[IronDragon]

The Order of the Phoenix

I really did like the book but I felt it just didn’t live up to the previous four.

It took me awhile to recognize just what the problem was that the problems Harry and company were facing were identical to the problems in the previous 4 books.

If you call this a spoiler so be it:
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Harry is abused/neglected by his boorish non-magical relatives.
An escape from his family is engineered by members of the magical community.
Harry spends the rest of summer vacation in a much nicer and magical place.
Harry goes to school and is immediately branded an outcast by his class mates.
Only his best friends Ron and Hermione understand and accept him.
Harry worries about Quidditch.
Harry falls behind in his school work.
Malfoy Draco makes Harry’s life miserable
One of Harry’s teachers causes all sorts of problems for Harry.
Most of Harry’s problems could be solved if his teachers would just have an honest conversation with Harry but they choose not to.
There is a convoluted plot by Lord Voldemort putting both Harry, and the entire world at risk.
The Lord Voldemort crisis could be solved if Harry would just have an honest conversation with his teachers but he chooses not to.
Harry and friends decide that only they can save the day.
Just as the school year is ending there is a heated battle with Lord Voldemort and/or his minions.
Harry nearly looses but somehow succeeds.
Dumbledore explains what just happened.
Harry finds himself liked and respected once again by his classmates.


After four books using that template I had hoped that Rowling would change or alter things, bring some fresh air into the book but she doesn’t and I worry the next two books will follow the same rut.