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Product Description
Just when it seems that there cannot possibly be another twist to the Harry Potter tale, Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio. Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history... As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison
Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
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![Harry
Potter
and
the
Deathly
Hallows
(Book
7)
[Children's
Edition]
(Harry
Potter
Audio
Book)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZsA4MIq5L._SL75_.jpg) |
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Product Description
The Final Chapter The pubdate of the seventh and final Harry Potter audio book has been announced, and the rumours are already circulating - what are the Deathly Hallows? Who will make it through to the end? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows CD Set tells the story of Harry's final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and this is set to be the best audio book out of the series! . Visit the Harry Potter Store Our Harry Potter Store features all things Harry, including books, audio CDs and cassettes, DVDs, toys and more.
Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
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Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
Entertainment 5, Practicality 0, 04 Oct 2008
There is no doubt that Stephen Fry is entirely the MOST suitable person for the job of reading ANY story for an audio book. His voice is perfectly suited to story telling and he is able to define and animate the characters in his own colourful way. It's a good audio book and this is very much attributed to the talented Mr Fry.
I am disappointed however, that the indexing for the CDs are in such a pickle! Whilst I understand that copying CDs and music is frowned upon, is it not feasible that a person can listen to this audio book on their MP3 player? Attempting to transfer this into a more mobile format is something of a mission. The CDs chapters and files are not labelled properly, so if you want to put this into MP3 format you will find you have a jumbled mess! This audio book was bought to provide some entertainment on a long plane journey. Sorting it into order has taken almost as long as the trip itself! If you want to listen to this on your ipod - GOOD LUCK!
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Product Description
The worry, when faced with the follow-up to books as good as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (both winners of the Nestlé Smarties Prize Gold Award), is that it won't be as good. With J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban any concerns are banished from page one. This, the third in the series, continues where the previous two left off and is a fantastic adventure of mystery, magic and mayhem combined with liberal doses of humour and plenty of suspense. Forced to do his homework in the dead of night and forbidden to refer to his magic skills or his life at Hogwarts school, Harry Potter is forced to endure the summer holidays with the dreaded Dursleys. The arrival of Aunt Marge is the final straw and, in a fit of anger, Harry breaks all the rules and casts a spell on her, causing her to blow up like a balloon. Running away from his dreaded relatives, Harry expects to be expelled from Hogwarts for his blatant flaunting of the rule not to use magic outside term time. However, the arrival of the mysterious Knight Bus and a meeting with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, result in Harry enjoying the rest of the holidays in the wonderful surroundings of the Leaky Cauldron. The escape of Sirius Black--one time friend of Harry's parents, implicated in their murder and follower of "You- Know-Who"--from Azkaban, has serious implications for Harry for it would appear that Black is bent on revenge against Harry for thwarting "You-Know-Who". Back at Hogwarts, Harry's movements are restricted by the presence of the Dementors--guards from Azkaban on the look out for Black--however, this doesn't stop him throwing himself into the new Quidditch season and going about his normal business--or at least attempting to. Despite warnings Harry is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Sirius Black--how could this one-time close friend of his parents become the cause of their deaths? And why does the presence of the Dementors have such a devastating effect on him, causing him to hear the last moments of his mother's life? With another four Harry Potter novels planned, Jo Rowling is creating a series of books which will become classics to rival C.S. Lewis'Chronicles of Narnia--books written for children but loved by adults too. (Ages 9 and up) --Philippa ReeceThe worry, when faced with the follow-up to books as good as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (both winners of the Nestlé Smarties Prize Gold Award), is that it won't be as good. With J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban any concerns are banished