Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix BOOK REVIEW (early access)

Little note on the pronunciation of JK Rowling's name, Rowling rhymes with bowling, not howling. 😉

theshadowfax

I completely understand your feelings about Harry in this book. I can't stand him. I get why he feels like he does, but I appreciate that Hermione starts telling him to take a chill pill lol

Sean Silence

I just joined your Patreon based solely on your HP reviews. I like your other content too, and will stay for that… 😁💕 I always get frustrated with others frustration with this book, as it is by far my favorite. However, at the same time, I forget that the first time I read it, many moons ago, I also was very frustrated and angry… mainly at Dumbledore. I always understood and empathized with Harry’s angst. Maybe because when I was his age, I was angsty, or maybe I could just relate to certain aspects. (I’ve never had a dark Wizard kill my friend and try to kill me) He has PTSD though. And he is dealing with it alone. He needs therapy, but he doesn't even have the Dumbles to help him through the situation as he is hearing that what he has PTSD over never even happened. That he is a lying, attention seeking kid, when he never wanted any attention in the first place. I would probably be a lot worse than he has been. It's enough to make any teenager, or adult alike want to burn the whole place down. I love your theory of JK wanting us to be frustrated though. I’ve never thought about that, but YES!! In the slowness of it though is the frustration. Nothing is happening, but in fact, so much information is being thrown at you which is what makes the movies make absolutely no sense, because they didn’t have time to frustrate you with slow information. If you ever go through the series a second time, I think you’ll enjoy this one a lot more, once you don’t have that underlying anger determining your outlook. Lay off Luna. 😂 She’s crazy, yes, but you’ll come to love her too. Not gonna bash if you hate her. She’s just my favorite character of the series. Well, between her and Ginny. And yes, Moody is a boss! Thank you for these amazing reviews!! You’re awesome!

Shannon Hartman

I agree with what you said about things being exaggerated – Because for seven books, we are following Harry’s life so most of what we see are from his POV, and we mostly only get his inner monologue. So, some characters are exaggerated in a child’s/teenagers’ mind. Not to say that some characters like Umbridge are not terrible, because they are, but sometimes perspective can become a little clouded. And just to add (and I like Harry), he can be a bit dim and oblivious to things that happen around him. And really, it’ll be silly to apply the same real-world present logic to a fantastical wizarding world which inhibits medieval methods and logic. Hogwarts is a massive danger-zone, and yet the students are so chill about it and go the class as normal, ignoring the hazards and creatures that pose a danger around them. Some teachers are harsh and dish out dangerous detentions, and yet in this world, that is considered normal (I.e., McGonagall sending 11-year-olds to a forest at night in Philisophers Stone, helping Hagrid look for the wounded unicorn. While the attacker may still be out there – I mean, really??) In saying that, I really do like exploring Harry dealing with obvious PTSD throughout this book and seeing how emotional and triggered he can become. I feel his behaviour is very real, and not just as a teenager, but someone dealing with something so traumatic. I feel mental health issues are easily overlooked in this series. I like what you said about Moody at the end there! I agree, and I’d also say the same for a certain Potion’s Master (who triggers many in the fandom, unfortunately, that can’t be helped) – If, excuse my wording, shit hits the fan, he would make an ideal ally. He’s an asshole no doubt, but he’ll save your life no question about it.

Michelle Linardis

Personally, I always loved this book because I think it's the first time you really get a glimpse into what the first war was like. One of my favorite scenes in Molly with the Boggart because you see how shaken she is. I love that Lupin says that it will be different this time and all I can think about is how terrible it must have been. I feel like this book adds to the history side of Harry Potter which has always been one of my favorite parts. As to Dumbledore, To me, I feel like Dumbledore leaving Harry with the Dursleys has always been awful. He has his reasons behind leaving him there but I feel like he could have checked in on him and made sure the Dursleys were treating him well. I think you guys nailed the whole father figure thing. I always feel Lupin doesn't have the credit he deserves. Sirius could have been a great father figure but since he never really had the time to mature (which is not his fault), he isn't a very good father figure. Sirius is very rash which isn't good for Harry since he is also very rash. You need Lupin to balance them both out. Sirius can relate to Harry since they both are trapped and both grew up in terrible families but in the end, I think Lupin is much better at giving Harry the advice he needs to hear. Another reason why I love this book is all the side characters because you get to see a lot more of the adults and how they interact with each other.

