Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)

Once returned to Hogwarts after his summer holiday with the dreadful Dursleys and an extraordinary outing to the Quidditch World Cup, the 14-year-old Harry and his fellow pupils are enraptured by the promise of the Triwizard Tournament: an ancient, ritualistic tournament that brings Hogwarts together with two other schools of wizardry--Durmstrang and Beauxbatons--in heated competition. But when Harry's name is pulled from the Goblet of Fire, and he is chosen to champion Hogwarts in the tournament, the trouble really begins. Still reeling from the effects of a terrifying nightmare that has left him shaken, and with the lightning-shaped scar on his head throbbing with pain (a sure sign that the evil Voldemort, Harry's sworn enemy, is close), Harry becomes at once the most popular boy in school. Yet, despite his fame, he is totally unprepared for the furore that follows.

This is a hefty volume: 636 pages, of which probably at least 200 could have been cut without detracting from the story. The weight and complexity of the book is perhaps a hint that Rowling now has her eye sharply focused on her adult audience, and the average child-reader (particularly one who is coming to Harry Potter for the first time) may well find its girth daunting. Rowling's ironic and pointed observations on tabloid journalism and the nature of media hype is just one of the references littered through the book that will tickle the grown-ups but may well fly over the heads of her young fans.

However, after a slow start, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire really starts to sparkle halfway through with Rowling's familiar magic (and yes, there is a death--sudden and tragic--and yes, Harry does start to notice girls). The crux of this story, however, is Harry's gradual coming-of-age and his handling of the increasingly determined threats to his own life.

This book is pivotal, not just for the author for whom the heat is well and truly on, but for Harry and his readers who, by the last chapter, are left in little doubt that there is much more to come. (Ages 10 to adult) --Susan Harrison

Customer reviews:

Magical sports!, 2008-10-18
This book focuses on "sport" - first the Quidditch World Cup and then the Triwizard Tournament - so much I actually miss some of the Hogwarts everyday life. But as always it's an unpredictable plot introducing Mad-Eye Moody among other soon to be important characters and bringing Voldemort back in full force, which bodes "well" for the last three books
I've read all seven books in Danish at least twice each. Now I'm going through the lot in English - in the right order that is - and have just finished this one. Okay, I have to admit that I couldn't wait for the Deathly Hallows to be published in Danish, and it was the first of them I read in English first. Even though this one is worthy of five stars, it's not the best one in my opinion. Harry Potter and my Subjective Ranking:
1. Prisoner of Azkaban.
2. Half-Blood Prince. (only in Danish)
3. Deathly Hallows.
4. Order of the Phoenix. (only in Danish)
5. Goblet of Fire.
6. Chamber of Secrets.
7. Philosopher's Stone.
If you've seen the movies and you think it's about time you read the books, I'd say, you may - though I wouldn't recommend it - skip the first one. Basically I consider Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone in US version) an introduction to the main characters and this fascinating and captivating parallel world of magic; having seen the movies this is already taken care of. In general the movies leave out a lot of details, change parts and even put in stuff that you won't find in the books. So I'm afraid there's no way around it but to read No. 2 through to 7 in sequence.
The stories, plots, people, personalities and history etc. is so perfectly interwoven through all seven books, with very few loose ends (when you've finished) and almost no gaps and mistakes. Speaking of mistakes: Why can't Harry see the Thestrals now he has seen Cedric die?
Anyway, this is yet another super-book by J.K. Rowling - I'm tempted to say "spellbinding".
Every time I travel by train I expect "my Harry Potter" to pop up in my head. Maybe you have to travel to and from Manchester for such a thing to happen?

BRILLIANT !, 2008-06-18
Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !
Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !
a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !
Brilliant !