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What are readers saying about Harry Potter Y La Orden Del Fenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Spanish Edition)?
| Reviews of Harry Potter Y La Orden Del Fenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Spanish Edition) - Page 1 of 349 |
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-10 08:27:27.
(Language: English)
  
The fifth book was very dark and just plain sad. While the previous four books contained increasingly serious subject matter, they were still able to maintain a sense of fun and games. There was so little happiness to go around in the fifth book. I find that I don’t really like Harry. He handles things completely differently than I would. I would try to make some sort of peace with Snape and brown nose it up a little bit. Harry continues to make his life much worse than it COULD be by being a bratty little asshole. I understand he’s been through a lot, but most of the time, he’s only thinking of himself. I have a feeling the 6th and 7th books are going to be more doom and gloom. I have no problem with that, but I would like some happier times ahead for Harry in return.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-21 11:44:08.
(Language: English)
I rated this 4 stars (instead of 5) because of the following reasons: 1. Harry really doesn't do anything but piss and moan in this and it gets extremly irritating. 2. Umbridge is a neo-nazi who i want to kill (i have to stop myself from stabbing the word umbridge with a red sharpie);) 3. The end was super depressing and came as a complete shock. Frankly, the movie and the book were a tad bit disappointing!! It is surely interesting and i can't say it's dull, but it is so... different from the harry potter we'd known and loved. In this book Harry is contradicted and isolated in the kingdom of Hogwarts, but some of it is because of his own doing. Something tells me that telling your friends to FOAD (basically) is not going to help you feel better XP. I suppose that all his complaining was meant for his overall development and expressing the fact that Harry is just a teenager at heart, but it was a little bit repetitive.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-24 01:24:51.
(Language: English)
I'm almost finished rereading it (6 is next!) in anticipation of the release of the OOTP!film and HP7 in July. I know that some people dislike the somewhat jarring tone shifts (less jarring if you take note of the more subtle shifts in 1-4) in this one, but I liked it well enough on my other reads and I thought teen!Harry was kind of funny because he was so accurately 15 rather than some YA book's ideal notions of 15. (CC might be a plagerizing bitch, but I still think A Lot to Be Upset About is one of the better humor!fics/parodies ever.) OOTP is not my favorite, but I liked it mostly because I do like the sly (and less than sly) diggs at Harry and co. I like the White Hats and mostly sympathize with them, but I completely get how insufferable and self-righteous Harry and co. can be and how they're just as bad sometimes as the Black Hats. Plus, I think Umbridge was one of JKR's better villians. I really, truly disliked her and had a hard time stepping away enough to recognize how horrid the "good" characters were in retaliating against her (particularly Hermione with the rape/attempted murder plot) because I just wanted bad things to happen to her. Also, she offended my educational sensibilities by being a bad teacher. Overall, I'm enjoying my reread.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-06 04:18:50.
(Language: English)
Several weeks into the summer, Harry Potter has heard nothing from his friends or acquaintances from the wizard world. Finding himself walking down a street with his cousin Dudley, the two of them are attacked by a pair of Dementors. Harry drives them off with a Patronus Charm, and is surprised to learn that the Dursleys' elderly neighbour Arabella Figg, is a Squib and has been keeping an eye on him on Albus Dumbledore’s orders. On returning home, he immediately receives a notice of expulsion from Hogwarts for using magic outside school, and that his wand is to be snapped, though these decisions are reversed, set to be decided at a disciplinary hearing. One night, an advance guard from the Order of the Phoenix arrives at the house and escorts Harry to their secret headquarters at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place in London, where Harry joins the Weasley family, Hermione Granger, and Harry’s godfather Sirius Black................
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-24 03:13:51.
