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

One of my goals for 2010 is to finish reading the Harry Potter series. I left off on Book 4 ... long before I had a child, much less children. It's just a matter of time before someone spoils the ending for me, so I thought I should get busy! (I have only seen the movies up to Book 4 as well, so I really have no idea how it ends. I know "someone dies," but that's all I know.)

It took me a while to get back into the series. Up until almost page 400, I was reading and just thinking, "Oh, I wish this was another Twilight book." and "Where are the vampires?" and every time I would see the name Cedric Diggory, I thought of Edward (who, in the movies, is played by the same actor). Twas an illness, I tell you.

Finally, though, the action started and my comparison of Harry Potter and Twilight was over, and I was reminded that Harry Potter is a different (and, in most ways, better) story than Twilight. It is better written and appeals to young and old and male and female. I believe Harry Potter will be a timeless series, similar to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

***Spoiler Alert***

In Harry Potty and the Order of the Phoenix, I was relieved to finally get an answer as to why poor Harry must continue to return to his jerky aunt and uncle's every summer. I mean, those people are so lame and terrible to him. I could never understand why Dumbledore kept sending him back. They didn't want him. Even after learning why, though, it made me all the more sad that Harry's aunt treated him so poorly. This kid, through no fault of his own, has no mother or father and she knows she is the sole person who can keep him safe. Why doesn't she care more about him?

I'm happy to see Harry and his friends growing up - trying to make sense of the mixed singles the opposite sex sends and with Harry realizing that his father wasn't always the best man in the whole world.

Snape's feelings towards Harry make more sense.

I was not at all surprised by the "big reveal." Of course Harry or Voldemort will have to die. I guess it was never spelled out, but I'm pretty sure that's been obvious since the beginning.

I was annoyed with the house elf situation. It seemed too easy. I'm also bummed that Sirius died. I feel like just as Harry finds his parents, he loses what is left of their memory piece-by-piece. Poor kid.

Cannot wait to get started on Book 6, but I wanted to get a review up of Book 5 before I started in on it.