Yes, I know there was a poll for this back in January, but that poll is closed so I can't see the results. This one will remain open indefinitely.
Favorite Harry Potter novel?
- Thread starter Argus Skyhawk
- Start date
Order of the Phoenix, which happened to be the only movie I was truly disappointed in.
^ Interesting. My favorite book (and film) is The Prisoner of Azkaban, but The Order of the Phoenix is one of my least-favorite books but definitely my second-favorite film.
deathly hallows
Very odd - OotP is my least favourite book by quite a margin, yet my favourite of the films by a similar gap. The film choosing not to focus on the Harry-is-an-annoying-dickhead angle that the book didn't want to let go probably had quite a bit to do with that.
Half Blood Prince is my favourite book, I absolutely loved it. Second place goes to Azkaban or Deathly Hallows.
I haven't seen movie 6 yet, so can't comment on the translation to the screen.
While I don't see the whole series as a book, I do have to split them up into three.
Pre-Voldemort: PS, CoS, PoA.
Voldemort rising: GoF, OotP and HBP.
Voldemort fucks everything up: DH.
Pre-Voldemort: PS, CoS, PoA.
Voldemort rising: GoF, OotP and HBP.
Voldemort fucks everything up: DH.
I tend to divide them into two trilogies and a bridge:
The Interwar Trilogy: PS, CoS, PoA
The Gathering Storm: GoF
The Second War Trilogy: OotP, HBP, TDH
As to the poll, I vacillate between Prisoner of Azkaban and The Deathly Hallows. The former is a masterpiece of narrative; it's amazing how much she does within the space of about 300 pages, how tightly the whole thing fits together (and it includes one of my all-time favourite time-travel plots). The latter is, in the tradition of the later books, a lot more sprawling, but it's a basically perfect conclusion to an epic septology (?). It has like a dozen big setpieces, each of which would work as a centrepiece for a story on its own (I can see why they decided to film it in two). Watching everything come together is just a joy to read. I ended up voting for TDH.
Goblet of Fire, though, has what is probably the series' best individual sequence, namely, everything from "Flesh, Blood and Bone" to "The Second War Begins". I still remember the feeling I got reading that in 2000 for the first time.
^ I really need to reread the books now.
QFT!
I pretty much agree perfectly on all points, especially on GoF. The ending of that book is the strongest thing Rowling has ever written. It's a shame the rest of the book is so bloated.
I voted for TDH as well, but that may be because I just recently reread it, and it's pretty fresh in mind.
The Deathly Hallows (I don't have a single complaint towards it)
The Order of the Phoenix (The introduction of Luna!)
The Goblet of Fire (The sudden dark turn at the end is brilliant)
The Prisonor of Azkaban (Wonderful narrative especially in regards towards Sirius)
The Half-Blood Prince (All of the romance and lack of a driving story pulls this novel down)
The Philosopher's Stone (Fun introduction but like its immediate successor, the prose needed improvement)
The Chamber of Secrets (Not necessarily bad, just my least favorite)
I actually have a lot of issues with The Half-Blood Prince, and the only reasons it's not at the bottom of the list is because of the wonderful memory scenes and the prose of the first two novels. As I mentioned above, I felt like there was no driving story in the narrative other than "Oh, what on earth is Draco up to?!" The rest was a series of inconsequential scenes of romance and background information on Voldemort leading up to the thrilling climax. Additionally, the "mystery" of who the Half Blood Prince was not at all intriguing to me because I figured it was Snape from the very beginning. As a result, I find the title to be rubbish and I would prefered something along the lines of The Ghastly Horcruxes to go along with The Deathly Hallows.
The Order of the Phoenix (The introduction of Luna!)
The Goblet of Fire (The sudden dark turn at the end is brilliant)
The Prisonor of Azkaban (Wonderful narrative especially in regards towards Sirius)
The Half-Blood Prince (All of the romance and lack of a driving story pulls this novel down)
The Philosopher's Stone (Fun introduction but like its immediate successor, the prose needed improvement)
The Chamber of Secrets (Not necessarily bad, just my least favorite)
I actually have a lot of issues with The Half-Blood Prince, and the only reasons it's not at the bottom of the list is because of the wonderful memory scenes and the prose of the first two novels. As I mentioned above, I felt like there was no driving story in the narrative other than "Oh, what on earth is Draco up to?!" The rest was a series of inconsequential scenes of romance and background information on Voldemort leading up to the thrilling climax. Additionally, the "mystery" of who the Half Blood Prince was not at all intriguing to me because I figured it was Snape from the very beginning. As a result, I find the title to be rubbish and I would prefered something along the lines of The Ghastly Horcruxes to go along with The Deathly Hallows.
I prefer to see them as seven different books because they're seven different books!
Favorite is Half-Blood Prince because it's light and fun and romantic and then shit just gets real at the end.
Favorite is Half-Blood Prince because it's light and fun and romantic and then shit just gets real at the end.
I am stunned The Deathly Hollows is getting so many votes. That's the only book of the series I hate and it succeeded in ruining the whole thing for me. I can't envision myself ever reading any of the books ever again because of it (ripple effect, what can I say?)--coincidentally I'm actually giving away all 7 of my hardback copies to a co-worker tomorrow.
I don't hate it quite as much as you, but I agree. The worst part is the book kept teasing you, saying that it would get better.
The Deathly Hallows said:
Of course there was no good part. There was no pay off.
I too dislike TDH - I don't get why people like it. Neither the Battle of Hogwarts, nor the Potter goes to fight Voldy felt as beautiful as GOF or OOTP's climaxes. Also the lack of Ron completely destory the middle 2/5th of the boook.
The only thing for which props are deserved are Harry's wand breaking. I freaked on reading that.
The only thing for which props are deserved are Harry's wand breaking. I freaked on reading that.
Thespeckledkiwi
Vice Admiral
I liked the Half Blood Prince a LOT personally but then again I'm a historian and found that it had a lot of good subtle plots in it and really shows the parallel between Harry and Tom.
I didn't really like DH. It was...almost like fan fiction. Especially the epilogue tacked on at the end. Blech.
I didn't really like DH. It was...almost like fan fiction. Especially the epilogue tacked on at the end. Blech.
I want to say Order of the Phoenix but I'm going to say Deathly Hallows because it gets a greater emotional reaction from me when I read it whereas with Order I get more of an adrenal reaction.
1. Deathly Hallows
2. Order of the Phoenix
3. Goblet of Fire
4. Half-Blood Prince
5. Sorceror's Stone
6. Prisoner of Azkaban
7. Chamber of Secrets
1. Deathly Hallows
2. Order of the Phoenix
3. Goblet of Fire
4. Half-Blood Prince
5. Sorceror's Stone
6. Prisoner of Azkaban
7. Chamber of Secrets
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