So how did you like Harry Potter 5? ***Beware Spoilers***

[Sharon A.]

If you haven't read the book yet and don't really want to know what happens, stop reading this thread now.

You've been warned. If you come across a spoiler, it's not my fault.

If you're still reading, you've read the book, right?

For the last time, BEWARE SPOILERS BELOW!!!


I really liked #5. I couldn't put it down and there were times I laughed at loud. Overall, I think this book laid down a lot of groundwork that will really push the plot along in subsequent books. I wish we didn't have to wait so long for #6!

The good:
*The rise of some of the minor characters (Ginny, Neville etc)
*Ron coming into his own as keeper
*The order of the Phoenix--finally Harry has support outside of school that he knows about
*Mrs. Figg being a witch
*Seeing Dumbledore use his powers
*Harry's crush and Cho and the way it fizzled out, along with Hermione's help in the matter. It just rang very true.
*Finding out some answers like the scar and the protection
*The founding of Dumbledore's army
*Neville's backstory fleshed out a little more
*Sirius' family life
*The red herrings which kept me guessing
*Rowling's incredible imagination
*Learning Harry's father wasn't perfect -- something every teenager has to deal with
*George and Fred's rebellion


The not-as-good:
*I wanted more revelations! The ones that were revealed were pretty obvious
*A whole lot of angst in this one. Not a good year for anyone. It made the middle a little painful to read.
*The final battle in the book was long, and for me, a little hard to follow what room they were in.
*Wish we could've found out the results of the OWLS
*I don't know, but I wasn't that sad that Sirius died. He didn't seem to have much of a future-- he just seemed so unhappy. I didn't want to see him die, but I just wasn't as sad about it as I thought I'd be.


But, overall I loved the book. I think #4 is still my favorite thus far, but Rowling has done it again.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Sharon-Yes I have read the book!

I agree with you about a lot of things.

*I didn't feel bad about Sirius himself dying. I felt bad for Harry because Sirius was like his only family. I think if he was portrayed as a more positive character in this book (happier) and I felt the connection between him and Harry more I would have been sadder.
*I thought Mr. Weasley was going to die! I would have been sad about that!
*Loved Neville coming into his own! He was fantastic!
*I wish we had seen a little more obvious romantic relationship development between Ron and Hermonie.
*I loved getting to know new and old characters better. Loved Tonks!
*Fred and George were great!
*I was really rooting for the kids in this one. I loved the battle scene. A little confusing, but I was in suspense wondering who was going to be the one to die.
*The part with Hagrid's Brother just seemed kind of thrown in. Don't know what to think about that!

I hope the final battle has a lot of Harry's friends from school and those in the DA fighting along side the Order of the Phoenix. The kids to me are the "true" heros standing up to the adults!

 

[PrincessDana]

"That's what they should teach us here, he thought....how girls' brains work..it'd be more use than Divination anyway...:

I laughed out loud at that one!!


I liked the character Luna Lovegood of all the new character. She's weird, she knows it, and she doesn't care what anybody thinks!!!


I was a little worried about this book at first, wondering when Harry was going to get out of his REALLY BAD MOOD!! That seemed to last for ages. Now, I know he had a good reason I guess, but still....

I very much enjoyed Dumbledore's battle with Voldemort.

And that quill that Umbridge used for detention!!!! Yikes!!

 

[Sharon A.]

Dana, I loved Luna too. She definitely dances to the beat of her own drummer.

And that bad mood was a little too real.

Jenn, I was sure Mr. Weasly was going to die too, and then I thought it was going to be McGonagall, Hermione, and even Ron (blood bubbles is not a good sign). I also think the Hagrid stuff is laying the foundation for something to happen later.

I almost forgot, I thought it was really sad that Percy chose his job over his family.

 

[NCRedding]

I agree with your not-so-goods completely, expecially the revelation parts--The conversation with Dumbledoor wasn't revealing to me--I thought, "well, duh-haven't we always known that?" I was more upset about Diggory's death in Book 4 than Sirius--perhaps because she made him a little less likeable this time? I still loved the book, and look forward to reading it at a more leisurely pace next time, after DD and Dh have had their turn.

 

[Sonya]

I loved how the teachers were not supporting the new headmaster.
I loved how Neville could have been the ONE.
The end battle was great!
It didn't make me cry the way Cedric's death and Harry's grief did in book 4. He was so angry in this book.
Harry's aunt suprised me, she knows more!
And the "talk" the members of the Order had with his uncle at the end- priceless!
This one really showed how much Dumbledorre loves Harry.

 

[diznee25]

*I don't know, but I wasn't that sad that Sirius died. He didn't seem to have much of a future-- he just seemed so unhappy. I didn't want to see him die, but I just wasn't as sad about it as I thought I'd be.

Was Sirius in the Harry Potter movies? Which character is he? I've never read the books, only saw the movies. I'm dying to know which character he was!

Thanks,
Diznee25

 

[eclipseSD]

Was Sirius in the Harry Potter movies?

Not in the first 2 movies. He will be in the 3rd. (2004)

 

[Cindy B]

I enjoyed it as well.


I loved when Fred and George just up and left school. It was priceless!

I found the last battle scene confusing as well. I got a little confused as well.


As I was reading, I had an idea that it would be Sirius. He was cooped up in the house, and not truly doing any major part. Although Dumbledore didn't have a major part in the beginning either... as the first few chapeters unfolded.. I was thinking Don't kill Dumbledore...

For a tiny bit, I thought it was Mr. Weasley, that would have been terrible.

I liked the fact that Neville could have been IT! That was fun and very interesting.

 

[Lynn CC]

I skipped over the spoilers in your post, I'm still on Book#1:rolleyes

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

a bit of speculation on my part --

did anyone notice that when Harry was studying potions he read about one that makes you reckless? and that when he was reading about this potion, his thoughts drifted to Sirius just before he fell asleep? and did you notice he was disappointed that Harry wasn't as reckless as James? and going to the train wasn't exactly smart, was it? it was so out of character, based on what we knew from books 3 and 4. I thought we were going to find out that someone was feeding the potion to Sirius.

I knew form page 400 or so that it would be Sirius. and I didn't cry like I did when Cedric died, though I felt so bad for Harry. I would have cried if it were McGonegal or Mr. Weasley.

 

[sorcerormickey]

This was such a good book!!!

-First, I could not get over how evil Umbridge was. Sheesh!

-Poor Hagrid, being given such a hard time in the forest that he loves.

-Harry's reaction at the end of the book about Sirius' death was kind of scary, I think. All the rage he was showing in Dumbledore's office.... (I'll miss the Suffles dog tho. That character just gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling.)

-The way some of the other kids helped out Harry, and the DA too, that was really cool!

-And bizarre about how Harry HAS to go back to the Dursley's at least once a year to keep it 'safe'. (Can't they at least be civil to him?)

-Did anyone else LOL at the part where Dumbledore makes Firenze a teacher? I'm not sure why, but I thought it was quite funny.


COME ON BOOK 6!!!!!!!

 

[Michelemouse]

I'm actually glad that the Harry/Cho relationship fizzled. As a previous poster mentioned, it just rang true. And I really think that Harry has found his "soulmate" in Luna Lovegood. He was able to open up to her about Sirius when he couldn't talk to anyone else about it. I think we may see more of her in the last two books.

I was also disappointed that Ron and Hermione's relationship didn't get any further than the constan-bickering stage, although I loved it when Harry realized that they reminded him of Mr. & Mrs. Weasley. I can't wait for more to develop here.

I think that Neville is going to play a major part in the last two novels. I think that J.K.Rowling is setting him up for big things. He gained so much strength and confidence in this book. I think he will end up being quite the hero.

I thought the book was very dark in the middle chapters and I couldn't wait to see the downfall of Umbrage. I also thought the moment when Harry finds the mirror that Sirius had given him was very sad. If only he'd used that instead of the fire to contact his godfather all might have been different.

I read an article that J.K.Rowling is already at work on Book 6. I only hope that it isn't another three years before we see it. I'm ready for my next HP fix now!

 

[Zurg]

I though this was the best of the books.

 

[katerkat]

I also thought the moment when Harry finds the mirror that Sirius had given him was very sad. If only he'd used that instead of the fire to contact his godfather all might have been different.

Oh my gosh -- I just realized that! *weeps* How true!

*I hated Umbridge. Sheesh -- how could Dumbledore allow such control over his school. I'd be doing some serious butt-kicking. (I know, he couldn't because Fudge thought he was taking over, but still!) I *loved* how the teachers reacted to Umbridge, though -- the parts with Prof Flitwick getting her to get rid of the fireworks, McGonagall telling Peeves which way to unscrew the chandelier -- priceless!
*Loved the boy-girl stuff. I wish we could have seen more between Ron and Hermoine, but there's still time. I really did like the Cho thing -- it's so totally like a high school crush. Totally clueless guy, jealousy over Hermoine, Hermoine explaining girls to them... LOL! Oh, and Ron getting furious about the guys Ginny is dating!! Tee hee! And, honestly -- I'm glad JK Rowling chose to have Ginny dating Dean Thomas at the end, as Dean is black. Teach kids some acceptance!!
*I want to know more about Snape! That glimpse Harry had into his mind -- I think they're setting him up for something. Why is he so bad? Why did James and Sirius hate him so much? Why did he become a double-agent?
*Why so little Hagrid? Almost 900 pages and he's barely mentioned!
*Love the development of the other characters. I think Neville will be a really big hero in the end. And I love that!
*I cried when Sirius died. I thought there was so much that could be done with his character, and I'm sad she chose to take it that way.
*It was very dark -- I'm glad I don't have kids wanting to read this stuff. I may not let my future kids have the series until they're 13 now! I understand that Harry has a lot on his plate, in addition to regular teenaged angst, but he got on my nerves after a while. I wanted to smack him!

 

[PammyK]

Briar Rose -
Thats a really interesting speculation. If true, do you think it was one of the order (Snape?) or rather Kreacher under the direction of the portrait of Sirius' mother?

Some of my questions:
What is going to happen to the HQ for the Order? If Sirius had a will (do wizards have wills?) then I'm sure he would have left it to Harry. However, that one female Death Eater is his cousin as is Narcissa Malfoy. Will this become an issue in book 6?

What is going to happen with Percy? He has become so fixated with his position in the Ministry, I think he is ripe to become Voldemort's pawn. He is so puffed up with his own importance and thinks he is so intelligent I think he will be easily manipulated.

Random thoughts:
Even though I didn't like that Harry was so angry during most of the book, I think it was appropriate given his age and all that he has gone through.

I loved the bits with Dumbledore's Army, especially that Neville was doing so well. I am hopeful that Neville will become even more of a vital player in all of this.

I liked that we saw Dumbledore's vulnerability and imperfection with regard to some of his decisions about not telling Harry about the Prophecy. He has always been so perfect (if somewhat dotty, lol) and to see that even Dumbledore can make errors in judgement will be important for Harry in the future. Ditto with Harry's dad.

Now that Sirius is gone and Harry has seen his father's imperfections, I wonder whether Harry and Snape's relationship change/improve. It has become apparent that Harry will need to start trusting Snape if they hope to prevail.

 

[Danielle811]

I just realized....No one has mention Harry getting kicked off the Quidditch team? I was very dissapointed.....and once i happened i thought for sure that Dumbledore would get him back on by the ned of the book....but he didnt...or did he? Am I missing something.....i thought Harry would do just a little more to protest this knowing that he loves the sport!!!

•Danielle•

 

[JetMom]

I did not think that Sirius' death was as emotional as Cedric's either. Cedric's was very intimate and personal while Sirius' was a minor flash in a much bigger battle.

I did cry later, though, when they were discussing Sirius' death. I do think there will be a lot of repercussions in the next to books relating to Sirius' death.

Ever since Neville stood up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in Book #1, I have been convinced that he will be instrumental in Voldemorte's ultimate defeat. He has been one of my favorite characters from the start. It was great to see him finally getting some confidence and kicking some Death Eater B***.

 

[Jen D]

For some reason the only thing that made me tear up was when Mrs. Weasley getting rid of the boggart and she kept seeing her family members dead. It was just sort of a ghastly maternal moment that made you realize how tense things were.

I like the new, angry and bitter Harry. He's fifteen, which is a volatile age anyway, and he has a lot to be angry about.

The scene that has stuck with me the most is Harry in Snape's pensieve, watching his father and his friends mercilessly bully Snape. It was so real and painful. Interesting-- I went back and read the first chapter after I'd finished the book, the scene in chapter one when Harry bullies Dudley struck me. Now we all now Dudley is a nasty, loathsome kid, but Harry basically walked up to him, and unprovoked, harrassed him, insulted him and bullied him (knowing Dudley couldn't fight him.) Again, I know Dudley is a jerk, but it still wasn't great behavior on Harry's part. He does have a little of his father in him.

I buzzed through the book fairly quickly, and loved it, but did anyone else feel that of all the HP books, it was actually the thinnest on plot? We got plenty of detail, and background, but the main story/mystery was a little harder to pin down. I think of all the books this one would be the most hopeless as a movie adaptation.

I think Harry will probably be reinstated for Quidditch next year now that the High Inquisitor is gone.

No movement on the Hermione and Ron chemistry.

 

[KJo719]

After 2 days of completely ignoring my fiance and my parents, I'm finished!! It was awesome! It was definitely well worth the wait. I think all of the revelations were expected, but it was time to finally hear them. I was sad when Sirius died, but more because of the way that Harry felt about him. I found the battle to be very confusing also. Once my dad is finished reading, I'm going to go back and reread it slower to get all of the details that I missed the first time. I felt a lot of things were made clear in this book, such as why Harry is forced to go back to the Dursleys every summer. This was one of the best- so far!