Katie Brannum

This book is quite slow plot wise - but I loved it the first time reading cause the character's are my favorite aspect of this book, and we spend A LOT of time with them doing stuff lol. I totally understand how NTB would think something like the chapter of them cleaning out Grimmauld place would be boring. Some people would agree, but I just love seeing the character's interact with each other.

Anne

I feel like you'll get a lot more out of the fan-made HP videos that you watched earlier on after reading the books. For instance, in A Very Potter Sequel, Umbridge's first line was a very distinct "ahem" (the audience went nuts at this!)

loopkill

And they practically cut the whole conversation out of the movie, which I just hate.

Sean Silence

I do definitely understand NTB thinking everything is moving a bit slowly and I do agree that I feel like the last few books all sort of do that. I think it's mostly because of the fact that, like you guys were saying, there's no real mystery anymore and the subject matter gets progressively darker and more foreboding until the climax battle in Deathly Hallows. I know a lot of people aren't super into this book but personally I actually really like it and I remember it being my favorite one when I last read them (albeit that was a few years ago now). The battle in the department of mysteries is my favorite part of the book for sure though and I think you'll appreciate all of the details that aren't in the movie. As someone who deals with depression and anxiety, I feel like even if Harry doesn't necessarily have depression, a lot of what his emotions and reactions are in this book are about as accurate as they could be, at least from my personal experience. Sometimes you just have these episodes where you know that you're being stupid and the littlest things make you angry and you distance yourself and feel like everyone is against you even if your brain at the same time knows that that's not true and you just can't control it. It's very easy for it to get out of hand and let it overwhelm you which I think is kind of what Harry is letting happen to him right now but I honestly think it makes him much more relatable, at least to someone like me. I do understand how those negative thoughts and things might put a damper on the usually, at least slightly, more upbeat stories but I think it's fitting for everything he's been through up to this point.

Your comment about Fudge is really spot on. He's a character that is kind of amusing, bit of a "who cares" type thing, but then when you put him in a position where you NEED him to act, and he fails/isn't brave enough to do the right thing, that's where it becomes dangerous. You realise the difference between having an idiot in charge during a time period where it doesn't really matter, and during a time period where it could mean life and death. TBF, I'm guilty of being massive anti-Snape. I'm pretty sure I'm part of why James keeps being careful about mentioning him (lol, I'm sorry!! - I promise I won't get into it in future comments) - but I think it's partly because people like Fudge and Umbridge represent actual threats that are in our human world, and it's easier for me to focus on Snape and the absurdity of him being part of a group dedicated to killing people. He's got his human elements to him, but all in all the idea is very fantastical and easy to condemn. Fudge and Umbridge - I already have enough of those people in my life and our politics! I get upset over politicians enough! I don't want to even think about them because they're awful and if I'm gonna get upset over politics, I'll do it for real reasons. Also, I get why you guys are saying what you say about Sirius. I think Sirius is hard to pin down, he's an adult, same age as Harry's parents, is sort of who you want to put as the parental figure in Harry's life, but also he was in jail from ages 22-36, surrounded by creatures that suck out your happiness. That's gotta spin your mental health and capacity into some dangerous places. He's an adult who was never allowed to have his childish adult days. I know I was an idiot at 22, and it would be hard to be a functioning person at 37 when you have no experiences doing it.

Heidi Liedtke

This was my least favourite of the books when reading it. I could NOT understand Harry's actions at the start, and thought it was such an overreaction, and then I felt like those emotions were so unfair to his friends and family members, it really made me upset that he would treat them like that. Then again, when I originally read the book I was 9 or 10, and REALLY didn't know what puberty could do to a kid, lmao. Plus all the PTSD with Cedric/the graveyard fight, feeling alone and isolated, etc. etc. - reading it as an adult it all makes a lot more sense. I think part of me will always like it the least deep down though, because of what happens at the ministry re: Sirius. One of the biggest things in this book series that always spoke to me so much was found family and I remember the hope I had when Harry finally had Remus and Sirius. Here's his dad's best friends, the closest things to loving uncles, the closest things to his parents, and then because of how POA turned out with Wormtail getting away, and then all the war stuff, they never got to be a family together. I think reading the books at such a young age really effected my brain because found family is always the thing that gets me nowadays, and personal loyalty is so important to me - betraying your friends or family is something that really can be a deal breaker.

