Alright folks, time for the question and debate of the ages!! You ready? You sure??? Here we go…
Of the seven Harry Potter novels, which one do you think is the best of them all?
Poll below (and please click through if you’re reading via an RSS feed or via e-mail):
Have you voted? Cool. (Don’t want to sway the results)
My choice is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Perhaps the darkest of all seven of the books, this one really delved into Harry coming into his own and spending much of the novel feeling sorry for himself. The weight of the world was really resting on his shoulders, and he had one of literature’s great villains, Dolores Umbridge, to contend with. And, well, we all know what happened in the end (but I won’t spoil it for those who don’t know).
For emotional depth and range, Harry coming of age, not to mention my favorite cover…. to me, Order of the Phoenix is the novel that delves the deepest, and for that reason it’s my pick for best of the seven.
What about you? What made you pick your favorite?
I loved Prisoner of Azkaban because it is where the series starts to get more complicated and a bit darker, but we still get to keep some of the innocence of the first books.
I am surprised by the number of Order of the Phoenix fans, since that was my least favorite by far. It felt like one depressing turn after another, although I agree that it was a "masterful middle," and Professor Umbridge could not have been a better drawn character.
I see like a majority (33% so far), I chose Azkaban. My reasoning for that is that it is the first time we get a sense of the full story arc, versus just two standalones, and we get a fuller sense of the entire backstory–a little bit of why Voldemort went to kill Harry and his parents, who betrayed them. It's like looking beneath the surface and seeing there's another 90% there that you only had suspected before.
I love all the books (Chamber being my least favorite), and I certainly love Phoenix, probably my 2nd most favorite, although there's a wonderful thriller structure to Goblet.
I have to go with the majority choosing Azkaban, for many of the reasons others have said–Harry's growing understanding of his world, the tight plotting, the character twists. I'd also add that it's the first chance we get to see Hermione develop by becoming more of an active character who uses more than her smarts. In SS/PS she and Ron are left behind and in CS she's petrified and out of commission, but in PoA she's involved in the action up to the end.
Hermione is one of my favorite characters and one of my favorite scenes in both books and movies is in PoA when she physically threatens Malfoy with her wand. In PoA we finally see why she's Gryffindor and not Ravenclaw!
The Prisoner of Azkahban is the greatest book.
The two before a light: children's reads.
In book 3, Harry rides an emotional roller coaster from the very start. To be given so much, when everything had seemed so bad, only to lose it? Stunning.
Without a doubt, Prisoner of Azkaban. This was the last boom that Rowling managed to write which didn't include a couple of hundred pages of pointless bloat. Also the last book which didn't include pages of SHOUTING WITH THE CAPSLOCK KEY STUCK ON.
My favorite has always been Pr. of Azkaban. It introduced Prof. Lupin and Sirius and filled in so much of Harry's history and introduced him to his father's friends. My second favorite was Deathly Hallows because it was so intricate and unexpected.
I have "read" the books only once each, but have listened to them on tape many, many times. Jim Dales brought all the characters to life.
Goblet of Fire. It captures the point at which the series (and the characters) really face growing up – awkward school dance scenes and all. Plus the wizarding world really opens up in this one – Rowling added another layer of depth to her universe with the international students. AND there's the quintessential middle grade makeover fantasy where Hermione becomes beautiful… I'll always be a sucker for the "plain girl gets gorgeous" scene 🙂
I'm surprised to find myself in a majority for liking Prisoner of Azkaban the best. I had a little trouble choosing between it and The Half-Blood Prince.
I have to say, the experience of reading it for the first time was part of why I chose PofA. I was reading it with my family and, a couple of chapters before the end, we came up with a complicated explanation that involved Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew switching bodies . . . whew!
HOW CAN MOST OF YOU NOT SAY HALF BLOOD PRINCE??
1) you learn all about voldemort's past.
2) This book puts Dumbledore at the center of the stage.
