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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling (2003)

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Synopsis
When the government of the magic world and authorities at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry refuse to believe in the growing threat of a freshly revived Lord Voldemort, fifteen-year-old Harry Potter finds support from his loyal friends in facing the evil wizard and other new terrors.

Details
Publication Date:	2003-06-01
Series:	Harry Potter Series
Illustrator:	Mary Grandpre
Edition Description:	Illustrated

Size
Length:	896 pages
Height:	9.3 in
Width:	6.3 in
Thickness:	2.2 in
Weight:	42.4 oz

Publisher's Note
The next volume in the thrilling, moving, bestselling Harry Potter series

Industry Reviews
"If Harry has hit his awkward age, Rowling the writer has already passed through it. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, her first long novel, was a somewhat lumpy affair; though ultimately winning, it suffered from her lack of experience with the form and her rush to meet her publisher's deadline. If that book was the work of a born storyteller still sorting out her technique, PHOENIX is the smooth product of a natural at the top of her game."
Salon - Laura Miller (06/23/2003)

"In dramatizing the angst that Harry experiences, Rowling does her usual page-turningly good job. Although this is a complex novel, the high energy level almost never flags, thanks in part to the author's ability to create vivid scenes and set pieces. And although her tone is much darker than previously, there are welcome elements of humor too, many of which are rooted in the characters and quirks of Harry's friends Hermione, Hagrid and Ron, who comes into his own as a newly designated prefect and keeper for the Gryffindor quidditch team."
Los Angeles Times - Michael Cart (06/23/2003)

"With this book Rowling enters the realm of the coming-of-age novel. The children are fifteen. They have begun pairing and unpairing; moods swing; they see once-idealized adults more in the round. One of the restrictions of the novels has been how focused they are on the three friends, concentrating on the partiality of their experience and their abilities to reflect on it. Rowling makes it quietly clear that Harry's intermittent alertness to the dangers of his own gifts recapitulates the arrogance of his parents' generation, which came from self-assurance built on good looks, physical prowess, intelligent courage, and confident leadership. If, as Rowling wrote earlier, it is not our abilities but our choices which make us what we are, then this book revolves around the implications of choosing and the unforeseeable consequences of even our best decisions."
Times Literary Supplement - Ruth Morse (07/04/2003)

"Rowling cheerfully turns her own conventions on their ears, and the result is a surprisingly enjoyable ride....Rowling has managed to make Harry and his fate a bit less predictable, which, in the fifth of a seven-volume series, is a very good thing."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - Janice M. Del Negro (09/01/2003)

"All the qualities that marred the fourth book--the loping, uneven pace of a novel that seemed churned out rather than written--have evaporated. Indeed, the faux gothic horror of the fourth has been replaced by a return to the wonderful, textured writing of the three earlier novels. The novel does not have the frankly grisly scenes that were so disturbing in GOBLET OF FIRE."
USA Today - Deirdre Donahue (06/20/2003)

"One of the many things that makes Rowling's series so wonderful is that Harry, who started the series as an 11-year-old, is aging believably as each book covers a year of his life. And as his sense of himself expands, so do the books and the Potter universe."
Atlanta Journal & Constitution - Phil Kloer (06/20/2003)

"J.K. Rowling's great gift -- her ability to conjure a rich, teeming, utterly believable alternative world -- hasn't failed her....she has also let Harry blossom into a genuinely complex and persuasive character."
Washington Post - Elizabeth Ward (06/24/2003)

"Rowling favors psychological development over plot development here, skillfully exploring the effects of Harry's fall from popularity and the often isolating feelings of adolescence."
Publishers Weekly (06/30/2003)

"Is HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX as good as the other Harry Potter books? No. This one is actually quite a bit better. The tone is darker, and this has the unexpected -- but very pleasing -- effect of making Rowling's wit and playful black humor shine all the brighter."
Entertainment Weekly - Stephen King (07/11/2003)

"J. K. Rowling is the real magician....HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is rich and satisfying in almost every respect. It also delivers a genuine apocalyptic shiver, as dated as Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New or the Dead Sea Scrolls and the poems of Blake."
New York Times Book Review - John Leonard (07/13/2003)

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Top Reviews

Darker side of the Series begins

Review created: 09/26/05(updated 03/13/06)

by:

cheekycj ( 136

)

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18 of 20 people found this review helpful.

Goblet of Fire brought a surprise dark ending - this takes it a bit further.

This book goes through the whole gamut of emotions for Harry and his friends - Harry is shown to be vulnerable to emotions that he cannot control (not entirely his own fault but you will see) and this book portrays him quite a bit as trying to get things done on his own (a preview of things to come or things to change - who knows). This book goes into the emotional side of Harry and the roller coaster ride it can be for a teen and also reasons highlighted at the end of the book.

New characters are introduced and you get a clearer picture of alliances and where people stand in the war against Voldemort.

He also finds out how costly it is to not listen to Dumbledore as another person close to him is lost. He blames himself and Dumbledore reveals a lot more answers (and raises a few more questions) at the end of this book.

This book clearly answers questions and definitely sets up for the next book.
You will get exposed to more dark magic in this book - a nice addition to see the both sides of the coin.

The books in this series are getting longer but as you will justly so. This book is definitely more exciting and darker than the others but it is a very good read and my wife and I had to fight for who gets to read it - the next book is being bought with an extra copy for her :-)

Disclaimer: I am an eBay employee and this review is my own opinion and is not written on behalf of eBay. This review does not reflect the views of my employer nor is it endorsed by them.

Review ID: 10000000000003098

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The book is long... and you feel its length

Review created: 10/12/05

by:

mav_888 ( 98

)

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7 of 20 people found this review helpful.

As the 5th and largest installment of the Harry Potter series, Rowling does not do a great job with character development and plot advancement in this book. That said, it's a must read if you have read the previous 4 books and if you intend to read the rest of the books.

The book is long and very slow at times. There is not much character development, and the reader isn't given any sense of a strong, developing plot.

Review ID: 10000000000023965

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Reviews

Harry Potter

Review created: 07/09/08

by:

123mollym ( 19

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I was very pleased with this product and the price. Book is in great condition and I received it in a very timely fashion.

Review ID: 10000000007902728

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Harry Potter & Order of the Phoenix

Review created: 06/10/08

by:

la7746 ( 30

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I was promised to receive the book in a specific time frame and I did. It was in excellent condition. Thanks!

Review ID: 10000000007531549

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Harry Potter & personal check

Review created: 06/07/08

by:

tomanneke ( 205

)

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I purchased the book to have the hardback . Even so I am a senior citizen and have read all of the Harry Potter novels. I plan passing them on to my grandchildren along with all of my other Books . This individual I dealt with , was very fast and did not over charge for shipping . Tom Hill P.S. There is one thing I would like to see EBay do . I personal, like to pay with a personal check ! The reason for that is that I am old fashioned . It has nothing to do with convenience , it has to do with "as the younger people put it " being in the loop . Buying and selling is a social thing . It was one of humanity's first social interaction . So much for my babbling . The Point is, to set up a grading system for the likely hood of the check being good . This, I guess would be done or considered by the track record of the individual. T.H.

Review ID: 10000000007474325

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