Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

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Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

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Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Hardcover
Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

* Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him.
* When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists.
* Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards.
* Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius.
* Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother.
* The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'.
* Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children.
* The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom.
* Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them.
* Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it.
* Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge.
* Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming.
* Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone.
* Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager.
* Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape.
* Dumbledore's confession to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* The introduction of the Horcrux.
* Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur's answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles.
* Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling's most ingenious inventions.
* Fred and George Weasley's Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!"
* Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator.
* The effects of Felix Felicis.

Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child. Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author. Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer.

A Few Words from Mary GrandPré

"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.

Customer Reviews:

Harry's Farewell.......2007-10-11

The world will surely miss Harry Potter.

As usual, beautifully written.

Shocking revelations.

I loved the ending... though maybe some people won't like it.. though honestly, who cares if you don't.

THIS IS THE LAST BOOK OF THE SERIES.. IF YOU DON'T BUY THIS, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT ALL THE OTHER HP BOOKS... duh!

kidding aside.. buy this because its (1) a great and grand book.
It's one of my favorites in the series.
(2) You have to support J.K. Rowling, if only to keep her writing more.
(3) For your collection
(4) BUY THIS OR LOSE OUT.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.......2007-10-11

This was my favorite book of the series, too bad that it has ended. I hope J.K. Rowling writes other books soon...I'm in need of something to read.

As expected.......2007-10-10

AS everyone knows by now, the last book was pretty much a repeat of previous themes, style and timing. This book perhaps meandered more in the telling of the tale, as the characters also wandered around lost for a period. The most interesting thing is the appearance of christian themes, particularly about dying and resurrection. Previous books very carefully avoided religion. But when fighting the ultimate evil, well...

Fabulous Book.......2007-10-10

As always, JK Rowling has done an amazing job with this book. It's a shame the series has ended.

Great Ending for the Harry Potter Books.......2007-10-10

I really enjoyed this book. I am not sure how she would end the series but I think that she did it perfectly.

Wizard at Large (2 in 1) Omnibus [Blood Rites / Dead Beat]

Average customer rating:

Great Books!

Wizard at Large (2 in 1) Omnibus [Blood Rites / Dead Beat]
Jim Butcher
Manufacturer: SFBC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000M4IO2K

Customer Reviews:

Great Books!.......2007-02-20

This Omnibus is from the SCI-FI Book of the Month Club and was only sold to members. I bought it so that I could own a hardcover edition of these books. (I prefer hardcover for books that I can read over and over again)

There are plenty of reviews for Blood Rites and Dead Beat out there, so I'll let you rely on those for more details. What I will say, is that Jim Butcher continues to become a better and better writer and each book is more compelling then the next one. Definitely worth a read if you are a fan of Fantasy and Mystery books. Mr. Butcher has a great sense of humor also, and each book provides additional laughs.

LARGE 15 Books in 1: L. Frank Baum's Original "Oz" Series. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in ... Of Oz, The Magic of Oz, and Glinda Of Oz

Average customer rating:

Classic Stories revisited
difficult to read
all the books none of the pictures
Look For Border's Edition
The books of OZ

LARGE 15 Books in 1: L. Frank Baum's Original "Oz" Series. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in ... Of Oz, The Magic of Oz, and Glinda Of Oz
L, Frank Baum
Manufacturer: Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1905921004

Book Description

LARGE PAPERBACK edition. For over a hundred years, L. Frank Baum's classic fairy stories about the land of Oz have been delighting children and parents alike. Now, for the first time, the entire Oz series is available in this single, great-value, edition! This unique '15 books in 1' edition of L. Frank Baum's original "Oz" series contains the following complete works: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz", "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", "The Road to Oz", "The Emerald City of Oz", "The Patchwork Girl Of Oz", "Little Wizard Stories of Oz", "Tik-Tok of Oz", "The Scarecrow Of Oz", "Rinkitink In Oz", "The Lost Princess Of Oz", "The Tin Woodman Of Oz", "The Magic of Oz", and "Glinda Of Oz". From the publisher: we're releasing this large format paperback edition of our complete Oz series in response to our customers, who told us they would like an edition with a larger text size than our standard format.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Stories revisited.......2007-10-10

Frank Baum is a classic writer that had a beautiful writing style that children should revisit that Grandparents enjoyed. These stories should be available in every library in our country as classic tales. My daughter is reading more and her imagination is in full bloom with this collection of books. The publisher and person responsible for puting this collection together should be applauded!

difficult to read.......2007-08-13

This book is condensed, I mean two pages printed on one page so the lettering is very small and none of the original art work is included. I did not realize when I bought it that the letters would be small. I also thought the original art work would be included. It's not bad if you want to read it with a magnifying glass.

all the books none of the pictures.......2007-06-25

I was wondering how they could fit all 15 oz books into 1 volume. the answer is by having no illustrations, two columns per page, and very small print. I felt like I was reading a text book more than a childrens set of books. it still works for a bedtime story for my son (though he really wants pictures), but for something to keep my son occupied while we ride on the bus it's a bit big to tote around. the story's are as I expected, designed for kids with no really scary parts and super simple plots; dull for a grown up but good for younger kids.

