These books just keep getting better. I love the subtle way all the mysteries are tied in from one book to the next. I now understand why so many people were upset with the last movie - so much was left out. ( )

对《哈利·波特》系列的感情，远胜于宫崎骏、胜于小王子云云总总，记忆中有过这种期待和兴奋感觉的，同类的书就只有少年时看郑渊洁的童话了——同样有着非凡的想象力，同样告诉儿童世界的真实，同样不仅仅适合于儿童阅读……

It is hard to have thoughts about this book without spoiling it for anyone so I am going to say that there may be spoilers here. I love the mixture of absolute hilarity (WonWon and LavLav being a personal favourite of mine) with the seriousness of the growing darkness. I can sometimes feel like Rowling spends a lot of time in her books setting up the action scenes and then they are over in a flash. This is also true in this book. I love the richness this adds to the characters but at the same time it becomes predictive and repetitive at times. I could completely understand Dumbledores frustration with Harry when Harry refuses to let the Snape/Malfoy connection go. But then again I work with teenagers and boy when they internalise something it is STUCK so it is rather in character. On the whole I do love this book even though the ending makes me very sad. Just sad. ( )

In the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, a new year at Hogwarts begins, along with a new teacher, old pals, and (relatively) new love interests. Harry learns more of Voldemort's past, and the key to his defeat.

Before I start blabbering endlessly, I'll get this out: J.K. Rowling has such a talent for storytelling. She nails it nine times out of ten, and has created a perfect balance between fantasy and reality that (I'm sure) many writers would kill for. In the Half-Blood Prince, I also felt a different sense of balance. Although there was tension and sadness, there was also laughter (There were several moments I had to set the book down because I was cracking up)and sheer excitement. The story didn't falter, and I enjoyed every chapter of it.

J.K. can also write one good, long sentence. That's the best kind, in my opinion.

The only thing I wish of the Harry Potter books is that I could read them again for the first time. There's something about trying to fit all the pieces together, laughing aloud, and mourning the loss of characters you love that can't be experienced quite the same way again. I feel like I've grown up with these books, and there are so many good memories attached to them. Despite the series being finished, I will always be glad to reread a Potter book. And watch the movies too. :) ( )

Fun development of the adolescent puppy love scenarios to balance out the death. Clever misdirection on the Half-Blood Prince. Obvious set-up for the final book. I am most curious about Snape. ( )

Wow! After reading Book VI, I had to read the series all over again. I love the background. ( )

HBP is a bit on the cheesy/fluffy side, with a lot of focus on love and less on action. It's a good story though, and necessary to the plot as a whole. ( )

This novel is a breathless ride, from the first couple of sequences involving the Muggle Prime Minister and then Snape performing a mysterious Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy to the heartbreaking funeral of one of my favourite characters.

It seems as though Rowling has achieved once again the tight plotting and exciting storyline that she managed in the Prisoner of Azkaban - this sixth book in the series is by far the best since that highlight.

Here we explore a great deal of Voldemort's back story through the use of memories that Dumbledore has collected from various people who had dealings with the Dark Lord. I loved delving into the why of Voldemort and how he became the pale and snakelike creature he now is from starting out as Tom Riddle.

As well as this, Rowling introduces the idea of Horcruxes - unlike some of the other items she has introduced into previous books just to fulfil some specific use, the Horcrux is much more than this and pulls together the plotlines that have gone before (e.g. the diary of the second novel). I enjoyed how Harry had to pursue Professor Slughorn in order to gain the final memory that would reveal Voldemort's plans.

Slughorn was an interesting addition to the cast of characters - a genial and rather shallow man, weak and somewhat cowardly. His arrival allowed Snape to finally take on the role of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and pushed Harry into taking Potions and thereby discovering the textbook that was once owned by the Half-Blood Prince of the title.

I adored the fact that Hermione was deeply jealous of Harry's newfound ability in Potions. I also liked the way that Harry used the notations of the Prince in his textbook - although this lead to one rather nasty and gruesome moment.

In fact, this book is heavy on the nasty events. It is emphasised how much the wizarding world has changed and grown more distrustful. Some pupils are no longer allowed to attend Hogwarts; each day Hermione scans the Daily Prophet to see who has died; and there are gory moments in the plot (such as when Draco and Harry face off against each other).

There are many moments that make this book one of the best in the series. For instance, I deeply appreciated the beautiful touch of Dumbledore saying, at the start of the book, that Harry would be safe because he was with Dumbledore - and then at the end of the book, Dumbledore says that he knows he will be alright because he is with Harry. It is a very poignant moment and reveals the deep feelings of love and respect that Dumbledore has for Harry.

