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's world becomes darker, more complex
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a rarity in our world that a single event (like the release of the first book in this series)creates an instant of such monumental clarity that all generations are touched by that event. Harry Potter has done just that in my family. I hope he's done that in yours as well. The Goblet of Fire is longer and more darkly crafted than the earlier three Harry Potter books. J.K Rowling takes Harry and crew through a quest that encompasses every major life passage associated with adolescence.
Harry Potter, his friends, his boarding school--Hogwarts, the awful Dursley family that provided food & shelter & little else during Harry's first decade--all have returned in the fourth installment of this seven books series.
Harry is joined by a few new characters.These characters are as richly drawn as the old familiar ones. My family is anxiously awaiting the return of several of these.Of the old friends, Hermione is as usual maturing a step or two ahead of her two best friends, Harry & Ron. Ron struggles with his own awkward acknowledgement of some unpleasant emotions and the Weasley family begins taking a more active part in nurturing Harry's yearning for "family". Hagrid is faced with some complex and unexpected challenges of his own. His courage and honesty expressed while faced with an unpredictable new relationship makes him all the more endearing.
My family loved the fuller development of shy & clumsy Neville and the strength of character displayed by Sirius Black.
I won't be surprised by backlash from families that might be disturbed by the presence of death, evil & violence. It will be unfortunate if readers' expectations hold Harry & all to a more simplified & politically correct story line. Bottom line here--like it or not--Harry's world is often a reflection of our own & we live in a world of violence. We're surrounded by dysfunctional families--(we might even <horrors> be part of a dysfunctional family!)
The Goblet of Fire spans 734 pages and it aptly traces the roots, branches & yes even some stagnant, rotting stumps on several family trees.
The theme of the Goblet of Fire centers around just such breakdowns in family units & the Hope for the future when characters (and real people) break the chains of destruction, inertia, denial & apathy & they boldly create new family structures that DO function.
In the fourth installment Harry is called to face the most difficult challenge in his young life, when an unknown entity enters his name in a dangerous global competition that spans the school year and is open to participants aged 17 & older. Although Harry is much younger than the other contestants he must participate--although the consequesences might very well be deadly.
Harry's strongest character traits; compassion, self-confidence, nobility and fairness are becoming traits he more firmly relies on when faced with insurmountable odds. It is with these traits, his friends and the family he's fashioned that Harry must confront and triumph against his most evil enemy.
Book Review: Keep Fighting the Good Fight Harry!
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Potter and The Goblet of FireJ.K. Rowling, who transformed a TV generation into book lovers, continues to create magic in her fourth novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Her series about a boy at odds with himself, his family and his entire world until he discovers that he is a magical wizard speaks volumes on what it means to feel like an outsider and at long last find love and acceptance.
In Rowling's earlier novels, Harry begins to understand his powers through a series of adventures that teach him to trust his friends, question authority and most importantly, believe in himself.
This tale is as old as time, but Rowling stretches the moral play to a new elevation, as evidenced by the book's dedication:
"...to Susan Sladden,
who helped Harry out of his cupboard."
Granted, Harry's adoptive parents forced him to sleep in an old cupboard, but it is a rather simple step to take this meaning less literally. Nowadays, "Coming out of the closet" means more than an announcement of one's sexuality - it refers to taking pride in those aspects of your character that others would have you deny, either out of discomfort, denial or the desire to not be different. Rowling uses Harry's position as an outsider in the Muggle (non-magic) world to depict what it feels like in the real world when you are made to feel different, and follows Harry through a process of accepting his differences. This is a valuable lesson for Muggles of any age.
Rowling refuses to force Harry to fit into a mold. In The Goblet of Fire, Harry and several other witches and wizards are forced to rescue the person they will "sorely miss." For Harry, this is Ron, his best friend. But even as magic has decided that Harry will miss Ron most, Harry realizes that deciding whom to save, and therefore have in his life, is not that simple.
That Rowling likes to toy with conventions is evident. From her real-life rags to riches story to a strikingly feminist subplot that has characters questioning whether house-elves (who cook and clean) should be paid, Rowling refuses to let things slide simply because they are expected.