(Language: English)
Surprisingly decent, especially when compared to the first 3. I know a lot were probably put off by the one dimensional and angsty Harry in the first 2/3rds of the book, and you rightly should have been. But the last third Rowling started to get to the point and made the first 600 pages acceptable. Granted there is, as always, too much padding on both syntactical and plot levels, but that's the price one pays for reading Rowling. This book still suffers from inconsistency. Most of the time rowling has her characters spell everything out when they are not purposefully trying to remain enigmatic, but in this volume she sometimes leaves important explanatory points up to the reader to deduce, which instead of involving leaves one feeling she forgot to finish sentences or paragraphs. Also the atrocious dialog attribution continues, but was pared down much more. So the major faults are once again inconsistent writing quality and style and lack of general character development in the first few hundred pages; the latter which continues with Harry until last third of the book. But Rowling does pack a punch in that last third on all fronts, letting the sub plots and minor characters culminate into a forceful climax and a much less didactic denouement than the rest before hand in the series. While I still prefer Globet of Fire simply for the drastic and 'fresh' change of pace from the rest, Order of the Phoenix provides a well thought out plot with acceptable characters and a polished climax that masks the inconsistencies of the rest of the novel. I just hope Rowling can continue improving her craft and maintain fresh and unique stories for the final two novels, instead of returning to the uninteresting formula of the first three.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-25 01:16:48.
(Language: English)
Oh, book 5. I was never so furious at an author before in my life. Until this book, I worshiped JK Rowling, and after it I never looked at her work the same way again. The major plot twist was just so obvious. So incredibly obvious. In every book until 5, the last few chapters totally blindsided me. There was always one major plot-related surprise, usually two, the kind that made me immediately read the book again to catch all the hints. Then came book five. I spent the whole book thinking, "No, there's no way Harry won't figure out he's being manipulated." and then, "No, no, Snape or Dumbledore will figure it out." and then, "Seriously, ok, so Harry won't figure it out, but Rowling will at least surprise the reader a little!" .... and in the end, the big plot twist was something that was obvious from the beginning. AND one of the best characters in the whole thing died. No surprises anywhere. To be honest, the book itself was really good. Better than 4. I've gone back and read it a few more times, and it was really well-written -- I hated Harry for his adolescent idiocy, and that was really good writing on her part. OOTP introduced a bunch of really awesome characters and brought back some of my favs, too. Umbridge, the D.A. ... so many excellent parts of this book. I really should like it more. But I never forgave her for not surprising the reader, ever, and that's why this book will always be my least favorite.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-13 05:53:59.
(Language: English)
At this point of the series, I think it safe to say that Rowling's audience is no longer young readers. This is the darkest book yet (not that I'm objecting to this), and it seems that nothing goes right for our heroes. Harry is attacked by Dementors at the beginning, tried in a criminal hearing for using the Patronus charm to defend himself, and before he even gets to Hogwarts we get the idea that this is not going to be a fun year. Things get worse as the Ministry Of Magic sends Professor Umbridge (who I STILL think is a Death Eater!) to make sure Dumbledore doesn't use Hogwarts to create an army--Fudge is afraid Dumbledore wants his job, refusing to believe that Voldemort (or "Lord Thingy", as he calls him) is back. Umbridge basically makes life at Hogwarts hell, Harry can't seem to talk to Cho (his crush) without it ending in him feeling like an idiot or them having a fight, and to top things off, a major figure in Harry's life will die by the end of the book. This is a rather depressing entry, and things only look to get worse as Voldemort comes into the open and the Second War begins.....
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-25 09:33:20.
(Language: English)
Since the death of Cedric Diggory, I thought things couldn't get worst in Harry's life. After reading this book I was really upset, but I have to say, "this book was rather enjoyable." Harry is growing up and experiencing new things in his life. Harry has come a long way in his life, since the last book we learned Lord Voldemort or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned in full strength and gaining power every moment he can. We find Harry faceing his worst fears possible in this book. This book will keep you on the edge, like all Harry Potter books have done. J.K. Rowling has done a fantastic job on creating this marvelous books keeping children and adults on good terms. We could never be disappointed with J.K. unless you don't like the fact people have died in the ending books. In that case you should not read anymore, but if you believe these characters died for a good cause, then continue you will find out that the last two books are rather enjoyable. I myself have finished the complete Harry Potter series and have read them at least two times already. I am a big Harry Potter fan, I was rather disappointed the seventh year was the last book, but it was the greatest book of all of the Harry Potter books. If you haven't read these fabulous books try to start, if you aren't interested then don't, but try, you might find them to your account the greatest books ever. Harry Potter RULES!!
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Soha posted a review at 2010-04-17 08:24:05.
