FINALLY ready to get back to this. I actually listened to the first 150ish pages last weekend when I was on the road, and I didn't kneel over. Of course, Snape's not been mentioned yet, so we'll see . . . *crosses fingers*

This was the beginning of my addiction to POTter. I had previously experimented with and enjoyed POTter on 3 different occasions, but could easily have walked away and never touched the stuff again. Then, under some pressure from some POTterHEAD peers of mine, I tried the newest blend called the Goblet...and everything changed. As the warm, easy, potato chip prose crossed my blood-brain barrier, euphoria ensued. My inner child was smitten.

I...was...hooked and I...was...happy.

Ignore the so-called "experts" who say POTter is brain cell killing pap. Don’t listen to those jaded, book snobby squares. Most of them are wound so tight they wouldn’t know a good book if it sat on their face and wriggled.

POTter makes you feel good. POTter makes you smile. POTter makes you joyous and giggly. Hell, POTter makes you want to use the word giggly.

POTter is enjoyable and fun. That's enough for me.

So what made the Goblet so much more addicting than the rest of the POTter I had tried. Part of it was that I had already seen the movies (up through Order of the Phoenix) before I got my hands on genuine POTter. The first 3 were fun but I felt like I had already "been there done that" as they were pretty faithfully adaptated for the screen. Still enjoyable, but not enough to put the POTter monkey on my back.

Then came the Goblet of POTter and it was a big, huge, tightly-rolled fatty at 750 pages. The cut, diluted movie strain couldn’t hope to be as potent as the primo original and the story was finally given the room to breathe and take on an epic feel. It was completely addictive. The world-building details started coming fast and furious and the characters were given considerably increased depth. Add that to Rowling’s breezy, “ear friendly” prose and I found myself spaced out for hours turning the pages and still hungering for more.

It’s high praise indeed when I say that 750 pages did not contain a single dull, ploddy moment. This was fun and wonderful and a pleasure to experience. It deserves to be recognized for the iconic work that it is in the realm of YA fantasy.

Is it popcorn? Certainly.
Is it a joy to read? Definitely.
Is it one I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to all lovers of feel good, comfort food? YES.

5.0 stars.

Winner: Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2001)
Nominee: Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (2001)
Nominee: Bram Stoker Award (YA) for Best Novel (2001)

By the third time of reading I found this book thrilling, each reading I better appreciate the dark turn the series takes with this instalment, with the Quiddich World Cop, the return of the Death Eaters, the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the return of you know who! Great read. Great adventure. Great story.

The whole series that grows up with a generation story is best represented here. The Death Eaters are no cartoon villains, these are the real deal, and for the first time in the series I finally get just how dangerous You Know Who and his disciples are.

Other layers are, as well as the great characterisations of many of the ongoing cast; there's also the presenting of such a world view of the Wizarding universe, using the Quiddich World Cup, to further deepen and expand this wonderfully well thought out constructed reality. 9 out of 12.

2013 read; 2007 read; 2005 read

Ummm.... it's Harry Potter? I'm incapable of a decent review or anything new to say. My rambling thoughts as I finish this:

- Sooo much about Voldemort's planning makes more sense now. Movie's skipped a lot.

-Speaking of Dobby is my favorite and I'll forever be mad he was written out of the movie

- Barry Crouch Jr is still attractive, but I think it's only because David Tennant played him in the movie...

-I'm still not over Cedric. So sweet. So kind.

My favorite Harry Potter book!!!

Tenía abandonada la serie de Harry Potter hace tiempo, no porque no me gustara, por el contrario, pero como la trama es tan conocida por las películas y habiendo taaaanto por leer… pero bueno, decidí retomarla y ¡menuda sorpresa que me he llevado con este libro!

Si bien las primeras tres novelas me gustaron mucho, ahora las siento casi como una introducción. Porque es realmente en esta entrega donde se desencadena el conflicto y marca la pauta de los libros que están por venir. Es en este libro donde Harry y sus amigos abandonan el protegido entorno de su infancia y se enfrentan a lo que significará la guerra que se avecina. A través de la muerte de Cedric, la autora ya nos advierte que nos enfrentaremos a pérdidas dolorosas y que realmente nadie está a salvo. El cambio de registro en la narración y el argumento es notorio.

Respecto de todo lo demás que marca la calidad de la historia (trama, entorno, personajes, narrativa, etc., etc., etc.), nada que no se haya dicho antes: ¡Espectacular!