The same is true with Harry. How easy it would have been to have Harry transition to the world of magic and live there in bliss. But this would not be true or real. In Harry's adventures, his greatest adversaries are from the magic world, from his own feelings of self-doubt and from the people he is expected to trust.
Rowling has opened new doors throughout her Harry Potter series, and this fourth installment is no different. Rowling may be "just a children's author", but she has demonstrated once again that the lessons we learn as children about acceptance, tolerance and taking on new challenges shape who we are. Harry's life is difficult, especially after he learns who he is, but what makes Harry's life so rich is his ability to transcend the evil forces in his world and life live to the fullest. For children and adults, this is something we struggle with daily - to not give in to life's challenges. Keep fighting the good fight Harry.
Book Review: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Summary: 5 Stars
/>Harry runs away from the Dursleys yet again and this time he gets to go to an International Quidditch game with Ron and Hermione. Harry is back at Hogwarts for his fourth year of seven, and he is in a big surprise this year. This year there is no Quidditch Cup instead there is a Triwizard Tournament, and a member from each school is selected, but some how so is Harry. Other characters that are picked to participate are Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts and also Harry. Everyone in the three school was surprised in the outcome. Harry couldn't believe it neither. The first of three competitions was to get the egg of the dragon you picked out of the sack before the competition. Harry faced the Hungarian Horntail the toughest of all the dragons in the tournament. His task was to snatch the golden egg hidden under the dragon, while dodging the attacks the dragon was throwing at him. Will Harry make it alive of will he fall to his dome? The next task was the go swimming in the school lake for something that is very precious to you, but before that you had to crack the code of how to find out what it was. Harry didn't know what was taken from him until he asked where is Ron. Then he relized it was Ron at the bottom of the lake. Does Harry exceed or does time run out and he never sees Ron again? Last, but not least the final task has come, and it is a giant maze which you have to get to the center of the become the champion. Sounds easy huh, but on the way there you have to pass numerous obsticels, and deadly animals. So does Harry win the tournament? If he does what happens after that? Is he famous? If you want to know just read the book and find out.______*Quotes*_______
"Harrrry.....that's Viktor Krum...,"
"GO IRELAND!!!!"
"Feeling alright Harry?"
"Hermione where's Ron?"
_______Characters_______
Harry - jet black hair, scar on his forehead, good quidditch player, always finds a way to make everything right, concerned.
Ron - Red hair, crazy, interested, good at chess, shy, good student
Hermione - Genius, brown hair, wavey, mud blood, always knows what is right for Harry and Ron
Viktor - best seeker in the world, from Durmstrang school
Hagrid - twice the size of any one, but wouldn't hurt a fly, always a happy man, and loves animals
_______Setting_______
The setting of this story is in London, England and is base in the modern era. When at school Harry is in the magic world which only witches and wizards know about. He lives in Hogwarts School also.
_______Genre_______
This book is a fantasy book.
_______Theme_______
Always do the best you can no matter how hard it is.
I think that if you into fantasy or, you real like to read action, and witchcraft stuff then you will really like this book.
I like the way J.K. Rowlings put together this whole book, and all the other books in the series. I really love to read this books, and are some of the best books in the world.
Book Review: As enjoyable a read as ever
Summary: 5 Stars
It surprises me that these books have caused such a ridiculous ruckus, yet the Phil Pullman "His Dark Materials" trilogy hasn't seemed to raise an eybrow outside of listservs (where they are enthusiastically discussed.) NOTE: This is in no way encouraging any criticism of Pullman. His books are simply wonderful. I feel badly that Rowling has taken such heat for a series that continues to astound. With each book, the world she has created comes together in a much more cohesive fashion. Book 4 is notable not only for its innovations and adventure (it's a bold move on Rowling's part to have an entire school year with no Quidditch matches, at the same time, it makes sense and keeps us from getting tired of repetition.) Another high point is that Rowling develops her stories, and adds secondary characters from the other books to help the story move forward. Did you think you'd seen the end of the house elves,Sirius Black, Moaning Myrtle or the Dementors? Guess again. Rowling uses them in this book in interesting ways. By doing this, Rowling also makes each book an essential part of the whole, and every sign is pointing us forward to book 5.