Look For Border's Edition.......2007-04-25

I give this book 5 stars because it is "OZ". I purchased something similar, but much much better from Border's , two years ago. Available from Amazon, look for 'The OZ Chronicles'. Volume 1 and Volume 2 contain all of Baum's Oz books. Green Leather Hardcovers, great size print. Volume 3 contains Baum's other books and stories. Incredible find and value.

The books of OZ.......2007-02-07

Great to have all of the stories included in one book. I don't need to worry about finding all the books to read. Great buy!

Wizard at Large (Magic Kingdom of Landover, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Would've been better without Cameron Beierle narrating.
What was I thinking?
Once again, Terry Brooks delivers and Dick Hill captures the mood.
This series continues to roll on with energy
Terry Brooks Greatest Work

Wizard at Large (Magic Kingdom of Landover, Book 3)
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345362276
Release Date: 1989-07-17

Book Description

Questor Thews is only a semi-competent wizard, but when High Lord Ben Holiday and his love Willow need use of his powers, he tries to comply. He tries, all right, but he doesn't have all that much faith in himself--not since he turned a terrier into an imp. Still, he'll do what he can....

Customer Reviews:

Would've been better without Cameron Beierle narrating........2007-04-26

While Brooks is not a great comedic fantasy author (see Terry Pratchett for someone who is) he is generally a good fantasy author. I keep listening to the Landover CDs hoping to get past Cameron Beierle's horrible readings and I can't.

Apparently the original audiobooks were done by "Dick Hill" and released on cassette only. These new CDs suffer greatly from issues like:

*Frequent mispronunciations of words (Foliage becomes "foilage" for instance);
*a completely phony sounding "hard boiled detective" voice for Ben Holliday (I am convinced Beierle is NOT a native english speaker as he often rolls his Rs or makes a soft "D" instead of an "R".);
*Randomly changing pronunciations of character names (the fairly simple word "paladin" is usually mispronounced "puhLADin" although in book 2 he freely changes back and forth between the two pronunciations.
*His female voices are atrocious. Willow sounds like Carol Channing imitating Marilyn Monroe's "happy birthday, mister president" performance. Willow pronounces "Ben" something like "Byeeeeehn".

Wizard at Large particularly suffers from having inappropriate pauses in the middle of passages where one would expect an editor to remove the dead space. In fact the whole series seems like nobody did any kind of production oversight or direction of the audiobooks at all.

On the plus side, Cameron does a fine job with second and third tier characters like Questor Thews, Abernathy and the G'home Gnomes.

What was I thinking?.......2006-09-23

I read all of Terry Brooks books as a kid and thought I'd re-read a bunch of them for fun. Picked up most of the books at a used book store on a whim.

While I liked "Magical Kingdom For Sale", this one was just based on the dumbest premise of all. Seriously, the entire premise of this book is stupid. The King has one magical amulet that is the most important thing in the world and he gives it away by page 30. The rest of the book is just listening to the stupid antics of him trying to get it back. Blah, blah and blah. I just couldn't get past the main plot thread.

Once again, Terry Brooks delivers and Dick Hill captures the mood........2006-09-04

