffhanger
Review: The latest, long-awaited Harry Potter is almost a fully satisfying read. Every favorite cast member is back: Harry, Ron and the Weasleys, Hermione, Dumbledore, Hagrid, the villanous Snape, along with Malfoy and his Slytherin cronies. Dobby rejoins the troupe, along with Winky, a new house-elf. Less appealing than Dobby, this melancholy pixy gives Hermione fuel for her crusade to liberate house-elves, a nice bit of comic relief in this darkest of the Potter novels. J.K. Rowlings is total master of the psychology of her characters as well as of her readers. From the beginning of the book, stress (and suspense) build to a climax, are resolved, and after we've all had a breather, the next adventure is upon us and the pages must keep on turning faster. Nuances are revealed in the old familiar characters (Hagrid with a love interest!). More than in the first three, there is violence, death and evil in this fourth story. But I would not steer young children away from it because this world is also full of evil happenings. The sinister actions of the villains only play up the basic goodness, courage and selflessness of Harry and his friends. To appreciate this book the reader should really begin with the first in the series. The macabre events in the Chapter One of Goblet of Fire make sense if you've already been introduced to the villain. And there is a wonderful development of personality and character in the principals over the course of the four books. This book begins with a ghastly happening and when it concludes, there has been an incredible amount of plotting and mayhem, much of which goes unresolved. I wanted to turn the page when the last chapter concluded and keep on reading. So many questions are hanging there for the next volume that could not have been answered in those 734 pages. I am an adult reader (age 61) of this book who reads a great deal, mostly nonfiction. I like the Harry Potter books very much because the action is entirely original, the plots are perfect, the characters beautifully drawn, the proper names sheer genius, the funny situations hilarious, the dialog finely tuned, the timing and pace breathtaking, and the psychology the work of a virtuoso. I shall keep rereading until Harry Potter V makes its debut.
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Summary: Worth all the hype -- but much more than a kid's book.
Review: I've finished Harry Potter IV. I'm one of those adults who are as addicted as the kids; I also have a 12 year old daughter. For anyone who doesn't have the book yet, you will not be disappointed. The familiar characters are back, as well as the by-now-standard basic plot: Harry spends another year at Hogwarts during which he encounters treachery and danger, in a narrative filled with delightful language, fun, suspense and surprises. But there's more to it now. The adults in Harry's world are more complex, the lines between good and evil more nebulous. It is no longer just a matter of figuring out who is on Harry's side -- now we encounter wizards who are well-meaning but follow dangerous paths due to their prejudices or quest for order and safety. This is not a simple fantasy; it is political allegory as well. Voldemort and his followers clearly invoke images of fascism in Europe. JK Rawling now gives us a richer, deeper historical context, as the lives and functions of the adult wizards become more important to the tale. We still see this through Harry's eyes, but now he sees and is told much more. Just as Harry and his friends, at age 14, have become more sophisticated in their own world view, the novel itself is now geared to a more sophisticated and astute reader. This latest installment can still be read and enjoyed by 9 year olds, but they won't get all the nuances. For anyone who didn't read Harry Potter thinking it was kid stuff, I would suggest taking another look.
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Summary: Harry Potter Book IV -- The Return on You-Know-Who
Review: This enstallment of the Harry Potter series is the most exciting one yet. The book focuses more on Harry's connection with Voldemort, and what life was like in the wizarding world when he was at full power. When we find out, we realize how dangerous Voldemort really is. Reading this book leaves you eagerly waiting for the next one. The ending leaves open the room for a fifth book that could well be even better than the fourth. J.K.Rowling has done a wonderful job in writing a book that definitely is a great follow up to the previous one. One can only look forward to what is in store for Harry Potter.
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Summary: Wow! A definite turning point in the series!
Review: I just finished reading the fourth Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and I loved it! I have read all four books in the series, and each book is better then the next. I usually stay away from "fantasy" books, but this is a book no one should stay away from. J.K. Rowlings is a great writer and she will capture anyone with her spell (no matter how young or old you are!). I definitely recommend this book to anyone. Read it~you'll love it!
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Summary: Harry matures
Review: I'm over 50 years old, and enjoyed this fourth book because Harry seems to be maturing and facing even more difficult decisions with good sense. The book got off to a rather slow start, and I began to wonder if Rowlings was losing her touch, or if it would pick up. Wow, it sure did. Once Harry got back to Hogwarts, the convoluted plot unfurled and by the end I could not stop reading. How long do we have to wait until book five? I want to know what happens next! Continuing characters develop, new characters are introduced, and in this "middle" book of the proposed seven we sense the overall storyline is coming together. As usual, there are surprises. This is another fun read for Harry lovers, but it's getting more serious.
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Summary: Wonderful!
Review: J.K Rowling is at her best! The book was great. Some characters from previous books make a return in the fourth book. Harry also visits the Quidditch World Cup Burlgaria vs. Ireland. You will learn about different magic schools. Even though there were no Quidditch matches there were the Triwizard Tournament against the different schools. I thought it was a great book becasue it showed a lot if detail and it fun to see old characters and learn about the different schools. J.k Rowling has invented a whole lot of new characters and it was a good book. Retelling of Quiddicth matches and Hogwarts. I hope you enjoy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as much as I did.
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Summary: A turning point for the series..
Review: I must say, J.K. Rowling didn't pull out any stops for thisone. From the new characters, the very different plot, to the sheerlength of the book, she has taken a different turn with this latest installment of the series, and it's for the better. I really don't want to give away much of the plot to those of you who haven't read it yet, but it is definately worth reading the whole 735 pages. I will tell you this, it is a darker book than the first three, the danger is much more real. You can definately tell that the series is getting more mature as Harry ages. Harry even begins to have an interest in girls. Voldemort will have a stronger presence in this one and you will learn things about several characters' pasts that will make things in the previous books make more sense. Well, I'm rambling... tell you what, go buy the book. It's awesome and, in my opinion, better than the first three. See for yourself.
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Summary: J.K. Rowling and HP score again!
Review: The fourth installment of the Harry Potter series is a turning point. Twice as long as any of the previous books, "The Goblet of Fire" ends Harry's 'childhood' and begins his transformation into a full-grown wizard. There are, of course, all the elements that have made the series so popular - a wild, vivid imagination; breathtaking action; and delicious tongue in cheek. However, this installment is darker, more serious. We watch Harry mature right before our eyes. I will not spoil any of the plot elements, but know that for every question that is answered, two more are asked. This is a rollicking, rolling, rollercoaster of a ride!
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