POA was a masterpiece. Clearly the best of the entire septology, with the most vivid atmosphere, cleverest plot, tightest storyline and a variety of frightening foes.
POA
GOF
OOTP
COS
PS
HBP
DH
That's the order of my preference. CoS would be 2nd in terms of first-time reads, but it has less re-read value. The whole Polyjuice sequence is boring once you know that it's not Malfoy.
Deathly Hallows was a big disappointment for me. It was very predictable (Harry was a horcrux, Snape loved Lily); the end was a massive anti-climax (he won with an expelliarmus, due to an obscure wand ownership rule of magic); Hermione was an unrealistic fix-all, transforming from a clever witch who was smart but lacked any real flair for magic into a Deus Ex Machina; the Dumbledore subplot was more interesting than the main story; and Harry still failed to live up to the title of "hero". Dumbledore won the war, Harry just followed the path he had laid out (with unnatural prescience) blindly.
Voldemort was also a disappointing villain. We were constantly told throughout the books about how brilliant and clever he was, but then he leaves his horcruxes laying all over the place with no real protection. If all of them had been protected like the one in the Cave (in HBP), Harry would have completely failed in getting them, because he sucked at magic.
In other news: why do I get the feeling that this topic is existing now solely so that the HP lovers can wait to spring upon any lost hater who accidently wanders into the thread?
If people do not WANT to read them then DON'T and let others go about their business. 
)