Terry Brooks returns to Landover with yet another stunning tale of adventure and danger. Less than a year after nearly losing the kingdom of Landover to the duplicitous wizard Meeks, Ben Holiday once again finds himself fighting for his life. The mess begins when Questor Thews, the court wizard and half-brother to the vanquished Meeks, rushes into the garden room to announce triumphantly that he has finally found a way to change Abernathy, the court scribe, back to his human form after more than twenty years. The spell requires just one thing, a catalist that will separate the man from the dog in Abernathy, thereby allowing the transformation to take place. Unfortunately, the only item within easy reach that could possibly serve this purpose is Ben's enchanted medallion. Despite the danger posed by such an act, Ben reluctantly hands over the medallion, giving Questor the Ok to work his magic. But as we all know, Questor's magic doesn't always work the way he intends, and sometimes the results can be devastating. A sneeze on the part of Questor sends the magic spinning wildly out of control with catastrophic consequences. Not only does Abernathy fail to change back, but he's also sucked down into a strange well of light that carries him off to an unknown land...along with Ben's medallion. The mystery only deepens when, almost immediately after Abernathy vanishes, a mysterious bottle appears where the scribe once stood. Though at first nobody knows neither the origin nor the nature of the bottle, Questor remembers an event in his past that sheds a disturbing light on Abernathy's situation.
The bottle, Questor confesses, is an old relic of Meeks, the former court wizard, which the old man often gave to the son of the last king of Landover to play with. The bottle, Questor reveals, is the prison of a powerful genie-like demon who appears when summoned and obeys the command of its master. This creature, called a Darkling, draws the power for its magics from the darker side of a person's nature, anger, hatred, envy, greed, etc. The more powerful and cruel its master, the stronger the demon. Since the bottle was last in the possession of Michel Ard Rhi, the son of the last king, Questor can only deduce that Abernathy was sent to the place where the bottle was kept. Abernathy, it turns out, was sent back to Earth, to wherever Michel Ard Rhi lived. The situation only gets worse when Philip and Sot, friends of Ben's from the north, steal the bottle, believing it to be a pretty trinket. Now, Ben must not only recover his missing medallion and Abernathy, but also track down and regain possession of the bottle before it's opened.
Despite the seriousness of Abernathy's situation, he is not completely without help. After waking up to find himself scrunched into a display case, he encounters a little girl named Elizabeth, who reveals that he's in Woodenville, Washington. More specifically, he's inside the castle of Graum Wythe, which is ruled by a man named Michel Ard Rhi. Abernathy decides to tell Elizabeth the truth about him and urges her to help him escape from the castle before Michel learns of his presence. Elizabeth readily agrees, and the two of them set about forming a plan to beat the clock and get Abernathy safely away before his old enemy learns of his presence. Will Ben recover the bottle and find a way to exchange it for Abernathy? Will Elizabeth and Abernathy find a way to elude Michel before it's too late? The climactic battle at the end will answer that question quite nicely.
All in all I liked the presentation of this book. I'd read the unabridged Library of Congress version and liked it, but the Brilliance Audio abridgment was even better. Very little indeed was left out, and once again Dick Hill delivers a quality performance. My only complaint was his portrayal of the Darkling, but even that really wasn't that bad. He does manage to convey the fawning yet sinister nature of the creature quite nicely. If you haven't read this book yet and you enjoyed the first two novels in the series, pick up this book. Once again, Brooks delivers a masterpiece.

This series continues to roll on with energy.......2006-03-23

The landover works are very well done, with stand out characters. Action, missteps, all done with great skill. Keep up the good work!!

If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.

Terry Brooks Greatest Work.......2005-09-16

If you Love Fantisy Novals The Landover books are a must read.
(in fact thay should make a movie from them)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1, Large Print)

Average customer rating:

Makes a long drive fun!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - CD w/ Jim Dale
finally the end
Where's the substance?
Harry Potter Numero Uno

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1, Large Print)
J. K. Rowling
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786222727

Amazon.com

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the nonmagic human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, continues to win major awards in England. So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave kids clamoring for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (Ages 8 to 13) --Karin Snelson

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

The amazing popularity of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone means that now even Muggles know about the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Whether or not you've read about Harry, this unabridged audiobook brings his world to life. Reader Jim Dale brings an excellent range of voices to the characters, from well-meaning Hermione's soft, earnest voice to Malfoy's nasal droning; from Professor McGonagall's crisp brogue to Hagrid's broad Somerset accent; and from snarling Mr. Filch to p-p-poor, st-tuttering P-Professor Quirrel. Some of the characterizations are peculiar--why do the centaurs have Welsh accents?--but that's a small price to pay to hear one of the myriad ways to sing the Hogwarts School song. Harry Potter fans of all ages--Muggle or not--will enjoy curling up with a few chocolate frogs, a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans ("Alas! Ear wax!"), and this marvelous, magical audiobook. (Running time: 8 hours, 6 cassettes) --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

The author's first novel introduces Harry Potter, the son of a powerful wizard and witch who are killed by an even more powerful sorcerer. Sent to live with his Muggle (non-magical) aunt, uncle, and cousin, Harry is treated poorly without knowing why. On his tenth birthday, Harry learns that he is a wizard and is to go off to Hogwarts, a prestigious school for wizards and witches. Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, soon discover that something shady is going on, and they must save Hogwarts from the very sorcerer who killed Harry's parents.

No Canadian Rights for the Harry Potter Series

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter publishing rights © J. K. Rowling. (s05)

Customer Reviews:

Makes a long drive fun!.......2007-10-02

I was going to call in sick the next day just because I felt I needed the day off, but then I received my Sorcer's Stone CDs in the mail. I decided going to work wouldn't be so bad if I could listen to someone read Harry Potter to me while I drove my 1 hour commute.

WOW! I was so caught up in the story that I didn't realize I was traveling well below the speed limit. Warning, listening to these CDs could make you late for work or cause you to get off at the wrong exit.

Jim Dale does a fabulous job of changing his voice to sound like the characters he's imitating. I was able to really get lost in the story. The hardest part was turning the car off because I wanted to hear what happened next.