from page one. This, the third in the series, continues where the previous two left off and is a fantastic adventure of mystery, magic and mayhem combined with liberal doses of humour and plenty of suspense. Forced to do his homework in the dead of night and forbidden to refer to his magic skills or his life at Hogwarts school, Harry Potter is forced to endure the summer holidays with the dreaded Dursleys. The arrival of Aunt Marge is the final straw and, in a fit of anger, Harry breaks all the rules and casts a spell on her, causing her to blow up like a balloon. Running away from his dreaded relatives, Harry expects to be expelled from Hogwarts for his blatant flaunting of the rule not to use magic outside term time. However, the arrival of the mysterious Knight Bus and a meeting with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, result in Harry enjoying the rest of the holidays in the wonderful surroundings of the Leaky Cauldron. The escape of Sirius Black--one time friend of Harry's parents, implicated in their murder and follower of "You- Know-Who"--from Azkaban, has serious implications for Harry for it would appear that Black is bent on revenge against Harry for thwarting "You-Know-Who". Back at Hogwarts, Harry's movements are restricted by the presence of the Dementors--guards from Azkaban on the look out for Black--however, this doesn't stop him throwing himself into the new Quidditch season and going about his normal business--or at least attempting to. Despite warnings Harry is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding Sirius Black--how could this one-time close friend of his parents become the cause of their deaths? And why does the presence of the Dementors have such a devastating effect on him, causing him to hear the last moments of his mother's life? With another four Harry Potter novels planned, Jo Rowling is creating a series of books which will become classics to rival C.S. Lewis'Chronicles of Narnia--books written for children but loved by adults too. (Ages 9 and up) --Philippa Reece
Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
Entertainment 5, Practicality 0, 04 Oct 2008
There is no doubt that Stephen Fry is entirely the MOST suitable person for the job of reading ANY story for an audio book. His voice is perfectly suited to story telling and he is able to define and animate the characters in his own colourful way. It's a good audio book and this is very much attributed to the talented Mr Fry.
I am disappointed however, that the indexing for the CDs are in such a pickle! Whilst I understand that copying CDs and music is frowned upon, is it not feasible that a person can listen to this audio book on their MP3 player? Attempting to transfer this into a more mobile format is something of a mission. The CDs chapters and files are not labelled properly, so if you want to put this into MP3 format you will find you have a jumbled mess! This audio book was bought to provide some entertainment on a long plane journey. Sorting it into order has taken almost as long as the trip itself! If you want to listen to this on your ipod - GOOD LUCK!
mhgbdfdbfddfs, 17 Nov 2008
I really liked this book and highly recommend it. I liked the bit when harry and hermione went back in time.
THE BEST OF THE SERIES, 14 Aug 2008
As with the film, the best of the series. An engaging tale from beginning to end.
Rowling exceeds expectations again., 17 Jun 2008
The third installment of the Harry Potter series sees magic, mystery and adventure return to Hogwarts and the lives of the interesting characters considered in this novel. Gently, Rowling develops the plot to a level more complex and appropriate for readers of all ages. This is a book to read again and again.
In my opinion the best in the series, 19 May 2008
Brief Plot Overview:
Times are dark as famous mass murderer, Sirius Black, is on the loose. This notorious muggle killer is not only barking mad, but he was He-who-must-not-be-nameds' most loyal follower (or so we're lead to believe) and is seeking revenge for the fall of his master, in the form of murdering our hero, Harry Potter.
Review:
This book is probably one of the best children's books I have ever read, not only does it bring together the plot so far in the exciting and dramatic way we've come to expect from Rowling, but it does so in an informative way and allows the reader to gain insight into the future instalments to come, which only engorges the thirst for more from this talented writer.
Rowlings' style is well balanced and these books reek of careful planning from the start, there are no inconsistencies in story (and trust me I've tried to find them by re-reading) and everything works together like a well-oiled machine.
The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite out of the seven because it adds a human touch instead of a whizz-bang finale, by that I mean there is little magic involved in deciding the outcome of the book and it is based around argument, conversation, good old fashioned sneaking about and human decisions rather than an all out brawl with spells and incantations.
