Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5

Publisher's Summary

"'You are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'" 

Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time....

©2003 J.K. Rowling (P)2003 Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"To call Dale a 'reader' of books is like saying Monet was a Sunday painter." (Los Angeles Times)

Best Book You'll Read This Year

If you could sum up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5 in three words, what would they be?

Total Chaos Threatens.

Pivotal Volume in Series.

Never Saw it Coming!!!

This volume forms the crux of the overall Harry Potter saga, as the tension builds inexorably from the beginning of the novel (when only Harry, alone of the magical community, has firsthand knowledge not only that the Dark Lord has risen but that he has begun attacks within the muggle community) and the end (when....NO SPOILERS, but let's just say the cat is out of the bag on the Voldemort question). In between, Harry must endure not only the scorn and ridicule of those whom he once counted as friends, not only ceaseless mockery in the corrupt press, not only official legal action against him brought by corrupt and ignorant ministry officials...but also actual physical torture at the hands of at least one secret Death Eater/sympathizer who has managed to infiltrate the Hogwarts faculty.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 5?

Among the most crucial scene in this, the pivotal Harry Potter volume, are the attack on Dudley, the revelation of a secret witch who has been masquerading as a Privet Drive Muggle for Harry's entire lifetime, Harry's trial at the Ministry (with the unforgettable surprise appearance of Dumbledore, to the astonishment of the entire courtroom), Snape's worst memory explored, Rita Skeeter finally getting (thanks to Hermione) the comeuppance she so richly deserves, the intense drama on the stairway when the evil Dolores Umbridge attempts to expel the foolish visionary Professor Trelawney, the unforgettable scene in which the Weasley twins announce a change in their educational plan (during one of the final and most intensely satisfying laugh-out-loud chapters you will ever read, "Career Advice), and the final dramatic confrontation between good and evil within the Ministry, bringing with it, as it does, a complete reversal of feeling about Harry within the magical community at large.

This is a rollicking good read that stands alone as a superb novel for any age reader.

What about Jim Dale’s performance did you like?

As usual, Jim Dale creates additional magic within an already magical story by bringing each character to life, with never a wrong note, a too-lengthy pause, or a mispronunciation. But in this volume his performances of the female characters are standouts--especially Umbridge, McGonagall, Mrs. Figg, Hermione, Trelawney, and the "journalist," Rita Skeeter.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Out Of the Shadows

Any additional comments?

[PLEASE PRESS 'YES' IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW EVEN THE LEAST BIT HELPFUL! THANK YOU!!!!]

176 of 205 people found this review helpful

Each one is better than the last!

Jim Dale is spectacular, I feel like I hear each character when he is reading. I think he is the only one ever meant to read multi-character stories! J. K. Rowling keeps me wanting more! While the battle between good and evil grows stronger, as long as Harry's fighting for the good, I feel safe!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Dumbledore's Army!

This was soooooo sweet and sad. I wanted to kill Umbridge. omg!

This book is a bit darker than the rest. Poor Harry Potter had everyone against him.

The ministry of magic is against him, other wizards, Voldemort, etc.

He finally finds out there's a prophecy about him. Dumbledore is distant and then he builds Dumbledore's Army. He finally comes more into his own in this book as many adults that he depended on, couldnt help him..

And the ending was soooo sweet!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love the series

Again love the series. not my favorite in the series because if how best down he gets but it's believable and you feel for him so good writing.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Jim Dale is the BEST!

Of course I love the books and all things HP. Otherwise, why would I buy the audiobook!? Jim Dale is one of the best narrators that I've ever heard. He truly brings all the HP books to life with his voices for each character.

I am embarrassed to say that I have listened to the HP books more than once because it's such a joy hearing them read by Mr. Dale.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

this was a very very good book it s the best

very very good😀😀😀

this book was the best when I read it I listened to the the book and finished it in days and get listening to it, you should read it!!!!!!😃

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A step down from previous books

We all know the book is spectacular. No qualms there. But the audiobook made some strange choices with the recording and narration that really took me out of the story.

1. For the previous 4 books, Dale has pronounced “Voldemort” with a silent “T” in a very French manner. No issues there. Rowling herein has said that’s how it’s pronounced. But suddenly in this book Dale pronounces the T at the end VERY prominently. It wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t SO inconsistent from the other readings he’d done. If you’re listening to all the books in order, it’s very jarring to hear everyone suddenly pronouncing the character’s name differently.

2. The voice he gave to Luna is so bizarre. It’s described as light and airy, but the voice he gives her sounds like that gruff uncle whose had too much to drink at the New Year’s Eve party. It’s very distracting.

3. I don’t know if this particular audiobook was rushed or something, but the editing is very odd in places. Randomly throughout the story, there will be an extremely long unnecessary pause in between paragraphs that leads you to believe the app crashed or something.

I’ve been very impressed with Jim Dale’s performance and the audiobooks as a whole for the HP series up to this point, but I unfortunately have to say this one took a BIG step backwards for me. I hope the next one is as good as the previous ones.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am

“...thoughts could leave deeper scars than almost anything else.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The fifth novel in the series, the longest, and by this time one that emerges into a fully-formed Potter Mania. The first Harry Potter move was released in November 2001 and went on to make nearly $1B US worldwide. This was the first book to be released AFTER the movies started to drop. From now on, it was going to be difficult to think of Harry Potter without seeing Daniel Radcliff.

Part of the reason I love the audiobooks: Jim Dale's narration, and returning to them gives me an opportunity to return to the pre-movie version of Harry Potter where the books, character, and place exist in words and not pictures (well except now there are now illustrated versions of the Harry Potter series).

45 of 64 people found this review helpful

Jim Dale is Awesome.

What can I say, this is Harry Potter. JK Rowling wrote a book, a classic, an epic tale for all ages and Jim Dale brings the characters to life.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Amazing!!!!!!!

I love this book so relaxing!!!! I have loved reading the Harry Potter series but this is better

1 of 1 people found this review helpful