3) The teen romance stuff is at an all time high here. Ginny makes fun of Ron for being prude. Ron gets a girlfriend and makes out with her every chance he gets. Ron and Hermione are jealous of each other the entire time. Harry falls for Ginny, and kisses Ginny.
4) Ron steps his quidditch game up. The gryffindor team wins the house cup without Harry's help. Awesome.
Not to mention my favorite scene of the series is in this book. When Scrimgeur asks Harry to show up at the ministry every now and then, just to make it look like the ministry has things under control.
Harry denies him and Scrimguer says:
"I guess your Dumbledore's man, through and through?"
Harry: "Yeah, I'm glad we got that cleared up."
Should I keep going?
The part with the green stuff in the center of the lake. Dumbledore drinks it and has to face all his demons. Dumbledore says he feels safe as long as HE IS WITH HARRY!!
I haven't even brought up Dumbledore's death, or Draco's struggle with his conscience.
Or the opening, where you find out Voldemort is killing everyone and Fudge has been fired.
Or the tear jerking funeral at the end.
Prisoner of Azkaban is just petty compared to all that stuff I listed. None of you really appreciate what is good about epics.
My favourite is 'Goblet of Fire,' but I think the best one is 'Order of the Phoenix.' It shows an evil character (Umbridge) who isn't over-the-top cackling evil (like Voldy-baby). She's more complicated and human than a lot of the villains in the rest of the series.
It's also a 'play within a play' with the events at Hogwarts serving as a microcosm of what's happening in the Wizarding world. From a technical standpoint of the storytelling, I really feel it's the best of the series.
It also introduces my favourite character, Luna.
This was a hard decision to make. While there are parts that I really like and characters that I really like in the later books, I think overall that Sorcerer's Stone is the best. Rowling quickly and easily pulls the reader into her world and into her story. With the minimum of words, the reader gets what is going on and can visualize the scene. By showing not telling the reader gets who Harry is, who Dudley is, the Dursley's, the Weasley's, et al.
I'm reading with interest this objection to her use of adverbs. I've read the books a number of times and never noticed the adverbs. I think on this issue it would be better to consult readers rather than editors or writers to see if they're overused.
As much as I love all of them, my favorite is probably GOF. I first read it when I was 12 or 13, and I remember just loving the quidditch world cup and the interaction between the different schools in the triwizard tournament. It felt very real and wonderful and immersive.
Also, Draco gets turned into a ferret. Awesome.
I do think, though, that DH had some of her best writing in it. I wasn't over-fond of all the camping, but the second-to-last chapter, KING'S CROSS, is my absolute favorite in the series. I cried like you wouldn't believe.
I agree with Livia's comment about bloat, but that's one of the reasons Half-Blood Prince is my favorite. It overcame its own bloat.
As for Deathly Hallows, that book was never written, so I can't figure out how it got onto the list. I hope someday she finishes the series, though.
Prisoner of Azkaban. It's a tight book and has the darkness and growing complexity that develop over the rest of the series.
2nd choice would probably be…Half Blood Prince, followed closely by Order of the Phoenix.
Whenever a new HP book came out, it automatically became my favorite. Now that I've had a chance to let the excitement of a new book settle, however, PRISONER OF AZKABAN is my favorite. 🙂
Now, don't throw stones!
Honestly, I couldn't read the books. I read the first two chapters of the first book and then put it down. But the movies are cool…
I also love OotP. I'm a huge fan of YA, and in this book, the series moves very distinctly from MG to YA. I love the angst and the resolution (and the humor, though it's not as apparent as in the earlier books). And I love how Harry grows and changes.
I love them all, and I initially tended to think about later books, where things are getting darker and more complex, but for a perfect example of how to set up an amazing fictional world, I think Philosopher's Stone is the one I enjoy the most. Harry receiving his school equipment list, the trip down Diagon Alley, the first mention of an antagonist who is is made very clear that everyone fears… I think the fact it took so little time to feel at home, and sorta comfy in the wizarding world Rowling created is a testament to how well-written the first volume actually is. It is also pretty magical in itself; If I look back at it, it's surprising how short it actually is. It seems a lot longer, like it packs a lot into a very small space!