(Language: English)
I regret to say that this book is -so far- my least favourite in the series. It is very unnecessarily long: the longest of all seven books (~870 pages), yet contains the least number of events. Not only that, but it also starts off incredibly slow, which made me somewhat lose my patience. It does, however, pick up speed towards the end, making things just a bit better. Overall, I did not feel that the events are as exciting as I had hoped. Even the ending itself, which -even though reveals an important aspect about Harry's past- does not constitute a strong enough ending like the ones Harry Potter readers have been accustomed to. In summary, I believe that the entire novel -all 870 pages- could be summarized in 3 sentences (or 3 main events), which if known, one could skip this book and move right to the next one in the series.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-28 08:17:14.
(Language: English)
While being perhaps the weakest link in the Harry Potter series (in my opinion), this book is still an extremely entertaining read. At just short of 900 pages, it's also a MONSTER compared to the others, so make sure that, if you intend to read it, you set aside a bit more time than usual. Though any younger reader brave enough to attempt it on their own is virtually guaranteed to have their reading skills improved in the process, making it well worth it. This book also marks a major turning point in the writing of the series, as this is the first volume that truly seems almost more adult in its mood than the young adult book it's meant to be. The child-like wonder of the earlier volumes has been largely replaced with harsh reality. It is a really good lead into the truly somber and dark tones that the following volumes adopt. Though I personally enjoyed it, this is likely the first book in the series that I would NOT recommend to everyone. Due to its somewhat harsher mood and tone, and its total length (which may be difficult for some young readers to understand completely, especially without adult help) if you get this for a child, you really do have to know them and what they're capable of handling. That being said, I WOULD recommend it for all Harry Potter fans to read some day (if they aren't ready for it yet).
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-18 04:35:23.
(Language: English)
Since pretty much everyone I know has read these books, I figure reviewing them is pretty pointless. But with the new book coming out in a couple of days, I have to go through them beginning to end. To make the reviews more entertaining, I will be doing them in a variety of unexpected formats. For this review, I will be writing as an unnamed member of the Bush administration. So, how long until we can get this Rowling woman into Gitmo? I mean really, have you read this book? It's an 800-page diatribe encouraging children to not only question authority, but to actively disobey it! I mean look at what we have here - there's a magical government that is responsible for to oversight and management of magical folk in Britain. Now I'm not entirely sure how this organization works, but I do know this - where there is a government, there is authority, and that authority must be there for a reason. No matter how much you may disagree with it, you have to understand that everything those in authority are doing is for your benefit. It pained me to see how the character of Dolores Umbridge was treated in this book. She single-handedly tried to bring order to Hogwarts and steer it from the liberal-free-thinking path to destruction paved by that long-haired hippie Dumbledore. And what did Umbridge get for her hard work? The Medal of Freedom? No! She got carried off by a pack of wild centaurs. How is that right? Moreover, what kind of example is that setting for American children? Now I don't care if Rowling wants to cripple a generation of readers in Britain. Go ahead, it's not like we need them anyway. But with these books becoming so popular in the United States, there is a very great danger that her insidious brand of rebellion and individualism will infect our children as well, and where will that lead us? Into howling chaos, that's where! Our children will see their favorite characters being disobedient and rebellious with no consequence, and it won't be long until they're thinking they can follow their example. If we let them, our children will become just as uncontrollable as the little monsters in this book. I urge you, if you have children, not to let them read this book. It will do nothing but damage that will take years to undo. All you parents need to do is remind them is that there are people in authority - like yourselves - who know what is right for them. They just have to listen, not question, and obey, not understand. I just hope that this trend doesn't continue in the next couple of books. Personally, I'd like to see all those kids locked up and that Muggle-hugger Dumbledore thrown off a parapet or something. The sooner Hogwarts comes back under Ministry control, the better everything will be.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-22 12:57:10.
