Rating: 
Summary: Long, redundant, unedited
Review: And so J.K. Rowling joins the ranks of authors who go unedited, much to the detriment of the books they write. Though some claim that the fourth Harry Potter outing needs every page for its plot, the truth is that an experienced reader will recognize growing turgidity. Gone is the snappy prose and steady pacing of the first three books. Instead, we have a soggy and overlong work of YA fiction that sometimes seems confused as to what it wants to be.Harry Potter wakes up after a nightmare with his scar burning; there's a significance to this, but he's not sure what it is. Before he can dwell too long on it, however, he is swept off by the Weasleys to a major wizards' sporting event. The fun and games are ruined when a bunch of nasty wizards torture a Muggle family and a smoky green skull appears in the sky -- the Dark Mark of Voldemort. There is, unsurprisingly, a wide panic. Pretty soon Harry, Ron and Hermione are sent back to Hogwarts, where the usual proceedings are disrupted by the upcoming Triwizard Tournament -- a series of obstacle courses/magic tests for the star students of three wizard schools. Only this time, there's a fourth: Harry himself, who is chosen from the Goblet of Fire (very minor plot element) for reasons no one can explain. He has to win the Triwizard Tournament and find out who put his name in -- and why. The main problem with this book is length. I've heard HP fans exulting that they read a work longer than Moby Dick (not so -- book length is measured in WORD numbers, not PAGE numbers) but sadly books should only be this long IF and only IF they have enough plot to spread out. There isn't enough plot here -- Rowling apparently feels the need to recap the events of the previous three books every few pages, despite the phenomenal sales. Why bother, ask I? The dialogue is repetitious, and there are a couple of subplots that are pointless: one of them begins and ends within the confines of the book, and adds nothing to the plot, while the other is a prominent feature for most of it, but peters out by the end. There's a plot hole the size of Mars in the middle of it (I won't tell you what it is because it's a spoiler). The actual plot meanders -- without the tighter editing of the previous three books, it seems to drag on forever. A few hundred pages could have been edited out, all for the good. Oh, there are important events -- but you may not care by the time you slog to the finale. And the much-hyped elements of this book are severely underwhelming. The hyped character death is unnecessary and not really very interesting. Harry's new interest in girls is not worth the attention; there's more romance in "Lord of the Rings." And it's supposed to be dark. How dark is it? (Sorry, couldn't resist) The answer is: Darker than the first couple books, but I venture to say not as dark, personally, as the third. And definitely not as dark as amazing dark fantasies like "Sabriel" or "Ragwitch." If Harry Potter weren't so darned famous, these books might be inching from the 9-12 into the Young Adult section. There is more profanity in this -- and don't anyone tell me that kids hear worse on TV, it doesn't matter, blah blah blah. Gratuitous profanity adds nothing and merely makes me respect Rowling even less. There is also stuff that will seriously scare younger kids, such as the needlessly gruesome climactic scene; and there are parts that we definitely didn't need to know about, such as Harry and Ron finding student couples in the bushes (nothing explicit, but the fact that they were there is enough). There's also a greater feeling of sloppiness in this book. The Triwizard Tournament is, for some reason, assigned only to the students -- it feels like a preadolescent fantasy for the Olympics. The visiting students are almost caricatures of the French and Germans. There is also a note of sexism: the only female athlete is also inept and highly emotional compared to the cooler-headed, more capable males -- including Harry, who is years younger than she is. And there is yet another deus ex machina that pops up to save Harry from having to escape on skill and brains alone. In short, this is sadly in need of a editor and a guidance counseller. I advise that you buy "Lord of the Rings," the Chrestomanci Chronicles, The Wind on Fire Trilogy, Garth Nix's delicious Seventh Tower series, or a similar more complex and better-written work.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: Harry Potter IV is the best book i have read this summer. I have read all the other Harry Potter books and this one is my favorite. Not only is there a little bit of romamce and jealousy, there is also adventure! The way the characters and places are described you feel you are actually there standing along with Harry. There is more danger in this book. Harry must face his fears and find courage in himself if he wants to survive.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: Book came out July 8. I read the entire thing immediately! I really enjoyed this book and was amazed at its length (700+ pages). However, as usual, she has left me hanging at the end and I am frustrated because now I have to wait for the next one? ANy chance it is being published this week?
