Review of Order of Phoenix Part I: Spoilers inside !!!

[michaelkgidlow]

No: HPFGUIDX 63714

Warning...Spoiler infromation
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The first thing I did when I got my copy of OoP (besides trembling 
with excitement and anticipation), I thumbed through the last few 
pages to make sure Ron and Hermione were still alive. After breathing 
a sigh of relief, I proceeded to reading the book.

Order of Phoenix was very different from the other books in many 
ways. For one, most of the action takes place outside of the school. 
second, this is the first book in the series that proceeds on the 
assumption that you have read the other books. In other words, 
Rowling doesn't recap on Harry's past (as she usually does in the 
first chapter of a book). Probably she thought that anyone reading 
this book would have read at least one of the other books so she 
decided not to recap. Third, this book doesn't have a huge plot twist 
at the end. In the other books, someone always turns out to be 
someone else. In SS Quirrell turned out to be the one trying to get 
the SS when we all thought it was Snape. In CoS, Tom Riddle turned 
out to be the Heir of Slythren when we thought it was Malfoy or 
Hagrid. In PoA, everyone thought Sirius was a murder, but it turned 
out that Ron's rat was really an Animagi and the murder. In book 
four, Moody turned out to be crouch. But book five doesn't have a 
plot twist like this. I thought it might turn out that Fudge or 
Umbridge might turn out to be a Death Eater, or Luna was going to be 
someone else in disguise. Fourth, Quidditch seems to be purged from 
the books. In the first three, Quidditch plays a prominant role in 
the plot, but not so in GoF and OoP. It now seems to just be tacked 
on to please the readers. But I can understand this because I think 
Rowling has exausted the excitement of Quiddicth in the previous 
books. I think she is wise because its getting hard to keep Quidditch 
fresh and exciting. I mean, you can only have so many daring stunts 
before it gets boring.

Nevertheless, it was a very good and intruging book. I loved it. I 
was surprised about Sirius's death. I was really sure it was going to 
be Ginny or Molly Weasley that died. But now that I think about it, 
Sirius's death really makes sense. He was the only parent figure 
Harry had, so killing him off would effect Harry very much. Sirius 
was a father figure, someone to whom Harry could confide in, but now 
Harry is really alone. 

I want to say more, but I can't think now. I will post more later.

Michael