(Language: English)
Quinta parte da saga de Harry Potter. Com o retorno de Lord Voldemort no final de "O Cálice de Fogo" as coisas tornam-se ainda mais complicadas para Potter (agora já adolescente) e Dumbledore, enquanto um autoritário burocrata tenta lentamente tomar o poder de Hogwarts. É uma Sociedade secreta fundada por Dumbledores destinada a combater Voldemort da primeira vez que este tomou o poder. Harry não recebe mais cartas de Ron e Hermione, o Verão está insuportável e Harry escuta de repente um barulho na casa dos tios. Vernon, o tio de Harry, desconfia que ele tenha sido o autor do barulho, Harry se chateia e começa a andar pelas ruas quando vê seu primo Dudley e seus amigos. No caminho de casa, Harry e Dudley começam a discutir. Dudley fala algo sobre Cedric, e Harry puxa a varinha, mas não a usa. De repente, chegam dois dementores que atacam Harry e Dudley, e Harry usa magia para se livrar dos Dementores. A Sra. Figg, uma vizinha de Harry, chega e começa a falar que um tal Mundugus Fletcher o estava seguindo por ordens de Dumbledore, e saiu no seu turno de vigilância. Harry nunca imagina que a Sra. Figg fossse Bruxa, e ela lhe revela que é uma cepa-torta. Harry também se enraivece quando descobre que Dumbledore estava a pedir para que pessoas o seguissem. Quando chega na casa dos Dursley, os tios lhe pedem grandes informações sobre como tudo aconteceu, e chegam a pensar que o Harry usou magia contra Dudley, mas o que mais preocupou Harry foi uma carta dizendo que ele fora expulso de Hogwarts! Minutos depois, chega outra dizendo que, em vez disso, o Harry terá que comparecer a uma audiência disciplinar de noite com um grupo de pessoas, incluindo amigos de Harry como Remus Lupin. Eles levam-no em vassouras até a casa de Sirius Black. Harry encotra Ron e Hermione e grita com eles um monte de coisas toda a sua raiva do verão. Os amigos explicaram o que é a Ordem da Fênix. Harry vai até a audiência com o pai de Ron. Na audiência, Harry, por um triz é absolvido. Na saída do Ministério, Harry e Arthur vêem o Ministro da Magia que ultimamente tem engrossado com Dumbledore ao lado do Devorador da Morte, Lucius Malfoy. Harry, Ron e Hermione voltam à Hogwarts.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-08 07:53:17.
(Language: English)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix This is the fifth installment in J.K. Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series. At nearly 900 pages (and containing more words than the New Testament) Rowling’s latest endeavor remains true to her imaginative, unpredictable, Roald Dahlish style, but as Harry matures, so does the nature of the story.Though more protracted and perhaps less charming than the earliest books, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is nevertheless well-written and engaging. Less blatantly "spiritual" and more character-driven than the recent Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, Phoenix is still dark from the outset, and families must still navigate all of the spells, sorcery and intense conflict inherent to the series. Written more for teens than tweens, Phoenix finds Harry increasingly sullen and angst-ridden as he faces trials of adolescence at Hogwarts. Parents who allow teens to read this book should be prepared to invest in it themselves. Spiritual snags will make it problematic for many Christian families.Picking up only four weeks after Harry’s bitter-sweet triumph over Voldemort in The Goblet of Fire, the story deviates from the excitement generally surrounding the start of a Hogwarts term. Harry is deeply angry at having been almost completely cut off from the magical world and stuck once more on Privet Drive. Reduced to hiding in the flower bed outside a window to hear any Muggle news which may reveal Voldemort’s actions or whereabouts, Harry’s anxiety is clear: Ongoing nightmares about his own torture and a schoolmate’s murder by Vodemort plague him, as do feelings of betrayal by his wizarding friends who have kept him in the dark throughout the summer.The oppressiveness of the blood sacrifice and murder in the last installment resurfaces here in an early Dementor attack on Harry and Dudley in which Harry is forced to use magic to save his cousin’s life. It’s a no-no to use spells outside of Hogwarts, so Harry gets called before the Ministry of Magic and risks being expelled and having his wand snapped. Along the way Harry becomes aware that he is not as forgotten as he thought, and has been the focus of protective efforts by The Order of the Phoenix.Harry is eventually reunited with the Weasley family, Hermione, and Sirius. And the youngsters begin to piece together the purpose of The Order of the Phoenix. Readers, meanwhile, begin to see how much Harry has changed through his experiences. No longer the unsure, humble boy of The Sorcerer’s Stone, this 15-year-old struggles with pride when he senses that the members of the Order don’t feel he’s ready to fight along with them. His anger and resentment of Dumbledore grows throughout the book as the Headmaster distances himself from Harry under confusing circumstances.Furthering the angst, both Ron and Hermione have become school prefects, somewhat breaking up the heroic threesome. And Harry realizes that he is once again the focus of much gossip, and that even some of his close friends do not believe his account of what happened with Voldemort and Cedric Diggory at the end of Goblet. The sociopolitical climate of the wizarding world has changed over the summer, and Dumbledore has come under great persecution for saying that Voldemort has returned, a fact that Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, adamantly denies.In between magical missions and battles, Harry spends his school days learning to relate to a girlfriend, handling his own pride when Ron begins to gain special honors, and finding out who he is apart from Quidditch, his parents and the professors who have guided him all his wizarding life. The story ends with a stunning, full revelation of a heretofore half-expressed prophecy. And Harry returns to Privet Drive with assurances that The Order of the Phoenix will be watching over him during holiday. ...
