Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
discussion
I didn't like this book as much as the others, it was my least favourite in the series
♥ Fuzzbuzz♥ wrote: "When I read the Order of the Phoenix, it was a good book...but I was hoping for a more exciting one. I loved all the other books, yet this one wasn't as exciting...not much.Who was your least fav..."
I would agree with you. While this book was extremely crucial to how the next 2 books played out, it just wasn't there for me.
My least favourite was also The Order of the Phoenix. I hated that Harry had to serve detentions and write "I must not lie" while it was being scratched into his hand. That teacher (I forget her name) was just evil. Yes, it was very dark.
Her name was Umbridge I think...yeah. I like when they lead her into the forest. And ride pretty much invisible horse/pegasuses. (I think thats how it's spelled?)
This was my least favorite HP book as well. The goings on at Hogwarts were a bit tedious as was Umbridge. I think it was a necessary transition to the later stories in that Harry was so isolated and ostracized that it helped strengthen him for what he needed to do. It was a bit of a whiney book, however.
Brenna wrote: "Her name was Umbridge I think...yeah. I like when they lead her into the forest. And ride pretty much invisible horse/pegasuses. (I think thats how it's spelled?)"Thestrals.
this was also my least favorite book.of the series of corse!
Agreed, my least favourite. Didn't like the bit in the ministry, found myself thinking this will be awesome in a movie but I felt like it was written with that in mind, but didn't work so well in print.Enjoyed the film though.
Half-and-half.I liked the introduction of a bad-humored Harry. I secretly wanted for him to turn on his friends or something, then repent.
this book was awesome!!!! except the whole sirius dying it was perfect!
One of the things that made Phoenix different from the other HP books was its focus on the adult wizarding world. Usually, it's all about Harry and his friends, but this book was the one that was about how the adults reacted (or didn't react) to the return of Lord Voldemort. Adults are portrayed more realistically as Harry realizes that the adult world is not equipped to deal with Lord Voldemort. Characters who had previously been lovable, if bumbling(Fudge), were now shown to be weak and irresponsible. Dumbledore, whom Harry could always depend on previously, was forced to go on the run. Adults that Harry loved and admired like Sirius and even his father, were shown to have serious flaws. The simplistic black and white view of childhood gives way to the gray of adulthood.
I thought Umbridge was a great villian. She is more subtle than many of the series villians, but just as nasty. She's the kind of micromanaging bureaucrat that I've seen a few times in my career. I think the combination of phony sweetness and ruthlessness was well written.
This was one of my favorite books in the series.
I agree with you. I think all the books are great! But this one was just a little slow!
I thought that Dolores Jane Umbridge was well casted in the movie, also. Loved to hate her. She's a great example of how insignificant small minded people rise to power. And how evil uses this type of people.
The fact that everyone here can clearly point out that Umbridge was an evil, evil person is a great example of how Rowling created a great character. Universally hate-able. I don't even think Voldemort got that treatment. Now as for the book, I loved it. I can't pick favorites as I love all of them for so many different reasons. The reason I love OOTP is because of the development and movement of the characters. Harry and his friends start to grow up. They face so many problems that aren't as easy to spot as a basalisk or Voldemort. They face the Ministry, the people of the wizarding community, the school, even the Order. And they learn to become more adult.
Additionally, I loved Dumbledore's Army. Best group ever.
The Order of Phoenix was one of my favourite books. I loved the introduction to the new characters especially Luna Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge, Nymphadora Tonks and Bellatrix Lestrange. Lovely, lovely characters.
Sirius Black dying made me cry, he's one of my favourite characters. :'(
I agree with all of you! I actully have Luna Lovegood's wand!
Yeah! It's really cool!
I did not care for Dolores Umbridge,and her hem hem when she wanted to speak. And her dastardly ways with Harry writing and the scratching appearing on his hand with the blood. Such a diabolical woman. I am glad the giant took her away in the movie. She could have easily been a Death Eater, in my view. Evil like Cruella De Ville.
Definitely my least favorite in the series.
♥ Fuzzbuzz♥ wrote: "What was your least favourite part?Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really really really really really really didn'..."
But those were the most exciting parts!!! Except when Sirius died.. That was just plain sad.
Sirius Black, too sad for words.
What was your least favourite part?
Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really really really really really really didn't like those parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can't call those parts 'bad', you just didn't like them. As much as I would of liked to have seen the Marauders alive, as I love them ever so much, they're not, and I am so proud of JK Rowling to kill off such amazing characters.