Followers of the series will not be disappointed with the third instalment and (for those few who haven't swallowed the hype) are definitely recommended to fantasy readers who also enjoy a bit of good-old-English reality. The fact that the base-audience is children but adults all over the world read these books shows their versatility and ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
I am not the first to say this and I definitely won't be the last, but Kudos to J.K.Rowling!
I'd rather be a prisoner in Azkhaban than read another Potter book, 03 Apr 2008
Having watched the films and enjoyed them, I spoke to my fiancée with regards to reading the books. She has read them all and suffers from what can only be described as 'pottermania'. Knowing me as well as she does, she recommended that if I was to get into the story in the book, I would be better reading "prisoner" to start with as it was probably the best written of the early books.
Armed with a lazy saturday afternoon and the phone off the hook, I sat back and read what JKR had to offer. I hasten to add, I am an avid SF/Fantasy reader and own several hundred books of the ilk, so I felt that I could seriously give it a go and get myself immersed in potterdom.
Ok, on to the book.
That evening, I finished what can possibly be described as the worst waste of time in my life. Now, I understand that the story is for kids, I'm not knocking that fact and the way that JKR writes, it is as if a kid had written it. I found I couldn't get to grips with her storytelling style. The language used was basic and how adults could be drawn into such a world, defies belief. It just goes to show that even if you aren't a good writer, you could still become a millionaire on the back of media promotion and the hype that surrounds a new book.
If I were you, I would stick to the films, they at least are enjoyable to watch, contain the interesting bits of the books and thankfully are only 2 hours out of your life wasted!
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Product Description
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's bestselling series, picks up shortly after we left Harry at the end of The Order of the Phoenix. Lord Voldemort is acting out in the open, continuing his reign of terror which was temporarily stopped almost 15 years beforehand. Harry is again at the Dursleys, where the events of the previous month continue to weigh on his mind, although not as much as the impending visit from his Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Given their last meeting, Harry is understandably confused as to why the old wizard would want to visit him at home. Rowling opens with a chapter she had wanted to use for the first book, of The Philosopher's Stone--Lord Voldemort has been creating chaos in the Wizard and Muggle communities alike, the war is in full swing and the Wizarding community now lives in fear. The press have been questioning the events at the Ministry which led to the admission of Voldemort's return, and of course Harry's name is mentioned a number of times. Harry's got his problems, but his anxiety is nothing compared to Hermione's when the OWL results are delivered. There's a new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, an assortment of new characters and creatures, and startling revelations about past characters and events. Gone is the rage-filled Harry of The Order of the Phoenix--he's not being kept in the dark any more, his unjustified Quidditch ban has been lifted and he has matured considerably in his short time out of school. Half-Blood Prince follows Harry into the world of late-teens, and his realisation that nobody is infallible has made his growth that much easier. Accepting his destiny, Harry continues to behave as teenagers do, enjoying his time with his friends, developing his relationships outside of his usual circle, and learning more about how he must, eventually, do what he is destined to do. J.K. Rowling delivers another fantastic tale which will have the readers gasping for more, capturing the characters perfectly and continuing a tale which readers will enjoy over and over again. --Ziggy Morbi
Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
Entertainment 5, Practicality 0, 04 Oct 2008
There is no doubt that Stephen Fry is entirely the MOST suitable person for the job of reading ANY story for an audio book. His voice is perfectly suited to story telling and he is able to define and animate the characters in his own colourful way. It's a good audio book and this is very much attributed to the talented Mr Fry.
I am disappointed however, that the indexing for the CDs are in such a pickle! Whilst I understand that copying CDs and music is frowned upon, is it not feasible that a person can listen to this audio book on their MP3 player? Attempting to transfer this into a more mobile format is something of a mission. The CDs chapters and files are not labelled properly, so if you want to put this into MP3 format you will find you have a jumbled mess! This audio book was bought to provide some entertainment on a long plane journey. Sorting it into order has taken almost as long as the trip itself! If you want to listen to this on your ipod - GOOD LUCK!
mhgbdfdbfddfs, 17 Nov 2008
I really liked this book and highly recommend it. I liked the bit when harry and hermione went back in time.
