“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” - J. K. Rowling

⚡️We finished listening to Jim Dale’s fabulous narration of this book last spring. It took us a while to get through because there is so much unfairness/Umbridge to slog through. But it seems fitting that it’s time to recap it after we attended our fourth Harry Potter at the Symphony last weekend. Quick aside, for those who don’t know, this is an absolutely delightful experience where the symphony orchestra plays the entire score of the film while it is being shown. My violinist, cellist, and percussionist have long enjoyed the opportunity to see musicians perform onstage, and it really emphasizes what a magical score the Harry Potter films have. Hat tip to the inimitable John Williams!

⚡️I’ll just share my thoughts on the novel here in no particular order. Obviously they chose not to address the breadth of what Rowling fills the books in films in order to streamline storyline, but Percy is just awful. OOP highlights his self-importance. He is so blinded by ambition that he turns on his own family. Percy in the film gives a brief nod to Percy in the novel, but his behavior in the novel is appalling.

⚡️The level of suspicion and mistrust that Harry encounters at Hogwarts upon his return to school following the disastrous Triwizard Tournament, coupled with Dumbledore’s refusal to so much as glance at him, was hard to bear.

⚡️ Imelda Staunton was phenomenal in the role of Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge is far viler in OOP than in the film. Torturing students?! We get a glimpse in the film, but she was at it long before it was portrayed in the movie. Another failing on the part of Hogwarts staff that Dumbledore, McGonagall, et all knew nothing about this. Surely while Harry was brave-to-the-point-of-harm, there were other students who would have complained about her brutal punishment tactics?

⚡️The Harry-Cho romance was sweet. He won’t admit it, but I know a certain 12-year-old who listened aptly to Harry working up the courage to speak to Cho, or their Valentine’s Day date gone wrong in Hogsmeade. As many have said of Ginny Weasley, Cho’s screen treatment did her a major disservice. 

⚡️One point we all were confused about was Hermione going on a knitting spree and hiding clothing to be accidentally collected by house elves. She seems to think this will free them. But she’s smart, as we know, so why would she think a non-“master” can free any elf? 

⚡️ The chapter on OWLS was a fun peek into Hogwarts student life. The exam stress levels are palpable. I loved the scene where Harry is asked to perform a patronus charm during his Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL, he does it while locking eyes with a seething Umbridge. *Chef’s kiss*.

⚡️There were more significant plot omissions in this movie than in prior film adaptations. They altered and condensed the plot to maintain suitable movie length. But I’m very much in the camp that would happily sit through a scene-by-scene adaptation. I’m hoping the tv series will fill in gaps for us? Still, given time and budget constraints, I still maintain that the Harry Potter films are among the truest to novel adaptations I’ve ever seen.