However I liked it better the second time I read it, in 2005. This time, I found it almost impossible to put down. I finished reading in just a few days despite being rather busy. And when I had finished, I needed time to process it before even thinking about reading anything else. I then wanted to pick up the fifth book immediately - but I know from experience that I enjoy books more when I spread them out somewhat. So I’ve resisted the temptation and will probably re-read the next book in September.
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ begins, unlike the earlier books, with an unpleasant scene in a neglected house in an unknown village. We see lights and hear noises, from the perspective of the unfortunate elderly caretaker. And we then see and overhear some terrible things, which could be quite disturbing to a sensitive child.
The action then moves to Harry, who is staying with his awful relatives, the Dursleys. They loathe anything related to the wizarding world, so when the Weasley family arrive in their blocked up chimney, they are extremely unimpressed. It’s a light-hearted chapter, contrasting nicely with the opening one.
The Quidditch World Cup follows, but the action only takes a chapter or so; more interesting is what’s going on in the stadium, and what happens afterwards. Signs are afoot that the evil Lord Voldemort’s supporters are starting to gather. Harry knows he may be in danger, but he is well protected, and arrives safely at Hogwarts.
There’s yet another new teacher for ‘Defence Against the Dark Arts’. He’s known as Mad-Eye Moody, due to having an artificial eye that travels around his head in a disturbing way. He can see through doors and invisibility cloaks, too. But he is an excellent teacher. And he’s there, in part, to keep an eye on Harry and the international ‘Tri-Wizard Tournament’ which is to take place during the school year.
For the tournament, champions are selected from each of three schools, and must undertake some difficult and dangerous tasks. It would be a spoiler to say what these are, or who partakes. But I found them exciting reading; I knew, reading this time, that this book is far less like a school story than the earlier ones. There are forays into some of the classrooms, but they’re much briefer.
This is the first book where there are hints of romances; Harry and his friends are now fourteen, and just starting to be hormonal. There’s a Christmas ball, too, where everyone is expected to bring a partner. Harry is quite attracted to a girl in another house, but finds it extremely difficult to approach her, to ask if she would be willing to go with him.
Since I have read all the later books, I can appreciate this one more, setting the scene as it does for the battles and final confrontation of the last book in the series. Unlike the first two, this is not a book for younger children. Not that there’s anything overtly inappropriate in it; the bad language that peppers some of the films is only hinted at in the book, when it’s stated that someone swore, or told another person to do something that he would not say in front of a teacher. There are mentions of romantically attached couples embracing in the bushes, but only with the very mildest hints.
However the conflict and tension is up several notches from the earlier books. The champions in the tournament know they may be seriously injured, or die in their quests. We really don’t know who to trust. I had remembered the unexpected revelation that comes near the end of the book, which startled us all when we first read it. Knowing this was coming - like knowing the perpetrator in a mystery book - made me more aware of the reality (so to speak) behind various people’s actions and conversations.
There are some moments of joy, and some light-hearted satirical articles written by an irritating and intrusive journalist. There’s a tense period when Harry’s friend Ron won’t speak to him; and a moving section near the end, when Harry himself breaks down. And then there’s Hermione’s determination to free the apparently enslaved house elves, most of whom are horrified at the idea of being free or earning wages.
The writing is good, the personalities of the important characters are fairly well developed, and the plot of this is, in my opinion, excellent. Each of the first four books has surprises and revelations, but I think the important one in this book is the most unexpected, when read for the first time. Of course, these are intended for older children and teenagers, and as such the language is fairly straightforward. Yet somehow they have a strong appeal to adults too.
I still don’t like what happens in the climax to the book. But seen in the context of the whole, I now realise it was an indication of things to come, and a symbol of the utterly self-centred, indifferent evil of Voldemort. For this whole series involves a battle of good and evil; not that Harry is perfect, by any means. He has no problem breaking school rules, and he regularly neglects his homework, or is untruthful (though never to get anyone else into trouble). But he’s loyal, and courageous, and cares deeply about not just his friends, but almost everyone he comes in contact with.
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ could stand alone. It has brief discussions of what happened in previous books when it’s necessary to know. But the ending isn’t really conclusive; instead it leads the way into the next book. It’s much better read as part of the series. In particular, it's important to have read 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', third in the series.
If you find the length of this book daunting, you could try watching the film version of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'. It's well done, and quite dark (appropriately rated 12 in the UK) but it inevitably misses out quite big chunks of the book.
Review copyright 2019 Sue's Book Reviews
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