I've just had Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire peeled from my trembling hands, and I'm now slowly coming back to my senses. Really, now I'm beginning to realise that Harry Potter is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine and I shouldn't be enjoying reading it quite this much, but I guess a book having this effect on me is just a testament to the skill of Joanne Rowling.
I must say, I wasn't expecting a great deal from this book. I'd read the first 3 Harry Potter novels. I'd enjoyed the first and second immensely. When you were reading them you were aware that they were kids' novels, but they were nevertheless enjoyable reads. The 3rd novel (The Prisoner of Azkaban) took the whole Harry Potter story up a few gears. Suddenly, Rowling seemed to be adding more complicity to her plots, which certainly made sense since most of her audience would be getting older and the Potter phenomenon had really taken off and the books needed more twists, turns and intriguing new pieces of information being added. However, I somehow found
it a bit duller than the previous books, although Professor Lupin was a fantastic character!
The Goblet of Fire, of course, was a rather huge tome by any standards. I found myself wondering how kids could possibly manage to plough through it, and when I started off reading I felt like Rowling was dragging out some bits more than necessary. There seemed to be a huge prologue of events preceeding Harry's arrival back at Hogwarts, but it was still quite engaging. However, things soon picked up pace and I couldn't put the book down!
In the 4th book in Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry is entering into 4th year at Hogwarts. The Triwizard Tournament, where wizards from Hogwarts and two other wizarding schools compete for a trophy, is being held at Hogwarts. Students under 17 are forbidden to enter, but somehow Harry finds himself not only entered, but chosen to compete, by the Goblet of Fire. The competition is hazardous, and Harry and his friends wonder if someone else who wishes him harmed or killed has entered him deliberately. The wizarding world itself is in a bit of turmoil. The Death Eaters (the supporters of evil Lord Voldemort) rose again briefly at the Quidditch World Cup and Voldemort's sign was conjured. Wizards from the Ministry of Magic are going missing and Harry is having strange dreams. Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, is still in hiding as he hasn't been cleared for murder, but warns Harry that it seems that strange business is afoot. Will Harry win the Triwizard Tournament or will he find himself involved in something much more sinister? Is Lord Voldemort finally going to come back to power, and are some people not what they seem?
This book is a masterpiece; an intricate weaving together of facts and characters from previous novel with a more than generous sprinkling of tension, excitement and imagination. We get to meet the eldest Weasley brothers, Hogwarts gets a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and we find out that Hagrid isn't entirely human. Interesting objects from previous novels reappear, such as the Marauder's Map. The wizarding world outside Hogwarts is displayed in much more detail than ever before. We get to see other wizarding schools and get a deeper insight into the Ministry of Magic. There are plenty of new and interesting characters such as Mad Eye Moody and Ludo Bagman, but there is still plenty of emphasis placed on the old faithfuls su ch as Dumbledore and Hagrid.
Harry, Ron and Hermione are clearly shown to be growing up by Rowling. Their relationships with each other are getting increasingly complex, and they are all beginning to get a deeper understanding of the effects of the original rise of Lord Voldemort, and of course, Rowling leads the book into a gripping conclusion masterfully, as always.
I would recommend this book to young or old, although I don't think it would be easy for very young children to understand. I think the complexity of the book lends itself more to children aged round about 9 or 10 and above. I think this is my favourite Harry Potter book so far, but I would recommend reading the previous ones first if you're new to Harry Potter. It is undoubtably a weighty volume, but you get so wrapped up in the story that you find yourself zipping through it in no time at all. It'll really get young ones' imaginations going, and will carry adults off into a more care-free, imaginary world for a little break from reality.
I would recommend parents to read the book through before giving it to their children as Ron's language in particular can sometimes be a little more colourful than some parents might want it to be. There is, of course, the fact that it could scare some children, and some parents might be sensitive towards the fact that it deals with the subject of 'witchcraft' and magic. The book is available on Amazon.co.uk for £4.98.
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One of the best HP reviews I've read here in a long time. Well done. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next guilty pleasure in the series.
magdadh 12.10.2004 18:07
Well, I guiltily enjoyed HP books - except for the last one which I though was slightly crap IMHO - the writing is very simple there, but the Goblet is actually probably the best one (most people would not agree).
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1 tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 C...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 CD...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1 tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 C...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
very helpful by (100%):
