Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets 4/5
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban 5/5
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire 4.5/5
Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix 4/5
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince 4.5/5
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows 5/5
I was a tiny bit late to the Harry Potter bandwagon. The first title in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was released in the U.S. in 1998. I didn’t pick it up until mid 2002 at the suggestion of my then boyfriend (now husband) who had it lying around his apartment. Let’s be clear – I mocked him for both owning a children’s book and suggesting that I read it. But, since he has always been far more responsible than me, he began writing his paper for whatever graduate class had a deadline looming and I was left to choose between staring at the ceiling, going home, watching bad TV, or reading this ridiculous children’s novel. I chose the book. I think I may have finished it in one sitting. I also think it may be the reason why I am a librarian today. I always loved reading growing up but I somehow fell out of the habit of turning to a good book to cure boredom somewhere along the way, probably because debate and college in general dictated reading material. Harry Potter reminded me why I love books.
The Sorcerer’s Stone was the charming tale of a down on his luck English orphan who finds out he is a wizard on his 11th birthday. This knowledge brings with it a host of other information including why he is an orphan – his parents were killed by the most evil wizard of all time who also tried to kill Harry when he was just a baby leaving the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. There is a lot of set up in this book - a lot. In fact, the plot is sometimes lost in Rowling's need to prepare us for the rest of the series. Readers are exposed to the wonder that is Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry - ghosts inhabit the castle's hallways; portrait subjects move among the various canvases; there is a marvelous and dangerous sport known as quidditch which requires players to fly on brooms; and much, much more. These details are the delight of the book as is Harry's friendship with Ron and Hermione, two of his classmates at Hogwarts. The three are determined to learn what is hidden on a forbidden floor of the castle, convinced that mean Professor Snape is up to no good. Together they discover that Lord Voldemort, the very wizard that killed Harry's parents, is trying to acquire the Sorcerer's Stone which will grant him everlasting immortality. Can these three friends stop him in time to save the wizarding world?
The second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is my least favorite. That doesn't mean I don't like it, only that compared to the others, it is not as captivating. In this installment, Harry returns to Hogwarts and resumes his friendship with Ron and Hermione. Readers learn more about the school's four houses -Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each is named for one of the original founders of Hogwarts. Not long after the start of the school term, strange things start to happen in the castle. Students are being attacked by an unknown enemy. Strange messages announcing the return of Slytherin's heir are left on the walls. Most ominously, students are told that the Chamber of Secrets will be again be opened. A bit of research by the main trio reveals that 50 years ago a monster that lives within the Chamber killed a student at the school. The plot continues, Harry eventually saves the day, all is right in the world. CoS introduces us to new characters, new spells, and more back story. It is funny, imaginative and charming. Readers learn more about Harry's tie to the ominous Lord Voldemort. It is is excellent but simply my least favorite out of an all together extraordinary series.
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third in the series. If forced to pick a favorite, this would probably be it. Rowling hits her stride and the action is virtually non-stop. The book opens with Harry, now 13, spending another miserable summer with the Dursley Family where he is mistreated and often ignored. When Aunt Marge visits, her verbal abuse is enough to cause Harry to accidentally use magic in retaliation. This illegal act (underage wizards are forbidden to use magic outside of school)sends him on the run. He boards the Knight Bus, a phenominal piece of public transportation available to witches and wizards, and learns a prisoner recently escaped from the wizard prion, Azkaban. Sirius Black is a known mass murderer and supporter of the evil Lord Voldemort. Officials at the Ministry of Magic are very concerned - so much so that they overlook Harry's misuse of Magic in favor of getting him safely back to Hogwarts, where the adventure, of course, continues. It is difficult to write about the plots of these books without giving too much away. Suffice it to say Harry, Ron and Hermione are very busy! This book really serves as a transition in the series. The plot is darker, the kids are more mature, the subject matter is at times ominous. It's excellence stems from the way Rowling reveals the complexity of this world in which she has immersed readers. Plot points that seemed inconsequential in the first two books are suddenly fraught with meaning. Readers cannot help but wonder which new details in this book will have significant consequences in future installments. All of this and we are introduced to Sirius Black and Remus Lupin - both of whom I LOVE! It doesn't get much better.