A brilliant work of art, Harry Potter. Really brilliant.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - CD w/ Jim Dale.......2007-10-01

Jim Dale does an excellent job dramatizing the first book in the Harry Potter series.

finally the end.......2007-09-30

i finally got to read a book without being told the ending before i finished

Where's the substance?.......2007-09-28

There is nothing good about Harry Potter. The story is lacking in creativity in every way, there is no suspense, it is not controversial, and everything always works out.

The characters are obviously derived from racism. I do not have a problem with this. After all we are all racists, and anyone that says racism is wrong, is the one that's wrong. That said, J. K. Rowling does not use this in any way. She could have used it to create some controversy, create conflict among the characters, explain why some people are friends and some aren't or easiest of all, humor. But she doesn't, why not? The only racism she uses is Hermione being a half breed. It would have been so much better if, instead of one parent being non-magical, that parent were French.

To keep this review short, I head straight to the end with the "obstacles" which are not obstacles at all. The three headed dog (cause three heads are just so cool and scary) gets put to sleep by a flute. Oh my God she did not use a flute to do that, how many times have I seen this? Why is it always a flute when it comes to putting things to sleep, or waking things that always sleep. Where did she get this from... poke'mon? Then there's the part with the door that needs a key. Wow, a locked door, I've never thought of that before. And the key is right there in the room, they just have to pick the right one, and nothing goes wrong if they pick the wrong one. Why didn't she just put the key in the door so as not to waste paper, and turn the key too for that matter. Next comes the Chess Board. It would have been so much better for them to lose the game and then walk across the board any way just to show all the readers that love the book just how foolish they are. And all the rest of the obstacles are just as bad, but I must stop writing because thinking about this book gives me a migraine.

Harry Potter Numero Uno.......2007-09-27

A good book and a flight of fantasy. Rowling surely has an imagination! Enjoyable overall.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)

Average customer rating:

The Epic Harry Potter Year 6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Starts out with a Bang and Becomes a Real Page-turner
Harry Potter book 6
A great book!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
J. K. Rowling
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786277459
Release Date: 2005-08-10

Amazon.com

The long-awaited, eagerly anticipated, arguably over-hyped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has arrived, and the question on the minds of kids, adults, fans, and skeptics alike is, "Is it worth the hype?" The answer, luckily, is simple: yep. A magnificent spectacle more than worth the price of admission, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will blow you away. However, given that so much has gone into protecting the secrets of the book (including armored trucks and injunctions), don't expect any spoilers in this review. It's much more fun not knowing what's coming--and in the case of Rowling's delicious sixth book, you don't want to know. Just sit tight, despite the earth-shattering revelations that will have your head in your hands as you hope the words will rearrange themselves into a different story. But take one warning to heart: do not open Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until you have first found a secluded spot, safe from curious eyes, where you can tuck in for a good long read. Because once you start, you won't stop until you reach the very last page.

A darker book than any in the series thus far with a level of sophistication belying its genre, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince moves the series into murkier waters and marks the arrival of Rowling onto the adult literary scene. While she has long been praised for her cleverness and wit, the strength of Book 6 lies in her subtle development of key characters, as well as her carefully nuanced depiction of a community at war. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, no one and nothing is safe, including preconceived notions of good and evil and of right and wrong. With each book in her increasingly remarkable series, fans have nervously watched J.K. Rowling raise the stakes; gone are the simple delights of butterbeer and enchanted candy, and days when the worst ailment could be cured by a bite of chocolate. A series that began as a colorful lark full of magic and discovery has become a dark and deadly war zone. But this should not come as a shock to loyal readers. Rowling readied fans with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by killing off popular characters and engaging the young students in battle. Still, there is an unexpected bleakness from the start of Book 6 that casts a mean shadow over Quidditch games, silly flirtations, and mountains of homework. Ready or not, the tremendous ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will leave stunned fans wondering what great and terrible events await in Book 7 if this sinister darkness is meant to light the way. --Daphne Durham

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Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Hardcover
Paperback Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Hardcover
Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from the first five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child. Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author. Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer.

Book Description

Book 6 in the Harry Potter series

A New York Times Bestseller

In the fifth and most recent book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the last chapter, titled "The Second War Begins," started:

'In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country and is active once more. "It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord -- well, you know who I mean -- is alive among us again," said Fudge.'

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this point in the midst of the storm of this battle of good and evil.

The author has already said that the Half-Blood Prince is neither Harry nor Voldemort. And most importantly, the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been brewing in J. K. Rowling's mind for 13 years.

