Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Its a bit late in the day to do a review of Harry Potter - The Order of the Phoenix. But though I queued up on the first day itself and devoured it sooner than you can pronounce Dolores Jane Umbridge, I have been chewing a bit on the series as well as the fifth book.

Where the fifth book scores is that it builds up the elements of the main Harry/Dumbledore vs Voldemort plot, heightens the sinister element of Voldemort and co and also manages to develop Harry's character. What it doesn't achieve is that it fails to stack up as a stand-alone work, is too long and gives short-shrift to some of the regular characters. The way the prophecy part has been handled is fantastic and answers some burning questions we have had about the connection between Voldemort and Harry; but it also leaves enough things unsaid so as to retain the suspense for parts 6 and 7 (Rem. Voldemort never heard the prophecy fully). And with most of the Death Eaters back in Voldemort's fold and the Dark Lord willing to expose himself publicly, the danger posed by the Dark Lord and his ilk was never so imminent. So even the sceptical bureaucratic Fudge is forced to come around to Dumbledore's view.

What also works in Order of the Phoenix is the development in the Potter persona. Harry is entering the adolescent phase when as Phineas Nigellus so succinctly but dismissively puts it you think the entire world should be paying attention to your trivial problems. Of course Harry's problems are not trivial but it is difficult to always sympathise with Harry when he rants and raves at Hermione and Ron. And this is another problem with the story - even as Harry is affected by the pangs of adolescence so must be Hermione and Ron. I believe that both these characters have been given a bit of short shrift in this book. With Harry choosing to conceal secrets from Ron and Hermione we feel as if we are moving farther away from these two. Also, I have been waiting for Ron-Hermione romance since the fourth book that too with Ron unable to hide his jealousy every time Viktor Krum's name comes up. Or maybe Rowling's idea is to pair up Harry with Hermione. Somehow it doesn't seem to stack up but then Harry and Hermione have always hit it off well together. And I guess by now everyone, not just Harry, is fed up with Cho.

The biggest problem with this book is that it is too long and some portions like Hagrid's experiences and the Giant's antics in the forest seem to me to be there just to fill up pages. I mean the giants are already becoming extinct and they appear to be natural allies of Death Eaters so I hope Rowling makes something out of Gwarp's character in the next book. Because of the length of the book by the time you get round to the climax it reads a bit flat. The revelation of the prophecy could have worked better if the length had been curtailed and the tension had not gone slack. In this sense the book and its premise are a bit weak compared to say Goblets of Fire or even Prisoner of Azkaban. Another related problem is that the supposed villain in this book - Dolores - doesn't inspire dread; rather she comes across as quite comical. And she gets her comeuppance also in a farcical fashion. I mean it is easier to still hate Snape than Dolores or even Fudge. Another minor disappointment is showing Dumbledore shedding a tear - to me Dumbledore is a bit like Gandalf in Lord of the Rings - a bit above normal emotions.

The thing that saves the book is the death at the end. It is so devastating and leaves you with a lump in your throat so much so that even the full extent of the prophecy is not enough to shock you. But did he really die? And what is behind the veil? And are there more unpleasant secrets about James and Lily? I hope these questions are answered in the sixth book itself.