I enjoyed finding out why Tonks' appearance and Patronus had changed, and I rejoiced when Harry and Ginny finally came together. Another paragraph that had me close to tears was when Harry realised that Luna and Neville were the only two members of the DA who had responded to Hermione's summons - very moving and honest.

Once again, the gloom of the book is disappated somewhat by some comedy moments - these included the Apparation lessons and test, and Ron's whole relationship with Lavender (pure comedy gold at times - Won Won!)

This book is excellent - thrilling and emotional in equal measure. And I defy anyone not to feel a tremendous sense of loss when they realise that the seventh book will not include Hogwarts, by now a character in its own right. I look forward immensely to the climax of the Harry Potter series. ( )

Again, these books only seem to get better as the character continue to mature. A heartbreaking cliffhanger, but possibly the best book in the series so far. ( )

My favorite Harry Potter. Full of hidden clues that feed right into the high drama of the 7th book. The film was okay but did not do this book justice. This one has so much happening in it that the film ignored. Read it. It's the most beautifully written of the HP series. ( )

OT: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ( )

This is another one of Harry's adventures, where Harry discovers how to defeat Lord Voldemort, and what are horcruxes. I really enjoy reading it, and look foreward to the next magical adventure! ( )

JK Rowling has done it again with the sixth entry in the Harry Potter series, The Half-Blood Prince. It starts off differently than the other books, and ends with the biggest twist in the series. Harry vowed that this would be his last year at Hogwarts, to exact revenge on He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named. Want to find out why? Read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. ( )

Like all the previous books in the series, it is a compelling read. I just could not put it down while I was reading. Rowling has returned to her high standard that was slightly lost in the previous book. In spite of a surprise and sad ending, I consider this book to be the best of the series. ( )

The Harry Potter books are all about being an outcast and then finding your place in the world. In these books, courage, and bravery are tested, and the good does not always prevail. These books teach that life is not always fair and that you get what you fight for.

Let's face it, Rowling was bound to slip up eventually. But she hasnt done too badly with her sixth book, Half Blood Prince. Yes shes back to her old games of trying to remember in the long distant past what it was like to be a teenager, and yes her feeble attempts at humour still havent improved. HOWEVER, there's another death close to Harry. And an actual idea in the LOOOOONG but dull Voldemort seems to be developing. Not your best JK, but you've done a lot worse. ( )

This summer I was delighted to become an avid Harry Potter fan. After seeing the latest movie, I went home and immediately started reading (although some may disapprove of the order I read). Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth of the seven book series written by J.K. Rowling. A series of fictional books, J.K. Rowling writes of young wizards attending one of the best wizarding schools in the world, Hogwarts. The main character, Harry Potter, comes back for his sixth year, after having dealt with many near death situations with Lord Voldemort, his enemy and most powerful wizard of all time, to whom wants to kill him. Voldemort is getting stronger every passing day, and Harry finds himself more and more involved with dangerous situation, dragging his two faithful friends Hermione and Ron along with him, and understanding more about Voldemort with the help of Headmaster Dumbledore.
Having never read any of the Harry Potter books, it was very interesting to switch perspectives and read about magic, where as I’m usually in the mind set of modern day or historical events. One thing I picked up on that J.K. Rowling does, some might not even recognize it, but she doesn’t re-write a past discussion or situation when a character is discussing it with another. Knowing that the reader just read it, she’ll say something like, “After Harry described what happened…” This stuck out to me because I feel like most authors would try to re-write the whole situation while in the readers head their thinking, “I’ve just read this”, although it may vary for people. As I mentioned before, I read the books out of order. After seeing the movie in the theater, I came home and immediately started reading the sixth, then continued with the seventh and then jumped down to the third, fourth, and fifth (I’ve already read numbers one and two). It was extremely interesting to read about the things not put into the movies also. It’s funny because I would always hear people saying, “They missed so much from the books!” If you think the movies are good, picture the books being twice as delicious. I wouldn’t change one technique or style that she uses while writing the book, it’s perfect.
J.K. Rowling does an amazing job describing her characters and the actions or emotions to which they perform. I started to depict and imagine different people in my head from the movie, or even how the scene would unfold. It also astounded me and actually took me a long time to grasp that J.K. Rowling, all by herself, was able to create such a strong and excellent series of books. Never in my wildest dreams would I be able to write such a complex series, having to know what was going to happen in the last book while writing the first.
Although fiction books have slowly been drifting of my reading radar for quite some time now, I truly enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It was my first book of the series, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a book you can’t put down. Each page unfolds something new, something you never would have guessed. It’s a thrilling novel, and I don’t doubt myself at all when I say I’ll read them a second and third time. ( )

There is a part of this novel that I have never read. When Harry and Dumbledore are on the lake, and Dumbledore drinks the liquid in the cup - I mean, I have tried. But I can't do it, and have reconciled myself to always skipping three or four pages at that point, and when the film came out, I stuck my fingers in my ears and screwed my eyes shut and waited for someone to tell me it was safe to come out. (And then, I was just fine with the army of undead corpses that follows. Go figure.)

