Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) by J.K. Rowling
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Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
Book Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is EXCELLENT!! There are over seven hundred pages total, which may seem like a large amount, but it is so well-written that you can read it from cover to cover without putting it down. In the beginning of the book, Lord Voldemort is plotting murder with his servant Wormtail, or Peter Pettigrew, who has just returned. Voldemort is getting stronger and stronger, and is plotting to kill Harry Potter. But how can he even get anywhere near Harry when he is under the constant surveillance of Professor Dumbledore?
Meanwhile, Harry has been invited to Ron's house, along with Hermione. Through a connection at the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Weasley has managed to secure excellent seats for the Quidditch World Cup, which hasn't been held in Britain for thirty years. Fred, George, Percy, and Ginny are coming too, along with Ron's two oldest brothers Bill and Charlie. The Bulgaria National Quidditch Team is facing off against the Ireland National Quidditch Team, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione have a blast watching the match. They also meet Winky, a house-elf who works for Percy's new boss at the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Barty Crouch. However, after the match, something frightening happens which casts a spell of fright and panic over the witches and wizards attending the World Cup. Horrible rumors are spread around about the occurrence, helped by Rita Skeeter, a nosy reporter for the "Daily Prophet," who regularly fabricates entire front-page news articles. (Her stories usually have no factual basis whatsoever, which becomes apparent later in the book.)
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione head back to Hogwarts, there is an air of mystery in the air. Something will be happening at Hogwarts that will affect the course of the entire school year. When they arrive at school, they find that the Ministry of Magic has reinstated an ancient custom called the Triwizard Tournament.
The Triwizard Tournament was originally a "friendly" competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry--Hogwarts School, Beauxbatons Academy, and Durmstrang Institute. An impartial judge selected one candidate from each school to participate in three extremely difficult and dangerous tasks. The candidates, or champions, as they were called, were awarded points for how successfully and skilfully they performed each task, and the winner would bring glory to his or her school and get a personal prize of one thousand Galleons.
The death toll from the Triwizard Tournament mounted so high that it was discontinued, and there had been many unsuccessful attempts to reinstate it since. This would be the first time in hundreds of years that the Tournament would be played. A safety restriction was imposed when the Ministry was restoring the Tournament--no one under seventeen years of age would be allowed to apply for the honor of being school champion.
What does the Tournament have to do with Harry? Will Voldemort manage to get to Harry at last, in spite of Dumbledore's presence at Hogwarts? I highly recommend buying the book, versus borrowing it or taking it out of the library, because if you read it again and again, you will discover a number of things that you missed the first time you read it. There are also a series of sub-plots and small conflicts and mysteries on the side to keep you entertained, not to mention several plot twists, including the major one at the end. You will be missing out on a LOT if you don't read this book at least once.
Book Review: Epic-size Harry Potter book worth every magical page
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, I was wrong. I let the really dark turn this book took towards the end make me rank it below The Prisoner of Azkaban, but a reread and the ensuing reflection found me ranking this above its predecessor. With the fourth book, J.K. Rowling turns the Harry Potter series into epic-size proportions and given the recently-released fifth book, it's something that will continue with Books Six and Seven. In fact the opening chapter of this book hints at what's in store. The question is when and how?There are two big extra-special events in this book. The first one is the Quidditch World Cup, where thousands of wizards attend to see Ireland play Bulgaria. Harry goes with the Weasleys and Hermione to this once-in-a-while gala sporting event, which takes place in the woods.
However, mayhem is later caused at the campsite when the Dark Mark, an emerald skull representing Voldemort's supporters, appears in the sky.
Meanwhile at Hogwarts, Dumbledore announces the Tri-Wizard competition, revived after its dangerous past, with 6th or 7th formers (16-17 year olds) allowed to compete. Qualifying students are told to enter their names into the Goblet of Fire. That eliminates Harry, who is only a fourth former and knowingly does not put his name into the Goblet. You can imagine what happens, right?
Many new developments are taking place. Fred and George Weasley would rather open up a joke shop, much to the chagrin of their mother, who think they should be putting more emphasis on higher education. Dudley, Harry's nasty cousin, is their first victim a la the Ton Tongue Toffee, but then again, he deserves it. Guess what it does?
The character of Rita Skeeter, a gossip columnist always looking for dirt on her subjects who would put Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons to shame, is introduced. Woe be to anyone who crosses her, although one would think the article on Hermione being Harry's girlfriend, though untrue, would be a compliment to Harry and Hermione. Along those lines, Harry and Ron are growing up. They notice beautiful women in the form of veelas, sensuous-looking creatures from Bulgaria with a Siren-like effect.
