PS/SS vs. CoS: It's A Tie!

[uilnslcoap]

No: HPFGUIDX 57568

Ahh, I must be a rather rare breed.

I'm a 4, 3, 2, 1 kinda guy.  I tire of PS/SS very quickly upon 
another read because it just establishes so much while the others 
exist without pointing out, "Oh, magic, magic!" everytime something 
happens.

I really love CoS.  I know it has problems, but the whole Riddle 
thing, the bold step of cutting Hermione out at a critical moment 
effectively from the rest of the novel.  It was such a corker.  I 
couldn't believe how much I was cheering for Harry to show that snake 
and his master who was in charge.  It was wonderful.

PoA is riveting in its climax.  That Time-Turner bit is probably my 
favorite "sequence" in the Harry Potter series (except possibly the 
graveyard in GoF).  Now here's the odd thing about this book: 
Hermione disappears for a long time in this novel (she's busy with 
all those lessons) somewhat like the second and yet the author 
demonstrates that only together can this Trio function.  It's really 
good, I think.

GoF I love for the sense I get that its what everything revolves 
around.  There was before GoF, there is GoF, and there is after GoF.  
That's kind of my picture of the Harry Potter evolution, and I like 
that quality in GoF.  Also the thematic material gets more emphasized 
here.  I'm looking forward to seeing what OotP does for everything.  
Hope my trend of liking the books in order continues!

Devin