What interesting is that I first read this book on the day of release.. a decade ago (I'm OLD now) and I remembered next to nothing about it. It was like reading a new book for the first time! So many big things I'd got no memory of at all. I'm not the only person I know to have that experience.

I started to dislike Harry in Order of Phoenix but by Half-Blood Prince I've lost all sympathy and patience with him entirely! And that's why this book gets 3 starts.. I'm too annoyed with him! The whole thing with the potions book is maddening.. first of all he trusts a book with mysterious notes in it after the events of Chamber of Secrets.. then he starts performing random spells out of it, that he doesn't know the intent of.. on PEOPLE! They're CLEARLY Dark Arts spells (and some that his Dad used to bully people).. I mean it's so obvious. Plus, you know.. he's cheating in class! I do not understand how Harry and Ron think this is OK. Hermione of course tries to talk sense.. but he never listens.

Then there is the annoying obsession with Malfoy and Snape, because of course Harry knows better than every body else. At least the other characters get as annoyed with it as I do! Then there is the fact he suddenly, out of nowhere, decides he loves Ginny when he'd ignored her for four books. My main issue is that Ginny is awesome and she can do so, so much better than Harry! Plus Dumbledore just inflates his ego even more by finally deciding to share important information with him.

I do like the direction the story is heading with Snape though, and I remember first reading this and still being confused but convinced that he wouldn't turn out to be on Voldemort's side in the end! Draco isn't really in this book much but what we do see again rounds his character out in a really interesting way. Poor Draco! I also really liked how we got more bits of history on Voldemorte/Tom Riddle.. even if the pensieve is a bit of an over-used plot device by book 6!

The big spoilery event in this book really didn't have any emotional punch this time. I do remember at least being sad ten years ago.. but today not even a twinge. I don't know if it is because I knew it was coming.. or because by that point I'm just confused and quite annoyed by a lot of Dumbledore's actions and treatment of Harry. I do think he has a large part to play in what an arrogant little *expletive* Harry turns out to be.. far too much Special Treatment with not enough communication!

We also have the start of the Ron and Hermione romance.. and their fighting is really annoying. Again I do think she can do so much better than him. I remember liking Ron but the last three books have been filled with a lot of really objectionable, insensitive behaviour on his part. All the stuff with Lavender is just gross! ( )

FIRST READ:
Books 1-4 in 2002 | Book 5 in 2003 | Book 6 in 2005 | Book 7 DNF in 2007

RE-READ in 2015 - 2.5 stars

In all honesty I've re-read only the first four books and quit.
With several year away from publication and the general craze, I can honestly say that the series has way too many problems and does not hold up well. ( )

yeah yeah jk rowling sucks, but these books are still alright. have aged worse tho for me, and not bc of politics but bc you kind of realize how lame the final battle and its explanation is... still as far as seminal childrens literature goes this is pretty high tier compared to others

Of course, a wonderful book. The reader feels like an "insider" to the main characters and they seem almost like school friends. Well done, of course. The movies are good, too, but not as great as the books. ( )

The Harry Potter book set is a great read for anyone who loves magic and fantasy. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a great read and doesn't mind a couple of long books. ( )