Hi ForeverBookers,
How are you all doing? I’m sorry I’ve been absent for so long! I just haven’t been reading for one reason or another. I think mainly because of the current situation but there have been other things grabbing my attention too, like Pokemon Shield (I’m not guilty!) I’ve been reading “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” when I have been reading and to be honest, I’m GLAD I’ve taken my time with it. I think the reason I enjoyed it so much this time was because I took my time with it. If I’d rushed it, I would have felt cheated because I wouldn’t have experienced all the story had to offer, I feel.
5 STARS!!!!!
I read “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” for a few readathons! These were:
The OWLS - I am carrying this over into May because of the current situation that the world is in. I just didn’t feel like reading dense books in April! And by pushing myself, I wouldn’t have enjoyed this, as much as I did. I read “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” for History of Magic. The prompt was to read a book with a witch or wizard in it. Harry Potter has lots of witches and wizards so it perfectly fit for this! (#25)
The Cardcaptor-a-thon - The Erase - Reread a book you want to give another try - I read this as a child, but only got about half way (see below in the spoiler section). I’m SOOO glad I gave it a reread, on this occasion!
Reading Rivalry - A Book featuring a Dynmamic Duo - this would have been perfect for Harry and Ron, or Fred and George, but instead I had to submit it for page points, for the pages I read in April because I didn’t finish the book by the 30th, the last day of the month.
Fiction Feud Society - I originally read it for the April, Scrabble theme, but when I ran out of time, I put it on the May, Guess Who game instead. I read most of it in May! I put it down for HAT because of Witches and Wizards hats!
Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge - A book with more than 20 letters in it's title - Pretty simple, I don't think I need to explain!
Spoilers Below!
We start “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” not with Harry, as we have in all of the previous novels, but with Voldemort, Wormtail and a mysterious character, Nagini. Voldemort and Wormtail and have been present in a previous Harry Potter books. They are trying to get something, somehow but they need Harry to do it.
“It could be done without Harry Potter, my Lord.”
Another pause, more protracted, and then —
“Without Harry Potter?” breathed a second voice softly. “I see ...”
“My Lord, I do not say this out of concern for the boy!” said Wormtail, his voice rising squeakily. “The boy is nothing to me, nothing at all!”
This stipulates how Wormtail just wants the job done. He doesn’t care about Harry’s welfare, just as Voldemort doesn’t.
Frank Bryce, a character who happens across Voldemort and Wormtail’s conversation when he sees a light on in an abandoned house where the Riddles, who Voldemort as a human once lived, hears that Voldemort is planning more murders. He has no idea who Harry Potter is, just that he’s in trouble!
“He was dangerous — a madman. And he was planning more murders — this boy, — Harry Potter, whoever he was — was in danger.”
Frank Bryce is killed by Voldemort in the first few pages of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
“He was dead before he hit the floor.
Two hundred miles away, a boy called Harry Potter woke with a start.”
Harry suddenly wakes up, not knowing why. He never learns what has happened to Frank. This would have been something the book could have perhaps developed but I understand that it’s long enough already. Even though, the book says, “And who had the old man been — for there had definitely been an old man; Harry had watched him fall to the ground,” so it would have been good if Harry had have learnt just who Frank Bryce was. This could perhaps happen in the next books but I don’t think it will. We’ll see...
Dudley, Harry’s cousin who he lives with when he’s not at Hogwarts, is now the size of a young killer whale, according to Harry. He’s been put on a diet by his school, which his mother, Harry’s Aunt Petunia doesn’t agree with. “The diet sheet had been taped to the fridge, which had been emptied of all Dudley’s favourite things — fizzy drinks and cakes, chocolate bars and burgers — and instead filled with fruit and vegetables and the sorts of things Uncle Vernon called “rabbit food.” To make Dudley feel better about it all, Aunt Petunia had insisted that the whole family follow the diet too.” Uncle Vernon clearly doesn’t agree that his son should be made to eat healthy food either. The whole family is meant to be following the diet but Harry has a secret stash of sweet treats that Ron, Hermione and Hagrid have sent him! He’s very grateful for these!
