Monday 17 February 2014

Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected . . .

Suspense, secrets and thrilling action from the pen of J.K. Rowling ensure an electrifying adventue that is impossible to put down.

Harry Potter Series:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: 20th Anniversary House Editions
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Illustrated Edition (Illustrated by Jim Kay)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Play Script written with John Tiffany & Jack Thorne)

Pottermore Presents:
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Short Story Collection)
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Short Story Collection)
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Short Story Collection)

Incredibuilds:
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Erumpent (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Niffler (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Swooping Evil (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Thunderbird (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Aragog (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Buckbeak (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Hedwig (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: House-Elves (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Quidditch (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Sorting Hat (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
IncrediBuilds: Harry Potter: Stag Patronus (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Thestral (Deluxe Book and Model Set)

Other Harry Potter Books & Products:
Funko Pop 2019 Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts - Matthew Reinhart
Harry Potter - Creatures: A Paper Scene Book
Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Kit and Sticker Book (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: Magical Film Projections: Patronus Charm (Activity Book)
Harry Potter Talking Sorting Hat and Sticker Book: Which House Are You? (Model & Sticker Book)
Harry Potter: The Character Vault - Jody Revenson
Harry Potter: The Marauder's Map Guide to Hogwarts - Erinn Pascal (Activity Book)
Harry Potter: Winter at Hogwarts: A Magical Colouring Set (Colouring Book, Gift Tags & a build your own 3D Firebolt in a Keepsake Box)
J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World: Magical Film Projections: Creatures (Activity Book)
Metal Earth: Harry Potter Gringotts Dragon (3D Puzzle)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: The Official Guide

Visit J.K. Rowling's website or the Pottermore website for more information

Review:
I gave up trying to write proper reviews for this series long ago since there is no way I can do these books justice. So instead I'm just going to share a few of my thoughts from when I was reading the book - this may contain spoilers so if you're one of the handful of people who haven't read the book (or seen the movie) then look away now!

The Order of the Phoenix is one of my favourite books in the Harry Potter series, not because I love everything that happens in it since I spent the majority of the time I was reading it in a state of complete and utter rage, but because of the amount of emotion the story brings out in me. This book is painful to read, the way the people who Harry should be able to rely on are always hiding things from him and keeping him in the dark drives me crazy. I was livid with Dumbledore for keeping so many secrets and causing Harry so much suffering. The books before this one have had their dark moments but this is the point where things really start to become unbearable and I can remember the first time I read it feeling that the horror would never end.

I haven't even started on the actions of the Ministry of Magic and Professor Umbridge. As much as I hate Professor Snape the adult I do feel sorry for the teenage version of him, that doesn't excuse his actions now he's a teacher but it does make me understand why he acts the way he does a little better. I will never forgive him for some of the things he has put Harry, Hermione and Ron through throughout the series but he isn't ALL bad, mostly bad sure but there are occasional glimmers of humanity in there if you look hard enough. The same can't be said for Umbridge, that woman is pure evil and one of the most vile characters you can ever hope to meet in a children's book. Even the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has nothing on her! I'm still so angry that she hasn't been sufficiently punished for her actions in this book! It's not just Harry that she treats appallingly though and the whole of Hogwarts have to put up with her campaign of terror. By god I wanted to reach into the book and murder her with my bare hands and I'm one of the least violent people you'll ever meet (unless it comes to fictional characters I guess, some of them definitely bring out my nasty side!).

The Order of the Phoenix is a long book but I spent most of it on tenterhooks, it's amazing how many little details that J.K. Rowling packs into her stories and I was surprised at how much I'd forgotten since my last read through of the series. Even though I went into this book knowing how certain events would turn out I still found myself wishing and praying that I'd remembered it wrong and that things would somehow be different this time. Knowing how it would end just made scenes with certain characters even more poignant and heartbreaking than they were the first time around (I'm sure anyone who has read the book will know exactly what character I'm talking about here!). Anyway, this book is dark, it is hard and painful to read but amidst all that suffering there are some wonderful moments of friendship. I love seeing some of the side characters really come into their own, Neville and Luna in particular really start to play a more important role than they did in previous books. Seeing Harry and the others form the DA and set out to teach themselves the skills they know they are going to need to fight Voldemort is just wonderful and shows just how much they have grown since we first met them.

The whole Harry Potter series will always be one of my favourites and The Order of the Phoenix will always be one of my favourite books in it.

Source: Purchased

Other reviews of this book:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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