THE BEST OF THE SERIES, 14 Aug 2008
As with the film, the best of the series. An engaging tale from beginning to end.
Rowling exceeds expectations again., 17 Jun 2008
The third installment of the Harry Potter series sees magic, mystery and adventure return to Hogwarts and the lives of the interesting characters considered in this novel. Gently, Rowling develops the plot to a level more complex and appropriate for readers of all ages. This is a book to read again and again.
In my opinion the best in the series, 19 May 2008
Brief Plot Overview:
Times are dark as famous mass murderer, Sirius Black, is on the loose. This notorious muggle killer is not only barking mad, but he was He-who-must-not-be-nameds' most loyal follower (or so we're lead to believe) and is seeking revenge for the fall of his master, in the form of murdering our hero, Harry Potter.
Review:
This book is probably one of the best children's books I have ever read, not only does it bring together the plot so far in the exciting and dramatic way we've come to expect from Rowling, but it does so in an informative way and allows the reader to gain insight into the future instalments to come, which only engorges the thirst for more from this talented writer.
Rowlings' style is well balanced and these books reek of careful planning from the start, there are no inconsistencies in story (and trust me I've tried to find them by re-reading) and everything works together like a well-oiled machine.
The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite out of the seven because it adds a human touch instead of a whizz-bang finale, by that I mean there is little magic involved in deciding the outcome of the book and it is based around argument, conversation, good old fashioned sneaking about and human decisions rather than an all out brawl with spells and incantations.
Followers of the series will not be disappointed with the third instalment and (for those few who haven't swallowed the hype) are definitely recommended to fantasy readers who also enjoy a bit of good-old-English reality. The fact that the base-audience is children but adults all over the world read these books shows their versatility and ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
I am not the first to say this and I definitely won't be the last, but Kudos to J.K.Rowling!
I'd rather be a prisoner in Azkhaban than read another Potter book, 03 Apr 2008
Having watched the films and enjoyed them, I spoke to my fiancée with regards to reading the books. She has read them all and suffers from what can only be described as 'pottermania'. Knowing me as well as she does, she recommended that if I was to get into the story in the book, I would be better reading "prisoner" to start with as it was probably the best written of the early books.
Armed with a lazy saturday afternoon and the phone off the hook, I sat back and read what JKR had to offer. I hasten to add, I am an avid SF/Fantasy reader and own several hundred books of the ilk, so I felt that I could seriously give it a go and get myself immersed in potterdom.
Ok, on to the book.
That evening, I finished what can possibly be described as the worst waste of time in my life. Now, I understand that the story is for kids, I'm not knocking that fact and the way that JKR writes, it is as if a kid had written it. I found I couldn't get to grips with her storytelling style. The language used was basic and how adults could be drawn into such a world, defies belief. It just goes to show that even if you aren't a good writer, you could still become a millionaire on the back of media promotion and the hype that surrounds a new book.
If I were you, I would stick to the films, they at least are enjoyable to watch, contain the interesting bits of the books and thankfully are only 2 hours out of your life wasted!
A test of faith ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
Once again begins
Though he became
a nemesis foe
Of little Tomy Riddle
little we know
What of his parents ?
What of his birth ?
What of his summers ?
And what of his snow ?
Read the book
and ye shall know
But of the final chapter
a warning must be given first
For there your faith upon Joanne
will be tested most .
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Absolutely perfect., 24 Dec 2007
(Contains spoilers for 'Order of the Phoenix' and slight spoilers for 'Half Blood Prince'.)
This entire series is special but now that it's complete I can safely say this is my favourite. I'll re-read all the books but this one the most.
Review:
After Sirius' death in book five, Dumbledore invites Harry to help him investigate and obtain information regarding Voldermort's past (or to be more precise- Tom Riddle's past). With Voldermort's Deatheaters returning to him en masse, Voldermort is now ready to return to his reign of terror so Dumbledore and Harry must look into his past to see if there is any way of defeating him. These flashback sequences via the pensieve are terrific and really flesh out the character of Tom Riddle, giving him more substance.
