Pages

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Book #3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

My addiction to the Harry Potter series is no secret. This fifth book, though, took some dedication. Weighing in at 870 pages, I had been warned that after the fourth book things got pretty repetitive. While I didn't find this to be true, I was disappointed with the book in terms of the lack of growth of Harry himself. In the first book, Harry was eleven years old. A sixth grader, basically. Now in book five, he is fifteen. A sophomore in high school. Yet in 870 pages, while I saw a little fifteen year old behavior (girl trouble, of course), the growth element wasn't there. The 15 year old Harry Potter is the same as the 11 year old Harry Potter, except with a few more experiences under his belt.

I like the character and the story, so I'll keep reading, but I do now understand why Rowling is choosing to end the series. Harry will, at some point, grow boring. His adventures have to end, and for all of the interest that his character has held for me over books 1-5, pity and heroics are not enough to sustain more than a few novels.

That being said.....I can't wait to delve into the next installment.

No comments: