REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: July, 2005
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 10/10

Description: The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.

And yet...

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to apparate -- and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

My Thoughts: This book definitely did not hold the same shock factor for me in this reading that it did 6 years ago. Knowing what’s coming helped me actually focus more on the story instead of worrying about what may or may not happen. On the heels of Book 5 when Harry lost Sirius, I was dreading finding out who Harry would lose next. If Rowling could kill off Harry’s godfather, then nobody was safe. Having grown up without his parents, unfortunately, Harry has become accustomed to losing the people he loves. After a long summer at the Dursley’s, Harry is collected from Privet Drive by none other than Professor Dumbledore who takes Harry on an excursion to contact an old colleague and then escort him to the Burrow.

Harry, Ron and Hermione finally receive their long anticipated O.W.L. exam results and Harry finds himself in an advanced Potions class with a new professor, Horace Slughorn. Potions have never been Harry’s favorite class, especially when Snape was the instructor. Harry acquires a potions book that belonged to someone calling himself the “Half-Blood Prince” and following the notes and tips provided within the book by the previous owner, Harry outperforms Hermione.

Harry is convinced that Draco is up to something sinister and spends a lot of time trying to figure out what it is. There are a few occurrences of students being cursed by unknown perpetrators that add to the suspense of the story. I enjoyed that Harry is made Captain of the Quidditch team and puts together a team that will hopefully win the House Cup.

The best part of the book, for me, are the private lessons Harry has with Professor Dumbledore where he learns what Dumbledore already knows about Voldemort’s early years and family. Through Dumbledore’s memories, Harry witnesses Dumbledore’s first meeting with the boy would become the most evil wizard of all time. Harry is also tasked with finding out the true memories of one of the professors that had been tampered with. Harry has his work cut out for him in this installment and as with the whole series, I enjoyed every minute of it.

REVIEW: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Title: Insatiable (Insatiable #1)
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: June, 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 1/10

Description: Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.

My Thoughts: Several months back, I began to notice that the book market seems flooded with vampires across every genre. Historical romances, young adult, chick-lit, urban fantasy…you name it, there’s probably a vampire theme book in there. I then began to question the quality of these books in a market that is flooded with them. How do I, a reader and a fan of vampire themes, find a good vampire book that will excite me, entertain me and stay with me after I’ve finished reading it?

First of all, I have to say that I adore Meg Cabot. Her “Boy Next Door” and “All American Girl” series are some of my favorites. I held on with this book for a lot longer than I usually give books because I kept hoping it would draw me in as this author usually does. Sadly, it never did. I felt no connection with the characters and even the heroine's dog, Jack Bauer, annoyed me.

I don’t think a good vampire theme book can be written by just anyone, though that seems to be happening from what I see when I’m trolling the bookstore. I don’t think every author is cut out to write paranormal. John Grisham, if you are reading this, please do not jump on the vampire bandwagon. Will I stop reading Meg Cabot? Absolutely not. Have I given up on vampire themes? Nope. What have I learned? That I was right in questioning the quality of a specific themed book in a flooded market. With so many to choose from, it will be very difficult for the reader to know which ones are going to deliver. Choose wisely, my dear friends and if you happen to get one that isn’t working for you, don’t waste precious time continuing to read it. Cut your losses and find another one that will work.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: June, 2003
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 10/10

Description: There is a door at the end of a silent corridor, and it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Here are just a few of the things on Harry's mind:

• A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey
• A venomous, disgruntled house-elf
• Ron as Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team
• The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

. . . and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

In the richest installment yet of J.K. Rowling's seven-part story, Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.

My Thoughts: At 15 years of age, Harry Potter has seen more and experienced more than anyone around him and more than anyone should or could expect. He’s nearly a man and yet everyone continues to treat him like the eleven year old little boy he was when he discovered he was a wizard. The gloves are completely off with book #5. Harry is very angry in this book and with good reason. He is attacked and is forced to use magic which results in a hearing to determine if he will be expelled from Hogwarts. Everyone seems to know more than he does about why he is experiencing strange dreams about “you know who” but nobody will tell him anything. Professor Dumbledore goes out of his way to avoid looking at him or even speaking to him. Everyone is tip-toeing around Harry as if he were made of glass.

