Books: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by JK Rowling
Krishna
First, let me tell you that I have read ALL of the Harry Potter books but chose to review in this forum only from this book forward.
As for JK Rowling’s phenomenal success in this field, a friend of mine told me that she is probably the first children’s book author who does not talk down to the audience but treats them as little adults (and thus it also appeals to adults). I guess he is mostly right. And the fact that she weaves her plot so well that all loose ends are neatly sorted out at the end of each book with an unexpected twist at the end, also adds to the charm.
Yes, I know she leaves some clues unresolved, as pointers to her later books, but otherwise everything is neatly resolved, and you can read any of these books as an independent story without having to have read the earlier books. Nice.
This is, of course, the fifth book in the series. It is a fascinating book, as all of her books tend to be. But there seem to be important differences between the first four and this. I probably cannot reveal all that is different about this book because then I would be giving away some details of the ending and that is a strict no-no in books like this, assuming you would want to read this. Or assuming that any of you have still not read this!
However, some of the points can be discussed. This book is a lot darker than the previous books and is as big as the Goblet of Fire, which is the fourth book in the series. The characterization of Dolores Umbridge, sent by the Ministry of Magic to review Hogwart’s activities, is superb, as are the confrontation between the Ministerof Magic Cornelius Fudge and Dumbledore.
The tension and the sense of frustration that the forces of good feel when the forces of evil are obviously winning is well portrayed. There are new aspects of magic that are discussed, and if you thought you had seen it all, you will pleasantly realize that Rowling still has some magical secrets to reveal.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending. There are sevaral things ‘not quite right’about it, but cannot reveal what they are. Enough to say that I expected much more of Harry Potter’s hand in the final denouement of the story.
In addition, Harry appears to be a bit more angry and a bit more sullen than usual. Adolescent harmones, perhaps? Or is it a non deliberate feature of the writing?
J. K. Rowling revealed that one of the characters we all know (if we have been following the story) dies in this book and indeed, a person dies. Not as central a character as I thought, but still pretty important.
It is in the inimitable style of Rowling, but some of the usual phenominal resolution at the end is lacking a bit here, so let us say “just” a 7/10
— Krishna