There's another new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mad Eye Moody, He's gruff, no-nonsense, blunt, --he even punishes Draco Malfoy in a very funny way-- but he really knows his stuff and the part where he discusses the Unforgivable curses really demonstrates what should really be learned.
In the third book, Rowling portrayed a conflict between Ron and Hermione due to Crookshanks, her cat. This time, it's between Harry and Ron, and among his peers, Hermione is more than ever a beacon of support for Harry in his time of need, even though having her as a friend means spending more time in the library and less talk about Quidditch. Hagrid is also a pillar of support, as he believes in Harry.
The book sets things for the next book, but is the story worth the 700+ pages? Well, yes it is! I recently read an article saying that the movie for this book might be split into two movies. If that's the case, I wonder if they will film it all at once, then stagger the release dates (a la the recent Tolkien trilogy adaptations). That would still keep interest stoked up in the series, and by then, the penultimate book will have hit the shelves and the third movie out on video.
Book Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling, is fantastic story that reveals many different aspects of literature. First, Rowling uses flashbacks to help the reader hint at Harry Potter's miraculous birth. Next, many of the characters can be considered foils, such as Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, Potter and Draco Malfoy. These characters are exact opposites of each other and in Potter and Malfoy's case are there for enemies. Finally, Rowling's use of stereotype categorizes the wizards from the `muggles.' Rowling has shown through this enchanting tall tale a simple yet delightful story.When Harry first encounters Lord Voldemort he is an infant in his mother's arms. Voldemort tries to kill Potter, but his mother's love prevents this. Potter often has flashbacks of this moment, wondering what it means and why he gets them. Eventually Potter learns that when Voldemort is near these splitting headaches and flashbacks to his infancy occur. With each flashback the reader can learn more about his mother's dying love for him.
Granger and Longbottom, Potter and Malfoy are all complete opposites.
Granger is an intelligent wizard that really applies herself to her studies. She tries to achieve everything, overwhelming herself with too many classes. But she is naturally the favorite among all of the teachers. Where as Longbottom is constantly messing a potion or spell up, causing disasters in the classroom. He tries very hard but can never quit master what the other students accomplish naturally. Potter and Malfoy are not only foils but also worst enemies. Potter is a popular wizard, not to mention a worldwide hero among the wizards. Potter is allowed to do things that other wizards his age cannot, such as play on the Quidditch team. Draco on the other hand is a bully that is despised by most wizards. He is evil and cannot be on the Quidditch team or participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament like Potter. Malfoy is and evil wizard compared to Potter who is a good wizard, trying to only perform good clean magic. Foils allow the reader to comprehend to characters at the same time by comparing their differences.
Finally, Rowling shows the wizards' different stereotype upon the muggles, or non-wizards. The wizards in the novel often refer to muggles. They shun upon them, seeing them as unequal. If any wizard has muggle parents they are made fun of bitterly. This shows how sometimes we can stereotype people because of their race or religion. But Rowling uses Hermione as a "half muggle" to show that she is impure in the eyes of others, but can still perform the spells better than most wizards her age.
The use of literary devices in this novel helps the reader understand the book. Flashbacks indirectly help the reader determine what did happen. It allows the story to continue but still get that glimpse of the past. The use of foils also helps better understand the character and their part in the story. When Potter and Malfoy meet we know Malfoy is going to be the antagonist, trying to force Potter to mess. Finally, the stereotypes that the muggles receive from the wizards teach us that our stereotypes are wrong and can hurt somebody. Rowling helped the reader with these simple yet indirect ways to give the readers clues.
Book Review: Turning points
Summary: 5 Stars
Yup-this book was a turning point in the ever-popular Harry Potter series. A darker turn, adding shades to everything we thought we already knew about Harry's world, but neither too dark nor too convoluted. In my view, it remained refreshingly innocent for a story about young teenagers.I'll admit that I thought the first hundred or two hundred pages of the book were slow...but watch out world! Ms. Rowlings strikes again with new characters that become as fascinating and as hysterical, as the old ones.
Bartie Crouch, the Ministry wizard with a fatal soft spot nobody would have suspected.
Bertha Jorkins, a missing Ministry witch with a passion for gossip that could be the key to Voldemort's return.
Mad-Eye Moody, the battered new DADA instructor who isn't afraid to bend the rules... and knows all too much about the Dark powers that want Harry dead.
Cedric Diggory, the Headboy with a talent for beating Harry to what he wants most.