As with each new book a new teacher arrives at Hogwarts. This time it is the larger than life, jolly yet fiercely ambitious Horace Slughorn who Dumbledore has convinced to come out of retirement. Apart from Hermione, Slughorn has now become my favourite character in the series. He is neither completely good or bad, he is complex, flawed and likable. For me he is one of Rowling's best creations.
Rowling has a wonderful ability to simultaneously progress the overall main story (in this book MAJOR events happen) and at the same time put excellent detail into the smaller stories that occur in the book. Each book always has a mystery element to be solved and here Harry, Ron and Hermione attempt to figure out who the 'Half- Blood Prince' is.
Some of the best chapters concern Harry, Hermione and Ron and their day to day troubles within Hogwarts such as Quiddich practice, how they are faring in certain classes now that they are studying the more difficult N.E.W.T course, not to mention their complicated love lives.
Rowling's world is completely absorbing and this was a pleasure to read with its' usual combination of mystery, humour and sadness, all of which is underpinned by the wonderful Characters- old and new.
10/10.
Great end to this series of Books , 20 Aug 2007
Careful Spoilers included:-
An enjoyable end to this series of 7 books. Darker, more intense then most of the other 6 books, this novel has few if any laughs but the battle scenes towards the end of the book are exciting, and there are some nice twists to the story, even if some of the story is a little predictable.
The last 200 pages were especially good and I found I couldn't put the book down and it great to have Gringotts featured again and of course nice that a lot of the ending happened at Hogwarts as that did seem to be missed from the beginning of the book.
I was disappointed that Mad Eye Moody was killed off so suddenly and found the scene where Dobby the House Elf came to rescue Harry and the others and then got killed by Bellatrix was especially emotional and was written really well by JKR. Also felt sad about Lupin, Tonks and Fred and of course guessed that Snape would kind of come good in the end, after all Dumbledore had never doubted him and he was usually right. I did however feel that the Epilogue at the end was a bit of a mistake and was just the publishers push to JK to tie things up in a neat ribbon for younger readers at the end, but it was so rushed and added little to the story that it really was unnecessary to have it there.
All in all a really good book and thorougly enjoyable to read and a shame the series has come to an end. Don't feel it should be read to very young children though as they may feel very upset with the scenes where people die as these are written in quite a bit of detail.
I don't think JKR should write any more HP books though, it should be left at this one and its fantastic that she has got people of all ages reading again. She should be highly commended for this.
A great ending to a fantastic series, 30 Jul 2007
In years to come, these books will be ranked along with the greats of child literature. A modern classic.
Bad but better than the last one, 16 Jul 2007
all I can say is its better than the last one but that's only because the last one is one of the worst books I've ever read (such a disappointment after the first 4) and to point out how truly bad the 6th and 5th are the bullet proof ness of Harry Potters die hard fans have actually been broken and I call upon any non extremist of Harry Potter to write a review about how much of a disappointment this is compared to the other 4. They are actually only 4 and a half stars it doesn't sound like much but if you think about it its is huge. And it proves my point
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![Harry
Potter
and
the
Deathly
Hallows
(Book
7)
[Adult
Edition]
(Harry
Potter
Audio
Book)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M3kiNIUQL._SL75_.jpg) |
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Product Description
The Final Chapter The pubdate of the seventh and final Harry Potter audio book has been announced, and the rumours are already circulating - what are the Deathly Hallows? Who will make it through to the end? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows CD Set tells the story of Harry's final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and this is set to be the best audio book out of the series! . Visit the Harry Potter Store Our Harry Potter Store features all things Harry, including books, audio CDs and cassettes, DVDs, toys and more.
Customer Reviews
Better than the book, 11 Mar 2008
The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!! Stephen Fry is a genious, 02 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of. The book I fell in love with., 13 Nov 2005
I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series. Harry Potter rulz!, 04 Aug 2005
Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in. This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.