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Emily posted a review at 2007-09-08 08:26:06.
(Language: English)
My opinon of this book is twisted. How did I managed to give this book five stars when it is the series' installment I most complained about? There are aspects so brilliant they make up for any flaw I might find--the second reading allowed me to see the reason behind these so-called flaws. The book is startling as an almost 180 degree flip from the cute, wonderlandish feel of the prior books, something I originally found disturbing. And yet the disturbing quality is good. It's necessary as J. K. Rowling explores the world outside a child's fantasy. Some may complain, but Harry is growing up--I found his whiney attitude considerably mild in comparison with the many angst-ridden teens I've seen. Considering all that Harry has been through, I'd be more disturbed had he acted naturally. And let's remember that many teenagers do read these books--they need someone to connect with. And connect teenagers should. The dark world that is this book is the twisted mutations of many things familiar to a teenager. The ultimate sinister teacher is embodied in Umbridge who, if examined, is morbidly evil in an even soulless way. Even tests are hyperbolized fantastically. Wild, enchanting, and over-the-top: I like it. I feel J. K. has even improved in her writing. Tight, quick, description paints an incredible world beyond the now-familiar Hogwarts. It's a pivot: the once-strange school has become safe to readers, so Rowling takes them beyond it into the wide wizarding world. This is an excellent fantasy, dark and rich and wonderful.
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Sarah posted a review at 2009-07-08 05:50:52.
(Language: English)
The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Sorcerer's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts consumed by grief and exhausted, but not defeated. Order of the Phoenix is action-packed, stirring, moving, and leaves you satisfied, yet still wanting more.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-15 08:17:31.
(Language: English)
I am here writing this review specially for those who have a very negative judge on this book(Specially Mr.Chris opinion), I really liked this one,I respect the opinion of those who thinks it's a bad book, but come on, everyone knew that Ms.Dolores was wrong, the whole ministry of magic were wrong,Fudge was an ignorant minister who hasn't got the decisive character to justify things,and yet Ms.Dolores,following his path,tried to deal with the matters from this point of view,By using a very bad ways to achieve this, It is not strange that everybody hated her, In times of emergencies,children sometimes relise what it's right from what it's not,(Imagine knowing that big gang come into the city and are going to kill a lot of people,Imagine that you saw those people yourself, knowing that some of them are living among us, having influence, and yet they tell you that you are a liar!!! ),this book mention the fact that Adults may come wrong sometimes because they are humans, And yet Harry was patient , He beared a lot of detentions, a bad reputation and pain. Ms.Dolores really deserved what she got eventually, Was she a good example by abusing centaurs!!!!! , By hating Hal;f-Breed just because they are ugly or something?? I don't think so. That's why I see that this books wasn't that bad
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-24 01:44:02.
