Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #5)

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why!

Man, this book took me what feels like FOREVER to read. This is usually the hardest book of the series to get through for me personally, which probably could add to why it felt so long! Although, it could just be because it is 870 pages! (the longest book in the series!)

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry is in his 5th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For wizards and witches in their 5th year, a standard set of exams are held to test just how well they are progressing in their schooling! But their O.W.L.’s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) aren’t the only things they need to be wary of this year as a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher arrives from the Ministry of Magic.

At the end of Goblet of Fire, something very important and life-altering transpired – something that some wizards and witches would like to deny even happened – but Harry and his friends know the truth. Luckily, they aren’t the only ones.

…

Oh, Harry Potter.

Oh, J.K. Rowling.

I will first and foremost state that this book is my least favorite of the series (hence the lower rating.) However, I cannot deny the importance of this novel in the series as well as J.K.’s amazing character development. I could easily list some of there reasons why this book is only getting 3 stars, but I can sum it up in a sentence for you:

The characters are going through puberty.

In HP5, there is lots of teen-angst, figuring out what it looks like to have a “crush” on someone, and feeling misunderstood. Even in the midst of this, though, I have to commemorate Rowling because she is able to capture what it is like to be a teenager “coming of age” so well. (Not that I necessarily enjoyed reading about teen drama, I just think it’s amazing that what I experienced as a reader is exactly what Rowling intended for me to experience.) And by this point, as the reader, you are so emotionally invested in the entire world that when a character is acting ridiculous or annoying, it annoys you! A true sign of an amazing writer is to create likable characters that feel so real and go through so much character development that the reader feels it too. I felt angsty! I felt frustrated at characters! I hated ______ too! (Name not given to avoid any spoilers!)

All this to say, the three stars represents my feelings towards all this teen angst, as it took up majority of the book, and does not reflect my feelings towards J.K. Rowling’s writing.

Now, on to the “non-teen-angst” content.

There is a lot of content I cannot specifically talk about without giving away any spoilers, but here are a few key elements that do occur: there’s a new character that everyone loves to hate, a lovable character making bad decisions, and a loss of a life.

In the end, J.K. does do an amazing job tying up the entire book by unveiling a ton of new and important information about Harry through the amazing and beloved Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore. This part of the book is KEY. So, even when you want to give up on HP5 – DON’T!

THE ENDING IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE SERIES AS A WHOLE SO JUST STRUGGLE THROUGH THE TEEN ANGST AND GET TO THE GOOD STUFF!!!

Let’s just say, I’m glad I got through HP5 so I can move on to HP6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! Stay tuned for my next review coming soon!! Oh, and in the meantime…

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Children/Classics

How to Become a “Reader”

I’ve had a lot of people over the past few years ask me, “Haley, how do you read so much? I feel like I have hardly any time to sit down and relax let alone read a 300 page book!” Considering this, I realized that a lot of you guys might enjoy seeing my reviews, but feel like having a “Reading Goal” or even finish a book within a few weeks seems impossible! So, I thought I would share some helpful tips that I have adopted for my own life/reading journey:

Find what interests you!

The biggest issue people seem to have is that they don’t know what to read! You can get recommendations left and right, but you might need to spend some time checking out a few of these recommendations to find out what peaks your interest! And when you do find an author/genre, own it and pick a book you find intriguing! 🙂

Schedule reading into your calendar! (best time to read during the day/week)

This can be the hardest thing to do in our busy lives! Our time can get sucked up by other meaningless tasks, or we schedule ourselves to the max we don’t even have time to breathe or eat a decent meal! (Trust me, I’ve been BOTH of these people!) Try and sit down, look at your schedule, and block out time to take for yourself! Sometimes, even incorporating reading into something you already do, like take a bath or drink your coffee/breakfast in the morning, makes “fitting it in” easier!

Set goals for yourself!

Whether that be a chapter a day, a chapter a week, a book a week, or a book a month, set a goal! I try to take my schedule into consideration and have grace for myself, but I know that if I don’t set a goal, I won’t feel as motivated to make the time to read!