The first of a great series!, 03 Aug 2005
What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book! Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future. When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life. Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle! I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic? If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
Entertainment 5, Practicality 0, 04 Oct 2008
There is no doubt that Stephen Fry is entirely the MOST suitable person for the job of reading ANY story for an audio book. His voice is perfectly suited to story telling and he is able to define and animate the characters in his own colourful way. It's a good audio book and this is very much attributed to the talented Mr Fry.
I am disappointed however, that the indexing for the CDs are in such a pickle! Whilst I understand that copying CDs and music is frowned upon, is it not feasible that a person can listen to this audio book on their MP3 player? Attempting to transfer this into a more mobile format is something of a mission. The CDs chapters and files are not labelled properly, so if you want to put this into MP3 format you will find you have a jumbled mess! This audio book was bought to provide some entertainment on a long plane journey. Sorting it into order has taken almost as long as the trip itself! If you want to listen to this on your ipod - GOOD LUCK!
mhgbdfdbfddfs, 17 Nov 2008
I really liked this book and highly recommend it. I liked the bit when harry and hermione went back in time.
THE BEST OF THE SERIES, 14 Aug 2008
As with the film, the best of the series. An engaging tale from beginning to end.
Rowling exceeds expectations again., 17 Jun 2008
The third installment of the Harry Potter series sees magic, mystery and adventure return to Hogwarts and the lives of the interesting characters considered in this novel. Gently, Rowling develops the plot to a level more complex and appropriate for readers of all ages. This is a book to read again and again.
In my opinion the best in the series, 19 May 2008
Brief Plot Overview:
Times are dark as famous mass murderer, Sirius Black, is on the loose. This notorious muggle killer is not only barking mad, but he was He-who-must-not-be-nameds' most loyal follower (or so we're lead to believe) and is seeking revenge for the fall of his master, in the form of murdering our hero, Harry Potter.
Review:
This book is probably one of the best children's books I have ever read, not only does it bring together the plot so far in the exciting and dramatic way we've come to expect from Rowling, but it does so in an informative way and allows the reader to gain insight into the future instalments to come, which only engorges the thirst for more from this talented writer.
Rowlings' style is well balanced and these books reek of careful planning from the start, there are no inconsistencies in story (and trust me I've tried to find them by re-reading) and everything works together like a well-oiled machine.
The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite out of the seven because it adds a human touch instead of a whizz-bang finale, by that I mean there is little magic involved in deciding the outcome of the book and it is based around argument, conversation, good old fashioned sneaking about and human decisions rather than an all out brawl with spells and incantations.
Followers of the series will not be disappointed with the third instalment and (for those few who haven't swallowed the hype) are definitely recommended to fantasy readers who also enjoy a bit of good-old-English reality. The fact that the base-audience is children but adults all over the world read these books shows their versatility and ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
I am not the first to say this and I definitely won't be the last, but Kudos to J.K.Rowling!
I'd rather be a prisoner in Azkhaban than read another Potter book, 03 Apr 2008
Having watched the films and enjoyed them, I spoke to my fiancée with regards to reading the books. She has read them all and suffers from what can only be described as 'pottermania'. Knowing me as well as she does, she recommended that if I was to get into the story in the book, I would be better reading "prisoner" to start with as it was probably the best written of the early books.
Armed with a lazy saturday afternoon and the phone off the hook, I sat back and read what JKR had to offer. I hasten to add, I am an avid SF/Fantasy reader and own several hundred books of the ilk, so I felt that I could seriously give it a go and get myself immersed in potterdom.
Ok, on to the book.
That evening, I finished what can possibly be described as the worst waste of time in my life. Now, I understand that the story is for kids, I'm not knocking that fact and the way that JKR writes, it is as if a kid had written it. I found I couldn't get to grips with her storytelling style. The language used was basic and how adults could be drawn into such a world, defies belief. It just goes to show that even if you aren't a good writer, you could still become a millionaire on the back of media promotion and the hype that surrounds a new book.