What's wonderful about this series is that everyone has their own connection with a certain book. As everyone gave their reasons, I found myself nodding along because each book has great moments. I have two favorites which I can't separate as one being better as the other.
Prisoner of Azkaban for many of the reasons everyone mentioned – Harry's longing to learn about his parents, Remus Lupin, Hermione's secret, Buckbeak, the Shrieking Shack (love!), Sirius Black, the Dementors…
The other would be The Half Blood Prince. I loved learning about Voldemort's past, Dumbledore's mysterious blackened hand, Snape (is he good or bad), Ginny, learning about Horcruxes, the Slug Club, the ending!
Good stuff!
I just adored "the Prisoner of Azkaban." It was the first novel where things took that dark turn and the story really started to develop. This was when I really realized that Hermione and Ron are in for the long haul.
Plus, the movie introduced Gary Oldman into the franchise. Um, 'nuff said.
Definitely Azkaban. This book just drew me in and didn't let go. The movie did it no justice, I was so disappointed.
Azkaban. It feels like the most mature of the books, before they became huge and sprawling. And the fight seems, to Harry, almost more personal in this one. Lord Voldemort killed his parents, but that's what villains DO. Sirius Black, though…he betrayed Harry's parents. And that was much less forgivable.
The personal nature of the fight, the adventure of the time-turner, and the only Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who wasn't evil or useless…yeah, this one's my favorite.
I've honestly never picked one up but have always been curious.
Apparently not curious enough to read one though.
For a long time Order of the Phoenix was my favorite, although Azkaban was the book that really sucked me in.
But now I'd say Deathly Hallows. And the biggest reason is this: during the Long Wait to read it, I just knew Harry was going to use the Accio spell on somebody. Yeah, okay, in my head it was always Ginny… but hey. It was nice to see something of my own musings in there.
When I read the books when I was younger I didn't really have a preference, but now that I'm older and I can catch all those little things, Chamber of Secrets is by far my favorite, followed by Goblet of Fire.
I love Lockhart's character and all the allusions to subjects in the future books. It was one of the more creative books in the series.
I don't like the 5th one very much. Harry's too emotional in my opinion. Sure, he has to save the world- but the daily prophet's got the right idea. Harry thinks it's all about him. FOR GODS' SAKE CHILD LIFE SUCKS, LIVE WITH IT!
Prisoner of Azkaban. Love the whole backstory with the Maurauder's Map – I would read a prequel in a heartbeat! And I'm also a fan of Prof Lupin. I just thought the whole book was so clever. (that's an understatement I guess as they are all galaxies beyond clever)
Half Blood Prince is a close second. It felt like a breath of fresh air after the very angst ridden/heavy/brilliant Order of the Phoenix -but that's the book that made a huge shift in the series. Again…how do you choose just one?
Order of the Phoenix is my favorite too! Mainly for the reasons you mentioned but also because there was a real shift not just in tone but in the actual writing. I read the first four all at once and OotP was the first I read the day it came out ANSI noticed immediately how different J. K.'s approach felt, how much more mature Harry felt, how much he seemed like a real fifteen year old and it really blew my mind.
HP 5 was the first of the Harry Potter books I'd read, which meant I read them out of sequence. Instantly, however, I fell in love with hating Dolores Umbridge, which is why I agree with you on how she has turned out to be one of literature's greatest villains of all time.Dolores did everything a three dimensional villain should do and then some. HP5 stands out among my favorite HP's too.
I definitely have to agree with the masses that Prisoner of Azkaban is the best. It's the book that turned the story around from a middle grade book to a book that would entertain young adults and adults alike. We're getting darker. The trials and tribulations are taking on a momentous path.
This was the book where I really felt that Harry was in trouble.
Wow, I picked the same book as you Nathan! My reasons are a bit different though, specifically Fred and George Weasley. ORDER OF THE PHOENIX has the best Fred and George moments of the series. They are my favorite characters and whom we named our dog Weasley for.
