REVIEW: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

Title: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: August 25, 2010
Pages: 759
Published: 2000
Format: audiobook

The final book of the Harry Potter series spends every single page working towards the final conclusion, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat the entire time.

The action starts right off from page one with everyone coming to Harry’s rescue to help hide out from “he who should not be named”, looking for the best plan to defeat him and bring peace to the wizarding world.

Without giving too much detail, Harry, Ron & Hermione continue on their journey to destroy the souls left of Lord Voldemort, hoping to finish him off for good. Before they get too far, they hear about the deathly hallows – a set of magical objects that if owned by the same wizard can make him the most powerful.

Before long, they find themselves fighting for their lives, the lives of their friends and family, and the safety of everyone they’ve ever known.

I had so much fun reading this series, especially more towards the end. Listening to the last three books have been an adventure more than holding the book could have. I’m glad I finally finished and look forward to checking out the rest of the movies soon.

*challenges: monthly mixer mele, series iv challenge, 1010 category challenge, ya challenge, support your local library challenge, 100+ challenge, 30 books to movies, book blogger recommendation challenge, august 12×12

Other Reviews: Lizzy’s Literary Life, reading with tequila

REVIEW: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

Title: Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: July 24, 2010
Pages: 652
Published: 2005
Format: audiobook

The next to the last book in the Harry Potter series holds many surprises and is definitely leading up to the final book.

Harry and friends find themselves entering their next to last year at Hogwarts, receiving their O.W.L.’s and reading adulthood, but not without consequence. Upon arriving at school, it is announced that Snape has been given the job of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, which only adds to further misery. Harry begins secret lessons with Dumbledore, where he soon begins to learn about the past of Voldemort in hopes of finally bringing him to his final death.

All the while, Harry comes across a potions book whose former owner took the liberty of making his own alterations to the current recipes, giving everyone the impression that Harry became a potion genius over the summer. But finding (and testing) these potions only causes him more pain.

The shocking ending to this book had me wondering what would be in store for the final chapter of the series and what Rowling will be doing with the characters, especially Harry and how he is to proceed.

*challenges: monthly mixer mele, series IV challenge, 1010 category challenge, ya challenge, support your local library challenge, 100+ challenge, books to movies challenge, book blogger recommendation challenge, july 12×12 reading challenge

Other Reviews: reading with tequila

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished: June 22, 2010
Pages: 870
Published: 2003
Format: audiobook

The fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, starts off like most of them – Harry is suffering in muggleland with his aunt, uncle and cousin. He’s completely miserable and would do anything to escape and be with his friends, but not at the cost of being kicked out of Hogwarts, as he soon finds himself.

Harry finds himself targeted by death eaters and dementors, only to find there is a secret group of wizards who were created to keep Harry safe from “you-know-who”. Harry and his friends find themselves among the order of the phoenix, working to find a solution, while things at Hogwarts take a turn for the worse. A new teacher is appointed for the Defense Against the Dark Arts, and soon everyone is threatened by her ways, including Dumbledore. New rules are enforced and everyone has to learn to live with the adjustments and punishments.

This book was very interesting, incorporated a lot of new information and brought the story even further in with the introduction of new elements and the growing strength of our hated villain. I’m looking forward to starting book 6 and finishing out the series this year, along with comparing it with the films.

Other Reviews:

• Whimpulsive

*challenges: 30 books to movies, countdown challenge, monthly mixer mele, series iv challenge, 1010 category challenge, twenty ten challenge, ya challenge, support your local library challenge, 100+ challenge, four month challenge, june 12×12 reading challenge

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K. Rowling
Year Published: 2000
Finished: December 7
Pages: 734
Challenges: Books Awards II, Fall Into Reading 2008, From the Stacks

The fourth installment in the series, after reading the first three fairly close together I needed a break, plus this being the largest of the series, I needed to gear up to read that much, especially after reading Breaking Dawn.

This wasn’t my favorite so far. The beginning felt like it dragged on and most of it didn’t seem all the necessary. I did sort of miss the fact that they weren’t playing Quiddich throughout the book and instead focusing on the Tri Wizard Tournament.

Once I finished I felt that it was worth it all in the end, but it did take me quite awhile to read and I’m sure that I will be taking another long deserved break before starting the next in the series, but I’m starting to get more excited having accomplishing this major feat. I’m halfway there.

Other Reviews: reading with tequila

January 2008 – Recap

Title: Dawn
Author: VC Andrews
Pages: 407
Publisher: Pocket
Publish Year: 1990
ISBN: 0671670689
Notes: loaned from a friend for a quick read. have never read a VC Andrews book before. not bad book. will be adding VC Andrews to the list of authors to keep reading.

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J.K. Rowling
Pages: 560
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Year: 2004
ISBN: 043965548X
Notes: also loaned from a friend, along with the first two (read in 2007). needed to eventually jump on the bandwagon. they are amazingly creative books full of imagination and mythical creatures. sometimes it’s nice to escape.