No Canadian Rights for the Harry Potter Series

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter publishing rights © J. K. Rowling. (s05)

Customer Reviews:

The Epic Harry Potter Year 6.......2007-10-10

I have not always been a Harry Potter fan until recently. I have all the movies up until Year 4 and all the books including the last one Deathly Hallows year 7. I recommend buying and reading all the Harry Potter books, the excitement and tension truly does not build until this book "The Half Blood Prince" year 6. J.K. Rowlings never ceases to amaze me with her vivid imagination. As I read her books I instantly feel like I am watching the movie and no longer reading. Now I am sure all the true Harry Potter fans saw the latest movie year 5 "The Order of the Phoenix" that catalyzed the journey. I like to thank Amazon.com for keeping all the Harry Potter fans up to date. Stay stuned for the Harry Potter theme park called "Wizarding World" coming to Universal Studios in 2009. I will be the first in line!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince .......2007-10-09

This was by far the best of all the books I loved it and read it in 2 days I couldn't put it down.

Starts out with a Bang and Becomes a Real Page-turner.......2007-10-01

I've got to admit, as the Potter series continues, it only gets better. The Half-blood Prince grabs your attention from the start and unfolds into the darkest of the series. This book contains many twists and turns, most of which leave the reader wanting to find out more. What makes this book different from the others is that there are quite a few surprises as characters reveal personalities that may not have been fully unveiled previously and this, in turn, leads to a highly fascinating read. I'm afraid that I have to admit, I was about to put the book down before calling it a night, with about 100 pages to go and simply couldn't - the story became so enthralling that I just had to go on to finish it! I don't think that there is any question (at least in my mind), that Half-blood Prince, is the best of the series so far. As with all good series, this one left with a real cliff-hanger - I'm only glad that I waited until the Rowling finished the series - that way, I don't have to wait for the next one to come out: I've already started the final book. Got to get back to my reading!

Harry Potter book 6.......2007-09-26

Great book!!!
Highly recommended book, however it is not for kids. It is for young adults and up.

A great book!.......2007-09-25

This book will be something to be read for generations. I put this series somewhere between Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings for greatest series of books of all time. This particular book is mostly an introduction to the final book in the series, "The Deathly Hallows". It is a self contained plot but leaves much to the next book to finish. I highly recommend the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban
Great service!
the worst of the bunch
Excelent!!!
Another masterpiece

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter)
J. K. Rowling
Manufacturer: Large Print Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1594130027

Amazon.com

For most children, summer vacation is something to look forward to. But not for our 13-year-old hero, who's forced to spend his summers with an aunt, uncle, and cousin who detest him. The third book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series catapults into action when the young wizard "accidentally" causes the Dursleys' dreadful visitor Aunt Marge to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift up to the ceiling. Fearing punishment from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon (and from officials at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who strictly forbid students to cast spells in the nonmagic world of Muggles), Harry lunges out into the darkness with his heavy trunk and his owl Hedwig.

As it turns out, Harry isn't punished at all for his errant wizardry. Instead he is mysteriously rescued from his Muggle neighborhood and whisked off in a triple-decker, violently purple bus to spend the remaining weeks of summer in a friendly inn called the Leaky Cauldron. What Harry has to face as he begins his third year at Hogwarts explains why the officials let him off easily. It seems that Sirius Black--an escaped convict from the prison of Azkaban--is on the loose. Not only that, but he's after Harry Potter. But why? And why do the Dementors, the guards hired to protect him, chill Harry's very heart when others are unaffected? Once again, Rowling has created a mystery that will have children and adults cheering, not to mention standing in line for her next book. Fortunately, there are four more in the works. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Harry Potter has to sneak back to Hogwarts, after accidentally inflating his horrible Aunt Petunia. But once there everyone is whispering about a prizoner who has escaped from the famous wizard prizon, Azkaban. His name is Sirius Black, and as a follower of Lord Voldemort he is determined to track Harry Potter down -- even if it means laying siege to the very walls of Hogwarts!

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban.......2007-10-06

My hubby loves to read but being a truck driver he does not have the time. So I purchased the books on CD for him and he says that it helps him get hundreds of miles down the road. He has seen the movies but did not realize how much more was in the books and now can see how the all add up. He loves the product. I ordered the Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix for his birthday.

Great service!.......2007-09-27

I was in great need of this book as I was new to the world of Harry Potter and couldn't wait to continue after reading Chamber of Secrets. The timing was perfect!

the worst of the bunch.......2007-09-24

Don't let my title deceive you. This is still a great book but in comparison to the others it was a slight stepback. The book is still very entertaining and a necessity for the progression of the story. I just wasn't sucked in as fast or left wanting more as i was with the first 2 and with book 4 (sorry haven't finished the series just yet). I've been told by a few others that have finished the series that this is the worst and if thats the case then it should speak volumes of how well the rest of the books are.

Excelent!!!.......2007-09-16

This is third book from this great Saga, we meet Sirius black, Remus lupin and peter is this great, they are super!!!