Umbridge is great too, so delightfully awful my skin crawls.
I have to say the entire Harry Potter series is absolutely amazing. I only wish that as an author myself I had a fraction of the creativity J.K. Rowling used in order to create the very detailed and exciting world that Harry lives in. Prisoner of Azkaban I would have to say is my favorite. Order of the phoenix was great and Umbridge is awesome as a villain you absolutely love to hate. I really like snapes character as well.
You quit and now are an author full time? Where on earth have I been? (Having a baby, dealing with 3 other kids, trying to stay up on wash, dishes, and sleep I guess…sheesh!)Congrats Nathan! That's awesome!
Order of the Phoenix was my favorite until I got to the last 150 pages or so of Deathly Hallows. Then again, I am usually a bigger fan of the last of a series (Return of the Jedi, Last Crusade, Live Free or Die Hard, LOTR The Return of the King, Breaking Dawn). Maybe I like a courageous, noble, happy ending. A series without turmoil isn't much of a series, but that doesn't mean I'm any less uncomfortable watching the main character squirm their way out of misery. I think I liked Order of the Phoenix so much because Harry was more empowered for the first time in the series.
My favorite is Prisoner of Azkaban because it depicted Rowling's real life battle with depression (dementors). It is the single best description of how depression feels when you read how the dementors suck all the good thoughts from you and all you have is your good thoughts and your patronus to defend you.
However, the first book will always be a favorite because of how much concentration and time away from this world Ms. Rowling must have invested in order to divine a world so outside our normal way of thinking…. way before anyone decided to buy the manuscript.
I have to say that the Goblet of Fire is my favorite, followed by Sorcerer's Stone. Order of the Phoenix was my least favorite as a "first read". And it's the reason I won't yet let my daughter read past "Goblet of Fire". She's only 8, and I felt comfortable with the first 4. But the latter 3 get way too dark for her to read yet!
I would have to say that is a fair explanation as to why you think "Order of the Phoenix" was the best of the seven. And I do indeed agree with a lot of it.
My pick, though, was "Goblet of Fire" for several reasons. One, although "Phoenix" really showed Harry coming of age, "G of F" really pushed Harry toward that, probably harder than normal. Take the tournament, for instance: he was the youngest there and then forced into these deadly situations normally tasked for the 'older' wizards. Essentially, "G of F" stretched the envelope. Which I loved greatly. Also it's the pivotal point in the book where Harry truly sees Voldemort come to life. ONLY Harry sees it. And that's important. What follows is only natural. I myself would've picked "Phoenix", too, but even Rowling herself admitted to the book being too long, not to mention we can all concede that "Phoenix" started relatively slow. I honestly give "Chamber of Secrets a very close second place, with "Phoenix" a very, very, very close third. The rest all tie together behind my choice front runners by only a hair, because the truth is I loved all seven books dearly with a passion.
7, 5, 1, 6.
Another impossible question. I chose 5 in the voting, but I was conflicted. The first created the world, so props for that. The fifth was great with the "good" government not being so good. (Didn't the wizarding world ever hear of the democracy?) When I realized where the sixth was going after the horcruxes, I realized Rowling's genius. And seven was a pretty satisfying ending. The end came together better than I could've hoped.
HP #5 is definitely my second favorite. In fact, it's a really close call between HP #3 and #5, which is pretty ironic since Sirius is introduced in #3 and in #5, well, to quote you, we all know what happens (I won't say it for those who don't know).
But I chose Prisoner of Azkaban because of how happy Sirius makes Harry and the addition of such a strong character.
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Interesting. Isn't that also the longest? Or is Deathly Hallows longer?
Personally I thought Prisoner, Order and Hallows were all superior. There is certainly nothing wrong with the even years, but I do think the odd ones are a little darker, a little harsher, and certainly do delve deeper into the nature of people, of good and evil, and of magic (assuming literature can do that).
I love them all but there is no question to me that each one continues to improve on the last, with a minor plateau effect with 4 and 6.