The Dursley’s just want to be seen as an ordinary run-of-the-mill family. “Their worst fear was that anyone would find out that they were connected (however distantly) with people like Mrs Weasley.” This very clearly outlines how the Dursleys don’t like ANY magical family, the Weasleys, Harry’s best friend, Ron’s family included.
Harry desperately wants to go to the Quidditch World Cup with the Weasleys. He doesn’t want to ask Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia because he’s scared of their answer, however. “If he didn’t do or say anything stupid he might be in for the treat of a lifetime.” This is Harry hoping and praying that he might get permission to go to the World Cup. Will he? You’ll need to read to find out!
When Harry, Ron and Hermione get to Hogwarts, they’re introduced to Moody, their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He seems nice at first, however is there something unnerving about him, as there has been with all previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts?
The main plot of the book comes into play when the main trio get to Hogwarts, I’d say. “It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year,” is Dumbledore announcing it. The fact that the Triwizard Tournament is happening means no Quidditch for the year, however, which Harry is at first disappointed by.
The Triwizard Tournament is a competition for witches and wizards. It’s a bit like a dangerous Olympic Games, I suppose that’s meant to test each competitors strength and stamina as well as their courage. The Hogwarts students are warned by Dumbledore that no one under the age of seventeen can enter, due to deaths in the past. “I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen.” Fred and George Weasley, Ron’s twin older brothers are annoyed because they’re just under the age bracket!
“They’re not stopping me entering,” said Fred stubbornly, also scowling at the top table. “The champions’ll get to do all sorts of stuff you’d never be allowed to do normally. And a thousand Galleons prize money.”
“Yeah,” said Ron, a faraway look on his face. “Yeah, a thousand Galleons ...” is what Fred thinks about the new rule on the age. He doesn’t care! He’ll do what he wants or so he thinks! Ron is also of course in love with the idea of winning the Galleons. Fred wants the glory and the money because he and George are greedy, whereas Ron just wants the prize money! I really appreciated being able to see more of Fred and George in this novel! I love them as characters. Of course though, Harry somehow gets chosen, even though he’s not of age. How and why was he chosen? You’ll need to read to find out!
For the Triwizard Tournament, there is meant to be ONE champion per school. There are three schools. However, when Harry’s name comes out of the Goblet along with Cedric’s, a Hufflepuff at Hogwarts, and a boy Harry has met playing Quidditch in the past, it turns out Hogwarts has two champions. How and why? You’ll have to read for yourself!
Hermione, in this novel is very much the elf ambassador! She cares what happens to them. At the Quidditch World Cup, she came across an elf that was treated badly in her opinion. This sets her on a quest to save the elves. She makes badges and creates S.P.E.W, which “stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.”
“Never heard of it,” said Ron.
“Well, of course you haven’t,” said Hermione briskly. “I’ve only just started it.”
“Yeah?” said Ron in mild surprise. “How many members have you got?”
“Well — if you two join — three,” said Hermione.” This is Hermione’s main plot in this book! I thought it was funny and cute, how she wanted to help save the elves, most of which were treated just fine! Speaking of elves, Dobby comes back in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” as well as Winky, a new addition to the cast of characters. She’s the elf that’s treated badly in Hermione’s opinion. It was a surprise to see Dobby again. I’ve seen the film a number of times growing up but I can’t remember Dobby being present. Actually, all I can remember about it is the ending! I’m really looking forward to watching it again now after enjoying the book so much this time!
Both Harry and Ron are still in the Divination class, Hermione opted out of it in the last book. In doing their homework, Ron suggests they make it up. “You know,” said Ron, whose hair was on end because of all the times he had run his fingers through it in frustration. “I think it’s back to the old Divination standby.”
“What — make it up?”
“Yeah,” said Ron, sweeping the jumble of scrawled notes off the table, dipping his pen into some ink and starting to write.
