It is true that you can skip 400 pages of this book and not miss much of the overarching plot. The beginning and ending of the book make for a good story within themselves. In fact, the ending is intense enough to make a person scream, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 13.
However, as a complete whole, beginning, middle, and end, the book is no less than brilliant. Rowling takes her readers on an adventure that only Harry Potter can present, guaranteed to satisfy any reader.
There are also elements guaranteed to annoy any reader. The fourth book is over formatted. Each chapter fits in place too well all revolving around which task Harry has to undertake next. This makes the book seem choppy at a few too many places.
Another annoyance is the lack of character development for Draco Malfoy. Surrounded by dynamic characterization, it's hard not to notice that Malfoy hasn't changed a bit since Harry met him four years ago. Malfoy's bullying antics come off as more of a plot point, than an interesting bit to the story. This leaves nothing less than a feeling of the reader's intelligence being insulted.
However, as a complete whole, beginning, middle, and end, the book is no less than brilliant. Rowling takes her readers on an adventure that only Harry Potter can present, guaranteed to satisfy any reader.
There are also elements guaranteed to annoy any reader. The fourth book is over formatted. Each chapter fits in place too well all revolving around which task Harry has to undertake next. This makes the book seem choppy at a few too many places.
Another annoyance is the lack of character development for Draco Malfoy. Surrounded by dynamic characterization, it's hard not to notice that Malfoy hasn't changed a bit since Harry met him four years ago. Malfoy's bullying antics come off as more of a plot point, than an interesting bit to the story. This leaves nothing less than a feeling of the reader's intelligence being insulted.
Still, these factors are nothing compared to what the books do have to offer. With a vivid world and mostly realistic characters, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is well worth a read, or maybe three. I myself give a large “Bravo� to Rowling and thank her for the wonderful gift that is the Harry Potter series.
