Best Harry Potter Book??

[Ash]

I have a question for any of you who have read ALL of the "Harry Potter" books.

I just finished "The Chamber of Secrets" last week.  
It was excellent!
I have never read the first book.  I saw the film instead.
I will eventually read it, when I find the time.
I am currently on book 3.(The Prisoner of Azkaban)
I purchased book 4 (The Goblet of Fire) at the same time.  
It is next on my list.

I have only recently become engrossed in this intriguing world J.K. Rowling has painted for us all.  
People seem to think that these books are for kids but I can assume you'll agree with me that they are not!
These books have drawn me in like no other series has in recent memory.
She (Rowling) has created one of the most COOL magical worlds I have ever encountered.
It is rare that a series of books such as these have set my imagination swirling so seriously clockwise.  
Round and round.
Keep stirring.

I have nothing but the utmost praise of what I have read thus far of her works!


My question is this:  In your own personal opinion, which book is the best out of the four?  
(don't give away any details of the rest of 3 or 4 please!  I haven't finished them yet!)

[Fearless Freep]

People seem to think that these books are for kids but I can assume you'll agree with me that they are not!

I read a few excerpts from the books and while I can't speak to the overall plot and story development, I found the writing style extremely juvenile and I'm sotra dumbfounded that anyone over the age of about sixteen would slog through them all.

[Ash]

Believe me Freep.  It'll take more than a few excerpts to truly appreciate this series.  
I think that rings true with most any book series.  
Most.

I suggest you give it another go.  
Invest some serious time into it.  (all 4 books)

The books are truly excellent!  

Stephen King recommends every one of them in his non-fiction work "On Writing".  When asked at the end of the book, "what do you read?"  
He included all three "Harry Potter" books.  
 
If you SERIOUSLY give them a try and still don't like them then I don't know what to tell you.

"You're in the minority."  I guess.

[raj]

I've only read the first two, probably get to #3 over Thanksgiving, I liked them both.

While it isn't LOTR or a series by Elizabeth Boyer (name of the series escapes me at the moment, Troll's Grindstone is first I think) in terms of writing, the Potter series is quite good, the characters are interesting and have some complexity to them.  Heck, the books got a couple of my nieces into reading, that's got to count for something.

I also appreciate the fact that Rowling is taking her time, and not just churning out one after the other.  Quality over quantity.

Haven't seen the movies yet.  I do need to reread the Two Towers in time for the film.

[Evan3]

I must agree with Ash. I am a collge student and half of my dorm has read these books (instead of drinking in some places). My favorite is book 4, definitely the most adult one of the series and more realistic too. She certainly isnt the greatest author ever, but is very good.
If you liked Harry Potter, I strongly suggest getting a book cllled Artemis Fowl and its sequal the Arctic Expedition. They change the whole face of fantasy creatures and are on par with the potter novels. Has anyone else read them?

[Andrew]

> I read a few excerpts from the books and while I can't speak
> to the overall plot and story development, I found the
> writing style extremely juvenile and I'm sotra dumbfounded
> that anyone over the age of about sixteen would slog through
> them all.

I don't know, the Narnia books are definitely written for readers younger than myself, but I still enjoy them.  Heck, "The Hobbit" is written for children (as it was), and, though it is not as high on my list as "The Lord of the Rings," it is a book I can read over and over through the years.

[Fearless Freep]

I don't know, the Narnia books are definitely written for readers younger than myself, but I still enjoy them. Heck, "The Hobbit" is written for children (as it was), and, though it is not as high on my list as "The Lord of the Rings," it is a book I can read over and over through the years.

I agree, and it's actually those two examples (Narnia and The Hobbit) that most come to my mind when I think of juvenile and youth books that are skillfully and well written  from a technical point of view..  What I've read of the Harry Potter books (and the "Left Behind" books which also seem big today, even with adults) reminds me more of the "Hardy Boys" and "The Three Investigators" books I read as a teenager as far as narrative style.  Not bad in their own right, but nearly in the class of C.S.Lewis or Tolkien for youth books and not something I'd really imagine adults spending much time in.

[Chadzilla]

I've read a few Goosebumps, that was enough...

I gladly own up to having Marc Cerasini's Godzilla YA novels and two of Scott Ciecin's kiddie 'zilla books.  The Cerasini books are on about the same level as Godzilla Versus the Smog Monster or Destroy All Monsters.  Nothing classic, but you'll have to pry those out of print babies from my cold, dead hands you damn dirty apes!!!  THEY'RE MINE!!!  (Sorry, feeling really weird today).

[John]

I've never read any of the Harry Potter, LOTR or Narnia books. I never really got into fantasy novels which include magic, wizards etc. I always preferred science fiction or horror. I did like the Harry Potter movie though.