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Books : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Rating: 
- Audio CD review
Well if you're looking at this product you're probably like me, busy and not the biggest fan of sitting down to read. I've always been a big fan of stories but I could just never find the time to read because of work and when I did I am admittedly an abysmally slow reader. After years of hearing how amazing these books, the Harry Potter series, were and loving every movie immensely it finally dawned on me to see if there was an audio book and there obviously is.
When I first started listening to the series I must admit I was a little turned off because Stephen Fray came across as a little dry and I was beginning to think the audio books weren't going to be much more tolerable than simply reading the books. As new characters are introduced though I was pleased to find that he managed to give most of them a unique personality and even more so that he maintains these personas not just through this single book but all the way to where I am now, The Half Blood Prince. Aside from just their vocal definition Fry also manages to display a diverse range of emotion for each individual character as if there is a separate actor for each character, it's really quite an amazing performance in my opinion. At certain times various audio filters are added for dramatic effect like echo and things of the sort and I guess that's really the only place this audio book comes up short for me is that there really isn't a whole lot to it other than Stephen Fry reading the books. This being my first audio book I can't really compare it to anything but I guess I was expecting at least some music between chapters or maybe some ambient sound effects but I still find the overall experience enjoyable without them.
There are probably hundreds of reviews for the books themselves so I'll keep my opinions on the series short and sweet. I believe the thing that I like most about the Harry Potter series is the overall charm of everything and the connection Rawling maintains to both the real world and real life. She really seems to nail human archetypes and the teenage inner dialogue and I can't help but think there are many pieces of her own children in this book. It showcases such an amazing insight as to the way people think and feel that I really can't help but be awe inspired. Like I said though, I'm not a big reader/listener so I imagine there are better books out there but that really doesn't take away from this series' ability to crack a smile on my face at work. I guess my only gripe is that it sometimes appears as if she has some favorite words or a limited vocabulary or perhaps people in England just find these words more common but there is an obtuse overuse of the words incredulous, glower, and one other that I will add in a couple of hours when I remember it. This obviously isn't a big deal but it can make me cringe a little.
Anyways, I work in science and listen to these all day when I don't have to read for work and I'm actually doing lab work and they have improved my enjoyment at work immensely so they come highly recommended by me. Each book is probably about 18-24 hours long off the top of my head so the whole series should take you a while to get through. I hope you enjoy!
Rating:
- A very dragged out read. ---scotrstone.com
I was excited to read this novel when I stood in line at midnight to purchase it. Unfortunately, this version was not as well edited as it should've been. As is stated in the publishing world: the first edit is for the author, the second is for the audience. Because I only gave this novel three stars does not mean I hate the book or didn't properly read it. And if you give one of your favorite authors a less than stellar review doesn't mean you're not a "true" fan. I believe the story was there, but the book just needed to be trimmed way back to make the plot tighter. I thought the creativity was there. I loved the extendable ears and the Ministry scenes. Rowling has no shortage on making memorable events. Rowling certainly understands teenagers, but Harry's blow-up at Dumbledore is over the top. He should put more faith in the one person who's been there for him since the beginning. Overall, it was good, but not Rowling's best.
Rating:
- An ambitious theme for a juvie book: personal freedoms & the nature of "truth" in time of war
I'm not usually one for writing reviews of later books in a series, because it's notoriously difficult to discuss such books without giving away spoilers, or overlapping what's already on the book's dust jacket. Accordingly, I usually prefer to review an entire series, rather than any one book within it. That having been said, I do have one thing to add, regarding this book - I was startled by the author's ambitiousness with this particular installment. I was very surprised, in a book targeted primarily for a younger audience, to see the author dealing with such mature real-world subjects as:
* Attempts by the government to limit/curtail personal freedoms during times of national crisis & war, and to launch things like crackdowns, takeovers of private universities, and inquisitions. Hello 9-11. Hello Kent State University. Hello Tiannamen Square. Hello WWII internment camps for untrustworthy citizens. Hello Russian gulags for political prisoners (ala azkaban). Hello Spanish Inquisition. Etc ad infinitum.
* Attempts by the mass media to create/control "the truth", and otherwise manipulate public perception. Hello state-controlled mass media in north korea, communist china, and "Pravda" of the former USSR. Etc ad infinitum.
Pretty heady subject matter for younger readers.
The author did a good job with this installment, but the page count was a bit much, and the book came across as a bit bloated and rambly at times ... but it's still on par, enjoyability wise, with the rest of the series. A bit overly ambitious, perhaps (for the intended audience), but still a solid offering.
Rating: - Fantastic book, I am glad to have read it before the movie!
This was the first of the Harry Potter books I have ever read. I am deployed over seas, saw it in the library, liked the movies and knew this one was coming out to the theaters soon so I read it. Great book. I was sorry to see the movie did it little justice and left so much out. Mrs Rowling really does a great job transporting us into her imagination and the story and this was a fantastic read. I certainly recommend it to any potter fans. If you have never seen the movies before or read the books preceeding this one, then I would start at the beginning. It is a good place to start. Since reading this I have burned through Half Blood Prince and am about to finish the Deathly Hallows. I have not been this addicted to a series since the Dragonlance Chronicles and Blood of Kerensky Trilogy and highly recommend it to anybody who enjoys fantasy, fiction, and certainly the Potter saga.
Rating: - HP Fevor!
I've had a chance to read all 7 books. Book one reeled me in.. and I have yet to be bored or disappointed. I have always enjoyed fairy tales.. and this series of books is just that. I find Rowling's work to be better suited for the mystical minds of adults rather than small children. I will not allow my kids to see the movies due to them being sooo very dark in nature. Rowling's has quite the imagination for story telling. The audio tapes/cd's are the best. Jim Dale does a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life, breathing such diversity into each character. It's really hard to turn the tapes/cd's off once I begin to listen to Jim Dale's incredible narrating skills. I think Dale should be given more or better credit for Rowling's work because he takes the books to a whole different level of frenzied excitement. His skill at changing and modifying his voice for each character is truly amazing. Order of the Phoenix (book 5) is a must read. I highly reccommend getting a copy for yourself to keep in your collection for years to come.
- Audio CD reviewWell if you're looking at this product you're probably like me, busy and not the biggest fan of sitting down to read. I've always been a big fan of stories but I could just never find the time to read because of work and when I did I am admittedly an abysmally slow reader. After years of hearing how amazing these books, the Harry Potter series, were and loving every movie immensely it finally dawned on me to see if there was an audio book and there obviously is.
When I first started listening to the series I must admit I was a little turned off because Stephen Fray came across as a little dry and I was beginning to think the audio books weren't going to be much more tolerable than simply reading the books. As new characters are introduced though I was pleased to find that he managed to give most of them a unique personality and even more so that he maintains these personas not just through this single book but all the way to where I am now, The Half Blood Prince. Aside from just their vocal definition Fry also manages to display a diverse range of emotion for each individual character as if there is a separate actor for each character, it's really quite an amazing performance in my opinion. At certain times various audio filters are added for dramatic effect like echo and things of the sort and I guess that's really the only place this audio book comes up short for me is that there really isn't a whole lot to it other than Stephen Fry reading the books. This being my first audio book I can't really compare it to anything but I guess I was expecting at least some music between chapters or maybe some ambient sound effects but I still find the overall experience enjoyable without them.
There are probably hundreds of reviews for the books themselves so I'll keep my opinions on the series short and sweet. I believe the thing that I like most about the Harry Potter series is the overall charm of everything and the connection Rawling maintains to both the real world and real life. She really seems to nail human archetypes and the teenage inner dialogue and I can't help but think there are many pieces of her own children in this book. It showcases such an amazing insight as to the way people think and feel that I really can't help but be awe inspired. Like I said though, I'm not a big reader/listener so I imagine there are better books out there but that really doesn't take away from this series' ability to crack a smile on my face at work. I guess my only gripe is that it sometimes appears as if she has some favorite words or a limited vocabulary or perhaps people in England just find these words more common but there is an obtuse overuse of the words incredulous, glower, and one other that I will add in a couple of hours when I remember it. This obviously isn't a big deal but it can make me cringe a little.
