Like thousands of Harry Potter fans I awaited the arrival of the Order of the Phoenix like a kid waiting for her birthday. Finally June 21st arrived and I flew to the bookshop with wings on my feet. For the next three days my eyes were glued to the book. Did I enjoy Order of the Phoenix? Yes. Did it answer my questions regarding the world of Harry Potter? Mostly. Did it live up to what I've come to expect from the Harry Potter series? No. Did I find it disappointing? Very much so.
For the first time reading a Harry Potter book I found it dull and had to force myself to continue, I found the first third of the book very dry and dull. Order of the Phoenix isn't very well paced, the characters are static and Harry's "I'm center of the universe why aren't I included in your plans?" attitude wears very thin very quickly.
Many of the new characters are disgustingly obvious plot devices. The main antagonist, Professor Umbridge, is the stereotypical villainess; an ugly woman who prettys herself up and surrounds herself with symbols of innocence and virtue. Tonks is a Mary Jane character if ever there was one. No doubt in the upcoming bookes she'll return as Lupin or Snape's love interest.
The story line is paper thin and reads like the desperate attempts of a student to get an assignment over with so they can move on to something better. I felt that the Weasley twins' exit was contrived, melodramatic and cheap, and served no real purpose other than to reiterate what had already been established. Actually, the entire book was contrived, melodramatic and self serving and should have been culled by at least 500 pages. The climax was a pitiable affair with more cliches and deus ex machina than you can shake a stick at. I think J. K. Rowling has become arrogant and lazy and feels that no matter what she writes people will buy it in droves. The sad thing is - she's right.
-Sarah E. Houtby
Top of page
Incidentally...
- Sirius caught Kreacher 'snogging a pair of [Sirius'] father's old trousers' snogging means kissing what north americans would call "making out"
- the number Mr. Weasley punches into the telephone to get into the ministry of magic (62442) spells "magic" on telephone buttons
- Susan Bones (who is in Hufflepuff) is the neice of Amelia Bones the head of Magical Law Enforcement
- Madam Marsh gets off the Knight Bus in Prisoner of Azkaban too
- J.K.R. said that Hermione represents her. Hermione's patronus is an otter, J.K.R.'s favourite animal is an otter
- If Umbridge had known Filch was a squib would she have liked him so much?
- the initials on Harry's prediction are Trelawney and Dumbledore's initials respectively
- maybe Neville wasn't very good at magic because he was using his father's wand. Perhaps after getting his own he'll be better
Top of page
Forewarned is forearmed...
- Harry vaguely recognised the bartender in the Hogshead could he turn out to be a death eater?
- when Harry first approaches the arch when they enter the Ministry he hears whispering and says "Sirius?".
Top of page
Oopsy Daisy!
- During the initial meeting of Dumbledore's Army, in the Hogshead pub, Dennis Creevey (Colin Creevey's brother)shows up. However, he's only in second year and wouldn't be allowed into Hogsmeade
- when Hermione locked the door with Colloportus the death eaters were able to break through using Alohomora. When Harry used it on another door they had to try to find another way in
- page 709 line 10 "...NevilleSPAN
around..." should be Neville SPUN around (there's no such word as span...well there is but not in this context)
Top of page
File it under E for everything...
- where did Uncle Vernon hear about Voldemort? He says '"that giant fellow" said he was gone'
- in Goblet of Fire Snape turned to write the potion ingredients on the blackboard (when Harry and Hermione are poring over the witch weekly article) now he just flicked his wand at it
- when Harry was sent to see McGonagall (with the letter from Umbridge) why was she (McGonagall) so adamant about him having biscuits? She told him to have some several times
- Perhaps Umbridge was so eager to get rid of Trelawney because of the prediction she made regarding Harry and Voldemort
- some people refer to this as a mistake. Ernie MacMillan says that as a prefect Malfoy can't deduct house points. In Chamber of Secrets Percy takes points off of Ron for being in the girl's washroom. Perhaps Prefects may take points from their own house but not other houses.
- Perhaps the rules are different in the magical world but in the muggle world Snape would not have been allowed to take his test paper out of the exam hall ("Snape's Worst Memory")
- Doesn't Umbridge teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to any other classes? Surely she couldn't have had that many extra periods in a day as to inspect other teachers only during the 5th year Gryffindor period.
Top of page
The Shrieking Shack //
Snape's Dungeon //
The Gallery //
The Library
The Library Annex //
The Theatre //
What's New
The Floo //
The Kitchen //
The Marauder's Map