(Language: English)
Unbelievably I did not like Harry at all, throughout the whole book! Harry is back with the Dursley’s for summer, and having as ‘good’ a time as ever. He is particularly stroppy because he has heard from no one for the whole summer and feels very neglected. Finally, after having to use magic in Privet Drive to save himself and Dudley from Dementors he is whisked away to a secret residence (Number 12 Grimmauld Place), home to Sirius and the Order of the Phoenix. The Order is made of the survivors of the original Voldemort attacks that killed Harry’s parents, and latter-day supporters of those working against him. He remains angry with everyone throughout the book, not doing as instructed by the mainly absent Dumbledore, refusing lessons from Snape and generally being a pain in the neck adolescent. I was in danger of not caring what happened to such a bratty child. In the event the Daily Prophet is rubbishing Harry and nobody believes he and Dumbeldore that Voldemort is back, even after Cedric’s death at the end of book 4. There are a few who believe, but the vast majority do not and Harry end up having to set up a Secret Society to ensure some of his fellow students receive Defence against the Dark Arts training appropriate to cope! The school has been taken over by and Professor Umbridge is the new Head teacher and High Inquisitor. Slytherin students and those who hate muggles and those of mixed muggleblood rule the school. The school is being turned over to Voldemort and his Death Eater supporters, but with everyone thinking Harry is mad and not to be trusted, and him being too stroppy to convince otherwise, what will happen… Perhaps the most publicity has been given over to the fact that a main character dies… well… I dispute this ‘fact’, though I can’t say why as that would give the game away. This is still a hugely satisfying read, and I guess, as a 15-year-old boy Harry wouldn’t be too likeable. But I was left a bit disappointed. Those who have not re4ad book 4 may struggle initially, but stick with it. This is not as good as the other books, but is still a great read! I thought the film was great though...
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-17 12:30:31.
(Language: English)
Arguably the worst in the Harry Potter series, and that's coming from someone who's been a fan since the first one was published in the UK. The author clearly has no idea how to write a real teenage male character, and so she has him perpetually suspended between tantrum-prone toddler and cliched female vision of a male in puberty, "smoldering with generic rage". Everything about the book feels frustrating and contrived, and the characters react to the plot "twists" as though they suddenly lost all the wisdom and experience they had acquired in the previous books (and over the courses of their fictional lifetimes). She redeems herself in the following two novels, but this one nearly made me give up the series. It was literally painful to read, and is the only one in the series I have not re-read. I actually found the fact that she killed my favorite character at the end to be the least objectionable part of this book. It is worth reading only because it introduces Luna Lovegood and expands Neville's character.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-03 02:25:18.
(Language: English)
This is my favorite book...ever. Well, my favorite character died, soooooo...it's still my favorite book ever. Actually, Hermione is my favorite. But still, I was beyond sad when Sirius died. I was actually quite emo while reading this…I came to a point of almost yelling at the book! I was just so tempted to scream at it the other day because I hate that Umbridge cow so much (times a googolplex), but then I realized that screaming at a book would do nothing. I hate her more than people who actually exist…strange, yet, you shouldn’t really hate people. I’m glad to know Umbridge isn’t real.. She’s such an snotty, arrogant, fat jerk. Every time she does that dumb fake cough I just wish someone would shove a cough drop down her throat so she chokes and dies!!!!!!!! Ok, I’m getting a little out of hand…but anywho, I LOVE the ending…it’s one of those “I told you so, you idiots†endings! And I almost died laughing when Umbridge was all like, “Tell these centaurs ’blah- blah-blah†and Harry was like, “Sorry Professor, I must not tell lies.†(which was actually not in the book, but they put it in the movie. I'm not one for people putting things in the movies that weren't in the book, but this one was just plain great!!!) Ha! I was like, “IN YOUR FACE!†I just wish Umbridge would have died, but she got what she deserved, so it’s all good. But it makes me so mad when in books/movies something is happening and YOU know it’s for real, but people just keep denying it and get all stupid! It made me feel better when they formed the D.A. and were being rebels…woot! I love this book…a lot.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-25 06:21:43.
(Language: English)
When it comes to my favorite Harry Potter book, there is a tie between 'Order of the Phoenix' and 'Deathly Hallows.' While the strength of 'Hallows' is that it allows the three main characters to finally break free of the Hogwart's mold and find real adventure, 'Order of the Phoenix' does the opposite, reigning in the kids for most of the book while the grown-ups fight the big fights. But in doing that, it creates a sense of ever-building tension, as we wait for the kids to finally bust into the action. And when they do just that in the several-chapters-long climax, it is electric. Seeing our beloved teenage magicians throw down with Death Eaters and hold their own is an action-lover's dream come true, and one of the reasons 'Half-Blood Prince' was such a let down in comparison. In the battle at the Ministry, Harry, Ron, and Hermione's growth is more than just about their emotional maturing - they start to take their rightful place among other literary heroes, and that means being in the middle of the fray. Special points to Rowling for not shying away from Harry's descent into very realistic teen angst. It's a brave author who allows her main character (and the hero of a multimillion dollar series) to act like a brat for no reason other than hormones.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-12-22 10:47:30.
