 "A Review of the Product, Not the Plot" | 2009-10-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A351BYSPZJOTLT |
| I had to post a review; in so many of the entries I've read for this series of Harry Potter audio books, the reviewer comments on the plot line of the specific book, not the product itself. Allow me to share my thoughts. Being a fan of the series to begin with, perhaps I'm a little biased, but the listening experience offers a way to enjoy the story like no other. Jim Dale has to be, hands down, the best reader I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. He is so incredibly talented at recreating each of the characters' voices, personalities and emotions, after just a short time the listener can forget she is listening to just one person. Listening to the audio book also allows me to enjoy the story in various settings where the actual book just would not be practical; during a long commute, at work, running errands (mp3), cleaning, walks, etc. The audio book can offer a relaxing experience as well; Dale's voice is soothing, and you don't have to worry about eye strain - after a long day of staring at a computer, sometimes I prefer to just let my eyes rest. I highly, highly recommend the entire series via audio book - start with the first one; you won't be disappointed. |
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| "Half-Blook Prince" | 2009-10-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2PQU0XBVTNEO0 |
How come they didn't have books like this when I was a kid! An extraordinary book
that you will want to dedicate to memory! |
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 "I liked it" | 2009-10-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2800FTNFKL012 |
| If, like me, you wait to read (or in this case listen to) the book until AFTER the movie is out there are some plot details you find that were left out of the movie. One in particular I think is important but was completely omitted from the film. To keep from revealing too much, I'll simply say there are parts I didn't particularly like but I didn't do the writing. Overall, if certainly expands the franchise and I'm looking forward to the final chapter. |
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| "A really good book in the series" | 2009-10-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2MLS3E8GRVWM9 |
| A very good book in the series. This book moved much better than the last one. It also flowed much better from the last book than the movie. In the movie, Harry went from dark, mood and feeling all alone to suddenly upbeat and hopeful in this movie. In the book however, he was still feeling rather down at the begining of this book. Also, the movie most deviated form this book than any other. The Burrow was never set a fire in this book. I also like the Ginny character from the book much better than the movie. She is very outspoken and confident. She is even a good Quiditch player. This book also sets up the last book very well. Harry is now on a mission. I found this book read much better/faster than the last one. One more book to go. Oh, and I still wish these books were released in eBook format. |
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| "If you like the movies you should read the books!" | 2009-10-15 |
| - Reviewed By lark81432 |
| The Harry Potter series may have started as books for the younger set but grew up with the children that started reading them (both in content and size). Some authors are just better than others in telling a story and J. K. Rowling is among the best. Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince is the sixth, and next to last, book in the series. While the movies are very good, as they progressed through the series, it became impossible to include everything in one film and quite a bit had to be cut. I think they probably did as good a job as they could, but I believe most readers will say that some of the best parts of the books did not make it to the big screen. |
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| "Eric P.'s Deep Reading Essay (Teen Review)" | 2009-10-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3802LP9FVELK2 |
Harry Potter is a sixteen year old boy hero in the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Harry is a young wizard attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his sixth year. He has two best friends named Ron and Hermione. Harry shows his loyalty and respect to his friends, his school, and the school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Harry holds many ethical morals, while maintaining a school life and battling against the dark arts. He is destined to battle the evil Lord Voldemort, who has been trying to kill Harry Potter since birth. Though unsuccessful, Lord Voldemort and his allies have killed Harry's parents, godfather and his hero Dumbledore. This has left Harry with an overwhelming obsession with his enemies Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape, and Draco Malfoy.
Lord Voldemort was once a student at Hogwarts himself. He was an orphan, and Dumbledore had brought him to Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort has been trying to kill Harry Potter, but has been deemed unsuccessful. He had killed Harry's parents, leaving Harry to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousin for most of his life. Because Lord Voldemort killed Harry's parents, Harry has been studying for defenses against the dark arts. Lord Voldemort has been rendered immortal by dividing his soul into seven Horcruxes. Lord Voldemort controls underlings called Death Eaters. Death Eaters will do whatever Lord Voldemort commands.
Severus Snape is a teacher at Hogwarts who teaches defense against the dark arts. Snape and Harry's father have been against each other when they were students, making people think that is why Snape hates Harry also. Harry does not like or trust Snape, but Dumbledore insists that Snape is a crucial member of the school. This is even after Harry has evidence that Snape is evil. The irony is that Snape kills Dumbledore. Snape also had a chance to kill Harry, but he does not. On top of that, Harry finds out that the Half-Blood Prince is Snape.
"Listen to me," said Snape, his voice so low now that Harry had to push his ear very hard against the keyhole to hear. "I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco -"
[Draco] "Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I'm doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"
In the text, Snape is talking to Draco Malfoy about his vow to Draco's mother. Draco is plotting something that can be dangerous, so Snape objects to his plans. But Draco does not approve of the vow, so he doesn't really care about the vow. As they are arguing, Harry is listening from the other side of the door. The details show that Harry has difficulty listening, so he must press his ear harder on the door to hear. Not only did he push his ear harder onto the door, he did it on the keyhole, a place that is more vulnerable to being eavesdropped as opposed as one side of a door. From the punctuation, there's a double hyphen meaning that Draco cut Snape's speech off. Then all the exclamation points mean that Draco is shouting loudly, arguing.
The text above also uses the literary technique foreshadowing. From Chapter 15, The Unbreakable Vow, on page 323, Draco has a plot. The arguing about the scheme implies that Snape is a part of the plot, or at least knows about it. Because the two are enemies of Harry, we can tell that they are plotting against Harry. It was true that they were plotting against Harry. But Harry was not the target, Dumbledore was. So then Draco snuck Death Eaters into Hogwarts and let them rampage the school. Whilst on their rampage, the Death Eaters came to corner Dumbledore, and then Draco disarmed Dumbledore, leaving Snape to betray Dumbledore and killing him.
J.K. Rowling has values of imagination used in her Harry Potter books. She believes what she wants and creates what she wants, and she puts it together with her imagination and that formed the Harry Potter series. She has started up the sport Quidditch in the Harry Potter series because she believed sports are very important in school. J.K. Rowling incorporated sports with her imagination which has lead to the creation of Quidditch. Quidditch, is a sport that you play on broomsticks, and which you fly on. According to this article from Yahoo! News UK, J.K. Rowling's brilliant imagination has nearly won her the US top honour. This award is the US's highest civilian honour, which is very big. The only reason why she did not get the US top honour because the Bush administration did not approve of promoting witchcraft. This type of narrow thinking had led people in the White House to object giving the presidential award to J.K. Rowling.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was a decent book. I liked it for the most part. Harry goes back to school for his sixth year. As he was getting his books, he finds that a book belonged to a Half-Blood Prince. Harry, curious, was determined to find out who it once belonged to. Back into school, Harry juggles friends, studies, Quidditch, and keeping an eye on his enemies. Snape visits Draco Malfoy's mother, and promises her that he will keep Draco safe. Soon, Draco and Snape argue about Draco's plot with Harry listening in. Draco follows through with his plot and releases Death Eaters throughout the school. Death Eaters surround Dumbledore, and Snape kills Dumbledore. Harry wanting to avenge Dumbledore, he goes out to find the Horcruxes, to rid of the immortal Lord Voldemort, the controller of all Death Eaters. |
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