Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix- Yes, I finally read it!

So for those of you who don't know- Lori from Pure Imagination challenged me to read the HP books last January {yes, January almost a year ago} and I agreed to the first three in January and the rest through the rest of the year.  I read the first three in January and then the fourth in April and then apparently I just couldn't seem to find time for this one!  But recently Lori kind of reminded me that I really should keep reading them so I pretty much started it right away.  And I really think it's the size that kept me from picking it up.  Seriously, almost 900 pages is a bit intimidating.  And I knew it would take me like four days {yes, that's a long time for me!} to read it. 

{This is my first time reading the series and I haven't even watched the movies!  It's all brand new to me!}

Once I started reading it all hesitation went away.  I was completely sucked into the story and felt like I was traveling home to visit old friends.  I'm kind of getting why people love these books so much. 

This one definitely kept me riveted even though it was darker since Harry was experiencing lots of doubts and was pretty depressed through most of the book.  It was all those horrible things happening that made me so so angry and I just wanted to see all those horrible stupid people go down!  I wanted to see them all realize they were wrong, Harry was right- SO THERE YOU STUPID KNOW-IT-ALLS!!!!!

I didn't cry.  I don't know how I managed but even though something horrible happens I did not cry.  And seriously, it's a miracle.  I'm pretty sure it's because I was reading in a room full of people and there were lots of distractions and I wasn't quite fully immersed in the book when the super sad thing happened.  I'm not sure if it's good or bad but I think maybe it's good.  I just hate that feeling and having it a bit numbed by distractions kept me from bawling my eyeballs out.

Once I started reading this book I realized {again} how amazing J.K. Rowlings ability is to create such amazing characters that most certainly POP but also a world and a story line that are totally mind blowing.  I know you all know that already... but just wanted you to know- I agree!

I'm tempted to pick the next one up right now, but I have a couple review books I really must read first... but I'm thinking it might be really soon!  Which means I ought to be working on getting my hands on the seventh book...

I want to give a big hug to Lori and to Angela {and loads of random people everywhere} who convinced I MUST read these books.  I'm so glad I didn't miss out!