Rating:
Summary: J.K. Rowling exceeds expectations again
Review: The Harry Potter books are such a pleasure to read that you can't help wondering as you pick up each new volume if This Time Rowling will have failed, and finally turned out a formulaic series book, dumbed down for prevailing views of mass consumption, and lacking in the elctricity that charges through the previous books. I am happy to report that such is definitely NOT the case. The Goblet of Fire is a massive read, yet it pulls you in from the first page, and will not release its hold until the last. Harry is as charismatic as ever, adrift in insecurity and anchored by basic goodness. The book is indeed darker than its predecessors, but Rowling knows the limits of her youngest audience and never places their sensibilities in harm's way. There are new, intriguing, and delightful characters, with hints of recurring roles in the future. The adventures are exciting, and never trite or hackneyed. All in all, the book is a charmer in itself, even without the backstory of the ones that went before. Like the thousands of others who got it yesterday, I gave up sleep and finished it overnight. (And I am long past the target age listed above!) Thank you, J.K. Rowling.
Rating:
Summary: another winner!
Review: I just completed this book and already cannot wait for the next one. This may sound strange coming from someone my age-you see, i am 34 yrs. old. But this author is an exceptional writer and is able to entrance even the oldest of the young. I recommend it for any reader who loves a good story. Parents--buy this book for your children, heck, buy it for yourselves!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it ! Bring on #5!
Review: I was concerned that HP4 would not be worthy of all of the fanfare and anticipation, that the actual book would backfire like a Spellotaped wand. Thank God I was wrong - very wrong! Harry and Co. endure a fourth year completely unlike their previous years; their adventures are all new, and the challenges which they face, from classes and each other, are fresh, but believable. J.K. Rowling doesn't just tell a story; she writes like she was there and is just filling you in. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is peppered with new and entertaining characters, including starchy ministers, foreign wizards, house-elves, and even a Jack Palance-ish Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. This is Hogwart's, though; things are rarely as they seem. This book is a roller-coaster ride in the dark. You think you know where the ride is going, a couple of hills, a curve, then zip! -you're off in a new direction, and then you drop down a huge hill, then another! Zip! you're going left, and pretty darned fast too! And another hill! ( How could there be any more hills?) And just when you know that this may be the best ride ever, you ease in to the station, slightly stunned but drooling for more.... Thank you Ms. Rowling - this was well worth the wait, and I'm queueing up for the ride on #5!
Rating:
Summary: Harry enters his fourth year at Hogwarts
Review: This amazing book, the fourth in author J.K. Rowling's series about a young wizard, Harry Potter, who is attending school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, tells the dramatic tale of our hero's fourteenth year- and fourth year of school. The tale opens with an exciting invitation to the Quidditch World Cup- I won't tell you who wins! Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione then go back to school. They discover that the Triwizarding Tournament has been revived, and champions of three schools of wizardry (there are others! ) will compete for the honor of the school! Voldemo- oh, sorry, He-who-must-not-be-named lurks, as always, in the background ... waiting and watching for his chance at Harry, the boy who resisted his curse when no other could! Rowling's artistry and her gift for bringing another world to life are at an all-time high in this tome of a book. Never fear! The length makes the book all that much more interesting, even for children. It's twice as long, twice as involved - and will take twice as long to finish - as book three. It's full of puzzles and mysteries of all shapes and sizes. This book IS darker than the others - think of "Empire Strikes Back" but it certainly sets the scene for further Harry adventures! When does book five arrive?
Rating:
Summary: Worth all the hype!
Review: i just finished it. it was the best yet. i must admit i skipped the parties and let amazon bring it to my house... at which point i began to devour it. i had read a child's review that said the first chapter was a little slow. humph! it was the perfect set up. i am an avid british mystery fan and i saw so many more elements of that in this book... in addition to the great fantasy that is harry potter already. this book is incredibly well written and so much fun! jump on the bandwagon. it is so worth the ride!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: Magnificent, moving, touching, riveting! Wonderful. I especially enjoyed the little touches of romance--our boys and girls are growing up and discovering the "charms" of the opposite sex!
Rating:
Summary: Great read for muggles and wizards everywhere!
Review: I thought that the fourth installment in the Harry Potter series was by far the greatest. I read it in two days; starting the day it came out, and finishing it the next day. I thought that the author combined tragedy, suspense, love, and humor very well, with a completely unexpected twist for the ending. I didn't stop reading it from the minute I got it! I dare you, just try to resist the temptation of the Harry Potter Journeys (spells don't work)!
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