Anyways, I work in science and listen to these all day when I don't have to read for work and I'm actually doing lab work and they have improved my enjoyment at work immensely so they come highly recommended by me. Each book is probably about 18-24 hours long off the top of my head so the whole series should take you a while to get through. I hope you enjoy!
Rating:
- A very dragged out read. ---scotrstone.comI was excited to read this novel when I stood in line at midnight to purchase it. Unfortunately, this version was not as well edited as it should've been. As is stated in the publishing world: the first edit is for the author, the second is for the audience. Because I only gave this novel three stars does not mean I hate the book or didn't properly read it. And if you give one of your favorite authors a less than stellar review doesn't mean you're not a "true" fan. I believe the story was there, but the book just needed to be trimmed way back to make the plot tighter. I thought the creativity was there. I loved the extendable ears and the Ministry scenes. Rowling has no shortage on making memorable events. Rowling certainly understands teenagers, but Harry's blow-up at Dumbledore is over the top. He should put more faith in the one person who's been there for him since the beginning. Overall, it was good, but not Rowling's best.
Rating:
- An ambitious theme for a juvie book: personal freedoms & the nature of "truth" in time of warI'm not usually one for writing reviews of later books in a series, because it's notoriously difficult to discuss such books without giving away spoilers, or overlapping what's already on the book's dust jacket. Accordingly, I usually prefer to review an entire series, rather than any one book within it. That having been said, I do have one thing to add, regarding this book - I was startled by the author's ambitiousness with this particular installment. I was very surprised, in a book targeted primarily for a younger audience, to see the author dealing with such mature real-world subjects as:
* Attempts by the government to limit/curtail personal freedoms during times of national crisis & war, and to launch things like crackdowns, takeovers of private universities, and inquisitions. Hello 9-11. Hello Kent State University. Hello Tiannamen Square. Hello WWII internment camps for untrustworthy citizens. Hello Russian gulags for political prisoners (ala azkaban). Hello Spanish Inquisition. Etc ad infinitum.
* Attempts by the mass media to create/control "the truth", and otherwise manipulate public perception. Hello state-controlled mass media in north korea, communist china, and "Pravda" of the former USSR. Etc ad infinitum.
Pretty heady subject matter for younger readers.
The author did a good job with this installment, but the page count was a bit much, and the book came across as a bit bloated and rambly at times ... but it's still on par, enjoyability wise, with the rest of the series. A bit overly ambitious, perhaps (for the intended audience), but still a solid offering.
Rating:
- Fantastic book, I am glad to have read it before the movie!This was the first of the Harry Potter books I have ever read. I am deployed over seas, saw it in the library, liked the movies and knew this one was coming out to the theaters soon so I read it. Great book. I was sorry to see the movie did it little justice and left so much out. Mrs Rowling really does a great job transporting us into her imagination and the story and this was a fantastic read. I certainly recommend it to any potter fans. If you have never seen the movies before or read the books preceeding this one, then I would start at the beginning. It is a good place to start. Since reading this I have burned through Half Blood Prince and am about to finish the Deathly Hallows. I have not been this addicted to a series since the Dragonlance Chronicles and Blood of Kerensky Trilogy and highly recommend it to anybody who enjoys fantasy, fiction, and certainly the Potter saga.
Rating:
- HP Fevor!I've had a chance to read all 7 books. Book one reeled me in.. and I have yet to be bored or disappointed. I have always enjoyed fairy tales.. and this series of books is just that. I find Rowling's work to be better suited for the mystical minds of adults rather than small children. I will not allow my kids to see the movies due to them being sooo very dark in nature. Rowling's has quite the imagination for story telling. The audio tapes/cd's are the best. Jim Dale does a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life, breathing such diversity into each character. It's really hard to turn the tapes/cd's off once I begin to listen to Jim Dale's incredible narrating skills. I think Dale should be given more or better credit for Rowling's work because he takes the books to a whole different level of frenzied excitement. His skill at changing and modifying his voice for each character is truly amazing. Order of the Phoenix (book 5) is a must read. I highly reccommend getting a copy for yourself to keep in your collection for years to come.
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