Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

...Many readers of the other Harry Potter books will have noticed how different this book is from the others. Being so untypical it gives JK Rowling greater freedom for creativity in order to break the previous pattern of her other books. But it also leads to a distinct change in style that I'm not sure all fans have reacted well to. The beginning is eerily different, the middle unlike any of the books so far, and the end is hauntingly memorable.
...over quantity. I love the Harry Potter books, don't get me wrong, but I can't help feeling critical. At times I've noticed that JK Rowling chokes parts of her plot with irrelevancies, and the action is sometimes watered-down to make it stretch a whole year. But it is a good story, and being different makes it memorable.

The Hype
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Fans waiting for each new installment of the Harry Potter installment will recall ... more

I remember watching a clip from American TV of the US release of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'. A young girl witha distinct accent finishes reading the beginning and then suddenly exclaims "OK, that's not how it's supposed to start."

Many readers of the other Harry Potter books will have noticed how different this book is from the others. Being so untypical it gives JK Rowling greater freedom for creativity in order to break the previous pattern of her other books. But it also leads to a distinct change in style that I'm not sure all fans have reacted well to. The beginning is eerily different, the middle unlike any of the books so far, and the end is hauntingly memorable.

When I first read this book I don't remember being overly impressed by its size. With almost three times the number of pages as Book 1 and twice the pages of book 3, at an enormous 636 pages 'The Goblet of Fire' is of epic proportions which may put some people off. Despite the pleasure of fans who obviously think they are getting their money's worth, as a critic I am not wholly convinced that this is quality over quantity. I love the Harry Potter books, don't get me wrong, but I can't help feeling critical. At times I've noticed that JK Rowling chokes parts of her plot with irrelevancies, and the action is sometimes watered-down to make it stretch a whole year. But it is a good story, and being different makes it memorable.

The Hype
========
Fans waiting for each new installment of the Harry Potter installment will recall months and months of waiting for word of the next book to surface. The arrival of Book 4 was shadowed by the announcement that a film was on its way. What followed was the biggest wave of "Potter-mania" the world had ever seen. This became big business for merchandising agencies, as collectors such as myself were buying everything from Harry Potter stationery, biscuit tins and ornaments, to playing cards, post cards and even socks!

Now, three films later, JK Rowling is richer than the Queen, the licensing of Harry Potter products has slowed, but the books remain. However, I believe it is more than hype that keeps people reading one Harry Potter book after the next. It is a tribute of JK Rowling as a story writer that she creates such a believable and rich world, with exciting plots that transport you away from this old world to another one.

A Truly International Affair
====================
Throughout the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling is constantly expanding the world she writes about. At the beginning of the series the focus is on Harry, his past and parents. By Book 2 we've met a few more wizard families, and learnt about house elves, their unpaid servants. In Book 3 we learn the most detail, about the wizard village of Hogsmeade just outside Hogwarts and about the Ministry of Magic, a sort of magic government in London. JK Rowling doesn't disappoint us in Book 4 where she delves even wider, revealing a world of witches and wizards from beyond the UK in other parts of Europe. This emphasises the importance of international magical co-operation when the inevitability of the Dark Lord return to power sinks in.

*THE BEGINNING*
===============
As I've said before, this book has the strangest beginning of all the Harry Potter books up to now, mainly because Harry (normally the viewpoint character) isn't in it. Instead we are introduced to 'The Riddle House' in a remote village where we witness the murder of a muggle (non-magic person) Frank Bryce. It is all very surreal, and I would definitely recommend reader the books in the series first if you want to appreciate just what the beginning is going on about. The 'hissing voice' is undoubtedly Voldemort, which is quite shocking as here is definite proof that he is still 'biding his time' but in a weak and deformed state, strengthened by the venom of his pet giant snake Nagini.

