Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Disclaimer: If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, turn away now. This review contains spoilers.

I first read Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix in 2003 as a 13 year old. I remember pre-ordering the book online and how it got delivered within a day of it’s release.
It was my earliest experience of online shopping. I remember coming home from school and seeing this beautiful and big hard cover book. It took me a couple of weeks to finish this.

I also remember crying my eyes out when Padfoot dies, and discarding the book, and proclaiming it as the worst book of the series.
It has taken me over 15 years to gather the courage to re-read it.

My take on the book as an adult is quite different from when I was a teen. I am so glad I read it again. I can appreciate it much more.

I no longer blame anyone, not Harry, not Dumbledore and not even Kreacher. As a 13 year old, I used to hate Harry for being so short tempered and reckless in this book. As an adult I can only sympathize and appreciate that he too is just a 15 year old and is possibly suffering from PTSD and thus is taking everything quite well, all things considered.

I used to blame Dumbledore for being a manipulative ass-hat who kept secrets just for the sake of it. Now I can at least understand his feelings.
I have also forgiven Kreacher.
I still abhor Umbridge, I still can’t stand Snape and there will always be a Sirius shaped hole in my heart but this book is a classic.

This is a wonderfully written book. As a friend rightly says, J.K.Rowling is a can’t-put-down author. It is immensely difficult to stop reading these books.
This is the darkest book yet. The series get progressively darker with each book but Rowling’s writing also somehow keeps on getting better.

I devoured the entire book in 4 days. The best part about the book is that it doesn’t dwell on the hardships that he faces, it is always balanced by the positive things around him. Rowling wants us to feel sad, hopeless, angry, terrified but she never overdoes it. She also gives us awe, hope, happiness and comfort in equal measures.

Read it. No matter what age you are, you can always enjoy Harry Potter. (As long as it is written by Rowling. I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the cursed child and other spin-offs)

Lastly, the book also has the best title in the entire series.