I voted for seven but really should have voted for 3.
I loved Order on my second read, (mostly because of the twins) but Prisoner has never failed to pull me emotionally until I'm breathless.
Definitely Order of the Phoenix. Harry was more involved in his magic in this book. He also became more of a leader in this one.
Ditto on everyone else's likes for OP.
I love them all, but Order of the Phoenix was my favorite until Deathly Hallows came out. Now they're tied. I love the darkness of OoTP, Harry's emotional journey and growth, starting the DA, everything. In DH, watching him take on his role as a leader and mature into a man was breathtaking. Sorcerer's Stone holds a special place, too, as the start of it all.
Funny, I hated the fifth book. Harry was too angsty (which was realistic, but not so much fun to read) and I didn't believe that an orphan boy who grew up longing for family would ever forget he had a magic mirror he could use to communicate with his long lost uncle. A classic example of a character acting for the sake of the plot. Everything else about that book was good though. I liked Umbrage as a villain. I wish the editor had stepped in and given a better pretext for the forgotten mirror, though.
I hated Deathly Hollows, too. The entire plot hinged on the luck of saying "Voldemort" at exactly the right time. Those were my least two favorite books in the series. I'm curious to see why the movie is split in two, since the first half of Hollows involves them wandering around arguing the whole time. Again, realistic, but not much fun. I bet the movie will be good, though.
It's funny that everyone loves Prisoner of Azkaban. Almost all my friends and family members say it's their favourite one, as well. I don't know, it just doesn't do it for me… Voldemort's not in it, so it never felt like the stakes were all that high. Also, I don't like Sirius as much as everyone else seems to.
I really can't pick a favourite, although I do have a soft spot for Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.
Ugh…Not a lot of opinions I agree with. Deathly Hallows felt rushed…you can tell she was excited while writing…with a whole lot of waiting around. I vote for Goblet, as it has one of the best death scenes written in our generation. Why is it so good? It is the point in which this YA novel becomes all grown up. It breaks the spell of youthful naivety with a single, earth shattering Avada Kedavra. It is the first time I realized, "Wholly crap. These kids could die."
My favorite was THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. As I read, it was as if every fear, every relationship, every emotion that had been building in the series was laid open. All the hate, the despair, the hopelessness…all the loyalty, the sacrifice, the love…everything was exposed and we had to finally face every truth, the good and the bad. I have been an avid reader since I was six years old, but never had I been so emotionally drained after finishing a book.
The overwhelming support for #3 is very interesting. I wonder if it's because that movie was by far the best to date rather than anything attributable to the book.
Goblet of Fire is my choice. Prisoner of Azkaban would be second. And I absoultely loved the first 2 as well.
Order of Phoenix was a tough one for me. I hated Harry or rather he annoyed the crap out of me. If I had picked this one up as the first intro to the series, I don't think I would've read it. But I did read it. And I liked it overall.
Book 6? This one struck me more as a bridge than a complete story in and of itself. I did think it could make a wonderful movie though. And I also think they missed the mark in that respect. But that's not about the book.
7, ah 7, lost me almost completely. Way too much backstory that went on for pages. Pages! Yes it was interesting stuff, but my god it slowed everything down to a crawl. And then to hit the end and find I didn't care about the humans who died? Tragic. And I was completely pissed about the two non-humans who died and how the one died in particular. So that part worked.
I'm still in awe of her ability to ride this behemoth to the end. And yes, she continually improved, though I didn't notice the adverbs until someone pointed them out. Then all I could see were the ly words. I was better off without that knowledge.
At first I thought I couldn't choose.
Then I decided it had to be The Deathly Hallows. I was so worried that JK Rowling would not be able to find a conclusion that did justice to the rest of the series. It was amazing that she was able to finish with such a strong, entertaining, and satisfying conclusion.
Goblet of Fire for the same reasons Elizabeth West already detailed.
Dolores Umbridge was so terrifying to me I could barely read the book. Yes, I am a compete wuss.