Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (1999) - Plot & Excerpts
Some people tend to think this book is the worst in the whole series, but I disagree: I find this one of the best. Why? Well, of course it was incredible to be introduced to Hogwarts in the first book, with all its houses and classes and festive traditions, but a story needs more than that. To be good, a story needs depth and in order to gain depth the writer must come up with enough background either to the characters individually and to the story itself. I am sure this series could have gone down hill with no more than three books had the author not perceived it needed to be matured; young kids who had read and been enchanted by Sorcerer's Stone would get older, so the story had to get a few darker shades in order to keep up with their aging, otherwise audience would decline.This book provides enough background for a second book, making you feel like reading more. Of course we get to see Harry, Ron and Hermione back together at Hogwarts, but it's not all happiness and welcoming friends anymore. The Chamber of Secrets already at its beginning sends us a clear message: everything is different and there is real danger around. Most of the danger is caused by intangible old magic. After a very clever fashion, Rowling gives hints to what the story would become years later, as we see Harry and his friends discovering some of the dark past of some characters and of Hogwarts itself. Some of the messages seen in the first book are reinforced, like the value of friendship and power of loyalty, but other than that this book is much more complex, dark and mature.I won't spend much effort trying to explain anything down to details, since pretty much everyone that hasn't been living under a rock knows most of the story. Instead, I will just cover a few points which I really enjoyed and which I didn't like that much while reading The Chamber of Secrets. First of all, despite the new shadowy atmosphere provided by the whole reopening of the Chamber of Secrets situation, Hogwarts felt a lot more real and familiar here than in Sorcerer's Stone. Part of it is due to the fact that, at some point, the fear of being attacked by the mysterious monster that was roaming around was so strong that everyone got closer to each other. There were lots of scenes describing people chatting on the common rooms, having snacks together; it felt cozy and warm, despite the palpable danger. The other aspect that I liked was how difficult the author made every part of the investigation Harry, Ron and Hermione were running in order to find out the truth about the heir of Slytherin. The fact that they had to work for months on the Polyjuice potion only enriched the story; made it more real - in most books about witches they just flick their wands and everything happens.I've been trying to think about the negative aspects, anything that I don't like about The Chamber of Secrets. The only thing that comes to my mind, though, is the same complaint that would come from Ronald Weasley: spiders. I also suffer from arachnophobia, so those chapters full of spiders were a real pain for me to read without having to check every corner of my room every five seconds. Overall, though, this book is flawless. Interesting quotes that I didn't include in the review: It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. The Last Passage(view spoiler)[ The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped.Harry pulled out his quill and a bit of parchment and turned to Ron and Hermione.“This is called a telephone number,” he told Ron, scribbling it twice, tearing the parchment in two, and handing it to them. “I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer — he’ll know. Call me at the Dursleys’, okay? I can’t stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to. …”“Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won’t they?” said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier. “When they hear what you did this year?“Proud?” said Harry. “Are you crazy? All those times I could’ve died, and I didn’t manage it? They’ll be furious. …”And together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world. (hide spoiler)]
A lot of people cite this book as their least favorite in the Potter saga; many of my friends included. When I asked one of my friends why he felt it was the worst of the bunch, he gave me a very reasonable reply. He'd come in late on the Potter game, having only read them last year in fact, when a Professor of his was walking them through what it takes to be a good mystery-- using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as an example of a perfectly fashioned mystery.Moving on to the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, my friend (let's call him Rex) found that this book wasn't up to standard mystery-wise in the way the first book had been, which is what he'd been expecting. Maybe it's because I first read it as a child, or it's maybe because I was more interested in the fantasy aspect, but I never really cared, nor do I care now that it doesn't follow the same standard mystery guidelines. Rex was the only person who gave me an answer other than "I don't know, I just don't like it as much," so therefore his is the only one that I'm able to analyze. But enough negativity, allow me to explain what I do like about it.Um, Ron's broken wand? Hysterical. Well, if I'm being honest, any single scene including Mr. Ron Weasley is bound to make me smile and any interaction between him and Hermione (yes, even this early on) is bound to make me squee!!!!!!!!!! Notice how quick he is to jump to Hermione's defense; notice how distraught he is over Hermione's being petrified. Oh, how I love them.To add a few more- Harry's first trip to the Burrow! The flying car! Fred and George marching ahead of Harry, announcing him mockingly as the Heir of Slytherin! The singing Valentine's Day Dwarves! And our introduction to the Whomping Willow! Come on people, this is classic stuff!I also love the part Ginny Weasley plays in this book; not so much the whole "helping the Heir of Slytherin thing," but her mad crush on Harry. Maybe because I was granted the fortune/misfortune of having a brother a grade above me, I also had the wonderful fortune/misfortune of crushing on all his super hott (yes with two t's) friends. Ah, how I remember the days of pining for them, of whining over their lack of return interest, of cursing my blasted gapped teeth and frizzy hair. Of course, unlike Ginny I was never able to woo any of them in the end, (even after my braces!) but I still think I did alright as far as men go;)Okay, back to the text. I even enjoy ol' Lockhart, for what he's worth. Yeah, he's obnoxious, but that's the point, right? And yeah, the degree to whch he is obnoxious is a little cartoony and unrealistic, but let's not forget- this is a children's book, after all. Chamber of Secrets also sees Harry destroying his first Horcrux, and offers us our first insight into one Tom Riddle. I would never discount this book, or cast it so carelessly aside as least favorite of the bunch (I don't believe in ranking these books, by the way). Anyway, it receives a full five stars from me with zero hesitation. I appreciate it's contribution to the Potter world and will look forward to reading it again when the time comes...which it will.