“Next Monday,” he said, as he scribbled. “I am likely to develop a cough, owing to the unlucky conjuction of Mars and Jupiter.” He looked up at Harry. “You know her — just put in loads of misery, she’ll lap it up.” Ron seems to be fine about making up his Divination homework, which I found to be hilarious! Ron seems to always get away with being his cheeky self, which I love. Apart from with Snape, the infamous potions teacher, however.
Hermione is also an investigator in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” She needs to try to work out what Rita Skeeter, a journalist wants with her and Harry! Of course Rita wants the next big scoop at Hogwarts. But is there something else? And can Hermione shut her down before she can get the answer?!
“My parents don’t read the Daily Prophet, she can’t scare me into hiding!” said Hermione, now striding along so fast that it was all Harry and Ron could do to keep up with her,” is what Hermione thinks of Rita Skeeter. She isn’t scared of her! She’s on a vengeance to get back at Rita for publishing rubbish about her and Harry!
There are new characters present in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” too, as well as Rita Skeeter; who I believe had a role in another book but really only comes into this one as a main character, like Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons headmistress, a French giant who Hagrid develops a crush on, and Karkaroff, the threatening Durmstrang headmaster. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are the other schools going up against Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament. The students from these schools taking part in the tournament also play a role. All of these new characters are very much side characters but they are significant none-the-less. One of these characters might pop up in a later book as there are unanswered questions about them. Who, I’m not going to spoil, though!
Hermione develops a crush on Viktor, the Durmstrang champion. Ron, also has a crush on Fleur, the Beauxbatons champion. I’d say that Viktor has more of a role to play in the book. Why? You’ll have to read to find out!
There are dragons in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!” I knew this because of the cover of my edition of the book more than anything else! The dragons serve as an obstacle for one of the challenges.
“He had an idea Cedric might have told the Hufflepuffs to leave Harry alone, in grattitude for Harry’s tip off about the dragons.” Cedric and Harry get on throughout, even though they’re rivals. It’s not like a Potter/Malfoy relationship. While this would have been exciting to see, I get why the author didn’t want to repeat that. Harry helps Cedric in telling him about the dragons. This gives him Hufflepuff support, he feels. Hufflepuff is Cedric’s house.
There is a ball for all the students from the different schools to socialise. Both Harry and Ron have trouble finding dates. I found this hilarious too! Hermione, however has it easy, as Viktor pledges himself to her. She fancies him, much to Ron’s annoyance. This is why Ron ends up with someone who he doesn’t particularly like, “Oh, I see,” Hermione said bristling. “So basically, you’re going to take the best looking girl who’ll have you, even if she’s completely horrible?”
“Er — yeah, that sounds about right,” said Ron. Ron is absolutely hopeless!
Another character that comes back is Sirius Black, the infamous criminal of Azkaban that escaped in the last book. He’s present to make sure that Harry is cared for and looked after. Harry writes to Sirius at the beginning of the book, as well as at a few other times. Hedwig takes the notes back and forth between them. This is so Sirius can stay off the radar, as he is still seen as a criminal by many, even though Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore know that’s not true! I enjoyed reading Sirius’s parts. It was nice to see Harry have a fatherly figure. I can’t remember seeing Sirius in the movie of “The Goblet of Fire.” I plan to watch it soon, so I guess I’ll see then! Snape and Sirius still have their bitter rivalry. Can this be sorted out? Are there sacrifices that have to be made?
The ending had me gripped! I can remember not getting to the ending when I read the book before! I was bored around a point where not much was happening in the plot. I think it was just after Ron had had a squabble with Harry, which I found entertaining this time around reading it!
Overall then, I think I’m obviously giving “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” 5 Stars! I can’t wait to read the next book, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in August (even though it is the NEWTS Magical readathon) and September and maybe a little in October too, as it’s a LONG book! Have you read this book? What did you think? Were you like me when you first read it, did you stop half way through? I’d be interested to know...
Stand by for my next review, coming soon...
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