Favorite Harry Potter Book

[LoonyMagic]

I've got to say that I'm surprised that OotP is tied first. I guess the fans prefered a bigger book. My problem with it is that some parts completely bore me and seem to drag on. I still do love it, though, just not my favourite.

[gipro2003]

Originally Posted by LoonyMagic

I've got to say that I'm surprised that OotP is tied first. I guess the fans prefered a bigger book. My problem with it is that some parts completely bore me and seem to drag on. I still do love it, though, just not my favourite.

I didnt like it necessarily because it was bigger, but just because I felt so moved by the story. I actually felt for what the characters went through. I also loved seeing more of day-to-day life of what the students at Hogwarts did (studying for exams, etc.) And with OotP, JK created a truly evil villain in Umbridge.

[MrSleepyHead]

Firstly, I must state that it is excruciating to list these books from favorite to least favorite, since they are all superb. I cannot even explain some of the reasons I placed them in this order, since (in most cases) each book could switch places with another.

1. Deathly Hallows - Though some believed it dragged and was too predictable (how could it be otherwise, with us obsessing over it day and night?), I enjoyed the "tying up of the ends" of all the plots and subplots. However, since it symbolizes the "end" of the Harry Potter books, it could easily fall lower.
2. Prisoner of Azkaban - This has been my favorite book since I first read it, and I occasionally consider it to be so. It really captured the Harry Potter world for me and allowed a hiatus from the Voldemort storyline.
3. Sorcerer's Stone - I previously thought of this as my second-to-last favorite, but I now cannot see putting it anywhere but here. It introduced the magic of Harry Potter and it is what kept me reading. As I read it back, I see all the elements I love.
4. Half-Blood Prince - I enjoyed the introduction of the key elements to defeating Voldemort, etc., but the continuous romance and the adolscence (though they are necessary) jaded me slightly.
5. Goblet of Fire - This book, again, captured the world of Harry Potter, something that began to be more excluded as Harry aged. This could easily change spots with the bottom four.
6. Order of the Phoenix - So much happens that I can hardly complain - classic JKR. I could easily put this before HBP or any of the bottom four.
7. Chamber of Secrets - Last but certainly not least, I place CoS here because there is not enough room for all of them to be number one.

Overall, as I say in the reasoning behind listing CoS where it is, I would gladly put each of the books in the number one or two spots.

*Also, I would put Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages very high on my list, for the sheer connection with Harry's experiences.

[The_Green_Woods]

I voted OOTP, mainly because that was the first Harry Potter book I read, that gave me this obssession.

[unconvinced]

Originally Posted by MrSleepyHead

Prisoner of Azkaban - This has been my favorite book since I first read it, and I occasionally consider it to be so. It really captured the Harry Potter world for me and allowed a hiatus from the Voldemort storyline.

Thats a good point, it seems odd that a deviation from the main plot line of the series can be a good thing but it adds another deapth and also makes the return of Voldemort into a much bigger event, plot wise.

[Deevo]

Originally Posted by LoonyMagic

I've got to say that I'm surprised that OotP is tied first. I guess the fans prefered a bigger book. My problem with it is that some parts completely bore me and seem to drag on. I still do love it, though, just not my favourite.

That's pretty much how I see it too, while it's an essential part of the story and forwards the notion that the ministry isn't exactly the good guys of the series it does tend to drag in spots.

Originally Posted by gipro2003

I didnt like it necessarily because it was bigger, but just because I felt so moved by the story. I actually felt for what the characters went through. I also loved seeing more of day-to-day life of what the students at Hogwarts did (studying for exams, etc.) And with OotP, JK created a truly evil villain in Umbridge.

That's true enough but for a 'day in the life' book I thought HBP was better in that respect because it allowed Harry and his peers to have something approaching a normal year, even though there was a war on.

[AliceLongbottom]

Originally Posted by LoonyMagic

I've got to say that I'm surprised that OotP is tied first. I guess the fans prefered a bigger book. My problem with it is that some parts completely bore me and seem to drag on. I still do love it, though, just not my favourite.