A todos los que aún no se sumergen en los libros por haber visto las películas, sólo les puedo decir que no sigan perdiendo el tiempo.

n  Reto #9 PopSugar 2019: Un libro con al menos un millón de puntajes en Goodreadsn

I've read this series more times than I can even remember. But every time it feels like the first time all over again. There's always certain details that I forget between my re-reads and movie watching and it's great to revisit and remember why this is one of my favorites of the series. I loved how much foreshadowing is in it and knowing what's coming, certain parts just break my heart. I decided to do the audio book by Jim Dale for the first time ever. Oh my was it great! Definitely recommend it! So much love for this series!!

چند فصل آخر کتاب خارق‌العاده بودن

n  n

تا اینجای مجموعه قسمت‌های محبوبم از هر کتاب برای بخش‌هاییه که در مورد گذشته اطلاعات جدید می‌گیری و معماهایی که جوابشون توی گذشته‌ست. حالا یا شخصیت‌ها تعریف می‌کنن یا به صورت خاطره هستن
واقعاً بی‌نظیر نوشته شدن

n  n

One of my favorites!

➽ book 2 out of 100

Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort.

I can’t write a proper review about a Harry Potter book so instead here are some things I love about Goblet of Fire:

➽ The Triwizard Tournament and it’s champions. This is truly the most exciting backdrop for any of the books and why Goblet of Fire was my favourite when I first read them.
➽ Seeing Dobby again! One of the things I hate about the dramatic Dobby moment in the seventh film is that we miss out on so much amazing Dobby content from this book. Dobby is seriously one of the most generous and entertaining characters that you grow to love so much throughout the series that the strictly movie-watchers miss out on. The S.P.E.W moments and the scene where Dobby gives Harry the Gillyweed is such a missed opportunity for the film!
➽ The complicated character that is Barty Crouch; and in the back story that Sirius provides us we get to have an important discussion of the difference between “good” and “bad” people and the lines that get blurred during times of chaos and panic. I feel like this was a wonderful piece of foreshadowing to Order of the Phoenix and the corruption of the Ministry and Umbridge that we’re about to encounter?
➽ The scenes in the pensieve are some of the most exciting scenes in the series and such an excellent way to tell backstory. Witnessing Karkaroff betray the fellow death eaters, Ludo Bagman in the height of his Quidditch career and of course the haunting trial of Barty Crouch Jr. Honestly those scenes are this series at its best.
➽ The entire Priori Incantatem chapter.
➽ “Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time.”
➽ Our main antagonist is finally here on the page in full form. This is truly where the series ramps up for me. I cannot wait to reread the rest of these books immediately.

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Now THAT'S a book! The groove that J.K. Rowling starts to find in HP 3 is fully realized in 4. Partly it's that the kids (and therefore the readers) are getting older so she can delve into more adult, complex themes and situations, and partly it's that I think she's really finding her voice. We finally got our very own HP's, I am happy to report, and it's so funny to look at them all side by side b/c of the HUGE leap in size between 3 and 4. Then they get a little tricky b/c while 4 and 5 look to be about the same length, the font in Order of the Phoenix is much smaller, hence a longer book. I just started that one and it honestly feels longer already. More of a book book and less of a fun afternoon's diversion. But I like these books as they get both darker and longer.

But to focus on Goblet of Fire specifically for a moment...again, not that I think I can bring anything new to the table in discussing these books. Nevertheless, I'll throw a few ideas out there just for your reading pleasure. One thing that struck me, as I mentioned before, was the increasing maturity and complexity of situations and themes. Clearly having someone die is a huge deal and I found that whole series of events really moving this time around. I may have last time as well, but I don't remember. In a way, though, some of the more complex issues feel jarring next to the goofy concepts she originally created. Calling non-magical people "Muggles," for instance. It's just a stupid word and yes, it sounds funny and makes kids laugh, but sometimes it's hard to take all these people seriously. "Mud-bloods" on the other hand is vicious and definitely drives the point home. I just wonder if she was to do it over again if some of those terms or ideas would change a bit. Yes, we'd all like to revisit what we did/wrote when we were less sure of ourselves and our voices and ideas, but of course we can't and neither can she. And what do I know? She claims she always knew what would happen to Harry, so maybe for her "Muggle" is the ideal word.

