Harry Potter and the Fifth Dimension
Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
As we contemplate the arrival of the fifth in the series, it's great to look back and remember how much we enjoyed the humongous fourth book. I wish I had thought to review it at the time, but at this point I'll just say it was a lot of fun.
February 3, 2002
Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third and scariest book yet in the Harry Potter
series, with not as many funny moments as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the other
stalwarts of Gryffindor House anticipate and encounter many dangers, known and
unknown, including shape-shifting boggarts and soul-sucking dementors. Fortunately,
the balance of magic weighs on the side of good, but just barely.
Fortunately the other four books in this seven-book series have not appeared
yet, so we have a brief respite in the continuing suspense, while we wonder
what the next episode will reveal in the evil doings of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,
Lord Voldemort (No, don't say his name, nooooo!).
reviewed September 24, 1999
Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling.The rivalry between Gryffindor
and the evil Slytheryn House continues, in the classrooms, corridors, on the
playing fields (well, actually ABOVE the playing fields) and in caverns beneath
the Hogwarts School of Wizardry. A good time is had by all, with the exception
of Draco Malfoy who as usual gets everything he deserves, the hapless Ron who
due to a faulty magic wand accidentally bewitches himself to belch out vast
quantities of slugs, and Harry himself, who is subjected to the unwarranted
(and incompetent, may we add) removal of all the bones in his arm after he breaks
it in a nasty fall from his broomstick, the highly regarded Nimbus 2000. Regrowing
the bones is quite painful.
reviewed September 19 1999
Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stoneby J. K. Rowling
This is a top kids' best-seller, so you probably know what it's all about: Harry's
first year at England's famous clandestine school of wizardry, Hogwarts. I had
to put this one down several times, as the tension of suspense was too much for
me; I've sometimes had the same problem with Wodehouse. J.K. Rowling can certainly
crank up the plot! I have a problem with the assertion made by one of the characters
that ' for the properly prepared mind, death is just another adventure.' I don't
believe it's true, and I wouldn't want my kids believing it either, even though
it's presented in a book about magic in which many untrue and impossible things
occur.
reviewed September 11, 1999