(Language: English)
This is the WORST story I've read from the series. Nearly everybody is literally saying to both Harry and Dumbledore "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" throughout the entire book. And until the very end when everyone see's Voldemort for themselves they are all FORCED to say to both Harry and Dumbledore "You were right and we were wrong." My answer to everyone that showed loyalty to Fudge's demeanor and rule when he was tightening his grip on everyone to believe that everything about the Dark Lord's return is a lie is that they are ALL fools and I would spit in the Minister's face for being a spineless asshole.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-29 09:44:24.
(Language: English)
Rowling's worst. I love the HP series but have so many gripes about this book... 1. Bad pacing. I basically got to read about somebody's day over and over again, all the way down to pointless details like what Harry ate for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner. Ugh. I read to get away from boring daily life, not to delve into it. 2. The plot...erm, I guess the plot was that Fudge didn't believe Voldie was back? I spent hundreds of pages reading about the evils of Umbridge, who really had nothing to do with the climax of the book (in the Dep. of Mysteries where Sirius dies). Those two things felt completely disconnected. In my opinion, the book would've been much better if there was more focus on the Dep. of Mysteries and the Ministry's denial and a lot less Umbridge-isms. 3. Harry was annoying. Period. His character really didn't do anything for me. 4. This sorta ties in with no. 1, but lots of unnecessary details and scenes. Like, in the beginning, Harry goes to court and lives at Sirius's house with the Weasleys. This takes something like 150 pages, and a lot of that is unnecessary description, or day-to-day things that don't advance the plot/lead to the climax (a.k.a. don't matter). What a drag.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-30 07:47:16.
(Language: English)
It's been so much fun for me growing up with Harry Potter. I'm seventeen, and book seven is coming out. And it's always been like that. I was fifteen when I read Order of the Phoenix. I understood what Harry was going through (well, to a point obviously, because since there is no such thing as magic and most of us don't have tragically murdered parents, we aren't going to know EXACTLY what Harry was going through). And whil she charaacterized well (it exasperated me, but was well done) I found that Harry's characterization was actually distracting. This was - and remains - my least favorite of the series. There were good points, to be sure, but teen!Harry just made me want to tear my hair out. I really like Luna Lovegood's character, I think she is a wonderful addition to the series. Some sort of comical relief is needed in OotP, and Luna has her own secrets and knows when to be serious. A fantastic character. And despite her wicked deeds (and a murder most foul) I also very much like the character of Bellatrix Lestrange. Of course, this is all my opinion, and since I'm going against the crowd, I may or may not be reliable. nonetheless, very long, monotonous at points, Harry drives me crazy, love the Quidditch King portions, not a fan of Kreature (unneccessary)... not a fan of the murder... mmm... yep, s'about all I can say.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-18 08:30:12.
(Language: English)
This book in many ways proves JK Rowling's genius beyond measure. It is my favorite book of the entire series and I love Rowling's unique brand of adventure, mystery, charm, immersion, and wonder. She so completely creates her worlds that it is impossible to not be drawn into her creation. This book focuses for a large part on two things: the politics of the magic world, and the emotional growth of Harry Potter. I'm not that big of a fan of coming-of-age novels, and so when people mentioned to me that Potter is "really angsty" in this one, I wasn't really looking forward to it. But honestly, a lot of what Rowling did was spot on. He's unsure of himself, being really awkward with girls, getting angry at authority figures for no reason, and trying desperately to find his place in teenaged society (a tremendous effort for the poor unwilling celebrity). I don't know about you, but that sounds a lot like life when I was fifteen. The other focus of the story is the political plots- Cornelius Fudge vs. Albus Dumbledore, who will win? It's really epic and is completely draws you in to her imaginary world, allowing greater perspective on the workings of non-muggles. I love the way Rowling shows that these people are just normal people, except with magic. They are so similar to us, it makes us love them even more. There are parts in the prose where Rowling gets lazy- 'And then Harry told Hermione everything that had just occurred in the potions room.' But for the most part, she's money. Just the single description of the veil (weakly done in the movie, in my opinion) is enough to solidify her abilities in my mind as a terrific writer. It was freakin' creepy.
