So I finally got round to finishing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It’s taken me about a month to read it – not because it was so long, but because it was so dull. I kept having to go off and read other stuff inbetween chapters to stop myself from falling asleep. I didn’t enjoy the last one much, but this one has made me seriously consider not bothering with the final two books in the series.
And I feel more than a little cheated. I was promised the death of a major character. The way I see it, the Harry Potter books have five major characters – Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid and Dumbledore. You could perhaps make an argument for Snape and McGonagal if you were feeling generous. It wasn’t one of those who died. It was another character who has made fleeting appearances in the last two books.
I think I’m going to have to go and reread all of Martin Amis’ back catalogue to reaffirm my faith in English Literature.