Product Description: Unabridged on 17 Audio Cassettes! The fifth hefty installment in J. K. Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series takes a uniquely psychological dark turn. There is a Door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?
Amazon.com Review: As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?
The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.
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 exhausted and pensive. Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical series. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Excellent audio-book! The audio book is truly excellent. I strongly recomend it, not only to youths. The CD is a full version of the book. It's performed by Jim Dale, who does an excellent job so that it's hard to believe that there's only one actor.
MK
My second favorite of the series The largest and second best, in my opinon, of the series is when the good side fights back. Voldemort is slaughtering "for fun" and The Order of the Phoenix won't stand for it. The Order of he Phoenix is basically the equivelent of the Justice League. The ending is a duel between the two greatist wizards alive and will keep you wanting more.
Harry experiences the darkness in the world first hand Overall: -------- 4.5 stars for Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix. It is dense, quick paced book with a lot of character development and life lessons for the characters in the story. The concept of Death and the implications of Death are driven home for Harry. The book is like "The Empire Strikes Back" for the Star Wars Episode 4 - 6 for the Harry Potter series.
Characters: ----------- Harry is clearly a petulent teenager which is a scary thought given his magical abilities. I find Harry to not be very smart and keeps missing obvious things in plot as well as refuses to prepare himself properly for the upcoming battles / trials. Harry's disregard for advice by others is not something that should be encouraged in your readers. I believe JKR is trying to show the consequences of not studying and working hard but the consequences will need to be more dire.
Ron and Hermiene are showing more emotional growth and development that Harry to me. I do like to see that they are acting a bit more mature and seem to be learning from their experiences more. I do get tired of the nearly constant shout and temper tantrums by Harry.
Frankly, I find reading bits with Harry in it a bit annoying.
Story: ------- The overall plot line of the Harry Potter saga is advanced quite a bit in the book. See other reviews for details (no need to recount them again here). JKR moves the story along to help set the stage for the Dark Lords return to full power. The theme of disunity and how it feeds the dark part of the human condition are large in the story. The death of Sirius is drastic blow to Harry especially the way it happens -- quick and due to carelessness by Sirius. The potential cost of their consequences is vividly demonstrated for the young characters in the book.
Action: ------- The book has a lot of action in it. I will not go into all of the action scenes as other reviewers have done that admirably. The action is clean and crisp with enough pacing to keep you turning the pages late into the evening. J. K. Rowling's style for action is well established at this point and she keeps it consistent.
If you liked the other Harry Potter books, you will like the action and pacing in this book.
My biggest question regarding the book is why is the "Order" not killing off the Death Eaters one by one. It is fine to stun them but it does not solve your problem of having to fight the Death Eaters later. Since the dementors went over to join the Dark Lord in the last revolt, it should be obvious that the dementors will let the Death Eaters out of Azkahban at the worst possible time for the "Order". I understand that JKR is trying to say that killing is bad and damages your soul/changes you but it is a war. The lesson would be better shown by showing how a loved character is forever changed/damaged by the act of killing.
Also, if the Death Eaters start to get killed off, there will be less people signing up to be one knowning that those who "live by the sword will die by the sword". The Death Eaters will not stick together when they know death is really on the line...self-preservation will kick in vs. the need to serve a greater good that good characters have.
Prose: ------ J. K. Rowlings writing style stays consistent with the prior two books. I am glad that see has decided to expand the descriptive language in her prose to help further build out the Harry Potter Milieu. The prose is targeted toward young adults so the vocabulary is fairly easy but she does not over simplify the language for the reader.
Summary: -------- Overall: 4.5 stars Characters: 4 to 4.5 stars Story: 4 to 4.5 stars Action: 4 to 4.5 stars Prose: 3.5 stars
J.K. Rowling Rocks!!! Yet another great Harry Potter book!! comparing to the movie... this book it's way beyond it. There's nothing like reading a good book and this is one of those books you must read =)
One of my favorites in the whole series. I think this was one of my favorites in the series. I have to say that Rowling does such a great job of creating characters that seem so alive, I actually feel as though I know them. I just want the story to keep going on and on and on.
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