Book lovers will undoubtedly know about this book’s lore, in that it holds plenty of missed detail and goes underrated. This fantasy book has taken the crown for the best book that was “better than the movie” counterpart. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling is number one on Goodreads’ “The Book Was Better Than The Movie” list.
The fantasy novel is the fifth and longest novel in the Harry Potter series. It was published on June 21 2003 and sold five million copies in the first 24 hours of its publication.
The book’s synopsis reads: “In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter experiences his darkest year yet, marked by the Ministry of Magic’s denial of Voldemort’s return and the arrival of the oppressive Dolores Umbridge at Hogwarts. Harry forms a secret group called Dumbledore’s Army to learn defensive magic, while also grappling with disturbing dreams and a growing connection to Voldemort. The novel culminates in a battle at the Ministry of Magic where Harry confronts Death Eaters and tragically loses his godfather, Sirius Black.”
The book was then made into a film in 2007 and many die hard fans of the series believe the fifth chapter to be somewhat of a let down in its cinematic journey. Fans are quick to point out that despite the book being the longest book in the series, it was the shortest film.
One reviewer, thepunktheory, noted in their article, Book vs. Movie: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: “Not only was the movie a rushed series of events, I was also annoyed that many matters were but slightly ripped. Therefore, many aspect of the book never appeared (or only very briefly) in the film. This does not only take away a lot of depth, but also makes some parts difficult to understand.”
Another reviewer on Goodreads said: “This was so much better than the movie. I felt book #5 is where the series really gets down to business and loses the childlike innocence that it clasped tightly for some long. What a brilliant, hauntingly beautiful way to write a series that grows as the reader does.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix won several awards, including the American Library Association Best Book Award for Young Adults in 2003.