However this nightmare ends with Harry waking up, his scar burning. It would be very easy if we were not instantly drawn to Harry as a reliable and truthful character to dismiss this entirely as his imagination, his need to gain attention, or simply paranoia. But backed up by JK Rowling we can reasonably say that Voldemort is out there, and it is the question of just how strong he is, and what he is planning, that leaves a nasty aftertaste of dread at the horrible possibility of his return to full strength. I should add that this is inevitable, hinted at throughout the whole series, and it wouldn't be right without a final showdown at the end of the series. (I'm guessing because it hasn't happened yet).

The Quidditch World Cup
====================
Quidditch is a game Harry Plays at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is a team sport played on broomsticks with elements of football, baseball, water polo, rugby etc. Actually, it's not quite like any muggle sport I've ever seen. If you have trouble visualising it I highly recommend watching the first Harry Potter film where it is re-created with Hollywood special effects and an easy to understand game plan.

In 'The Goblet of Fire' Hary is rescued once again from the Dursleys in a rather exciting fashion which involves blasting away the living room wall of Harry's obnoxious Uncle's house. It is quite a treat to see Harry transported by 'Port Key' from the Weasley's house in Ottery St. Catchpole, to the site of Quidditch World Cup. There, wizards from all over the world are posing badly as muggles waiting for the Quidditch final between Ireland and Bulgaria. I'm sure anyone would raise an eyebrow if a man wearing a dress walked by, or even a man wearing a kilt and a poncho at the same time.

JK Rowling really tests the reader's imagination as she recreates an international level Quidditch match on a grand scale, aided by a magic contraption known as 'omnioculars' which allow play to be slowed down or replays to be shown. The teams bring their mascots with them, introducing the hypnotic Veela of the Bulgarian team and the Irish with their leprechauns, shamrocks and pots of gold. The dramatic climax of this match is Viktor Krum of Bulgaria's Wronski Feint, a diversive tactic that fools the other player into smacking into the ground.

The Dark Mark
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The Dark Mark is a sort of calling card for the Death Eaters (Voldemort's supporters). The sight of the green skull in the air above the ground incites terror at the thought of Voldemort being at large (but he can't be, becaues he's dead isn't he?). This is the second hint of something odd going on, following Harry's dream. Surely he can't have made it up then.

*THE MIDDLE*
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Rumours have been brewing about a mysterious event that is to be taking place at Hogwarts. The Triwizard Tournament is aimed at aiding international co-operation, a sort of 'getting to know you' between the top three schools in Europe. Karkaroff is headmaster of Durmstrang, located somewhere cold, a school for only pure-blood wizards, highlighting JK Rowling's tackling of adult issues such as the racial discrimination by valuing purity of blood. Madame Maxime is the headmistress of Beauxbatons in France, and is of gigantic proportions (a little like Hogwarts gameskeeper Hagrid really).

Only students aged over 17 are deemed magically able enough to tackle the three difficult tasks that a champion from each school must face. It is therefore a great shock for Hogwarts Champion, Cedric Diggory, Beauxbatons Champion, Fleur Delacour, and Durmstrang Champion, Viktor Krum, when a fourth Champion is chosen. A name flies out of the goblet of fire. The piece of paper reads Harry Potter.

It takes Harry all the strength he has to get through the tasks, trying to make people believe that someone else put his name in the goblet, someone who probably wants one of the tasks to finish him off. It is also a strain on his friendship with Ron and Hermione. Ron has always been somewhat of a side kick before. But at Harry's surprise entry into the tournament, his jealousy almost rips them apart. It is up to Harry and Hermione for a time, therefore, to prepare Harry for the difficult tasks ahead of him.

Mad Eye Moody
============
New characters include replacement Denfence Against The Dark Arts Professor, Mad Eye Moody, a paranoid ex-aura with a scarred face and a magical rotating eye that can see through walls and invisibility cloaks. This Professor definitely matches the standard of Professor Lupin in the previous book. However, there is a darker tone as Professor Moody demonstrates 'The Unforgivable Curses', practised by Dark Wizards that come with a penalty of a life-sentence in Azkaban. Yet, in order to fight you need to know what your up against.