Another masterpiece.......2007-09-12

I do not think there is a need to rate the story itself considering the immense popularity of it. This review is for those who produced the audio book.

Like in the two Harry Potter stories before this one, Jim Dale and company do an excellent job of relating this tale. Mr. Dale has an amazing range of voices and never misses a beat as he hops from one character to another. The listener forgets Mr. Dale is the lone reader and is immediately immersed in the story. Buy this, listen, and then watch the movie.

Morrigan's Cross (The Circle Trilogy, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Morrigan's Cross
Morrigan's Cross
Neat Series
Not as good as it could have been...
Excellent story

Morrigan's Cross (The Circle Trilogy, Book 1)
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Jove Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Vampires | Romance | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

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ASIN: 073947166X

Product Description

In 12th-century Ireland, sorcerer Hoyt Mac Cionaoith does battle with a centuries-old vampire named Lilith, who has turned Hoyt's twin brother, Cian, into a fellow bloodsucker. Unable to defeat her, Hoyt is visited by the goddess of battle, Morrigan, who charges him with the task of leading a battle, "the greatest ever waged," against Lilith and her demons. Hoyt must gather five others to fight alongside him: "the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms, and the one you've lost." He travels in time to present-day New York, where he encounters his vampire brother, Cian, and Glenna, a beautiful red-haired witch. Two more warriors, Moira and Larkin, join them back in the Mac Cionaoith ancestral home. Romance ignites between Hoyt and Glenna as enemies emerge from the shadows, and the "circle of six" prepare for the big showdown with Lilith. This well-plotted, finely detailed paranormal adventure is driven by richly developed characters, making it a cut above others in this subgenre, and among Roberts's best.

Customer Reviews:

Morrigan's Cross.......2007-09-24

The characters in this story are extremely well done. Would love to meet them - if only it were possible! the scope of the story is exciting and intersting as Nora Roberts expores the characters and their fight to understand each other and become what they need to be.

Morrigan's Cross.......2007-09-15

This was the beginning of one of the best trilogies I've ever read. If you like to get away from the everyday dulldrums and reality, ths is a good place to start. It only gets better with The Dance of the Gods and Valley of Silence.

Neat Series.......2007-09-11

I love that this book was so reasonably priced on Amazon! The story was better than others I have read in the same genre. Anyway, decent story, good price. What more can a person ask for?

Not as good as it could have been..........2007-08-25

Speaking as someone who prefers Nora Roberts when she writes as J.D.Robb - I thought the story was fine but it didn't leave me with a burning need to go out and get the second book.

Part of this might be down to the fact that it's the first in a trilogy, so the story has a lot to do - we need to be introduced to the characters, to the world they live in and the circumstances they find themselves. I thought the set-up was interesting and the circle of 6 a clever idea. I very much liked the poetry of it - (the sorcerer), "the witch, the warrior, the scholar, the one of many forms and the one you've lost". However, I found the characters (with the exception of Cian) didn't hold my interest. One of the problems with an ensemble cast, is that some characters are neglected.

There are moments where the dialogue sparkles - Cian especially, has an acerbic wit. And some of the set pieces are beautifully written, for example - Glenna's arrival at the club and her first (proper) meeting with Cian, Hoyt and King.

In the second half of the book following Blair's arrival there are scenes reminiscent of what the group already experienced in the first half before she turned up. I ended up with the feeling that the characters should have learnt these lessons already.

If this had been the first paranormal romance I'd ever read I think I would have been impressed with the world building and story structure, though the characters would still have left me slightly disappointed.

Excellent story.......2007-07-24

I can't wait to read the rest of this series. Roberts does a wonderful job of pulling the reader in and keeping their attention. A softly blended story of romance and drama that will keep you until the end.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)

Average customer rating:

The best of the series
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Going Strong
A Catholic homeschool father's perspective
Very long......

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
J. K. Rowling , and Mary GrandPré
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786229276

Amazon.com

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling offers up equal parts danger and delight--and any number of dragons, house-elves, and death-defying challenges. Now 14, her orphan hero has only two more weeks with his Muggle relatives before returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yet one night a vision harrowing enough to make his lightning-bolt-shaped scar burn has Harry on edge and contacting his godfather-in-hiding, Sirius Black. Happily, the prospect of attending the season's premier sporting event, the Quidditch World Cup, is enough to make Harry momentarily forget that Lord Voldemort and his sinister familiars--the Death Eaters--are out for murder.

Readers, we will cast a giant invisibility cloak over any more plot and reveal only that You-Know-Who is very much after Harry and that this year there will be no Quidditch matches between Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Instead, Hogwarts will vie with two other magicians' schools, the stylish Beauxbatons and the icy Durmstrang, in a Triwizard Tournament. Those chosen to compete will undergo three supreme tests. Could Harry be one of the lucky contenders?

