What makes HP book #3 such a stand-out to you?

[Lizzy Bennet]

I know there are favourite HP book threads, but I wanted to know specifically, for all of you who consider book #3 (Prisoner of Azkaban) your favourite book out of the Harry Potter series why this is. What is it about book #3 that makes it so special to you? I think this will be especially interesting to know, now that so many of you read book 5, and so many still seem to rank book #3 over book 5. (just remember, we can't talk about book 5 here, as this isn't a 'book 5' section!).

Book #3 (after reading book #5) of the Harry Potter series is my favourite and is very special to me for many reasons. Here are mine:

~ of all the books, it broke the 'face-down with Voldemort' formula
~ there was great suspense, mystery, and revelation in this book
~ the Marauder's Map and learning about the Marauders
~ the first (and a great deal!) of background about Harry's father and his friends and Hogwarts 'back then'
~ the time-travel (it was confusing in parts, but it was different from the other books!)
~ the climax was in the middle of the book...the face-down between the Trio, Sirius, Lupin, and Snape
~ bridging the gap between Harry's and James's generation...how the professors knew both generations well and how Harry learned about that
~ the introduction of Remus Lupin, boggarts, a really awesome DADA class, Lupin's interactions with Snape, etc.
~ fear for Harry for most of the book...Harry running away and not getting in trouble...the Knight Bus...the introduction of dementors
~ Harry's patronus, 'seeing' his father across the lake, working with Lupin to deal with the dementors...Harry's memories

Can you tell I *love* book 3?? Why do you love it? Why is it the best to you? What makes it different and special from the other books? Do share!


~ Lizzy

[Lizzy Bennet]

Sorry for the double post! Just wanted to 'bump' this thread back up to the top again . . . I hope people will respond to it, because I've read so many posts on this forum where people said book 3 was their favourite. I was interested to know why it's your favourite.

As I've said, my favourite character, from the entire series, is Lupin, and he plays a huge role in that book (book #3). He rocks! If you do respond to this thread (and I hope *someone* does!!), be sure not to talk about book 5, as this isn't a book 5 discussion area!


~ Lizzy

[zledm007]

yeah, book 3 was defintiely my favorite too. i think what did it for me was learning so muc habout the past, and the kick butt DADA classes. it's the only book that has had a good DADA class. i was really quite interesting. not only did harry learn a lot about DADA, but we learned it right along w/ him. i hope that somewhere in the series JKR reintirduces a good DADA class. the classes in general are so much more interesting to read when that's one that is good. i also liked bk. 3 because of the intruduction of my favorite character and the one that i think is the best written character in the whole series: serius black. i was so happy that there was finally someone for harry to bond w/ as a parental (sort of) figure. i was dissaointed when harry couldn't stay w/ sirius at the end of bk 3. that would've been so cool. oo, something for my what if forum!!

[Gwared]

I don't have a favorite yet as I've not read book 2 twice to form an opinion (all the others I've read at least twice). But for me books 1 and 2 were seperate stories to draw you into the world and contained less linkage material for the series. Book 3 was the start of the series for me and I especially like Lupin, the dementors and the time-turner script in this book...but the juries still out on whether it's my favorite as I quite like book two too.

[Gryffindor Student]

I like the 3rd book becouse it uncovers so much. Well it did for when it came out. Harry had a Godfather. It talks about Voldemort more. He isint such a mystery that much anymore. It is really an exciting book. My least favorite is the 2nd one.

[Mint]

i loved it because it was soo different! For the first time Harry was being protected by everyone!

[Devinci]

The one thing that made up my mind for me, was the depth of the characters. The 3rd book showed a lot about the characters themselves, where they came from, who they were there with, why they were there, who's mother was there, who's mother's best friend's cat's great uncle was there. I mean, it went extensive.

The introduction of the Marauders was brilliant, they really grabbed my attention, partially because James, and partially because it sort of, set a legacy. The Weasley twins weren't alone, ya know. And all four of them, back in their school days, even Peter, seemed so inviting. How could you not love them? Well...unless you're a die hard snape fan...*sigh*
I just went back after finishing OotP and read the third one again, it's such a great book. The plot is thick, but not too thick, it's a delicate median, which makes it easy to follow, fun to read, and memorable.

Well...of course, there's always the fact that Lupin is God...but, that's another story in itself...

[HuffleDuck]

4 & 5 is definitely my favorite probably cause it's so long and there are a few parts that Harry and Hermione spend their times at the burrow. That's why I liked it. 3 & 2 is my 2nd favorite for their twisted ending. Have to love them.

[Charis]

my favorite book has been a very confusing topic for me. its just so hard to choose! I think I'll have an easier time deciding after i read book 5 again. but, excluding book5, i think i've finally come to the conclusion that book three is my favorite. for a while i though book 4 was, just because of the excitement and action. but, the more I think of it, I see that I like book three better mostly because of the characters.

as many have said, Lupin is great! I love Lupin sooo much! he is so great, so kind, so thoughtful, so wise, and so heroic! really, to go through your life in fear of being rejected and reared and misunderstood because you recieved an unfortunate bite when you were young, must have been incredibly hard on him.

obviously, I also loved sirius. just the fact that he was so close to Harry's father makes you love him, but getting to know him as a person makes you love him more!

there was just a great wealth of characters that you had heard of before that you found out so much more about! especially james. it was great to see a little more of what Harry's father was like at school.

i also loved book three because of the surprises. the murderer that was supposedly trying to kill harry was his own godfather, who was not, after all, trying to kill harry but was trying to kill ron's rat, who, after all, was not ron's rat but was the man who betrayed harry's parents?! incredible. it shows Jk's great imagination and style of writing. i loved it all! the scene in the shreiking shack was probably the best scene in all of the books. although, the graveyard scene in GoF is a close second. actually, maybe its better. who knows? i can't decide. i have trouble deciding on things like that.

[TheAmazingBouncingFerret]

I loved book 3, Mainly because the maruders and the twists in the plot. Lupin was also a fav (weres need to stick together). And Siruis all the way

[Friar Tuck]

I liked it because of the characters as well(mostly Lupin being God-but that's for another day). It was also very Sirius-filled. And darn it, we first met Cho. It also had length, but wasn't long( don't think that's possible). I also liked the somewhat intriguing plot twists. It was somewhat like a soap, but not as monotonous, and without all of the pillow talk, deaths, and cheating/adultery.

[lucill]

I really adored book 3! I agree with all the reasons mentioned above, most of all because of Sirius. Theres just one thing wrong with it: Compared to part 4 and 5 it's too short!

[Charis]

actuallly, I should have mentioned that another reason I liked it was the legnth: I thought it was perfect for book 3. don't get me wrong, I loved how long books 4 & 5 were, but for book three, it ended perfectly. not too long, not too short! it gave us more than 1 & 2, but, if it went on longer, it would have been too dragged out, i think. once again, loved it! I can't really think of any problems with book three, to be honest....

[Bimbybecca]

The third one is my favourite because of all the new magic speels, new items (that bus thing) and all the new characters who end up playing a important role in Harry's life. But my favourite thing was that Harry did'nt come face to face with voldermort, pure genius