That 'Skeeter' Woman
=================
Rita Skeeter is possibly the most obnoxious character ever devised by JK Rowling. She has long finger nails, jewelled glasses and an acid green quick notes quill that manages to twist every story she hears into lies for the Daily Prophet Newspaper. This results as her portrayal of Harry on separate occasions as both saint and psycho. She sticks around spreading rumour, gossip and mischief, revenging those she dislikes by leaving their reputation in shreds. Harry is often battling more against her, than against the other champions.

S.P.E.W.
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A perfect job for Hermione once she'd left school would be to set up the Department of Magical Ethics at the Ministry of Magic. The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare is an organisation Hermione has founded that tries to get House Elves the rights they deserve. However, Hermione shows how her brilliant mind may become clouded by a bad judgement, when she constantly believes that enslaved house elves need freeing, when everyone else is pointing out that they are happy that way.

*THE ENDING*
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The final chapters of this book are some of the most thrilling and terrifying of the series. Each book so far has some kind of dramatic climax at the end, and this is no exception. As Harry and Cedric go head to head to get to the Triwizard Trophy before the other, the depth of the story that has been building up for the rest of the year, including Harry's mysterious entry into the Tournament, and the disapperance of Ministry Official Bertha Jorkins at the beginning of the book.

For the fourth time in the series Harry is once again face to face with his old enemy Voldemort. It is terrifying to watch as Harry, helpless and in agonising pain, is forced to watch the inevitable climax of Voldemort returning to full strength. We always knew it would happen, yet it is still thrilling and horrifying to watch.

QUANTITY OVER QUALITY?
======================
It is a huge book, with a huge story to tell and large amounts of detail packed into it. That said, I still feel that there are details that are unnecessary and just 'pad' the book out. I've recently read it for a second time, and I found that I enjoyed it far more on second reading as I discovered so many hints and off-hand comments that I'd missed the first time round.

However, I think the book takes a while to get moving. There's a lot of background information to get in, as well as the time-consuming transport of Harry from his relatives, to the Burrow, to the Quidditch world cup, and then to Hogwarts. This takes a while. The exciting action sequences are fantastic when they arrive, but there seemed to a lot of waiting in between, waiting for the Quidditch to start, waiting for the next Tournament event to happen, waiting for Voldemort to show himself again. However, waiting for the dramatic climax of the book was definitely worth the wait, and also the weight of that huge book!

My thoughts on the book
===================
I still rate this book very highly. It does more than simply tell of the return of the Dark Lord. It ties up the loose ends of previous books, and comes to a neat, yet sinister conclusion. As an adult reader the later books are easily more readable as the story lines become more complex, and indeed younger readers are growing up, and have come to expect more and more from JK Rowling. I actually think that she has done very well to keep the series getting better and the suspense and excitement still fresh.

However, a note regarding younger readers. This book does have death in it. JK Rowling said very early on that she would not dumb down her books because they were for children. She has been frank with topics in the past such as depression and the loss of parents. The death in this book is very sudden and not at all gruesome. However, it may shock younger readers who may need guidance or support as to how to deal with these new and difficult ideas, being sheltered from the horror of life themselves. I therefore suggest that a parent reads the book in advance, or is there to answer any questions a child may have.

Part of the brilliance of JK Rowling's books is their sense of realism. And as the books get darker, so does her subject matter. Even adult readers have found Voldmort's return frightening. That's part of our enjoyment of it, of hanging onto every horrific detail. This is a great book, one that I think improves the more you read it. And because of what it leads to, it becomes an invaluable addition to the series.

My Poem
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I wrote a poem ages ago that I would like to share with you. I've added it as a picture. It contains spoilers so only read it if you really want to. Thanks.

Product Information
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Published by Bloomsbury in July 2001
Paperback: 636 pages
Price: £6.99
Selling on Amazon for £5.59  

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