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Elizabeth posted a review at 2010-06-02 11:38:45.
(Language: English)
When we again meet Harry Potter in this latest installation in the popular series, he is a changed individual. He is older, yes -- now fifteen -- but there is something else different about him as well; he is rougher, more full of anger. We meet Harry again lying behind a hydrangea bush, alone, to escape the screams of his aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. At least they haven't changed. Their son, Dudley, is also older and now, unknown to his parents, little more than a neighborhood hoodlum. Harry is angry; he feels that he is being ignored by his friends and by his mentor, Dumbledore. He is also fearful, for his famous scar is acting up, paining him, and he fears that the terrible Voldemort is about to make his reappearance. Something is about to occur, something bad. Harry is lying behind the bush, beneath an open window of his uncle's house, listening to the television inside, waiting for news of whatever that "something" is to be talked about on the evening news, when suddenly there is a loud crack. The sound of someone apparating. Harry, suspecting danger, pulls out his wand. Danger comes to him but it is in the form of his uncle, who, also hearing the noise, looks outside and sees Harry, wand in hand. His uncles reaches out and grabs him. They struggle until Harry frees himself. Then they argue until Harry walks away. The argument endis with his uncle declaring, "We're not stupid, you know" and Harry responding with an insult, "Well, that's news to me." Part of the new surly Harry. Shortly thereafter he meets Dudley, and soon it is Harry who is provoking Dudley rather than the other way around (as I said, not the same Harry). Soon both boys are attacked by Dementors, and saved only by Harry using his wand -- A fact that soon will threaten Harry with expulsion from his school, for it is against the rules to use magic in front of humans. When he finally returns to Hogwarts, he learns that he has been the victim of an ongoing smear campaign. Newspapers read by wizards have run stories denigrating his achievements in fighting Voldemort, calling them the imagined tales of an attention-seeking and perhaps deranged young man. The campaign is working, for many of the students now look at Harry as though he is an ugly bug who might suddenly leap on their shirt collars, turn and bite them on the neck. This increases Harry's angst and he finds it difficult to get along with even his best friends, Ron and Hermione. There is a lot of sighing and grumbling between them. Harry is saved from expulsion by Dumbledore, but his troubles aren't over. The school he loves is being taken over by a new political movement which eventually pushes Dumbledore out of power and places the "toad-like" Professor Umbridge, perhaps the worse despotic teacher/headmaster to ever exist, in charge. Harry's life, as with the lives of most of the other students, is made miserable. The school is slowly being corrupted by politics and tyrants, his scar is still acting up terribly, and he is suffering from recurring nightmares, dreams that seem more real than not. Life is not easy. Who is behind the smear campaign? Who is behind the takeover of Hogwarts? What is the reason for Harry's bad dreams? As with the previous Harry Potter books, there is as much mystery novel as fantasy novel here. J.K. Rowling's wonderful ability to tell tales is on ample display here, and the book's 870 pages read quicker than one would suspect when first picking the novel up and developing arm strain. But the plot ultimately is weak for all its length. All of the plot's machinations point to a desire by Voldemort to obtain an object of sorts, an object which ultimately struck me as a kind of Alfred Hitchock's "McGuffin" -- an object that exists for no other reason than to justify the movement of the plot, like the suitcase everyone is after in the movie Ronin. I found myself, too, questioning who J.K. Rowling now sees as the primary audience for her Harry Potter novels. By having Harry grow up, she's abandoned her core audience, children pre- mid-teens. She is suddenly writing for an older audience, else how to explain the use of the word "scumbag" in the novel more than once? I'm not sure all parents would want their young children reading a "children's book" with this word in it. There is a reason why Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz series remained the same age, just as there was a reason why Huck Finn didn't grow older for the sequel to Tom Sawyer, written years after the first book. The core audience has to be able to identify with the main character. I may be wrong, but I'm not sure Rowling's many young fans will be able to do so with The Order of the Phoenix.
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