Jellyn's Full Review: J. K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of A...
Will this writer never stop? Aren't two books full of lies about Potter enough? Did we really need a third? At least this one has some bright spots of humor. Like Potter going all to pieces just because a little old dementor strolled past him. Never mind those lying Weasleys who said I did the same. They're full of it. In this book, everyone's all concerned about precious little Potter and the escaped prisoner who may be after him. Potter breaks a lot of rules, but gets away with it. Then he saves the day and everything's all la-dee-daa wonderful for him and his stupid little friends.
Load of tripe. Don't waste your time.
-Draco Malfoy
Introduction
If Draco hasn't turned you off to this book, keep reading. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the best of the Harry Potter books. I think the series really starts to come into its own with this book. If you've read the first two and aren't sure about continuing, please do. You won't regret it. If you haven't read the first two yet, you probably should. The world, the characters, and the plot will make much more sense if you read all the books sequentially. Besides, the first two are relatively short, so you have no excuse!
Plot
As with the other books, this one begins in the summer before Harry's third year at school, Hogwarts. He's still living with his horrible relatives and what's worse, another horrible relative is about to come stay for a while. Harry makes a deal with his uncle to act nice around this aunt-who-isn't-really-his-aunt, but in the end just can't stand all the nasty things she says about him and his parents. His anger gets the best of him and a bit of uncontrollable magic makes his aunt... well, you can read to find out just what happens to her.
Harry's not supposed to be using magic outside of school, so he figures he's really in trouble with the Ministry of Magic. He believes his only choice is to run away and try to make a life for himself. He doesn't get very far, as he accidentally flags down The Knight Bus. Well, he might as well start his new life in London, in Diagon Alley, right? Except the Minister meets him there. Utoh. Turns out it's okay though. The Minister is more concerned with Harry not running around unprotected. It seems there's a very dangerous escaped prisoner and murderer loose who's after Harry.
The trip on the train involves meeting Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who doesn't seem much to look at; very pale and sickly and dressed in shabby robes. The trip also involves dementors who stop the train. They're the prison guards and they're searching for their missing prisoner. But they're also terrible creatures who suck the joy and happiness out of people by their mere presence. Harry takes it rather badly, compared to the rest.
So, how will Harry handle further encounters with the dementors? Who is this escaped prisoner and why is he after Harry? Is Professor Lupin as horrible a Defense teacher as the ones before him? Where's Voldemort come into all this? Read the book to find out!
My Thoughts
It's very difficult to discuss what I really like about this book without giving things away. I hope I can safely say I like Professor Lupin a great deal. He's one of my two favorite characters of the series and the other one also appears in this book. We learn more about Harry's past and about his parents. Hermione plays a larger role in this book than in the one before it -- where she was in the hospital wing for like half the year with two different problems! We experience the Knight Bus. We learn about Dementors. We get to meet Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks and a hippogriff named Buckbeak. We see more of that lovely Whomping Willow. Harry acquires a new Useful Tool (tm). And Snape shows just how much of a git he is.
This book really starts to suck you into the series, especially adults, I think. It also sets the stage for further developments in the next books. If you are the sort to want to jump into the series without reading earlier books, then you should start with this one.
Details
This review is based off an American paperback version, ISBN 0439136369.
Bonus
The movie version of Prisoner of Azkaban is also the best of the movies so far. So be sure not to miss it!
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