Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling discussion (March)

[Hollie]

Please discuss your thoughts and feelings about "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" here.

[Dana]

So I just finished this today. Honestly this book has generally always been my least favorite I would say. Which is funny because I've always loved the movie, but I think they made enough changes in the movie possibly so that why? (view spoiler)[ honestly, for me this book is very repetitive, often times it feels like this book is a filler book to take that next small step to get us to the Half Blood Prince. I do like the build up of everything, and finally at the end when we find out from Dumbledore everything between Harry and Voldemort it all starts to make sense. I remember the first time I read this sitting there kind of frozen at the end being like "no. freaking. way." (hahah) (hide spoiler)]

Honestly I will probably have more to say at a later date about this book. If I can be open with this group I actually lost a very close family friend on Sunday to suicide and I am just not mentally in it right now. Between that and all the stress of this coronavirus, and my work it's just too much for me right now. I've starting to just sink inside myself. I don't know what else to say. I hope everyone else is doing okay.

[Kendra]

Oh Dana, that's heartbreaking! I feel for you. My Dad lost his best friend to suicide and I've seen how devastating it can be. And you're right--it's a tough enough time right now as it is. Please know you can reach out to me any time if you need a listening ear.

It's harder to really dive into a story and enjoy books the same as usual with other trials on your mind, and Order of the Phoenix has always been the hardest Harry Potter for me to get through anyway--so I totally understand your heart not being fully in it right now.

Something about (view spoiler)[ the darker themes, Umbridge's reign, Grimmauld Place, Harry's angst, and of course Sirius's death (hide spoiler)] make it feel a little too hopeless a lot of the time for me I think.

I'll finish writing about it later when I've had more time to process...in the meantime, I'm giving everyone a long-distance/social distance hug and well-wishes.

[Dana]

Thanks Kendra. And I completely agree with you, this book is almost too dark for me for that reason, its a hopeless dark that I don't welcome. So much about it is hopeless until we get to the last maybe 50 pages or so and then the light starts coming in. Which is funny, because the movie is one of my favorite movies. But after reading this book again I see that they have added in / changed how things happened in order to make it not feel that hopeless dread throughout the movie.

[Hollie]

Ok, I finished this book last night. As I have done before, I am going to talk about my thoughts and feelings regarding this book before I read your comments, then I will reply to your posts about how much of what you guys say I can relate to.

I have to start by saying that I think this has to be my least favourite of the series so far. (Isn't it interesting how people have different preferences!)
There could be a couple of reasons why I feel this way:
- This was a VERY long book for me, I am not the quickest reader
so for me, this was a bit of a marathon. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book because I did, especially the fact that (view spoiler)[ something very significant happened, this something being the death of Harry's very much loved (by some, feared by others) Godfather. (hide spoiler)] (As sad as this was.)
- The other reason could be that as much as I love Hogwarts and all the characters in this series, I cant help but feel that five books in (one being enormous), one after the other, I think I am ready for a change of scenery. (Temporarily of course.)
Therefore I think I am going to have just a short break from Harry Potter, read one book of another genre then carry on with the series, I just feel I need that small break in order to really enjoy the rest of the series rather than seeing it as I have to reach the finish line.
Anyway, lets talk more about this book!

(view spoiler)[ I actually loved the whole feeling of 12 Grimmauld Place, the dark, dinginess and the eeriness of it, and the character of Serius's mother randomly screaming abuse from her painting if she got woken up was just absolute gold in my opinion. (hide spoiler)]

I was surprised to discover how annoying I found one of the characters in this book, I was surprised because in the previous books, this character has never bothered me before, can anyone guess who this character might be?...... It's Cho! In this book I couldn't stand how she is suddenly one of those girls who very much craves attention, and if she does not get that attention or exactly what she wants, she is very quick to throw a tantrum, stomp off and look for it elsewhere. (view spoiler)[ I think Harry had a very lucky escape with things not working out there! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I now need to talk about the absolute vile creature that goes by the name of "Umbridge." I think it has really hit home to me now how much I have grown to love Harry's character, This hit me, by how angry I felt about the way Umbridge treated him. At some points I was literally boiling with anger, and felt so powerless not being able to climb into the book and defend him! I just could not express my satisfaction enough when she finally met her match with the centaurs, characters that she had no power over, and got her well deserved comeuppance. (hide spoiler)]

I feel with a book this size I could go on and on talking about different things that happened in it but I will try and keep it to a limit.

(view spoiler)[ I need to ask you guys how you feel about the way that Serius died?? I don't think I get the whole "arch with the veil" thing, yes it obviously kills whoever goes through the veil but how? and why? and what are the voices on the other side of the veil about? Have I missed something or is all this explained in later books? (hide spoiler)]


I will finish by talking about the ending, I think this is what has made me realise I am ready for a change. (view spoiler)[ I may be in the minority, but I personally felt that the grand finale battle between the death eaters, part of the DA and part of the order just went on for far too long, for me it suddenly turned very "Star Wars ish" with red and green light beams being thrown back and forth, if I remember, this went on for about 11 pages and then there were more of these beams being thrown back and forth when the battle was extended between Voldermort and Dumbledore. Did anyone else feel this battle was a bit overcooked? (Maybe it's because I am not much of an action lover.) (hide spoiler)]

Overall I kind of like the feeling that my time at Hogwarts is not over and I will be returning very soon.

[Hollie]

Dana wrote: "So I just finished this today. Honestly this book has generally always been my least favorite I would say. Which is funny because I've always loved the movie, but I think they made enough changes i..."

Oh Dana! I am so sorry for your loss! It must have been such a shock and my thoughts are with you and your family. Of course you can be open on here, this group is a safe place.

I am so sorry I didn't read this message sooner but I usually wait till I have finished the book before reading yours and Kendra's posts about it.

I hope you are feeling a bit better now the world is gradually getting back to normal regarding the virus.

If there is anything I can do please let me know. My prayers are with you and your family.xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Hollie]

Kendra wrote: "Oh Dana, that's heartbreaking! I feel for you. My Dad lost his best friend to suicide and I've seen how devastating it can be. And you're right--it's a tough enough time right now as it is. Please ..."

I definitely agree that this long, big book can be a challenge to get through at the best of times.

Long distance/social hugs to you both.

P.S And this message is to both of you, please never feel like you have to carry on with a book with this group if either you are not enjoying it or if something comes up so your heart isn't in it. I never want "Safety in Numbers" to feel like a chore for either of you. xxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx