It is time for me to tell you...
Well, I'm done. And it was a really good book. Like Goblet of Fire, it dragged a bit at some parts in the middle, but finished with a bang. I laughed a lot (though less than in previous books), I cried a bit, and chapter 37 gave me goosebumps. I can't wait for Book 6 and am rather frightened that J.K. Rowling doesn't have a deadline for the last two books.
I don't, however, think that Order of the Phoenix was a great book. I enjoyed it as an established Harry Potter fan. I liked to see the continuing adventures and character growth, but it seemed to be missing some of the Harry Potter (pardon the phrase) magic. I'm not saying that it had any less wizardry and spell-casting and potions than the others, but that it seemed to lack some of the je-ne-sais-quoi that make the books so addictive. If you read this one first, I'm sure that reading Book 5 would inspire you to read the others in the series, but I'm not sure that it would make you a Harry Potter fan.
Now, if you've finished the book, feel free to continue reading this post.
Everyone was speculating: Ginny or Cho Chang? It never really occurred to me that it would be neither, but I kind of like it that way. It gives Harry more time to grow up. Maybe he'll end up with Ginny in the end, or maybe he won't. It's not really important to the story. I'm no longer so attached to her as a love-interest for Harry and I find that I like her better that way.
I am happy, however, that everything JKR has said and written seems to be setting up for a relationship between Hermione and Ron. I think that could be interesting as the series progresses, especially because the trio's dynamic would change. Plus, Ron's just so darn cute.
I bought all that chocolate in preparation for the death scene, and then didn't really get upset at all. I think that if you had told me, after Book 3 or Book 4, that he would be the one to die, I would have been more upset. But during the course of Book 5, I came to respect him less, and felt that it might be best for Harry to be out of his influence. This death also upset me less than Cedric's because Cedric was innocent and young and unsuspecting. Now the beginning battles have begun, and death in battle somehow seems less tragic.
I forget from one reading to the next, but Neville really is one of my favorite characters. The idea that he could actually be the one to fulfill the prophesy excites me and makes me cry. Even if Voldemort hasn't left a physical mark on him, he certainly has emotional scars. I like him better than Harry.
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srah - Saturday, 21 June 2003 - 4:25 PM
Tags: books, harry potter, harry potter and the order of the phoenix, hermione granger, neville longbottom, ron weasley
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