Dolores Umbridge was practically the life and soul of this book, her sort of evil nature and her bittersweet friendliness was so enjoyable to read. As someone said on here, I loved to hate her.
And as for the Valentine's Day part, that was quite enjoyable too. Harry had developed a crush on Cho Chang and finally he decided to go out with her - the steps in their relationship slowling falling apart.
One of my favourite books in the series. :)
May I also ask how you quote someone's message? Thanks a lot. (:
Hina wrote: "What was your least favourite part?Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really really really really really really didn't..."
you just click the button that says "reply" at the bottom of their post...
There are a lot of comments about Umbridge being pure evil, i'm not too sure. I think she truly believes she is doing something for the greater good. Yes she sends out the dementors to Little Whinging but she feels that Harry Potter is bad. She has a very warped sense of what it good and evil that's clear but I think the character thinks she is doing what's best.
This is my favorite book. I hate the 7th one
personally i dont hate any of harry potters books... they were all very well written and it didnt left you wondering wth just happened..though i did hated the fact that fred weasley dies at the end of the 7th part but i guess even that makes the book alot more brilliant!
Helen wrote: "There are a lot of comments about Umbridge being pure evil, i'm not too sure. I think she truly believes she is doing something for the greater good. Yes she sends out the dementors to Little Whing..."Good point! I don't think she is a comic book evil character that cackles and wants to rule the world. She is much more nuanced. She reminds me of the character Javert in Les Miserables. Both are by-the-book moralists, who unquestioningly accept the moral authority of their superiors and will not independently judge the situation themselves. They are too small-minded to be leaders, but make good functionaries. They are bureaucrats who simply perform their duties and feel no responsibility to the ultimate consequences for others. Much like the people who worked for the Nazi system who claimed "the Nuremberg defense". ("I was just following orders!")
That said, I think Umbridge has a nastier side to her, too. She was sadistic and enjoyed punishing too well. She was so gleeful over the hand-cutting incident. I think she liked the ministry because it was a powerful enough entity to allow her to control and punish other people without a lot of questioning or oversight. I think her disdain for Muggles and magical creatures was part of her makeup as a person. However, in a more peaceful time, I think Umbridge would have been seen as a good worker, conscientious about her job, and competent. But as they say, 'Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.'
Yes, Umbridge is a very interesting villain. She is one of my favourite. She's pure evil, yet she's not working for Voldemort. I like her because she shows that JK Rowling is not separating the Harry Potter world into Good People and Death Eaters. There are evil people against Voldemort, and there are good people against Harry Potter.
Fariha (dream on!) wrote: "Hina wrote: "What was your least favourite part?Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really really really really really ..."
Thanks! (:
Helen wrote: "There are a lot of comments about Umbridge being pure evil, i'm not too sure. I think she truly believes she is doing something for the greater good. Yes she sends out the dementors to Little Whing..."Yes, I agree with that. Definitely. Like Sirius said, 'Everyone isn't split into good people and Death Eaters'. (:
I just brought up Dolores Umbridge, because I didn't like her as a character, and while she would have made a good worker bee, she was certainly sinister and loved to be in charge at the Ministry. Didn't care for the book or the movie.
Hina wrote: "Fariha (dream on!) wrote: "Hina wrote: "What was your least favourite part?Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really ..."
No problemo =)
This one was my favorite
Hina wrote: "What was your least favourite part?Mine was either when Sirius got killed or when Evil Umbridge caught Harry in the fire or on "valentine's day", I really really really really really really didn't..."
Exactly. These parts rocked!!!!, though I found the first part of the book (the House of the Order & the visit to the Ministry) a little slow-paced and boring...
Brenna wrote: "Her name was Umbridge I think...yeah. I like when they lead her into the forest. And ride pretty much invisible horse/pegasuses. (I think thats how it's spelled?)"fyi, its pegasi, not pegasuses.
it is plural, not singular.
This is my favorite H.P. book. It was the first one in the series that made me cry, and the first one that really made me "feel". I hated Dolores Umbridge even more than I had hated Snape throughout books 1-4. She was an amazing character, which is why I was able to hate her so much. Had she been shallow and superficial, she would have been forgettable. I was devastated when Sirius died, but I loved the fact that I cried and that the book and character had such power to bring me to tears. My order is: 5,4,7,6,3,1,2
I know that we all love to hate some characters, and Umbridge stood out for me. She is even more diabolical in the movie. Her in her pink outfits.