I totally agree. My favorite was actually Goblet of Fire. I liked it just because it seemed to be the last book before Voldemort really started to completely be the center of the whole book, obviously because he finally comes back to life at the end of Goblet of Fire.

[snugglepot]

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well I love Half blood Prince ...its thrilling to learn Voldemorts past and see how and why he became so evil
I love the Harry Ginny part....because i finally get to see Harry happy
I Love to see my dear Hermione out shined by Harry in potions ...
I love the irony that Harry is learning so much with the prince ...him being Snape without Harry knowing it
and I just love the " I am not worried Harry I am with you" from DD towards Harry....
all this makes me like this book better than the others...its hard to pick just one me loving the whole series so much...

Montse- You took the words right out of my mouth!
You said everything I would have plus I will add;

I loved seeing Ron getting a girlfriend and making Hermione jealous.
Harry being Quiddich Captain and especially the game Luna commented on with Cormac and the Bludger.
Ron and the love potion was hilarious! Then the poisoning.
Cho was hardly mentioned and only seen once. (Definately a HUGE plus for me)

[skistar123]

POA without a doubt - it's all happy-no-Voldemorty-meeting-Sirius-and-Lupin.

[searchme]

my fav was HBP because dumbledore is one of my favorite characters and it has a lot of him in it. For me it really shows that it's not all fun and games anymore, that there's going to be a war.

[9and3quarters]

Originally Posted by skistar123

POA without a doubt - it's all happy-no-Voldemorty-meeting-Sirius-and-Lupin.

Interesting that you say that because I believed that PoA was a relatively dark book as well at times.

Lupin is a werewolf.
Sirius is a mass murderer supposedly looking for Harry to kill him
Gryffindor tower is torn to shreds looking for Pettigrew
Sirius is seen at night in the tower with a knife
Buckbeak ordeal
Trelawney's prophecy that servant and master will be reunited

To me, it's not all happy. Yes, there is no Voldemort but Pettigrew returns to Voldemort which we all know is mucho bad news.

Granted, Harry knowing his godfather and realizing he's not a mass murderer is great for Harry to know but to me, the series turned dark at this novel.

[blue4t]

My vote goes to Half-Blood Prince. It's really a close call between this one, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Deathly Hallows. I went with Half-Blood Prince because I think it's funnier than the other two.

[Nacho]

I agree witih The_Green_Woods's up there. PoA was the first Harry Potter book that I've bought. Not only does it provide me with a thrilling story that adds onto the series it also tells a story about how I got into Harry Potter itself.

[fawkes_87]

I loved them all!!!! GO FRED AND GEORGE!!!!

[Gaian]

Originally Posted by Montse

well I love Half blood Prince ...its thrilling to learn Voldemorts past and see how and why he became so evil
I love the Harry Ginny part....because i finally get to see Harry happy
I Love to see my dear Hermione out shined by Harry in potions ...
I love the irony that Harry is learning so much with the prince ...him being Snape without Harry knowing it
and I just love the " I am not worried Harry I am with you" from DD towards Harry....
all this makes me like this book better than the others...its hard to pick just one me loving the whole series so much...

Well, you just wrote what I thought... I also like the Ron/Hremione part, it was really hilarious! Poor Ron! And it brings humour in a wizarding world where war is gaining ground.
My second favorite is DH, it's definitly dark, and the story takes place outside Hogwarts, that's a change.

[HarrietaPotter]

Originally Posted by MasterOfDeath

I have to agree with you, 9and3quarters.

OOTP is my favorite. I don't understand why so many people hate it. I think it is the most emotional, deepest, thought-provoking, intense epic and internal darkest book. While GOF was the turning point of the series in terms of plot and story, OOTP was the turning point for the characters and the feeling of the books. It broanded the universe, introduced so many new wonderful characters like Luna Lovegood, Tonks, Bellatrix etc etc. new creatures like the Threstals, I come on. A creature you could only see if you've seen death? I thought that was such a fascinating concept when I first read the book.