If I were you, I would stick to the films, they at least are enjoyable to watch, contain the interesting bits of the books and thankfully are only 2 hours out of your life wasted!
A test of faith ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
Once again begins
Though he became
a nemesis foe
Of little Tomy Riddle
little we know
What of his parents ?
What of his birth ?
What of his summers ?
And what of his snow ?
Read the book
and ye shall know
But of the final chapter
a warning must be given first
For there your faith upon Joanne
will be tested most .
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Absolutely perfect., 24 Dec 2007
(Contains spoilers for 'Order of the Phoenix' and slight spoilers for 'Half Blood Prince'.)
This entire series is special but now that it's complete I can safely say this is my favourite. I'll re-read all the books but this one the most.
Review:
After Sirius' death in book five, Dumbledore invites Harry to help him investigate and obtain information regarding Voldermort's past (or to be more precise- Tom Riddle's past). With Voldermort's Deatheaters returning to him en masse, Voldermort is now ready to return to his reign of terror so Dumbledore and Harry must look into his past to see if there is any way of defeating him. These flashback sequences via the pensieve are terrific and really flesh out the character of Tom Riddle, giving him more substance.
As with each new book a new teacher arrives at Hogwarts. This time it is the larger than life, jolly yet fiercely ambitious Horace Slughorn who Dumbledore has convinced to come out of retirement. Apart from Hermione, Slughorn has now become my favourite character in the series. He is neither completely good or bad, he is complex, flawed and likable. For me he is one of Rowling's best creations.
Rowling has a wonderful ability to simultaneously progress the overall main story (in this book MAJOR events happen) and at the same time put excellent detail into the smaller stories that occur in the book. Each book always has a mystery element to be solved and here Harry, Ron and Hermione attempt to figure out who the 'Half- Blood Prince' is.
Some of the best chapters concern Harry, Hermione and Ron and their day to day troubles within Hogwarts such as Quiddich practice, how they are faring in certain classes now that they are studying the more difficult N.E.W.T course, not to mention their complicated love lives.
Rowling's world is completely absorbing and this was a pleasure to read with its' usual combination of mystery, humour and sadness, all of which is underpinned by the wonderful Characters- old and new.
10/10.
Great end to this series of Books , 20 Aug 2007
Careful Spoilers included:-
An enjoyable end to this series of 7 books. Darker, more intense then most of the other 6 books, this novel has few if any laughs but the battle scenes towards the end of the book are exciting, and there are some nice twists to the story, even if some of the story is a little predictable.
The last 200 pages were especially good and I found I couldn't put the book down and it great to have Gringotts featured again and of course nice that a lot of the ending happened at Hogwarts as that did seem to be missed from the beginning of the book.
I was disappointed that Mad Eye Moody was killed off so suddenly and found the scene where Dobby the House Elf came to rescue Harry and the others and then got killed by Bellatrix was especially emotional and was written really well by JKR. Also felt sad about Lupin, Tonks and Fred and of course guessed that Snape would kind of come good in the end, after all Dumbledore had never doubted him and he was usually right. I did however feel that the Epilogue at the end was a bit of a mistake and was just the publishers push to JK to tie things up in a neat ribbon for younger readers at the end, but it was so rushed and added little to the story that it really was unnecessary to have it there.
All in all a really good book and thorougly enjoyable to read and a shame the series has come to an end. Don't feel it should be read to very young children though as they may feel very upset with the scenes where people die as these are written in quite a bit of detail.
I don't think JKR should write any more HP books though, it should be left at this one and its fantastic that she has got people of all ages reading again. She should be highly commended for this.
A great ending to a fantastic series, 30 Jul 2007
In years to come, these books will be ranked along with the greats of child literature. A modern classic.
