Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT! (FOR THOSE RARE PEOPLE)
The trials and tribulations of the Triwizard Tournament are always fun and fascinating to read. But for me, this is one of the books in the series I enjoy the least.
With Voldemort’s return at the centre, The Goblet of Fire becomes a springboard for this uprising to dominate the next three books and things just become a whole lot more gloomy. Cedric’s death is so horrible and sad and still makes me angry when I read it. Not to mention that stupid, annoying Cornelius Fudge and his refusal to believe the truth! Such a defiant idiot who indecently helps to tip the circumstances into Voldemort’s favour. I always dread reading that hospital wing scene as I know it’s only going to serve as a ominous foreshadowing of dark and desperate times in the magical community.
The tournament is interesting enough (my favourite task is the maze) but with the introduction of Rita Skeeter, Mr. Crouch, Barty Crouch Jr. and Voldemort at full power, there is a definite dampening of spirits. I even find that the tasks themselves are a very quick read compared to other events in Harry’s fourth year.

A crucial part of the Harry Potter puzzle, but there just seems to be too many depressing elements to make it a favourite of mine. It could be worse though, it could be The Order of the Phoenix…

Is The Goblet of Fire one of your favourite books in the series? Which Triwizard Tournament task is up your alley? Do you think it can be depressing at times? Let me know!

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT!! (BUT NOT REALLY, RIGHT?)

This is, without a doubt, my favourite book in the Harry Potter series! It is a perfect balance of the whimsy and curious nature of Philosopher’s Stone and the darker and more sinister tones of Chamber of Secrets. We also get a much deeper look at the classes that Harry takes at Hogwarts – especially Care of Magical Creatures and Divination, his newest subjects. Harry’s third year at Hogwarts is all about him being protected from Sirius Black, so the classes provide a diversion from the constant investigations he undertakes into the circumstances of this escaped convict. The plot to Prisoner of Azkaban has been strategically structured and it later becomes one of the most crucial elements to the entire series. We are lulled into what seems to be a peaceful contrast to what is happening in the wizarding community, and then in the second half of the book, we are introduced to some of the most epic imagery and sequence of events to come out of the series…

Werewolves, escaped criminals, time travel, Dementors, and no Voldemort!

When I say werewolves, I really mean one: Remus Lupin. And boy, what an awesome and wise character he is. He acts as Harry’s guardian angel for most of the book, protecting him from Dementors (we’ll get to those terrifying things later), detention from Snape, and even from himself during the school term. The scene where he forgets to take his Wolfsbane Potion and transforms in front of Harry’s eyes is frightening and ramps up the action in the otherwise monster-free book. He represents the grounded half of the novel and is hard to dislike, even as a werewolf. Arguably one of the best characters from the series.

The escaped “criminal” Sirius Black is another terrific addition to the book. We are overjoyed to find someone who loves Harry unconditionally, whilst being related (through friendship with his parents) to him! His constant checking in on Harry as “the Grim” is sweet and he values friendship highly, as shown when he declares that he’d rather die for Harry’s parents than to save himself. Not many characters could honestly do that, but we believe it when Sirius says it. It is also heart-breaking that Harry has been separated from someone genuinely good for his whole life up until now, but this brief encounter is one that is truly special.

On to time travel. It seems like it was only a matter of time before it was included in one of these books 😉 This is what makes the second half of the book truly exciting – the ways in which the actions of the observed characters fit together like a puzzle as Harry and Hermione retrace their steps. They have to think quickly and carefully about the sequence of events needed to rescue Buckbeak and save Sirius simultaneously. For example, when Harry is about to be attacked by Lupin, Hermione remembers that Lupin responds to a call from his own kind and howls, becoming the catalyst that draws Lupin away and leads Harry to the lake, all the while avoiding being seen by anyone else. An enjoyable and a stand-out climax.

