Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling / 5 stars

[Meli]

What can I say about Harry Potter that hasn't already been said?
This series is filled with great characters you want to root for, and others you want to strangle, and plot lines that are so suspenseful you can't stop reading.
But of course, if you've read any Harry Potter, you already know that.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone really got its hooks in me, but there was a slight downturn in entertainment in book 2. I doubt it is enough of a downturn to keep a reader from wanting to follow these kids to the end, but if it is I assure you things pick back up in a huge way in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry faces his biggest threat yet, new teachers add conflict to an already challenging year for our 3 besties at Hogwarts, and of course we pick back up where we left off in book 2 with the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin competing for this year's Quidditch Cup. All that rounded out with an amazing M Night Shyamalan level twist (Shyamalan the early years, not The Village).

There are shocking, life-changing revelations in this installment. From the first two books, readers know conflicts are usually resolved by the end, but there are some loose ends not completely tied up that will keep you on the hook for at least the next book.

Out of the 3, The Prisoner of Azkaban is the best in the series and it's my personal favorite so far.
I can't wait to see what happens next and the shenanigans of our 3 young heroes.

[Nicole R]

This is my favorite book in the series! I just love the plot and the aspects that are developed in this one, especially everything about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Oh, and the Marauder's Map!

And, hahaha about the twist in The Village. I still remember going to see that movie and how horrible that ending was. The. Worst.

[[deleted user]]

I have to admit that I only skimmed your review because I am reading this now! This is my first time reading the series and I have fallen deep! I have heard that this book is most peoples favorite.

[Meli]

Nicole - have you read the entire series? I was hoping there would be more this intense, because for me book 3 was an emotional roller coaster and it just had everything I could want in a HP book. I love Harry, Ron, and especially Hermione SO MUCH!
(view spoiler)[When I read that Sirius Black was Harry's Godfather and he could live with him instead of the Dursley's I yelled out! I was so excited. Of course, we know how that ends, but what a great plot point for the future. (hide spoiler)]

Rachel - I can assure you there are no spoilers, BUT at the same time I try not to read reviews of something I am currently reading as to not be influenced by their perspective.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I, and many HP fans, did! :)

[Meli]

Another thing I love about reading Harry Potter, which I just started last year, is that there are many aspects of the Potter universe that have made there way into popular culture even if you haven't read the books.

For example, I hadn't read the books or seen the movies, but somehow I knew what a muggle was and that it was something I didn't want to be.
But the most striking thing reading The Prisoner of Azkaban when I came across the incantation "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." I had seen that on bumper stickers or heard it repeated and then finally realized it came from Harry Potter. It's amazing how important these books are in the global consciousness and for fantasy and what a wide audience they have touched.

[Amy]

I couldn’t agree more with Nicole! This one remains my favorite of the seven. It was just something so precious to me about it.

[Nicole R]

Meli, I have read the whole series. Three times. lol. I also just got all of them on audiobook because I hear that the narrator, Jim Dale is superb. I want to work them in at some point, but I know when I do that I will stay up all night listening. lol

The other books are excellent, even as they involve more mature themes and get a bit darker. I really liked all of them so very much, but book three stands out just a bit more because of Sirius Black. My little heart was so full while reading book three and I sobbed at the end!

I really enjoyed book 4 as well, book 5 was probably my least favorite out of the series, but that just means I gave it four stars instead of the 5 the other books got, book 6 was probably my second favorite after this one, and book 7 is just such a perfect ending to the whole story. *sigh*

I do think book 3 marks a turning point in the series where we leave behind the children's book aspects and launch firmly into tween/YA land of writing. Which was a plus for me. Books 1 and 2 are cute, but a little too simplistic to be books that, on their own, I would rave about.

[Hebah]

This one is my favorite of the series. I know they get more complex and mature as they go, but this is where the history of Harry's parents' generation starts coming out and some of my favorites (Sirius and Remus) are introduced.

[Joi]

Wait, Meli this is your first time reading them?!

I've heard that JK Rowling intentionally put the books close to the reading level that Harry would be in the books. So the 1st book is at an 11-12 year old reading level, and as the characters get older, the series progresses- the writing gets more complicated, and the books gets more detailed, darker, and more intense. There is so much more to come for you!!

[Meli]

Yes! I just started last summer and lucky for me I had only seen one of the movies, but I think it was the third and I remembered absolutely nothing about it.

Glad I finally decided to give it a chance.

[[deleted user]]

Meli wrote: "Yes! I just started last summer and lucky for me I had only seen one of the movies, but I think it was the third and I remembered absolutely nothing about it.

Glad I finally decided to give it a ..."

Its so great there is someone else reading these at the same time!

[Idit]

My favourite as well. Followed by number 4.
When I read the first time, number 5 marked where the series started going downhill for me (although I still loved it all the way to the end), but I read it in the last two years to my daughter, and enjoyed the later books much more. I think on my first read, the weight of expectation was ruining them a bit

I still stand by recommendation to never ever watch those movies. They just detract from the joy and imaginative-ness of the book (and don’t get me started on how they ruin Dumbledore)

[Meli]

Its so great there is someone else reading these at the same time!

Did you also manage to miss the movies?

[[deleted user]]

Meli wrote: "Its so great there is someone else reading these at the same time!

Did you also manage to miss the movies?"

I did! So I am new to this entire Potterhead phenomenon! I do plan on watching the movies after I read all the books.

[Amy]

Restarting Five and Seven with my guys.... that’s where we left off.

[Joi]

Next for you is Goblet of Fire, #4- and my favorite in the series!

You folks must be living under some giant rocks to avoid all Potter-related things for this many years, lol!

[[deleted user]]

Joi wrote: "Next for you is Goblet of Fire, #4- and my favorite in the series!

You folks must be living under some giant rocks to avoid all Potter-related things for this many years, lol!"

Joi, I literally hid from the movies! If they were being watched I went to another room! I am one of those people that can't see a movie unless I read the book first.:)

[Grasshopper]

That is a good habit Rachel. Unfortunately, for new Potter heads, the movies are in your face. It would take super human effort just to miss them.

[Meli]

I was just not interested in Harry Potter at the time... not really into fantasy, more a hard core horror fan, but I am getting more adventurous or broad in my reading these days.

[[deleted user]]

Grasshopper wrote: "That is a good habit Rachel. Unfortunately, for new Potter heads, the movies are in your face. It would take super human effort just to miss them."

I am superhuman! I have avoided them. My kids have a plan to binge watch all the Harry Potter movies at the end of October. I told them I will only watch the ones I have read and they continue to bug me to see where I am at.:)

[[deleted user]]

Meli wrote: "I was just not interested in Harry Potter at the time... not really into fantasy, more a hard core horror fan, but I am getting more adventurous or broad in my reading these days."

Meli, this group has made me far more adventerous in the realm of reading than I ever was before. And I'm living it.