Bad but better than the last one, 16 Jul 2007
all I can say is its better than the last one but that's only because the last one is one of the worst books I've ever read (such a disappointment after the first 4) and to point out how truly bad the 6th and 5th are the bullet proof ness of Harry Potters die hard fans have actually been broken and I call upon any non extremist of Harry Potter to write a review about how much of a disappointment this is compared to the other 4. They are actually only 4 and a half stars it doesn't sound like much but if you think about it its is huge. And it proves my point
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, 29 Dec 2008
This book is one of the best I have ever read and I have read a lot. I think it really finishes of the series with a bang. I have loved reading all the Harry Potter's but this is just amazing. I would definitely say buy this book because you will regret it if you don't. For this money go ahead and buy.
The good Slytherin ., 24 Dec 2008
The bearers of wands
The casters of spells
Their story
once again begins
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
The good wizard
a portriat he shall be
Woe are we
Oh woe are we
An overthrown , a coup d'etat
The dark evil lord
he is back
But have no fear
For our hero and friends
are off to hide
And other companions
gathering their might
For soon they shall behold
a clash of wands
But have no fear
For amongst the enemy , from within
there is a good Slytherin.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for it's Adult Editions.
Just finished reading for the 2nd time..., 12 Dec 2008
PLEASE NOTE: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS
I've just finished reading all 7 Potters, and this is only the second time I have read book 7. I was preparing myself to be dissapointed, that maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much....but boy, was I wrong.
This book is, if possible, even more of a page turner than its predecessors. Ignore the reviewers who claim the middle section is 'boring' They must lead lives like Bruce Willis every day to find Hallows unexciting! It's fast-paced, tightly plotted and very, very clever.
The epilogue is the only part of the book where I WAS almost bored: too much dialogue, too many names to confuse us. It should have explained what happened to our heroes in the days, weeks, years after the battle; in my opinion the epilogue felt rushed. So yes, this was a weak point in the book. Also Ron suddenly being able to speak Parseltongue by memorising what Harry said is ridiculous! How would you remember a series of hisses? I would have preferred an alternative method of entering the Chamber.
But still, these truly are minor flaws in a major masterpiece. A superb end to a superb series. Joanne, we salue you.
The End Of It All, 07 Dec 2008
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows is the final book of the Harry Potter series. It is a magical and scary adventure with so much detail thet you feel like you are taking the journey with them!
Harry, Ron and Hermione have to carry on hunting Horcruxes on Dumbledore's impossible orders to help them kill Lord Voldemort once and for all. But they don't know that it will be alot harder than it seems.
Every good person in this book is loyal to each other and help others through it when they lose family or friends. They also show courage, by helping each ther and knowing how much danger they are putting themselves in.
The Weasley's; Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley let Harry stay with them for the summer holidays, but will the magical protection be enough? Or will they have to flee before it's too late?
This book is a must read. It contains everyone's destiny and what will become of their future? Will it be a peaceful, happy world? Or will it be ruled by Lord Voldemort, with Death Eaters just around the corner? Read the book to find it all out.
back to quality, 05 Dec 2008
Luckily enough the last (probably) installment of the Potter serial did not disappoint me like volume three, five and six.
Even though the familiar Hogwarts setting is held back till the last chapters and the usual flaws of Ms Rowling's writing are all still there for the roll call, this last episode manages quite a fair amount of tension, nice characterization and interaction, good plot twists; all in all good fun.
The romance element that busied so large a part of volume five and six is here reduced to a more reasonable share replaced by magical duels and plenty of action. Explanations are fluid and Harry's self loathing and whining are kept short.
These 830 pages flow unerringly to a satisfying ending and to a reasonable if a little conventional epilogue.
The book could probably have been better but this is no big news and at least one has as much fun as in volume one.
The book's editor did not his/her best though: quite a number of inconsistencies are scattered throughout but this could even come out as fun for Potter's fans who are bound to catch them all.
Of course this seventh episode cannot be read on its own because it ties all the loose ends of former episodes.
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