Have a reading buddy!

My sister is my main reading buddy! We will read the same book at the same time – like our own little book club! – so we can talk about it, push each other, and be in this reading journey together! Also, having someone who shares similar tastes as you can get you more excited for whatever your reading, especially if they recommended it or you recommended one to them!

ENJOY YOURSELF! (no pressure)

This isn’t a competition. It’s not a race. It’s for YOU. Take time and be selfish! Guard this time to take care of yourself and nourish your heart, mind, and soul. And trust me, in no time, you’ll consider yourself a “reader” too 🙂

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #4)

My Rating: 5 Stars

Here’s why!

Okay, by now, I hope you are following each review of this series so you kind of have a good idea as to WHO Harry Potter is, WHAT Harry Potter is, and WHERE Harry Potter is. But a big question that I have been trying NOT to spoiler is WHY.

Why is Harry Potter so famous in the Wizarding world?

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is back at it for his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, this is not an ordinary year! (When you think about it, how could ANY year at Hogwarts really be ordinary?) This year, Hogwarts will take part in a special event that involves two other schools of magic, something that has not happened for a hundred years.

Yet again, Harry gets mixed up in some suspenseful, trying – and dare I say deadly – situations that changes the course of Harry’s life and the entire series.

Like I said, I have been trying to not give anything away, but let’s just say that not all wizards and witches are good or use their magic for good. This is truly the first book where we begin to see the “Good vs. Evil” aspect of the series clearly on display, and is another reason why I appreciate Rowling’s writing. This element of the series becomes more prevalent in the remaining books, but you get a good glimpse in HP4, which is a reason why I am giving it 5 stars.

BUT DO NOT FEAR!

This book is NOT all “doom and gloom.”

There are so many different light-hearted, laughable, and entertaining moments throughout this novel. Even as my 5th time through, I still found moments that surprised me. The “event” that occurs takes up a lot of the 734 page novel, and is very interesting to read! This is another element that made me give HP4 5 stars. The creativity behind HP4, in particular, really stands out, and I want to give credit where credit is due.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go dive into the next book of the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! 

HAPPY READING 🙂

p.s. Happy Labor Day!

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Children/Classics

 

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord by Bill Johnson

My Rating : 4 Stars

Here’s why!

Last week, I was really feeling drawn to reading this book, even though I got it over a year ago after finishing my first year at BSSM (Bethel’s School of Supernatural Ministry). Using it as a daily devotional, reading a chapter a day, really nourished my heart.

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord talks about *duh* strengthening yourself in the Lord. However, that can be easier said than done. How does one actually do that? Bill Johnson uses his own personal experiences, the testimonies of others, and the life of David as great examples on how to incorporate this practice into your daily life. He also gives three main keys that he has used over the years, while relating it to David’s story and giving other examples throughout the chapters.

I might be biased since Bill Johnson is the pastor of the church associated with my ministry school, but I always find his writings revelatory and applicable. I also love how he talks about his own personal life and journey with God. I find it very encouraging and refreshing. Here’s a guy who has a successful ministry, church, family life, and is internationally known, and is willing to be vulnerable, too. These aren’t just lessons or sermons for him to share, but a lifestyle he actually lives out.

This book really came at the right time for me, especially because the life of David is super prevalent in my mind right now. I love how God highlights certain books to us in times when we need to hear from it the most. Maybe a year ago, the life of David and the idea of strengthening myself in the Lord wouldn’t have been received as well as it was in this season of my life. I wanted to give it 4 stars because of this fact, and also how it seemed like each day, there was something in each chapter I could walk away with that was connecting to my present situation/season. I’m not giving it 5 stars because although it was super on point with what I needed to hear, I would have to go back through and remind myself of all that stood out to me; I couldn’t recall specifics right off the top of my head very easily.

If you have never read a book by Bill Johnson, I would highly recommend him! Leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram @brookeandbinding if you want any specific recommendations or just want to say hi! 🙂

HAPPY READING 🙂

 

Genre:Christian/Religion/Spirituality/Self Help