Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series, and has perhaps the most ‘epic’ plotline. This book is definitely where the series grows up, and in my own personal ‘hit list’ of Harry Potter books, it is rated as number three.
**Blurb** (from the back of the book)
“It is the summer holidays, and one night Harry Potter wakes up with his scar burning. He has had a strange dream, one that he can't help worrying about...until a timely invitation from Ron Weasley arrives: to nothing less than the Quidditch World Cup! Soon Harry is reunited with Ron and Hermione and gasping at the thrills of an international Quidditch match. But then something horrible happens which casts a shadow over everybody, and Harry in particular... “
**Plot** (minor spoilers)
The book opens – curiously – outside of Harry’s PoV, as we follow an old caretaker through a creepy house, overhearing things that he is not supposed to. This is an interesting way to open the book; as for the previous two we are immediately with Harry during the summer holidays. Not to fret, however, as we soon learn that this is a ‘dream’, or ‘vision’ of Harry’s, and he is soon waking up at the Dursley’s.
It’s quite a while before we’re back at Hogwarts, however, for there is the Quidditch World Cup to contend with. After being rescued by The Weasley’s,
Harry finds himself back at The Burrow for a short time, before being whisked off to a huge campsite that provides the location for the spectacular sports event. These chapters of the book are a treat for Quidditch fans, and there are some great moments of humour here as well – notably with Archie the nightgown wearing wizard, and the Veela.
Soon, however, things turn sour and mysterious hooded figures arrive at the campsite intent on destruction. If you haven’t read the book (or seen the film!) I won’t reveal who they are here, but they are important to the plot.
After the World Cup, it’s back to school for Harry and co., and it seems that this year is going to be very different from the rest…Dumbledore informs the school that delegations from two other Wizarding schools – Durmstrang and Beauxbatons – will be arriving to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, and of course, this causes a storm of excitement throughout the school.
The remainder of the book covers the school year as the students from the other schools arrive, as our hero is chosen as the unlikely fourth champion, and as unexpected tasks – like asking a girl out on a date – crop up for the chosen one.
The three tasks make up the action-filled, adrenalin fuelled scenes, and like all of Rowling’s work, the humour is top-notch. The Yule Ball at Christmas provides a very different scene to ones that we are used to in the Harry Potter books, and is definitely a delight.
But most importantly of all, the climax of the book is absolutely fantastic, and to a first time reader it will undoubtedly be shocking. The ending will make you feel despair, sadness, horror and a slight optimism all at once. All of the clues and hints dropped throughout the book make sense, and there’s a “a-ha!” moment that you’ll have either spotted or that will completely surprise you. You’ll be left with the unwavering feeling of needing to read more, so imagine how the ‘three year summer’ felt whilst waiting for the fifth book to be released!
The final chapter of the book is called “The Beginning of the End”, and there is definitely a sense of that in the final pages. We don’t know where Harry will go from here, there is an overtone of darkness, and it truly does feel like the beginning of the end.
**Characters**
As well as the old favourites, there are several new characters introduced in this book, and some oft mentioned ones return.
We meet the apparently stoic Barty Crouch, who is a Ministry worker as well as one of the judges in the Triwizard Tournament. He’s not a particularly likeable character, and there is more to him than there might at first seem…
Then there’s the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody. He comes across as ever so slightly insane, with his ever-present shouts of “Constant Vigilance!” and his tendency to show his students the Unforgivable Curses. However, like Barty Crouch, there is perhaps more to him than we at first think.
Dobby the House Elf returns in this book, this time as one of the Hogwarts elves who works in the kitchen. He’s given a companion too – Winky, whose past is tied up with the main plot arc. Not especially important, but part of a sub-plot involving Hermione and an organisation named S.P.E.W.
Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour and Cedric Diggory (the Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and Hogwarts champions respectively), also play a large part, and will continue to do so throughout the series.
Then there’s the return of the biggest baddie of them all, but I’ll leave you guessing on that, despite it being very obvious who it is!
Rowling’s characters are always wonderfully realised, never two-dimensional and all have a personality of their own. All of the new characters introduced in this book show this, and you will come to love (and despise!) them.
The middle of the series, the centre of the arc, this is the book where things start turning darker, as we’re properly introduced to Harry’s main nemesis. Rowling’s talent for injecting moments of comic relief balances the dark themes out, and we’re introduced to some fantastic characters.
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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...
Advantages: Gripping read where the whole Harry Potter world really starts to gel together. Disadvantages: Possibly a little too complex and long for little ones.
Advantages: Gripping read where the whole Harry Potter world really starts to gel together. Disadvantages: Possibly a little too complex and long for little ones.
very helpful by (100%):
