The Telegraph is reporting today that the third Harry Potter novel, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” has been voted one of the Greatest Novels of All Time according to a new survey carried out by Play.com. The UK retailer polled 2000 readers, which ranked J. K. Rowling’s third Potter novel number 9 on their list. The Harper Lee classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was voted the greatest book of all time, while such books as “The Da Vinci Code,” “Pride and Prejudice,” The Lord of the Rings,” and “Animal Farm” joined “Prisoner of Azkaban” in the top ten. The top ten Greatest Books of All Time from Play.com are:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
2. Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S Lewis
4. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
5. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
6. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
7. Animal Farm – George Orwell
8. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – JK Rowling
‘Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban’ is my favorite out of the seven. there’s just something extra special in ‘Prisoner Of Azkaban’, extra ‘Magical’, perhaps…
It surprises me that people like it that much… I always assumed people enjoyed ‘Goblet Of Fire’ Or ‘Order Of The Phoenix’ more.
Huh, I guess I assumed wrong, eh?
‘Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban’ will always be my favorite.*
It’s my opinion that if the Harry Potter series manages to turn some of its books into classics, these two are the most probable: Sorcerer’s Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban. The former simply because it’s the first one. And the latter because it’s the one that shows a glimpse at how deeply plotted the over-arching story is and that not all is what it seems. It turned readers into fanatics and Joanne Rowling into a superstar.
Personally, Deathly Hallows is my favourite, but it’s also too dependant on the earlier books to stand on its own, so I don’t think it will be lauded as much. But then again, Half-Blood Prince tend to show up a lot in some of these top tens…
“To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Pride and Prejudice” are two of my all-time favorites. I think Harper Lee’s style is very much like JKR’s – lots of humor.
POA is definitely my favorite HP film, but Deathly Hallows and Order of the Phoenix are at the top of my HP book list.
Looks like mystery fans didn’t have a lot to say with this list. I would love to see anything by Agatha Christie here. “Murder on the Orient Express”, “Witness for the Prosecution”, and “And Then There were None” are all wonderful stories.
I was taking the list seriously, until I saw the DiVinci Code made it. Sorry, but for my tastes it was crappy and won’t be remembered for too long.
As for HP:Prisoner of Azkaban, I’m tickled because that is my favourite of the Potter Books (mostly because HP:Goblet of Fire has such a depressing ending).
Posted by Alice in Muggleland on June 19, 2008, 08:05 PM
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yay! Prisoner of Azkaban is my personal favourite and in my opinon the best Potter Book. Lupin and Sirius rocked in it! It was so great finding out about the Marauders and the family betrayal.
Prisoner of Azkaban is also the best movie by far and will probably always be. Alfonso is one of the best directors on the planet I think and Gary Oldman and David Thewlis….there are no words to desbribe their brilliant acting ability! I’m so glad this made the list! :)
It is really great.almost all the books on the list are good ones,but I really think that Prisoner Of Azkaban should have come first. Anyway,its not that bad no.9,is it.Many many congratulations to Jo rowling
Posted by seher from Pakistan on June 19, 2008, 08:29 PM
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It’s so cool that Jo gets on the list with all the writers like Jane Austen and Emily Bronte
I love Azkaban—it’s absolutely my favorite out of the first four Potter books, and I think it has the best “reveal” of the whole series, when Sirius and Scabbers (!) are revealed for who they really are. The plotting is diabolically clever but also satisfyingly economical (well, except maybe for the time-travel bit…), and it’s beautifully self-contained, even as it adds richness and emotional depth to the backstory of the overarching tale. Plus, Lupin’s classes make for some of the best “school” scenes of the series. So much of JKR at her best!
"I did warn you," said a deep, amused voice... He surveyed Fred and George... "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a lit
Wow that is an eclectic list. I like it.