As Mickey said earlier, this book had qualities that were sadly absent in the series' previous installments. It was a necessary bridge which gave the readers a better, more matured take on the situation with Lord Voldemort. Despite Harry's angsty nature throughout the majority of the book, it was the calm before the storm. The mix of politics and growing darkness in Ootp made for an undeniably intoxicating read. It was in this book I really began to hold the pages tightly, and feverishly turn them to see what happened next. I began to realize how much I cared about the characters Rowling had beautifully developed, as well as grasp the harsh reality they were all about to face. And as for the complaints on the amount of whining: I say, let it out, Harry! After all the crap he's had to slug through, I thought it was about time our hero let himself feel it a little, and show his vulnerability.
This, however, was my least favorite movie adaptation. At least HP 6 changed a lot while still managing to capture the spirit of the novel. This movie just kind of sucked. Though the casting for umbridge was spot on!
Mickey wrote: "Helen wrote: "There are a lot of comments about Umbridge being pure evil, i'm not too sure. I think she truly believes she is doing something for the greater good. Yes she sends out the dementors t..."The comparison of Javert to Umbridge is interesting. I would never have thought of that.
To me, Order of the Phoenix is where the Harry Potter series graduated from children's book to literature. It may not have been as exciting as some of the others, but it started to address complex adult issues. I don't know if my interpretation is what the author intended, but I thought this book was interesting in regards to what it says about the existence of evil in the world and the danger that comes when people deny the existence of evil because they don't want to have to deal with it. My favorite aspect of the Harry Potter character is that although he is often reluctant, he recognizes when difficult things need to be done, and he has the courage to act.
Really? This book was my favorite in the series. Harry Potter starts out as a mild children's book, which is quick to the point, simple, and good. But by the 4th or 5th one, the HP books start getting more serious, and to me, more interesting. You can really see Rowling's writing grow throughout the books, and it comes off in a way that Harry's character is growing and that he is in more danger than before, which I thought was excellent.
I just finished Book 5 and I found it excellent. The first three Potter books were more children's stories--excellent to be sure--but designed for younger readers.But now that Harry is older, in books 4 and 5, the writing becomes deeper with more substance.
The teen-age angst did not bother me as much as it bothered some people. Fifteen is a tough age--sometimes you act like and kid and sometimes like an adult. What teen-ager isn't a bit moody? Most of us were.
Dolores Umbridge was a despicable sadist--she was menat to be hated.
Got to admit, one scene I loved is where Minerva MCgonagall was talking to Harry and Dolores gave that little "hem, hem" cough and Professor Mcgonagall asks her if she needs a cough drop!!
As soon as I finish the next two books, I want to start watching the movies.
Personally, the whole set of seven "books" is of course just one long continuos story--and I like it all. Of course, each reader will have different parts of the series they like better than others.
to Mary JL can't believe you have not seen the films yet. As adaptations go I think they have done an excellent job with all the films. Although Daniel Radcliffe is not the best actor in the world he does improve and the overall production is fantastic. It's a shame others have not learnt from these.
Helen: I want to finish the last two books--then watch the movies in order. I expect to enjoy the movies but many friends have commented that they left out a lot.I know--they have to or the movie would be 5 hours long.
But, even though I will watch the movies--and no doubt WILL enjoy them--I have ALWAYS preferred books to movies.
Mary JL - I always prefer the books to the films too. I can't remember the last time a film was better, though I do have a great adaptation of Mansfield Park. Anyway :) the Harry Potter ones aren't too bad. They do miss a bit and the end of Half Blood Prince really winds me up but on the whole they're good.
Helen wrote: "Mary JL - I always prefer the books to the films too. I can't remember the last time a film was better, though I do have a great adaptation of Mansfield Park. Anyway :) the Harry Potter ones aren't..."Come one lord if the rings wasn't bad! It was actually pretty good.. And what about godfather! Even that movie totally rocked!
I AGREE IT WASN'T THAT ALL GOOD TO ME EITHER, I WOULD TAKE THE DEATHY HALLOWS ITS MORE EXCITING.
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You're right there wasn't masses happening but the whole search in the ministry of mysteries was great, always remember the brains that attacked Ron and of course the end with Sirus. It was the one thing that I wanted to change, to leave him with no-one, I know he had his friends but I always wanted him to have family.
It was the books after that that lost it for me. They were okay but could have half the last two and still made sense.