Another strong point of the book is the return of all of our favorite characters, and the newest developments. Is there some kind of romantic tension between Ron and Hermione? Perish the thought, but Rowling skillfully doles out soap opera, humor, and horror and balances it very carefully. Rowling also doesn;t spare her magic characters either. For the past three books, we kind of were split along the "magic good, muggles bad" lines... this is fine,except every reader of the book (including Rowling)is a Muggle. At times, it almost became embarrassing to see non-magical characters seen as lumpish, dumb and slovenly. In this book, we see that all the magical beings are not so perfect and pure either, most notably in a rather disturbing scene at the World Quidditch Cup matches where Muggles are hapless victims of a cruel prank. This is good as it begins to erase the rather polarized lines that Rowling had developed, and allows us to question our own black and white beliefs (i.e., not every oppressed group reacts to oppression in a noble fashion.) Rowling also gives us the sense of political awakening in Hermione, as she sees the injustice in the situation of the house elves. I am interested to see this situation explored more in other novels.
This book is, so far, the darkest of the lot. But Harry bravely faces these challenges (including an exciting and darkly terrifying climax.) But don't let that dissuade you from reading this 4th book. The only real complaint is that Rowling is hinting that she may wait 2 years to release the next book. I hardly find this fair, as the first three books were released all in the span of one year. 2 years is too long of a wait, and I think a bit unfair to her loyal readers. But, we'll see. In the meantime, I may just begin to read the series over again to kill time until the next book. I suspect I am not the first person to do that either.
Book Review: Harry Potter's Newest Adventure is Spectacular!
Summary: 5 Stars
Seven-hundred and thirty-four pages . . . many people would think twice about picking up any book of this length off its shelf. This, however, is not just any book. This, is the fourth installment to the Harry Potter series. "The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it "the Riddle House," even though it had been many years since the Riddle family had lived there . . ." The preceding was the first line from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the most recent addition to the series. This first line draws you in, calling you back to the world of wizards, house-elves, muggles, and magic. Starting first where we stopped at the end of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, we find Harry staying with his insufferable relatives, the Dursleys. One night he has a nightmare, and wakes up with searing pain stemming from his lightning bolt scar. This is just a beginning to what he must endure throughout the school year at Hogwarts. Before the summer is over, Harry does manage to escape the Dursleys when Ron Weasley invites him to the Quidditch World Cup (which is hosted by Britain this year). It was all fun and games until trouble arose; a huge sign was conjured in the sky, frightening many, and causing questions over the whereabouts of he-who-must-not-be-named. Once Harry, Ron, and Hermione reach Hogwarts and attend the Welcoming Ceremony, they are unhappy to find (along with their fellow students), that Quidditch will not be played this year. Instead, an even greater event is taking place: the Triwizard Tournament! Hosted and participated in by Hogwarts, two other rival wizard schools will compete to win the Triwizard Cup. Each school is allowed one pupil, seventeen and older to contend. Things go a little wrong, and instead of three "champions" a fourth is chosen. But each chosen one must go through with the very dangerous tasks they are presented with. In a nutshell, this school year has proven to be the toughest for Harry so far: he goes from being well-liked by his peers to made fun of daily, he almost loses his best friend completely, Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape continue to be maladies, he must deal with the ravages and angst of being fourteen, all on top of the fact that someone is out to kill him and he must figure out who, what, where, and when. By the time you get to the last chapters, you're still in the dark, until the last moment, and then everything falls into place. J.K. Rowling is most imaginative, creative, and amazingly descriptive when it comes to telling us Harry's story. These books aren't just for kids, they're for people of all ages. Everyone can enjoy them on their own levels. I read this book in three days, but I would have gotten through it sooner, had I not had a brother and a sister who were also taking turns reading. Here's a post script to Miss Rowling: Hurry and write Harry Potter Five, please! My mind is craving more of your intellectually stimulating stories!