Since, as usual, I find it impossible to discuss the books without referencing the films, let me just say that although I hated Dobby in the movie (2?) and was glad to see him mostly cut from subsequent screen incarnations, I really loved him in this one. The dialogue is actually quite funny and Hermione's whole S.P.E.W. thing just cracks me up. Yes, I know a lot of people hate it and find it annoying and whatever, but I love it. Of course she would have a cause like that. That's who she is! And poor Winky. They're weird creatures (and OH how I love Kreacher in the next one!) and I can't decide whether I am with Hermione or everyone else on their "plight." Either way, I like that they exist; they provide a bit of moral ambiguity in a world that is mostly cleanly divided between good and evil. You might wonder about people, but for the most part they end up squarely one or the other. Other than Snape - another great piece of moral ambiguity whose complexity grows from book to book.

I also continue to marvel at Rowling's ability to write about the teenage mind. Ron and Harry's fight is spot on, as are Hermione's various reactions to it. And oh these poor boys having to ask the girls to the feast. I wish I had known when I was in middle school how truly hard it was for boys to talk to girls like that. Although I probably wouldn't have cared, being the good self-involved teenger that I was.

I still want to go to Hogwarts.

Normally, I congratulate myself for finishing a 500 + page novel but after reading 734 pages of this book, my only reaction was “How could it already be over?”The more I read Harry Potter, the harder I fall in love with J.K. Rowling. I couldn’t grasp how she could make this most fantastic series with the most complex and most expertly planned out plot, you could tell she was so sure of the story the moment she started writing the first book. Her attention to detail is more than impressive and the diversity and the realness of her characters are just unbelievable. Every single character (even inanimate ones) is fully developed. I am just absolutely, completely, astonished!

ONTO THE RANDOM STUFF

Lol higlights
1. George and Fred and their skiving snack boxes. These boys are just too funny. “Maybe Harry’s next task is to attack Percy while he’s in the shower.”
2. Professor Dumbledore and his twinkling eyes.
3. Hagrid and Madam Maxine- a match made in er…the mountains?
4. When is Vicky short for Viktor? When Ron’s jealous. Lol.
5. “Herm-own-ninny” says Krum. (Bahahaha!)
6. Socks that screamed loudly when they became too smelly-Harry’s sweetest gift to Dobby.^^
7. Dobby calling Ron “Wheezy!”
8. Super cute Pigwidgeon being called “Pig” (Bahaha!)

Grrr inducing moments/characters
1. Fleur Delacour, I am not very fond of ze way you act although I find ze way you talk fab.
2. Ron, you could really be an idiot sometimes. “Caught on, have you? Took you long enough.”
3. Draco, you foul creature! Don’t worry, Harry. I’ll make you a personal badge I’d wear all the time saying Harry Potter is the best. Rub the badge and it’ll change into “Harry Potter is the bestest!”
4. THAT RITA SKEETER!
5. He who must not be named is officially back! *shivers*
6. Harry, you could be a pain sometimes, you know? All the danger signs are there. Your dreams, your scar, your name out of the goblet. Why won’t you listen to Hermione?

Woah moments
1. Harry against the Horntail: Way to go, Harry!
2. The triwizard tournament of course
3. Basically all the tasks! Harry is awesome! 50 points to Gryffindor for answering the Sphinx’ question.

Hermione moments
1. Hermione, her big heart and brain for the SPEW, I mean S.P.E.W.
2. ”So basically, you’re going to take the best-looking girl who’ll have you, even if she’s completely horrible?”
3. Her relentless support to Harry.
4. Hermione and the Yule Ball.

Sherlock thought
1. I was almost sure it’s Mr. Bagman who was the culprit. I was terribly wrong. I’m no Sherlock after all.

Crying moments
1. Ron and Harry made up. (I was positively howling right along with Hermione)
2. J.K. Rowling says “let the killing of noble characters begin”  Cedrick!  *wails*
3. Harry and his big heart.  The twins really deserve the bag of galleons.  Let me give you a Mrs. Weasley signature rib crushing hug.

A few of the many things the movie got wrong or missed to include:

1. Winky & Dobby & Mr. Bagman.
2. Went on ruining the mystery of the story right from the beginning. Ugh!
3. Rita Skeeter’s most well deserved punishment.^^ All thanks to Hermione.^^
4. Wormtail being all smug.
5. Hermione’s ball dress should have been periwinkle blue!

P.S. Harry's first attempt at romance happened here so it makes perfect sense that I'm posting this review on Love Day. What's more perfect is I get to greet my smart and sexy French Friend, Anna a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you're having the best day, my awesome friend! I was going to read something else for you but I can't keep my hands off Harry Potter. I am positively hexed. Lol.