Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3 Audio CD)

Customer Reviews

A "read-until- you-finish it" book!

As Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts with his friends Ron and Hermione for their third year, the young wizard-in-training is under constant watch from the school's staff. Although the Muggle world, including Harry's aunt and uncle from whom he finally fled near summer's end, believes that one Sirius Black is nothing more than an ordinary (although dangerous) escaped convict, the wizards know that Black escaped from their own prison: Azkaban. He'd been there for twelve years, as punishment for his role in the murders of Harry's parents.

Despite Dementors (the most horrific prison guards an author ever conceived) surrounding the school, Harry soon has reason to believe that Sirius Black is nearby. The Dementors' effect on the boy wizard makes them almost as dangerous to him as Black may be, though. And what's the secret that the school's new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts is hiding? Is it, too, connected in some mysterious way to Harry's past?

This third in J.K. Rowling's series is the best so far. It retains the earlier books' humor, deepens the characterizations of its principals, and unfolds more of an over-arching, multi-volume plot while giving its own story satisfactory resolution. It is a darker tale than the first two. The "good vs. evil" theme continues to shine through its pages, but we - along with Harry - come to realize that knowing which is which may not always be simple.

A "read-until-you-finish-it" book!

I'm 23 and I've read it twice

In anticipation of Harry Potter, Book 4, I had to read the first three books again. What I was struck with, again, is the sheer imaginative nature of J.K. Rowling's books. Simply put, these books are instant classics.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the third in the series following Harry Potter at Hogwart's school of wizardry. Harry is now a 13-year old (his birthday occurring at the beginning of the book), and concerned mostly with classes, Quidditch (a wizard sport), and the fact that he's not allowed to visit the local wizard village of Hogsmeade with his friends on the weekends. One of the reasons for this is that Sirius Black, a convicted murderer, has broken out of Azkaban, the wizard prison, and word has it that he's out to get Harry.

In keeping with Harry Potter tradition, the reader can expect surprises, twists and turns, malicious rivals, uncommonly kind professors, terrible relatives, amazing magic candy, true friendships, and a whiz-bang ending.

It's delightful to see how Rowling can stay true to the feel of the previous books, and yet allow Harry and friends to mature. This book is a little longer than the previous books, but the imagination never lets up, and gradually Harry's world is widening.

I would recommend this book to ANYONE (any age) who enjoys the writings of Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, or J.R.R. Tolkien. This is a very fun, humourous, and enjoyable fantasy novel, and one that should be read more than once!

The foundation of HP

It was the release of this book that finally got me to pick up the series that had so many children and adults raving. It was one of the best book decisions I ever made. HP has proven to be an exciting and fun way to bond with my nieces and nephews along with many coworkers and friends.

"The Order of the Phoenix" does take the reader deeper into the dark world which Voldemort, the nemesis of HP and all good witches/warlocks has tried to plunge them. This book finally sheds light on part of Harry's past that helps to explain the present. Along with Harry, we learn more about his parents and about how things were at the time Voldemort killed them.

We are also introduced to an integral character, Sirius Black. Is he a good witch or a bad witch? Read this "Prisoner of Azkaban" to find out.