Title- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author- JK Rowling
Series- Harry Potter
Published- 1998
Page Count- 251 (Original UK Hardcover)
Publishing House- Bloomsbury
Rating- 4/5 stars
About the Author
There is a lot of information about JK Rowling on her website, so I've picked the key bits for this section.
Jo conceived the idea of Harry Potter in 1990 while sitting on a delayed train from Manchester to London King’s Cross. Over the next five years, she began to map out all seven books of the series. She wrote mostly in longhand and gradually built up a mass of notes, many of which were scribbled on odd scraps of paper.
To read more, here is a link to JK Rowling's website.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seems minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone, or something, starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects: Harry Potter himself?
Taken from Goodreads.
Plot
The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seems minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone, or something, starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects: Harry Potter himself?
Taken from Goodreads.
Opinions
I'm going to start by saying that this is my least favourite Harry Potter book. I have never liked Chamber of Secrets for some mysterious reason. I think that it's because it is a sequel and sequels are the ones I tend to like less in a trilogy or series (not always the case, but it most frequently is). I also am not a fan of the whodunnit element of this book. It really doesn't fit the vibe of the series and I wish it wasn't a whodunnit.
While I may dislike this book, it does introduce us to one of my favourite characters- Dobby the House-Elf. Honestly, if I could, I'd have a 7 book series about Dobby's adventures and life. I think Dobby is such an amazing character and every time I read about the Malfoy's cruelty towards him, a piece of my heart breaks. However, while I love Dobby, I have spotted a flaw in this book. If the Ministry of Magic can't detect magic made by someone who is underage while in the presence of someone who is overage, then surely they can detect when a House-Elf (a creature that doesn't even own a wand and has no place in Number 4 Private Drive, a MUGGLE occupied house) does magic? It just seems like it hasn't quite been thought through and it does bring up more problems as the books progress.
I have to admit that I do love the flying car scene. It is one of my favourites in the book. It just goes to show how loyal a friend Ron Weasley is. The Weasley family are unbelievably kind and let Harry in even though they are struggling to feed and clothe their own children. I love that Arthur Weasley is essentially a big kid and does wish he could go on some of the adventures his sons have.
Throughout the series, we are told how Dumbledore is an amazing wizard and yet throughout the series he makes some questionable decisions. Hiring Gilderoy Lockhart can be seen as one of these questionable decisions as Lockhart really isn't teacher material. Surely a wizard as great as Dumbledore would have more sense than to hire an idiot like Lockhart to teach the next generation of wizards. While Lockhart is a useless teacher, he is a really interesting character. He successfully manages to fool everyone around him into thinking he's a brilliant wizard. I didn't particularly like him, but I do pity him when he loses his memory and potentially has to spend the rest of his life in St Mungos.
Hermione Granger has definitely changed a lot between PS (Philosopher's Stone) and CoS (Chamber of Secrets). I didn't really spot it in my PS reread, but Hermione is very good at manipulating information out of people. She gets information out of Hagrid in PS and gets Lockhart's signature for the library. Hermione knows how to get what she wants and will do it. I love how she also convinces Harry and Ron to make Polyjuice Potion with her, she's just so badass in this book. As much as I love Hermione, I do find it funny when she turns into a cat.
I wish they'd included the Death Day party in the movies, it would have been such a good scene. It also gives a lot of background on some of the characters, such as Nearly Headless Nick and Moaning Myrtle.
As someone who has a fear of spiders, something which I probably developed from reading this book, the scene with Aragog terrifies me. It also makes me really sad because it explains why Hagrid was expelled. Hagrid didn't deserve to be expelled and deserves so much more. But at least Hagrid found a safe place in Hogwarts.
Tom Riddle's diary really does cause a lot of trouble at Hogwarts. Poor Ginny tried to get rid of it but ended up in the chamber herself. It does make me giggle ever so slightly that Harry doesn't question the fact that he's talking to someone from 50 years ago who should now be in their 60s. I love how Harry remains loyal to Dumbledore and defeats the Basilisk with his help. Yet again Harry puts his own life on the line to save others. Harry really does take the definition of selfless to a whole other level.
Dobby getting freed is one of my favourite scenes in the whole book. All Dobby ever wanted was clothing and Harry gave him a sock. The bittersweet thing about this scene is that Harry makes Dobby promise to never try and save Harry's life again. If you've read Deathly Hallows, you'll know why this makes me want to weep buckets.
There's so much in this book I could talk about, so here are some scenes that deserve honourable mentions:
Throughout the series, we are told how Dumbledore is an amazing wizard and yet throughout the series he makes some questionable decisions. Hiring Gilderoy Lockhart can be seen as one of these questionable decisions as Lockhart really isn't teacher material. Surely a wizard as great as Dumbledore would have more sense than to hire an idiot like Lockhart to teach the next generation of wizards. While Lockhart is a useless teacher, he is a really interesting character. He successfully manages to fool everyone around him into thinking he's a brilliant wizard. I didn't particularly like him, but I do pity him when he loses his memory and potentially has to spend the rest of his life in St Mungos.
Hermione Granger has definitely changed a lot between PS (Philosopher's Stone) and CoS (Chamber of Secrets). I didn't really spot it in my PS reread, but Hermione is very good at manipulating information out of people. She gets information out of Hagrid in PS and gets Lockhart's signature for the library. Hermione knows how to get what she wants and will do it. I love how she also convinces Harry and Ron to make Polyjuice Potion with her, she's just so badass in this book. As much as I love Hermione, I do find it funny when she turns into a cat.
I wish they'd included the Death Day party in the movies, it would have been such a good scene. It also gives a lot of background on some of the characters, such as Nearly Headless Nick and Moaning Myrtle.
As someone who has a fear of spiders, something which I probably developed from reading this book, the scene with Aragog terrifies me. It also makes me really sad because it explains why Hagrid was expelled. Hagrid didn't deserve to be expelled and deserves so much more. But at least Hagrid found a safe place in Hogwarts.
Tom Riddle's diary really does cause a lot of trouble at Hogwarts. Poor Ginny tried to get rid of it but ended up in the chamber herself. It does make me giggle ever so slightly that Harry doesn't question the fact that he's talking to someone from 50 years ago who should now be in their 60s. I love how Harry remains loyal to Dumbledore and defeats the Basilisk with his help. Yet again Harry puts his own life on the line to save others. Harry really does take the definition of selfless to a whole other level.
Dobby getting freed is one of my favourite scenes in the whole book. All Dobby ever wanted was clothing and Harry gave him a sock. The bittersweet thing about this scene is that Harry makes Dobby promise to never try and save Harry's life again. If you've read Deathly Hallows, you'll know why this makes me want to weep buckets.
There's so much in this book I could talk about, so here are some scenes that deserve honourable mentions:
- Malfoy cursing Ron and Ron vomiting slugs.
- The Quidditch match where Harry breaks his arm.
- The Dueling Club scene.
- The end of term feast.
- Ginny revealing that Percy has a girlfriend.
While Chamber of Secrets remains my least favourite in the series, I still love it. I couldn't ever not love a Harry Potter book. Tomorrow I will be reviewing Prisoner of Azkaban (my second favourite in the series).
Carenza x