Rita Skeeter, the journalist with a flare for the worst kind of tabloid journalism and ways of getting her scoop on Harry.
The old characters, too, take on new interest as Voldemort's past Reign of Terror begins more and more to affect Harry's present and polarize loyalties. Why does hapless Neville Longbottom know so much about curses? What is the deeper, darker secret Hagrid has been hiding all this time? Is there a sinister past behind the intense scrutiny Moody is giving Professor Snape? What are Fred and George Weasley up to now, and why does it involve blackmail? Who were Voldemort's Death Eaters, and why did they make an appearance at the Quidditch World Cup? And who is trying to force them out of hiding after so many years?
Yes, Harry has his plate very full his fourth year at Hogwarts. As if it isn't enough that an all-too-realistic dream of a much stronger Lord Voldemort has Harry writing his godfather Sirius for advice, Harry is illegally and unwittingly entered as a contestant in the TriWizard Tournament-an international competition between rival schools that has an perilously high rate of past fatalities. Even the benevolent Hogwarts Headmaster, professor Dumbledore, may not be able to protect Harry this time, for an inside enemy has tricked the Goblet of Fire into selecting Harry as a fourth TriWizard champion. But Voldemort and his henchmen are plotting more than merely Harry's death...
The emotional entanglements of the year add new-and pleasantly surprising-layers of complexity to Harry's perspective. Harry's friendship with Ron is strained by jealousy. Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin to discover the dating scene and the joys and pitfalls of dealing with the opposite sex. (The bickering between Ron and Hermione is delicious and certainly convinces me that there's more than a little mutual interest there.) Harry, Hermione, and others (in a telling twist) are pestered by a reporter who ruins more reputations before lunchtime than most people tarnish in years. Harry begins to learn the importance of second chances and trust as his path, and that of everyone around him, becomes more and more enmeshed in the web of stories behind the people around him. Most of all, past and present collide as Voldemort is reborn and the deaths and terror begin again... And Harry will never be the same.
Book Review: Deep, rich and complex; Potter has come so far.
Summary: 5 Stars
By far the thickest of the four, as of Jan 2002, I carefully predictthat the thickness shall not increase as the series progresses.
Contrary to the complaints of most critics about the size of the book,
I submit that Rowling is now writing to her dedicated readers, and is
not trying to draw in new fans with this work. We demand this
progression.
All things aside this is the deepest, richest and broadest book in the
series. We are once more introduced to new storylines and dimensions,
a hallmark of the previous books. As I mentioned in my previous
reviews, storylines that were developed in the first three books pass
through this volume and on towards the future.
The return of the Dark Lord is an almost welcome event at this
juncture, partially because a confrontation was inevitable and also due
to the fact that the fate of Harry is ultimately tied up with his
nemesis. Their symbiotic relationship can only result in one outcome;
an endless struggle for power and dominance over each other.
New dimensions of the wizard world continue to unfold with brilliant
elements like Portkeys (for instant teleportation), the Quidditch World
Cup (a natural evolution of the favorite wizarding sport) and the
TriWizard Tournament (a fantastic new competition). The introduction
of other wizarding schools broadens the scope of Rowling's world by
several magnitudes, and so she continues to amaze us as she peels away
curtains, revealing more of her imagination.
The most important element introduced in the series thus far, in my
humble opinion, is the wizard discipline of Auror. In the past I found
myself grumbling at the ravages and madness of the Dark Wizards. Every
misdeed and crime they committed made me wonder if there was no
organized resistance to the evil.
When the Auror Mad-Eye Moody appears for the first time, I almost
cheered. He represents a breed of wizard that dedicate their entire
lives to the pursuit, capture and even destruction of Dark Wizards. I
feel that without such sacrifice and focus, evil would certainly have
the upper hand over good.
It was certainly heartening to me when Moody recommends this lonely and
agonizing path to Harry. I believe this is the most likely path for
our champion, given the struggles he has endured with Dark Magic since
his birth. I don't wish him pain and suffering, but the stuff his soul
is made of suggests he would not find peace unless he tried the hardest
he could to right wrongs in the world around him.
As always, our heroes continue to grow and mature. We are certainly
seeing the blossoming of romances and other higher aspirations.
Brought many smiles to my face.
The staggering conclusion, and the gravity of the events to follow in
book five, make me wonder how will our heroes survive this? It seems
that the lines are being drawn for cruel and ruthless War between good
and evil. People are taking sides, and who knows if Harry, Hermione
and Ron will have the strength, courage, wisdom and vision to survive?
Thus the last chapter is titled - The Beginning.