But Quidditch buffs need not go into mourning: we get our share of this great game at the World Cup. Attempting to go incognito as Muggles, 100,000 witches and wizards converge on a "nice deserted moor." As ever, Rowling magicks up the details that make her world so vivid, and so comic. Several spectators' tents, for instance, are entirely unquotidian. One is a minipalace, complete with live peacocks; another has three floors and multiple turrets. And the sports paraphernalia on offer includes rosettes "squealing the names of the players" as well as "tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves." Needless to say, the two teams are decidedly different, down to their mascots. Bulgaria is supported by the beautiful veela, who instantly enchant everyone--including Ireland's supporters--over to their side. Until, that is, thousands of tiny cheerleaders engage in some pyrotechnics of their own: "The leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at the veela across the field."

Long before her fourth installment appeared, Rowling warned that it would be darker, and it's true that every exhilaration is equaled by a moment that has us fearing for Harry's life, the book's emotions running as deep as its dangers. Along the way, though, she conjures up such new characters as Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, a Dark Wizard catcher who may or may not be getting paranoid in his old age, and Rita Skeeter, who beetles around Hogwarts in search of stories. (This Daily Prophet scoop artist has a Quick-Quotes Quill that turns even the most innocent assertion into tabloid innuendo.) And at her bedazzling close, Rowling leaves several plot strands open, awaiting book 5. This fan is ready to wager that the author herself is part veela--her pen her wand, her commitment to her world complete. (Ages 9 and older) --Kerry Fried

Book Description

The fourth book in this wildly popular series finds Harry Potter back with his muggle relatives, the Dursleys, where he has just had a very disturbing "dream" involving his mortal enemy Voldemort, the sorcerer who killed his parents years earlier. When he finds his signature lightning bolt scar aching, he suspects it was more than just a dream, so he sends a letter to his godfather Sirius Black, who remains in hiding. As usual, Harry can hardly wait for the school year to begin so he can escape his mean and exceedingly nasty relations and return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Relief from the Dursleys comes two weeks early when Harry is invited to attend the Quidditch World Cup as a guest of the Weasley family. New adventures await Harry at the World Cup and back at Hogwarts, where once again he faces mortal danger from Voldemort. When Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger arrive at Hogwarts, they soon discover that surprises are in store: Quidditch matches have been canceled in lieu of a very special international tournament, they have a new Master of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hagrid has obtained some new and rather disgusting specimens for the Care of Magical Creatures class, and Harry develops a crush on fellow Hogwarts student Cho Chang.

No Canadian Rights for the Harry Potter Series

Customer Reviews:

The best of the series.......2007-10-04

Having read now the entire series, i have to say this is my favorite, its the turning point, when the plot begins, and the main story takes off, and its the funnier one.

Also the ending surprised me more than the other 6 books, dont know why

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-09-30

What can one say? Rowlings continues with her wonderful story, keeping her characters constantly endearing. The adventures continue and no matter what your age you will be caught up in the excitement and magic as Harry learns more about his background, his strengths and his weaknesses.

If you have not read Harry Potter at all, then you must start with the first book and read all seven of them, you will be transported out of this world and into one that will bind you as magically as it has bound me

Going Strong.......2007-09-24

The fourth Harry Potter is significantly darker than the first three. harrys is growing up, and is about to face some difficult challenges. Unlike the first three books, the fourth Harry starts not with Harry's departure to Hogwarts, but with a Quidditch tournament, during which some dark misteries are unveiled, misteries which are signs of the things to come.

The Quidditch tournament, another year at Hogwarts and a Triwizard tournament are the highlights. Harry comes face to face with his arch-enemy Voldemort, which is bound to split the wizarding world.

Though beautifully and expertly written, the fourth Harry Potter is just a tad too long, with descriptions that are more detailed and lengthy (sometimes unnecessarily so) than usual. Still, the fourth Harry is just as gripping as the first three, and keeps the reader wanting for more. And fortunately there is more. Order of Phoenix, here I come!

A Catholic homeschool father's perspective.......2007-09-17

It took four books, but Voldemort, the most powerful of the dark wizards, is back. And his minions, the Death Eaters, couldn't be happier. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tells the tale of how it happened--in about 750 pages. As with the previous novels in the series, the prose is generally crisp, the dialog is occasionally goofy, and the characters are wonderfully well drawn. Though quite a long book, the plot is tight, amusing and keeps you guessing. My only major criticism of the book as literary work regards the ending. As heroes go, Harry's main virtue in these final confrontations always seems to be dumb luck. Voldemort is a bit of a bungling super-villain for whom there's always an element of, "Oops, forgot about that." And not once but twice there were "Tuco" moments where the villain insists on lecturing the hero before doing away with him. "When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." While I suppose these types of scenes aren't quite as trite for young readers who haven't seen them done over and over in dozens of books, TV shows, and movies, for me they were something of a let-down.