Sure, it's long and filled with subplots but I loved that. It opens up the world and turns it into a living breathing entity.

Umbridge is an amazing and frightening villain! Come on, who didn't absolutely LOATH this woman when they first read the book? Absolutely amazing villain.

There's also so many wonderful scenes like Snape's Worst Memory and Neville's parents at Saint Mungo's.

The ending was amazing! No other book had sucked me into so deeply into the narrative than the ending of OOTP! From Umrbdige capturing Harry in the fire, to leading her into the forest, to the flight of the Thestrals to the Ministry of Magic to battle with the Order of the Phoenix to Sirius's death to Dumbledore vs Voldemort to Harry being possessed to the Lost Prophecy chapter with harry storming Dumbledore's office and we get our first hint that Dumbledore is not the kindly saint we thought he was. Such wonderful character development in OOTP!

I could go on and on about OOTP. From the small things like Weasley is Our King to finding more about the House of Black to Kreacher's Treachery to the Department of Mystery to Dumbledore's Army to Occlumency Harry's dreams to the attack on Mr. Weasley and on and on.

I personally thought Harry's anger in this book made him so much more human and real. Sure he was a jerk but it makes sense. Look at what he's been through! He has every right to be 'emo' or whatever people call it. I'm a sucker for angst anyway.


This book had everything I could ask for in a story: strong themes, characterizations, interesting plot points, awesome new characters, new locales, new creatures, drama, action, horror, mystery, suspense and the list goes on and on.

I don't see how anyone can HATE OOTP. It is easily the best HP novel, hell in my opinion it's the best fantasy novel of the 21st century!

I absolutely agree with that. The depth of psychology in OoTP is amazing- but so it is everything else you've mentioned, MasterOfDeath
Admiteddly, there are a couple of passages and sentences which feel obsolete- now- but they are really such a tiny part of the grande good that they matter not...I wonder, if HBP and DH felt so disappointing to me also because Jo just couldn't get better than Order of the Phoenix?..Hmm...Perhaps that's wrong after all, because the first four books were much, much better than the last two.

Greetings, HarrietaPotter

[Fury]

Deathly Hallows for me! Order of the Phoenix is in a close second!

Deathly Hallows just has so much to read and even if you have read it more than once, you still want to read it again!

[BenGerman]

Originally Posted by Fury

Deathly Hallows for me! Order of the Phoenix is in a close second!

Deathly Hallows just has so much to read and even if you have read it more than once, you still want to read it again!

Yeah I really think that is what's so great about it. The detail the book goes into is great, and it makes you want to read it over and over again. I loved OOtP because to me it really seemed like that was the most time we got to spend at Hogwarts, and I loved reading that type of stuff. It just seemed so ordinary yet I loved it at the same time. I also love the introduction of Dumbledore's Army here, it really just made for an overall great book IMO.

[9and3quarters]

I believe we get the most raw emotion out of OoTP, IMO. For the first time, we truly see immense anger, fear, sadness, worry, doubt, etc.

Also, our trio are in their tender 15-16 year old age where no one feels understood. You feel so alone and confused with what is going on in your life. Everything at that age is so raw. You feel love, the repercussions of getting in deep trouble, and the love/hate relationship with friends/family/authority at this point too. The trio is in this volatile age as well, which to me, was captured very well.

Although we lose Sirius (sigh), this book was my favorite in the series.

[padfootrules]

The third book was the bet bar none.... The fifth was a second close. It was the only book that sort of took my breath away. I was never expecting Sirius to be a nice guy. Through out the book I wanted Harry to kill Sirius and then I found out the true identity of Sirius and I fell desperately in love with him and I am yet to recover The true identity scabbers was another blow. That book had mystery, humor and lots of action. I teared up in many places. That book was also the first "grown up" book in the series and I loved it and still love it.