So, Harry's in his sixth year, and for the first time ever, he's not plotting anything. He's got a minor neurotic fixation on Malfoy, Ron and Hermione are bickering constantly, the newest Hogwarts teacher is called Horace Slughorn and he eats a lot of pineapple. Snape is finally teaching Defence Against The Dark Arts. All is, if not well, at least better than it has been for some years; consequently, Rowling takes the opportunity to do something a little more teenage. And very teenage they all are, Harry and Ginny, Ron and Lavender, Hermione and... well, you'll see. There is a truly delightful interlude involving Ron, a love potion and Harry getting punched in the nose. The previous book was lacking the same sense of teenage boarding school hijinks - they're back with a vengeance in this one, and it's a delight. Harry, also, has grown up palpably, and he's a pleasure of a narrator, likeable, sweet and ever-more competent.

There is, of course, a plot. Dumbledore is recounting to Harry, through means of a Pensieve, the story of Voldemort's early years, and this, too, is well done. The sequence of stories builds until, suddenly, things begin to tie together at the end, getting darker and darker until at last we're at that scene on the lake, and what happens after. I was shocked the first time; on the re-reading, it's not as viscerally affecting, but the impact of it remains.

So, although it's mostly a long prelude to Deathly Hallows, it's a good book. It's technically polished and engaging, and after Order of the Phoenix, it made me love Harry again. ( )

My favourite of the Potter books. Great story at a great pace. ( )

Aug09: Easily my favorite. Why? Harry gets the girl.

Characters: C'mon, Jinny is the hotness. Everyone else is styling too. Heck, I even sympathize with Draco.
Plot: Smooth as butter.
Style: Captivating as ever. Makes you think you are *THERE*. ( )

Sixth book in the Harry Potter series. (Read just prior to watching the movie version, as has been my custom with the previous Harry Potter books.) Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts for their sixth year. However, things are becoming very dire as Voldemore continues to work behind the scenes to reestablish his power base. Dumbledore takes a direct role in Harry instruction this year, sharing with Harry what is known of the dark lord's past. These flashbacks via the the magical device of Dumbledore's called the Pensieve are a focal part of this novel. At the same time, Ron and Hermione experience another rather sizable "bump in the road" in their relationship, while Harry starts to develop feelings for Ron's sister, Ginny. The pace of the book can seem a bit slow at times, especially with all of the Pensieve flashbacks, but once Voldemort's biggest, darkest secret is discovered and it is revealed what Dumbledore and Harry must do to defeat him, things really pick up fast. From a dangerous mission of just the two of them away from the school and back to the school again where the forces of Voldemort have infiltrated the school's defenses and are on the attack. Significant things happen in this installment in the series (including the death of a major character), and present an almost irresistible lead-in to the final, seventh, volume in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Finished reading 7/19/09) ( )

The narrartor of all the Harry Potter audio books, Jim Dale, is awesome. ( )

In this book, one of the best books in the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling begins to tie together events in the previous books, as well as building the groundwork for the final book in the series. She's a master storyteller and readers will marvel at how seemingly innocuous scenes and characters in the earlier books prove to be meaningful after all.

One of the best things about this series is how the characters mature through the course of the books. Harry has thankfully matured since Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is far less angry and far more thoughtful. Romance is in the air now that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are older, but romance isn't just for the young as we get glimpses of the enduring love between Arthur and Molly Weasley, the engagement of Fleur and bill, and another romance between the adults that put a smile on my face. But there are different types of love, and this book, even more than the others, shows how important the friendship and love between Harry and his friends (and teachers) is, and will, I suspect, play an even bigger part in the last book.

In between romantic interludes, there is, of course, school lessons, but outside of Potions lessons and Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, the book doesn't focus much on them. Even Hermione seems a bit more relaxed about schoolwork. Quidditch too, while still important to Ron and Harry, seems to be less consuming to them as it once was.

I'm puzzled as to why critics continue to refer to these as children's books as the series ceased to be just for children several books ago. Younger, children, in fact, may have a hard time dealing with certain events in this book.

This continues to be an outstanding series. Rowling answers many questions in this book, yet creates even more questions that leave the reader hungry for the next book. ( )

I liked this book of the series because it talked about the origins of Voldemort and made a clearer understanding of Snape. ( )

Sad and wonderful. ( )