On the plus side, this was the first book in the series so far that made me laugh out loud a few times. Something about Hermione's idealistic but naive obsession with her Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare struck me as highly amusing. I suppose it was Ron's insistence on calling the organization "spew" that did it.

This was also the darkest book in the series so far. In it we are finally given a more concrete idea of what constitutes "dark" magic. Dark wizards apparently use the three "unforgivable curses"--the imperius curse, which causes the victim to do the spell-caster's bidding, the cruciatus curse which causes the victim horrible pain, and Avada Kedavra, the killing curse. Now this last one looked so much like the "abracadabra", the all purpose Vaudeville magician word, that I went out and looked it up. It seems that J. K. Rowling herself said that it is an Aramaic spell meaning "let the thing be destroyed." Now why she chose to use Aramaic--the language of Christ--for this worst of all spells, and not Latin like she did for all the rest is beyond me.

Of course, it should be mentioned that Rowling's distinction between good magic and "dark magic" has never been accepted by the Catholic Church as Fr. Amorth, the famous exorcist, has repeatedly pointed out. That said, to this point in the series, all of the "good magic" has been of the comic-book variety--turning people into ferrets or making someone's nose grow tentacles. The "dark magic" is used exclusively by characters who are unmistakably evil.

One interesting little tid-bit in Goblet of Fire that may be thrown into the Christian-vs.-occult-influence debate happens at the Yule Ball. Up to this point, Christmas and Easter at Hogwarts have been mentioned at least in passing in every book. However, while the British are ever so much less stupid about actually calling the holidays by their proper names (unlike some in the U.S. who insist on calling them "Winter/Spring Break" or attempt to replace them with made-up PC holidays from the 1960s), Christmas and Easter have nonetheless lost almost all religious meaning to most Britons. And thus it has been at Hogwarts--Christmas in the first three books has been all about feasting, decorating, and getting presents. But for a split second in Goblet of Fire, Rowling has suits of armor singing, "O Come All Ye Faithful" (page 395). Given all the secular "holiday" tunes she could have inserted there, that she chose an unmistakably Christian one could be telling. Admittedly, it could also be complete coincidence.

Finally, the aspect of Goblet of Fire that I most appreciated was the introduction of the slimy, ethics-free journalist, Rita Skeeter. This character was such an on-target parody of a gossip reporter that you just know that J. K. Rowling was taking some shots at the media. That Ms. Skeeter worked hand-in-glove with the "Ministry of Magic"--a government agency populated with petty bureaucrats and place-seeking brown-noses--made the parody that much more on-the-nose.

Over all, as a work of fantasy fiction that has been marketed with young readers in mind, I found Goblet of Fire to be quite a foreboding read. The scene at the end where Wormtail mixes a potion in a graveyard for which the vital ingredients are a bone from Voldemort's father, some of Harry's blood, and Wormtail's own hand--which he, himself, promptly slices off--was border-line demonic. And for a book with so much discussion of death, I found it more than a little disconcerting that it lacked any notion of Judeo-Christian eschatology. So again, I will refrain from endorsing this book or the series as a whole as in any way suitable for younger Catholic readers until I see where all this is going.

Very long.............2007-09-15

Finally finished fourth book. Started reading these books last week. My son kept telling me how good they were. He's got 3 kids of his own but will stand in line half the night to get a first edition.

I liked the first and third books, but not the 2nd as much. I have the four movies, so after I finished each book, I watched the movie. Unfortunately i didn't think the 3rd movie was as good as the book. I missed the Quiddich matches, as they are my favorite scenes.

But book four was a bit too much. So many characters, constantly changing who they were and what they were. And 700+ pages is quite a lot. It's a heavy book and and I have it in paper back. Hard to hold. Towards the end, I was really confused as to who was who, who was good, who was bad, etc. I'm glad I had the film. It helped even though some of the characters were missing. Unfortunately the fourth film didn't show the opening Quiddich match either.

Still, I guess I'll plod on to book 5. It's even heavier than 4. My only last remark is I don't see how young kids can possibly get through these books. The language is really for much older children than 10, probably young adults, and I had to print out a dictionary from the Internet to keep track of all the Hogwart names. Seventy some pages of names! That's quite a lot.

Wizard at Large: Book Three: The Magic Kingdom of Landover

Average customer rating:

WONDERFUL

Wizard at Large: Book Three: The Magic Kingdom of Landover

Manufacturer: Dell Ray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000GKAWOI

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL.......2007-07-27

I absolutely love the author's work. This world is very interesting and draws you in. I really enjoyed it. I lost my collection during KATRINA and relished the chance to replace it. It is a great story line.

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