I will :) I think so too xD

Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite too. I can't stand Harry's all caps complaining.

Greetings all book club members! I come to you tonight to pose this term's first discussion question! It is based on chapter 1 of the book, but if you've read further and would like to expand on your thoughts, feel free to do so! Now, without further ado, my question is:

Chapter 1 - Owl Post

For those of you familiar with the series, looking back on this chapter now, what elements of foreshadowing in this chapter help to set up the rest of the plot in the book? What kinds of tidbits of information does Rowling give in this chapter that are seemingly unremarkable at first glance that later help to flesh out the book?

For those who have not read the book before, what sorts of details did you find interesting in this chapter? What information do you feel may be pertinent to the book – or whole series – in the future? Do you have any theories on why or how these details may be important?

Please preface your discussion with whether or not you’ve read the book so we’ve all got some context when reading your post!

Great points! I haven't gotten past chapter 3 yet, but I do remember that the sneakoscope makes an appearance later on in the book(s). Does the broomstick servicing kit appear again, too? And of course there's tons of adventure! <3

I pictured the blowing up of Aunt Marge a lot like in Willy Wonka when Violet blows up after chewing that blueberry pie gum lol.

I may not have read the book in years but have a rather vivid memory of the whole story. Then again I read that book in an hour when it first came out. If we go back to the 1st book Professor McGonagall and her animagus of a tabby cat could be foreshadowing for this book as well. Just I thought I had.

Good point with the cat, too! I had a feeling she'd make a reappearance like that at a later time when I read the first book, too. :)

Hello book club peoples! I'm the co-captain of the book club, just haven't had a chance to post yet! :D

- The broomstick servicing kit definitely makes another appearance within the book that I can remember off the top of my head - when Harry gets the Firebolt, he takes out the servicing kit, trying to find something to do to the broom, but he can't find anything to fix since it's still shiny and new, haha!

Anyway all, I'm here with some questions from Chapter 2. I must say I laughed in this chapter a few times, especially at the end. I agree with Harry - Aunt Marge got what she deserved. What a horrible woman!

Chapter 2 - Aunt Marge's Big Mistake

I think there's a great development of character for Harry in this book, and in this chapter, it shows in the way he attempts to manipulate Uncle Vernon into signing his form based on his good behaviour. Do you think this was a good idea? Or do you think it was doomed to fail from the start? Can you think of another way that Harry might've gotten his Aunt or Uncle to sign the form for him?

Also, I'm just curious... do you think you personally could have withstood her horrible insults without snapping? Personally, I'm amazed Harry lasted so long, I would have snapped on the third day, hah!

I think its interesting that even his "aunt" Marge seems bent on down-trodding him. None of them wanted to give the boy a chance at all. Considering how she let her horrid dog Ripper torment him, (gave him a box of dog biscuits as a child) it was not hard to see that the Harry was going to loose it and I for one felt she rather deserved it.

(haven't had a chance to re-read it, but I've read it well over 20 times and will have to replace my first edition soon as even with my gentle touch the binding is going on the hardcover)

I don't inherently think his trying to manipulate Vernon was a bad thing, but I do think it was doomed to fail. Vernon isn't as stupid as we'd like to think he is. As for how else Harry might've approached it... I think perhaps he could have tried lying? Something like "school policy changes in third year - on weekends we're allowed to apparate home if the form isn't signed, so if you sign it, you won't have to see me at weekends." Vernon and Petunia are so terrified of magic/him that any thought of him poofing into existence in their living room would probably have Vernon signing ANYTHING Harry put in front of him. xD

I think the hardcover books are just brittle! I have a copy of the third book from a very early printing of it (it was the first book that I had to wait to get as it hadn't been published yet) and though I've only read this particular copy a couple of times (I had the first three books in paperback for a while, too, so I tended to read those more since they're more comfortable), my book is also starting to come apart at the spine and the pages are slightly yellowed with age. I think it might be time for an upgrade for me haha, it's just too bad it's hard to come by the original covers nowadays.

I've been replacing them with the British versions rather than the American. One, its preferable to me since I'm half British and I read/write Britishly anyway, but too the bindings seem to be more sturdy. My bother's bought me books 5-7 so far. 3 and 4 are the worst ones in my collection seeing as they are my favourites.

My brother bought them from Abe books online, ebay and I think he ordered one from the UK.

Ooh, clever idea, lying to Harry's Uncle. Of course, Vernon seems to me to be the type to read something thoroughly before signing, so who knows if it'd work.

I definitely figured that things were going to go downhill quickly. But I didn't expect how dramatically they'd do so!

I believe it was a good attempt on Harry's part... but it would Have never actually worked. I do think (as with others) that maybe he could have tried another approach but, with the way he lived I don't think his Uncle would ever give him anything that would make him happy. I would have tried to make a deal with him - something like - on summers I will only stay for a week and then leave... or offer something in return.

I wouldn't have been able to take Aunt Marge... I would have snapped a long time ago. If there was a way to just ignore her then that would make it better but Harry had to actually respond to the things she said. He had to agree with her that he was a bad child and that his parent were no good.

I've just thought that maybe he should have lied about it like "Hey, this form gives teachers at the school permission to beat me if I misbehave." or something, Vernon would have signed it in a second lol.

I doubt they would have believed it. I think Vernon would've read it. Plus it also shows the virtues that Harry had, like honesty and why they way the Dursleys treated him was unwarranted.

- lol. They would have probably liked that but Vernon might have read that it didn't say that. I guess is right, the way it is written shows the good of Harry - which in the end is what he needed to defeat Voldemort.

Ah, I'd forgotten the Aunt Marge scene was a part of this one. Man, I would have loved to have smacked her. I agree, it was remarkable how long Harry lasted before snapping. It shows a lot of development in hiding his emotions, and makes me believe that he could have done better at occlumency, having been successful at and practicing dealing with verbal and emotional torment that much earlier in his life. I think that he tried too hard to have Vernon sign the form. I think he should have waited until after she'd left to ask, or should have threatened Vernon with more than just telling Marge he's a wizard. I'm the kind of person that responds immediately to that sort of comment, so I would have snapped day one and gone to verbal war with her. Probably would have been hit for it, but would have fought back. Then forged Vernon's signature, knowing full well I probably wouldn't be attending Hogsmeade outings that year.

Mine are the British versions, I think they just wear and tear as any other books would. Who knows, though. Hopefully you have better luck than I did!

Good call on Vernon likely reading everything. I wonder whether Harry ever thought of forging a signature. Although I bet there's magical ways to detect forgery haha.

I never even thought about it from the virtues perspective. Good call, . It's brilliant how J. K. Rowling uses these little details to really get her points across.

I love the idea that Harry's history of torment would have made him better at occlumency. I think with even better instruction than he got from Snape, he could have been amazing at it in this context.

Guys, I was joking lol. I don't think he ever would have actually done that.

He did, but not until after he'd asked McGonagall -- at which point she would have known. ^.^