Heidi Liedtke

OOTP is one of my favourites in the series too! I think it was really smart by Rowling to have Harry going through all these psychological factors in this book to camouflage the other factor that's pushing Harry over the edge.

Trav Gorin

This is one of my favorite books in the series. Regarding Harry, people always complain about him in this book but I find it very realistic. I think the problem is that people take his behavior and think it’s due to him being a moody teenager, but it’s really not. Like you guys said, he is dealing with Cedric's death, and there are no adults to help him with that. I don’t think that Molly’s solution of just coddling him helps when it involves him. Regarding his behavior with Ron and hermione, I think Rowling said in an interview that Harry has no one to yell at. Most teenagers have parents to do so, but he doesn’t have parents. And I don’t know if this is evident already but Harry is constantly worrying about Sirius to have him in a role of a parent. So, is it a nice that he lashes out at Ron and hermione? No, but I understand it, and I think ron and hermione do too. I’m sorry if I implied that you guys didn’t understand what Harry was going through. That was not my intention. I just really love Harry in the books.I really enjoy these discussions and reviews every week!

Loving these reviews guys! It's great that you're diving in deep to a lot of the underlying themes. I get what Ninetails is saying about Harry's attitude in this book, but there are reasons. And one fairly big reason. But you will find out. And you're totally right James, that dealing with what we know about Dumbledore in the present, does put him high up on that pedestal, and that is where he should be. When people say he is a lot more grey than how he is presently portrayed, they are referring to future revelations which don't have any impact on the image that we should have on him now. Again, the distance Harry and Dumbledore are having currently are for other reasons. I'm totally down for you guys to do a livestream when you have finished the books for a mega Harry Potter discussion lol.

Trav Gorin

I love that you guys took the time out to talk about the fact that there is a person behind media trials and narratives. And you are right - the book does show that. As for Lupin, honestly - I thought he was on the same side as Sirius in the argument. Sirius wants Harry to have agency over information that concerns his own life, because Sirius was the one in Dumbledore's office listening to what Harry went through in graveyard. And Lupin is saying the same thing - that Harry should have a say in what he wants to know. Lupin is just more diplomatic basically. And when he decides they said enough, Sirius doesn't argue. I think Sirius' deteriorating mental health (similar to Harry's own) in this book due to being stuck in places they don't want to be in - kind of makes people not take him as seriously. Also, I actually think Sirius (and Lupin) are one of the few adults who immediately understand Harry, so I think they have a seperate bond outside of the loss of James. (Which is a bit of an unfair accusation from Mrs Weasley, who was just being a bit overprotective) Similar to Harry, who is angry and moody but the stuff he says, his positions on a lot of things is not wrong. I can understand what NTB is feeling about how difficult this book is in regard to vibing with Harry - but I think this book captures Harry's breaking point well. Can't wait to see what you guys have to say next week.

Also, Harry is being persecuted by the government, media and the woman who’s taking over his school in addition to his normal persecution at the Dursley’s. He’s having crazy dreams that are scaring the shit out of him and like you said, he’s totally alone in his mind trying to figure out what is going on while be alienated by dumbledore as well. It’s a lot to deal with and he’s a child. Like i said, this book was one of my least favorites first, but now is one of my favorites to go back to.

Melanie P

Funny thing about this book... it was one of my least favorite when i read it first (after book 2 - i hate spiders and snakes) but it’s one of my favorites to reread/relisten. Umbridge is so much worse in the book. Love hearing your reviews.

Melanie P

Regarding Harry and Dumbledore make sure you pay extra close attention to chapter 37 (the second to last chapter of the book) it's arguably the most important chapter of the whole series as exposition goes. I honestly like that this book makes sure that you know Harry is at his lowest point. There is stuff coming up that you guys will really appreciate:)

Josh Z

Book 5 has climbed the ranks for me over the years, I appreciate it so much more on re-reads. Harry IS angsty & unpleasant, but like you say, he is coping with a lot of trauma, PTSD & grief on top of normal teen-angst stuff. I appreciate that we go there with Harry but understand it doesn't always make for enjoyable reading. I once heard someone describe this book as having a lot "sideways" storytelling, meaning we veer off into meandering side stories more often. That might help define what NTB is saying about pacing. I enjoy it but it's not for everyone. Love these reviews, guys!

Joelle Schutt