What do You think about Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (1999)?
4,5 stars!I'M BACK!!!!!What can I say about this amazing series that completely steal my heart? It doesn't matter if I'm stressed and sick as I was in this past one week and a half - this book completely soothes me. For some people, Harry Potter may just be a magical story that is far from reality and that they only find interesting. For me, it's a way to travel to another world and get lost. It's rooting for characters, being scared for them and trying to guess what is going on. It's... it's turning off everything around you and being happy to do it. “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”This book is different from all the other books because we are shown a side to Voldemort (you-know- who) for the very first time. His time as a student throughout his diary, which is found by Harry and leaves him (and us) very confused and eager to know what does he has to do with everything going on in Hogwarts. (people are being petrified, guys). This book also has scaryyyyy monsters all over it! And we see how Harry and Ron deal with not having Hermione's 100% cleverness beside them. “Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.”When I was a child, I used to play Harry Potter with my brother and cousins. The point was: we would pick our "wands" (our school pens) and throw spells at each other and won the person that "defeated" the most and who used as many different spells as possible. And I have to say, if I had read this at the time or watched this movie more, I would have won a thousand times. This book is so rich in spells! Most of them bad hehe. This is due to the fact that this has a lot of action and things that you didn't expect in a million years happen and you're left speechless. And I love some good adventure-fantasy story. Yeah, Harry Potter is a total must-read. Besides, I love Dumbledore from movie one and two so much that I kept reading this and imagining him as Dumbledore. With all his wisdom, he reminds me a lot of my grandpa. And my grandpa loved Harry Potter, so it's only fitting, huh?
—Kathe L
About a year ago I threw a tantrum begged Delee to read Harry Potter with me. She had never read it and I just simply can’t accept that. Because let’s face it:.Well, she inevitably, jumped on the bandwagon with the rest of the world. I was so thrilled that she not only finally read it but that she loved it. It took her a whole year to get around to the next book, but she did and that’s all that matters. She’s already given this one 5 stars! AND we’ve scheduled our reading of Prisoner of Azkaban for August** of this year. I’m one excited Potthead!Chamber of Secrets catches some heat from fans for being too much like the first one. But, I assure you it’s really not that similar. Sure, there’s our favorite trio once again keeping secrets from adults who could totally use that information. Sure, there’s something sinister going on in the school causing everyone’s feathers to be ruffled. Sure, there’s a Professor who isn’t exactly who he says he is.But, this story is different. And damn it, it is FUN. I can’t tell you, now, how many times I have reread this series. What I can tell you is that every single time this one gets funnier and funnier. There was more than one occasion where my giggling fits caused the bed to shake leading to Jerrid’s disgruntled complaints. His grumblings went unnoticed though, for how am I to show any self-control whenever Professor Lockhart is in the room? JK Rowling’s books are something truly special, something that will live within us for the rest of our lives. The quotes from these books are as engrained in our brains as our own names. I look forward to continuing this journey with Delee. I can only hope that there will be others that will follow her lead and give these books a chance when they thought them not worth their time. Trust me on this, if you’re not reading these books you’re making a huge mistake. Just remember what Dumbledore says: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” You’re my next victim prospect, Jeff. Best be ready, MahFah.
—Stepheny
In a bid to recapture the Harry Potteresque brand of nostalgia, I am re-reading the series. And loving every bit of it. I always find that the second offering in a long-running series is always the most fulfilling. After the first book, we have the character profiles down to a tee, we have decided on our personal favourites and pet-peeves and we can easily summon up the scenery and the ambience. So now it’s just a question of belting-up and getting ready for more nail-biting action.And Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets does just that. Harry knows who’s baying for his blood (Malfoy, Snape and good ol’Mouldy-Voldy) He has a clearer picture of his own powers and abilities. I won’t mention the plot as most of us already know it by rote and those who don’t, are getting converted...as I speak.The high point of the second book is a mysterious...erm....MYSTERY. Rather than laboring on about Harry’s traumatized past and his future trials, it deals with his actual adventures in the present day. Mysterious mumblings in the walls, an unknown beast lurking in some obscure chamber and hapless victims, this book has all the makings of a classic detective novel. Harry Potter gets a chance to prove that all the adulation and hero-worship is justified and he puts up a knock-‘em dead, magnificent fight. Rowling manages to weave in her wise homilies towards the end (“It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ) and yet again, it fits perfectly. Not preachy, not patronizing but tailor-made to clear Harry’s misgivings.A rich, satisfying read.
—Namratha