After the hearing is over and he returns to Hogwarts, things don’t get better at all. The new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher is a despicable and twisted witch who quite quickly uses her influence and connections at the Ministry to take over the school and not teach any actual defense tactics. People are convinced that Harry is an attention seeking lunatic who has made up the entire story of Voldemort’s return.

The first time I read this book, I immediately despised Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. She’s a very sadistic individual who takes great pleasure in punishing people. Though the readers can certainly empathize with Harry’s hatred of Professor Snape, I can state that Umbridge beats Snape hands down in characters you would most like to see receive the Dementor’s kiss. That feeling has not changed one bit between then and now.

Unfortunately for Harry, he doesn’t seem to have an ally at the school. Professor Dumbledore is conspicuously absent and when he does make an appearance, he avoids looking at or speaking to Harry. I felt frustrated for Harry. Hagrid has been gone and when he finally returns, Harry still feels isolated. The only thing he truly looks forward to is playing Quidditch, especially now that Ron is on the team. Unfortunately, Professor Umbridge is determined ruin that for Harry too.

As a result of Umbridge’s refusal to teach true Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione insists the only way the students will learn is to do it themselves. After some persuading, Harry agrees to start secretly coaching other students on performing defense spells. They even call themselves “Dumbledore’s Army.”

Ultimately, Harry has to rely on those around him as Voldemort and his Death Eaters make their move. Just like Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix does not have a happy ending for Harry. The wizarding world is officially at war and the stakes are higher than ever.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In October

October saw some new arrivals on my doorstep. I've already read one of them so hopefully, the rest will be as good when I read them...

Save Karyn by Karyn Bosnak

Description: Drowning in $20,000 of credit card debt, shopaholic Karyn Bosnak asked strangers for money online — and it worked!
What would you do if you owed $20,000? Would you: A) not tell your parents? B) start your own website that asked for money without apology? or C) stop coloring your hair, getting pedicures, and buying Gucci? If you were Karyn Bosnak, you'd do all three.

Karyn started a funny yet honest website, www.savekaryn.com, on which she asked for donations to help her get out of debt. Karyn received e-mails from people all over the world, either confessing their own debt-ridden lives, or criticizing hers. But after four months of Internet panhandling and selling her prized possessions on eBay, her debt was gone!

In Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back, Karyn details the bumpy road her financial — and personal — life has traveled to get her where she is today: happy, grateful, and completely debt-free. In this charming cautionary tale, Karyn chronicles her glamorous rise, her embarrassing fall, and how the kindness of strangers in cyberia really can make a difference.

Revamped by J.F. Lewis

Description: REVIVED. REFRESHED. AND READY FOR REVENGE.

Eric survived a vicious showdown with his double-crossing former best friend and some angry lycanthropes—barely: he’s lost his strip club, his treasured red Mustang, his love life, and even his body. But with a little magic, the die-hard Vlad returns to corporeal form, and “Fang the ’Stang” is restored—with an unlife of its own. Now Eric’s ready to match wits with one of Void City’s most powerful demons to rescue the soul of Marilyn, the love of his (mortal) life. But salvation comes at a high price, forcing Eric to enter his own worst nightmare, vampire High Society, to uncover the truth about the origin of his powers. Having to deal with the Void City elite is bad enough, but the more Eric sniffs around, the more it looks like someone is after his soul, too. Now blood will flow and fangs will be bared, because revenge is never pretty . . . and Eric has plenty to pass around.

Missing In Death by J.D. Robb

Description: Investigating a woman’s disappearance on a New York City ferry, Detective Eve Dallas wonders…if she didn’t jump, and she’s not on board, then where in the world is she?

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Description: Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.