Somewhere between finishing the fifth Harry Potter book and starting the draft of this book review, I took some time to reflect on all that had happened throughout the course of the book. If I could pinpoint the whole book down to a single word, it would be ‘emotional.’
‘Emotional’ because Sirius, Harry’s Godfather, had to die (and die only after knowing Harry for less than two full years). ‘Emotional’ because Harry realized that his parents may not have been as great as people around Harry described them to be. It seems as if the fifth book is a 870 pages long roller coaster of emotions, if the roller coaster tends to lag during the low points more often than not.
At the start of the book, Harry and his Muggle cousin, Dudley Dursley (who now appears to “look like a pig that’s been taught to walk on its hind legs”), are attacked by the terrible dementors. In trying to save both his and his cousin’s life, Harry resorts to using magic to drive the dementors away. This infuriates Harry’s magic-fearing aunt and uncle to no end. Harry also receives an abrupt notice from the Ministry of Magic telling him that he is to be present at a disciplinary hearing, the outcome of which will determine whether Harry is expelled from Hogwarts or not, later in the summer for the use of magic while under-age and around Muggles.
Nice summary Siyoung!!