Dragons and Danger and Death, oh my! Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire carries on the precedents set by the first three books - more magic, new characters and a lot of action. From the Quidditch World Cup where Lord Voldemort's supporters crash the party, to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, an event that brings competitors from three different magical schools together to compete for fame and glory, Harry and his friends face new and more difficult challenges. In addition to the threats these events bring, the kids, now 14, must deal with many of the same issues facing adolesents everywhere - including crushes on the opposite sex. Ron realizes it's not always easy being the best friend of someone as famous as Harry. Harry learns that mediocrity may be more desreable than fame. Hermione learns that being in the middle is the worst place of all. The kids are growing up and so are the readers - which means Voldemort returns in a horriffic way, we see our first deaths in the plot and the challenges our fearless trio face are far more dangerous.
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix sees 15 year old Harry on an emotional roller coaster. Not everyone believes the events of last year. Some, including the Minister of Magic, outright accuse him of lying about Voldemort's return. When he and his muggle cousin are attacked by Dementors, the Ministry tries to expel him for using magic out school. These events precipitate his being moved to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization of witches and wizards determined to fight Voldemort. The headquarters also happens to be the familial home of his godfather, Sirius Black. While there, Harry, Ron and Hermione learn more about Voldemort's tactics, which include infiltrating the Minsitry. When he returns to Hogwarts there is a new teacher on staff who also happens to ba a ministry official. She refuses to allow any students to learn defensive magic and repeatedly punishes Harry for his "lies." It is now up to Harry to prepare his friends to fight. Throw in the fact that he goes on his first date, has regular nightmares that seem to be coming true, and is facing end of year exams that will determine his future. It all adds up to a thrilling ride with a heart-breaking conclusion as Harry discovers he cannot save everyone.
Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince keeps with tradition by getting progressively darker, revealing more surprises and increasing the stakes for Harry and his friends. Dumbledore takes Harry under his wing and continues to groom the sixteen year old wizard for his inevitable fututre. Previously minor characters leap to center stage. The war between good and evil is in full effect which, of course, means more people die. Rowling begins to reward readers' infinite patience by revealing more secrets than ever before. Relationships take priority as Harry falls in love with Ginny, Ron gets a girlfriend and Hermione gets her heart broken. Harry takes several trips into Dumbledore's penseive (think pool of memories) and is asked to seek out another person's memories of a young Voldemort. The action ramps up in the final chapters as Harry and Dumbledore travel to a cave full of Voldemort's traps and return to another ambush at Hogwarts. We see the first real battle as students and Deatheaters alike fight for their lives within the castle. Harry must again face the death of a loved one and this time, readers will cry too.
I know a lot of people did not like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Quite frankly, I really believe those people would not have liked any conclusion to their beloved series. I admit that I was terrified to read it. What if Rowling got it wrong??? I should have had more faith. I think think the most apt description of this book is, "Satisfying." I think all required answers were given. I think all the necessary characters were fleshed out. I think justice was served. I cried on at least three seperate occasions in the story. The complaints I have heard most often are:1) The three main characters were on the run for too long.
2) (Insert character name here) died.
3) (Insert character name here) did not die.
4) It's all just one big Christ allegory.
To which I respond:
1) No one, including Dumbledore, said Harry's job was going to be easy. I don't understand this complaint, they weren't just sitting there. They were always planning even when they had zero idea what was going on. Also, SOMETHING had to happen to move Ron and Hermione's relationship along.
2) Yes,(Insert character name here) died. It's war, that happens.
3) Correct,(Insert character name here) did not die. I commend Rowling for never being gratuitious. Everything happens for a reason. I expected certain people to die too. I'm glad I was wrong.
4) If you didn't recognize the Christ allegory until this book, you obviously skipped the first six books.
There was action, love, death and huge battle of good vs. evil. I know why people did what they did. I learned that redemption can be found in the oddest of places. I understand a little bit better what true friendship really means. I am satisfied.
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