Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.
Rating: 3/5
Trigger Warnings: death, physical abuse, emotional abuse, racism
Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read the book, this review will contain spoilers so it’s up to you if you continue…
It’s taken me longer than I wanted to get through Order of the Phoenix - partially due to the length and partially due to being busy - and I unfortunately don’t remember the beginning very well. It’s a shame because I really do like the way Order of the Phoenix widens the world, revealing more about characters we’ve known for a while and showing how they’re growing. It also introduces the character who pisses everyone off and this review will definitely contain a short rant about Umbridge.
I’m finding I relate less to Harry as the books progress - or at least, as this one progressed. I couldn’t tell you whether I felt the same last time I read them, but I think his emotional reactions don’t quite line up with mine, making it harder to see things from his point of view. When the book is told largely from Harry’s perspective, this can make it a little difficult. That being said, Harry’s emotional responses (I’m thinking about things such as not hearing from Ron or Hermione at the start of the book, or talking to Dumbledore after Sirius’ death at the end) are all very understandable and well written. His passion is clear and you can really see how the pressures of his life/destiny are changing who he is.
I talk about world building in almost every review but I really think it’s a strength of Rowling’s. In Order of the Phoenix I appreciated this in multiple ways. The politics really comes into play now and it’s a really important and realistic element of the books. Not only is Umbridge introduced as a political agent within the school, but the Daily Prophet stories and Fudge’s feelings of intimidation due to Dumbledore are elements that cause real emotion. Having read everything from Harry’s perspective, we’re inclined to be outraged that there are people who don’t believe him. Seamus’ lack of belief really got be last time because I think Seamus is a really fun addition to the case, but this time round the role of Luna and her father struck me more forcibly. Seamus was a friend who didn’t believe Harry because of propaganda, but the Lovegood’s, who essentially knew nothing of Harry publicly displayed their belief in Harry. The the Lovegood’s are an example of really good people (and I adore Luna).
The politics of the centaurs also plays a role in this book, and I think it’s an important thing to recognise as the world is filled with so many species - so many of them named and developed throughout the series. Recognising the effect Voldemort’s return has on other species shows the thought that Rowling put into these books. It’s a shame they were left out of the film because Firenze teaching, Umbridge calling them half-breeds, and just the general belief system that we start to get a feel for in the books is completely absent. I think they’re a really good addition to the world.
I’m going to take a minute to talk about Umbridge and I’m going to try to keep it concise because she truly infuriates me. Many times I’ve had to pause the audiobook to take a breath, or even rant to someone about her, before I continue. As much as I’d like to, I’m going to avoid calling her names. I feel this doesn’t truly show how awful she is. Her cruelty should be confronted. The woman physically and emotionally abuses her pupils. Technically a government official, she has taken the position of a carer for children, she is supposed to have a duty of care, supposed to protect children. Instead she becomes a power-hungry dictator, manipulating the rules she creates to her own advantage whilst controlling others with an iron fist. I’d like to say she lacks reality, but the intense emotional response she causes in me proves how well-written she is. My response is fear because I recognise the reality of her evil more than I recognise that of Voldemort. Umbridge feels almost too real.
On a more fun note: character development all round the board continues to be wonderful. I won’t go into full explanations but Fred, George, Neville, and Ginny, just to name a few, really get their own stories Order of the Phoenix. Harry can be pretty self-centred (he has reason, I’m not complaining) so it’s nice to see the way other characters personalities are developing and what makes them who they are (I’m thinking Neville’s parents and Ginny playing quidditch).
The ending of this book really has me disillusioned with Dumbledore. I used to think he was a great man, alongside being a great wizard, but I think in reality he is simply a good man. He admits to his faults, saying they were the mistakes of an old man, but in reality they are the mistakes of ego. Dumbledore is much more aloof and distant that I remember him being. Whilst he claims this was for a reason in Order of the Phoenix, not telling Harry so many things that are relevant to him - more than that, things that could save his life - but just dangerous. Harry remains an impulsive child, but at 15 I believe explanation may have helped him understand. I think, despite his faults, Sirius understood this and was right to tell Harry about the Order.
I’ll try to get through Half-Blood Prince a bit faster but no promises. Plus I’m not really sure what I do when I finish them all so this could be a slow process. I guess we’ll see.
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