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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
January 2019: Action-Adventure
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - JK Rowling - 5 Star
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Sooooo good! We rewatched all of the movies during the holidays. I just love the world she has created. I can’t wait for The Cursed Child.
Soooo good! Well done review, Rachel! These books have a way of getting really involved don’t they?
I am completely in love with this series and this one definitely made me emotional.
I thought five was special too.... Even though you are the last person on the planet to read the series, I am leery of telling you why, just in case of spoilers. But you can count on it that I will write to you privately, and tell you why this particular book felt moving to me.
The first time I read this book I was SUPER annoyed by Harry. I mean, I still gave the book 4 stars, but I wanted to slap Harry for most of the book.I liked it better upon rereading it the second (and third) times. Maybe because I read them all back-to-back those times so his actions flowed more with the story.
I do agree that Harry has every reason to be upset and a little bit of a noodge!
Rachel wrote: "I am completely in love with this series and this one definitely made me emotional."This was a favorite of mine and my daughters when we read them together! So glad you are having a good time with Harry and friends!
Ok. I’ll jump in anyway, Assuming last person on the planet is actually accurate. One of things I loved about book 5, is that it’s really the first time we start to understand more about the prophecy, and how hairy and Lord Voldemort are connected. It explains so much. But the other thing I loved about it, and these teams deepen in the next two books Rachel, both in our understanding about the prophecy and connection, particularly on seven - it is wrapped up so beautifully! But the other theme I loved, is that Harry is such a martyr. Really wanting no one responsible for him, because he so deeply fears that if someone loves him, they will be in danger - of course the lifetime theme and re-enactment. But what we see, is that Harry is never alone. (Yes, I actually publically weep about this when reading with my kids). That harry never has to fight alone. That always, even in complete peril and danger, he has people right behind him, ready to fight for him. That love is always stronger than hate, and the idea of harry being protected by love runs through his adolescence too. Thinking of the friendship and total support that Harry gets throughout his experiences from his friends and from adults, it’s how everyone of us should feel. That each one of us is special enough to have everyone behind us in our mission no matter how impossible it seems. The more things center on Harry, even though there are jealousies, not to mention stark realities, the more everyone steps up and says, you’re not in it alone, and you never were, and.... You never will be. These books just make me cry, because there’s so much more than magic, and a good fantasy story.
Amy, yes!! I felt that this book opened up my eyes to so many things!! The prophecy being the biggest! And you are on the same wavelength as me with Harry. His fear of being loved by those he really loves touched me so deeply. He only wants to keep them safe and that made me cry a few times. The friendship in these books, and especially this book really had me on an emotional rollercoaster. The love...I could go on and on. So far, this is my favorite book.
The teen angst in this one is REAL! I 5-star the whole series, but I was one of those in the "Harry annoyed me" in this one. Although Umbridge is one of the WORST characters of all time- and that deserves to be recognized as a positive for this book. I agree, this book is definitely where the series switches tone, and starts revealing the "bigger picture" of this world. The books get longer, and darker from here on out.
Rachel, if this one makes you emotional, just wait till the last book! Get the tissue box ready!!
This is one of my favourites of the series alongside Prisoner of Azkaban. But I also completely changed my perspective on it when I had a reread.The first time I read this book as a teen I found Harry whiney and irrational but on rereading it as an adult I realised that I really needed to give the boy some slack after everything he has been going through and the way Dumbledore treats him. I can totally see why he is angry.
It is so interesting to hear the differences when people reread the books. Being older and reading them for the first time I know makes a difference. I wanted to slap Harry a few times but I definitely felt his turmoil.
At the end of the last book, he witnessed Cedric killed, barely escaping from a fully restored Lord Voldemort. Then this book begins with Dementors attacking him, and suddenly Harry is facing expulsion and a hearing before a council of grand wizards. He is reunited with his friends and godfather, but the adults keep him in the dark. Knowing almost nothing about what the newly restored Order of the Phoenix is actually doing, he is sent off to Hogwarts, more confused than ever. Professor Dumbledore seems to be completely ignoring him and Cornelius Fudge, the contemptible man running the Ministry of Magic, refuses to believe Voldemort has returned. To top it all off the Daily Prophet devotes the whole year to stories about the unbalanced, unstable Harry Potter and his attention-seeking claims.
Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, we now have the arrival of Dolores Umbrage, easily the most hateful, infuriating character of the series, as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. I did not like her! I wanted to yell as I read the book at times. So, Harry is not only having a terrible year, he is facing the largest obstacles imaginable.
In the first three books death is handled quite differently. In book four JK Rowling showed us that the good guys are no longer safe. But this book, it broke my heart. I cried. No, I wept. When someone one we all know and love is killed just when Harry seems so close to happiness, puts all of the characters happy endings in doubt.
I could go on and on but this book has me feeling so many different emotions. It is wonderful, heart-breaking, astounding, depressing, and truly amazing all at the same time. It is not as fun and magical as the previous books, but I think it is the most complex book of the series so far.