Your Favorite Harry Potter book so far?

[Horror whore]

I'm sure that there has already been a thread identical to this, but I'm sure the answers have changed somewhat so I'm doing it again. I know my list constantly changes...

What is your favorite Harry Potter book out of the five that have already been released?

I love all five a ton but it's very easy for me to list them.

Here's my list in order:

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - This actually used to be my least favorite of the series, but after several re-readings of it I have grown to appreciate it more and more. It's definitely the smartest and most complex of the books, that's what I like most about it. It's has all the humor and spirit of the first three books, but this was the first book where the characters seemed really mature and vulnerable. And this book has the best climax of the first four (OotP, of course, has the best climax of any of the books).

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - This was the beginning of the real Harry Potter story arc, it's not a stand alone book as the first two were. Without this book, there could not be a GoF or an OotP. This is where the books really started to depend on each other, and that is what I like most about it. It also introduces the darkness of the 4th and 5th books.

3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix - This was my favorite book originally after I read it, but after several rereads the flaws have become more and more apparent. It's really just too long. There is too much fluff in some places that it drags in certain spots (at the beginning especially). The final confrontation in the book at the Dept. of Mysteries is too short compared to the rest of the book. Out of 870 pages, less than 100 are devoted to the final battle between the students and the Death Eaters, that has always irked me.

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - For the longest time, this was my favorite of the series. Now it just seems like a standard mystery novel. Honestly, if this book was never written, people would not miss it at all, it just feels so filler after reading the 4th and 5th books...

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - It's just the introduction to the whole Harry Potter world. It should have been longer and more fleshed out, but it wasn't probably out of the fear that the kids wouldn't read it if it was too long. It's still good though.

[Atomyx]

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- This book took the most leap forward in how grim the wizard war really was. It also introduced the character I disliked the most out of every single book, Doloris Umbridge.

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- I enjoyed this book for the amazing ending to it, just the chaos that erupted in the garden maze and the portkey afterwards was amazing.

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- You can really see the shift between the kind of "kiddie" tone of the previous books to the more mature themes they are now.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- I was skeptical about reading the books after first but this one really blew me away at the world that was crafted and really made me want to read the rest of them.

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets- This book just seemed too slow in my opinion although Gilderoy was hilarious it just seemed too boring in certain parts.

[Belladitz]

Originally posted by Horror whore
I know my list constantly changes...

Mine does too - to the point where I just voted about 5 seconds ago for Prisoner of Azkaban, though I'm already wishing I could change that to Goblet of Fire. Oy vey...

Anyway, as of this moment:

1 - HP and the Goblet of Fire
2 - HP and the Order of the Phoenix
3 - HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4 - HP and the Chamber of Secrets
5 - HP and the Philosopher's Stone

The only two that haven't changed since day 1 are COS and PS, and I doubt they ever will.

[l3adassMF]

1 - Tie between Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix - both are really great books, the mature feeling and the dark themes

2 - Prisoner of Azkaban - like what was said earlier it introduces the dark theme but still has some of the kiddie stuff left in...

3 - The Sorcerers Stone - Had good flow, was a very good introduction to the series

4 - Chamber of Secrets - Been my least favorite since i read it... like someone said earlier it got boring at parts... Although I like the movie is my second favorite (PoA being my new number one fav:D )

[Die Hard Daddy]

1 - HP and the Goblet of Fire
2 - HP and the Sorcerer's Stone

These are my favorite books because it seems to me Harry, Ron and Hermoine (excuse if spelled wrong) grow the most in these two time frames. Also I think we can all identify with the feeling of fighting a system we do not like as our favorite characters do in Goblet of Fire. That Mrs. Umbridge drives me crazy.

[urbanlegend23]

1) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Something happened while reading this book that has never happened to me before. I actually couldn't wait to get home and read it and when I finished it, I ran around esctacially telling everyone how great Harry Potter is. Its just an amazing book, so electrifying and imaginative, and with the most well-crafted mystery I've ever read.

2) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - This is where the real story begins, no more self-contained plots, the real HP story-arc begins here, as horror whore said. I just love this book and I think it has some of the best characterisations.

3) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - At the time of reading, I really loved this one beause I could really relate to Harry's anger and jealousy. I still can but I think the book is too dragged out at the beginning which took away its greatness.

4) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Yes, PHILOSOPHER is the real title. I really enjoyed this neat introduction which was so creative and got me very involved in the world of Potter.

5) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Hmm, I'm not so escatic about this book. It had some really good parts and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, but it was just boring in places. I actually think the movie was better than the book.

[inglourious basterd]

The Goblet of fire was really good. It is the only one that has a real cliffhanger. I finished reading at the beginning of a trip to the Philippines and I was pissed b/c I knew that I wouldn't be able to get my hands on the 5th until I got back into the US.

Unfortunately, I don't think that Rowling capitalized on the full power of her cliffhanger in that 4th book. But it was still a fun read. The scenes at the Department of Mysteries will be awesome to watch on the big screen.

[Arathon]

Philosphers Stone-8/10 A very good introduction to the characters and vast world of wizards and witches.

Chamber of Secrets-7/10 Not a bad follow up but structurally its not as intriguing as the first one. But the unravelling of the mystery towards the end is very interesting.

Prisoner of Azkaban-10/10 My favourite one of the series so far, with so many new wonderfully introduced characters like Sirius and Lupin. It's darker and flows so well with so many mysteries, its very captivating.

Goblet of Fire-9/10 Takes a while to get into but once you get past the first number of chapters JK Rowling takes you into unchartered territory and gives us the imaginitive and thrilling Tri Wizard tournament. The book is darker, maturer, and more exciting.

Order of the Phoenix-9/10 Took a while for the book to come out but I believe it was worth the wait. JK Rowling takes some more time to describe the settings and emotions, and you can relate to Harry far much more. He's not just a wonderful wizard, he's a human too. It was a delight to read with fun comedic moments, and a fantastic duel at the end, but JK let herself down with the death at the end, which I dont think was executed very well. The book answers a few more questions too, and I just hope JK will finish and release the next book very soon!

[Khrys]

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Vs Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I basically cannnot decide between the two, both hold complex and well written plots, good use of expression, unforgettable characters yadayadayada. I'd say Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire edges a little over PoA, possibly because it was longer and JKR had developed the series well enough to really get into things. HP&GoF is my most read book of the series. PoA: I love this book almost equally to GoF, which is praiseworthy seeing that GoF is more than twice the length of PoA. In PoA, we were introduced to one of my all-time favourite characters, Sirius, who sadly was terminated in the Order of the Phoenix. PoA is perhaps the book of best writing quality

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The first book of the series was the basis and launch of the whole HP hype, and deserves its recognition. JKR introduced the whole series in this book, and makes the read simple and easy to digest, which is crucial for those with short attention span (namely the kids). And look how famously PS has been accepted with the kids!

3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I was slightly disappointed with this book. It was lengthy, draggy and a little too forced in nature. But I could still feel the magic of Harry's world and laugh-out-loud as usual. However, I personally found Harry's irritable nature in this book rather distant. Although I know I should give it a second chance, I have only read it once and am not looking forward to the prospect of reading it a second time

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
This for me was the worst book (incidentally I have read it more than I have read OoP). In this book, I feel the most distant to the harry potter characters. I cannot really 'get into' the book, although I have to say that the plot in this book was very good. perhaps it was hermione's almost frequent abscence that did it...?

In all...a legend in itself! She had better continue on with the good work in the 6th book, seeing it's her 2nd last and all

[Nachokoolaid]

It was a hard choice between Goblet and Prisoner, but I chose Goblet.

1. Goblet
2. Prisoner
3. Sorcerer's Stone
4. Order
5. Chamber

The last three often shift spots depending on which one I've read more recently. But I agree, Order is too long, and I thought the ending should have been much more memorable than it was.

Goblet certainly had the best ending in my opinion. I can't wait to see it on film.

[poopontheshoes7]

Whats with all the hate for Chamber? I dont get it. Its a huge step up from Sorcerors Stone imo. The plot is more involving, and its incredibly entertaining. I love the finale.