Previously, I mentioned that the plot to Prisoner of Azkaban was structured strategically. One of the most indicative aspects comes from the inclusion of the Dementors. These bastards were not only creative imagery to represent depression by J.K. Rowling, but they give readers a true taste of a bleak outlook of Harry’s life and utilise this gloominess as a catalyst for one of the greatest and triumphant moments in the series: Harry saving himself via his stag Patronus. It was epic in the movie because it was epic in the book! I remember studying in English in high school and reading the passage where Harry and Sirius are surrounded by Dementors before passing out together. The language and descriptions were memorable and beautiful, even in such a terrible moment. Despite their horrible nature, these creatures are an imperative inclusion, in order to see the lows that bring about the amazing and powerful highs of magic, courage, and daring.

The book also unravels massive pieces of the puzzle of Harry’s survival while digging into the back story of how his parents were targets by Voldemort. It moves the plot along without it being overshadowed by the Dark Lord himself. The four creators of the Marauder’s Map replace Voldemort as the link to Harry’s past. Even though he is still a part of this story, he certainly isn’t in your face as much as the two previous novels. It is the only book without Voldemort being physically present, either as himself or as a teenager.

Also, how could I forget Lee Jordan’s Quidditch commentary? Enough said.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is an emotional read that encompasses all that is wonderful in this magical world. It is my favourite now and will be my favourite forever.

Is this book your favourite in the series?
If not, what is your favourite?
Do you like the addition of new characters?
Feel free to put your thoughts down in the comment section!

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT (NOT REALLY THOUGH, SURELY?)
Whenever I discuss the Harry Potter series with friends, I can never understand why they don’t enjoy Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as much as I do. This book has everything you want in a story: a mystery that creates thrilling adventures to find the truth, death-defying action scenes, loyalty, friendship, and an adorable house-elf.

After I had reread the first two books back to back, I couldn’t help noticing how much the stakes had risen. The plot is more layered and Voldemort’s actions are now directly affecting people at Hogwarts, which is good foreshadowing for what’s to come later in the series. Harry’s first year at Hogwarts and his battle with Voldemort for the Philosopher’s Stone has barely sunk in when he is introduced to the reign of Slytherin’s heir. This is one of the reasons why I find this book so enjoyable! Harry is thrown into a dangerous legacy that requires him to step up when he really doesn’t know what to do – something that is indicative of life. It’s comparable to climbing a hill and then being told you have to climb the highest mountain in the world. The Chamber of Secrets and what’s inside it force Harry to be ready for anything, including dealing with monsters on his own, or with very minimal direct help from other characters.

Something else I noticed was all the links between this book and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There are loads! The ones that stood out to me were the usage of Tom Riddle’s diary and the consequences that came from opening it, the vanishing cabinet in Borgin and Burkes that will lead to the Death Eater invasion, Voldemort and his connection to Hogwarts and another mystery involving someone giving themselves a feared title (Heir of Slytherin, Half-Blood Prince). These have only been picked up by me after so many rereads but it always intrigued me to discover the seeds that were planted so early on to tie everything together. This is enough evidence for me to believe that the second book is extremely important in setting the tone for the series.

The language is also more sophisticated in this book. Where the vocabulary was directed to a more middle-grade audience in the first book, this one seems more advanced and targets late primary and early-to-mid high school students. It’s a necessary adjustment to partner with the darker and more complicated plot.

I can’t deny that I get slightly creeped out when reading this book (I’m a huge arachnophobe), but I always enjoy the conversation between Harry and Professor Dumbledore after Harry comes out of the Chamber of Secrets. When Dumbledore tells Harry “it is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”, it allows us to think deeply about who we are, how we go about making decisions and how we act accordingly. It’s a great lesson and a perfect moment for Harry to learn it, as he constantly questions whether he should be in Gryffindor or not.

Needless to say, I love Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and will continue to love it until the day I die (although I don’t love Lockhart, he can go bugger off). This book is an important addition to the series that balances terrifying imagery with satisfying conclusions.

Have you read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?
Is it one of your favourites, or not high on your list?
What were your favourite moments? I’d love to know!
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