I started reading the new Harry Potter book whilst on a number fifty-two bus, but I didn't unwrap it from it's crinkly little plastic bag and just throw myself in. I kept it in the bag, hidden from the world, for a few minutes, and then read a chapter. Then I put it back. And let the first chapter swill around, savouring the flavour that a fever of anticipation had caused. I'm not one to bath in fever pitch anticipation but even I had to admit: "the wait was sort of worth it". I'd like to warn all non-reviewers that the way I'm advocating is not the way to read this book. While I didn't go down the Guardian route of reading it ...  Read the complete review

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Why read this one?... The fifth book in J K Rowling's masterpiece, that is Harry Potter, is a must for fans that have already enjoyed the first four instalments. At over 700 pages this is an epic part of the tale but fear not as every page is worth your time. The image of the phoenix rising on the cover gained my interest further and the blurb on the back cover confirmed to me that Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts is not to be missed. Short synopsis.... Harry Potter has been aware of his background since the age of eleven. It was a shock to hear that he was a wizard but it made sense out of ...  Read the complete review

Louise's little sister: 'Go, on I SWEAR you'll love them!' Louise: (looking suitably snotty) 'I don't think so. I'm too old for them.' Louise's increasingly annoyed little sister: 'I promise you will! Just read one and shut up, or go to sleep!' Above is the night-time conversation that got me started on the Harry Potter series. You see, back in the day (well, about four years ago) we shared a room, and I was known to annoy my poor sister by chatting all night. Thus, she begged me on one especially sleepy evening to read a Harry Potter book, purely so I'd leave her alone. Much as I want to throttle her at times, I can say I'll be eternally ...  Read the complete review

NB: I'VE TRIED TO AVOID GIVING AWAY TOO MANY SPOILERS IN THIS!! ___________________________________________________________________ I love the Harry Potter Books. Books 1,2,3, and 4's tenure on my shelves hasn't allowed them to get dusty, so often have they been re-read. They've been read, shared, recommended. Parents, friends, acquaintances: all were enthusiastically converted! So the prospect of Book 5 was glorious. For two years, we've been metaphorically sitting on JK Rowling's shoulder, egging her on, clamouring for the sequel. And it seems she heard us. For the fifth book is out. Out for sale, and out, ...  Read the complete review

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix is the 5th book in the series about boy wizard Harry Potter as he is educated at Hogwarts School of Wizardry. This book was published in the summer of 2003. This was 3 years after book 4 (The Goblet of Fire) was released, and it was very much looked forward to by the fans of this series. By this stage, I was a big fan of the series, and I had worked for one year as a teacher, so I was over the moon to get this at the start of the six week holidays when I could spend as long as I wanted to re-reading the earlier books and enjoying this episode. Like book 4, this is a weighty tome, with an incredible 766 ...  Read the complete review