ross91
Written on Nov 19, 2017
So, thank you audiobooks!
Harry can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts School. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a chamber of secrets, holding unknown horrors to magicians of Muggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone, and a terrible warning is found painted on the wall. The chief suspect - who's always in the wrong place - is Harry. But something much darker has yet to be unleashed.
- ISBN10 0747573611
- ISBN13 9780747573616
- Publish Date 4 October 2004 (first published 2 July 1998)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 7 January 2015
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Edition Adult ed
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 256
- Language English
- URL http://bloomsbury.com/Trade/
Reviews
So, thank you audiobooks!
KitsuneBae
Written on Jul 23, 2017
Reread in 2016
Reread in 2015
After a long week hiatus from the virtual world, here's my review for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. For the full review, you can always visit my blog at: Thoughts and Pens
Plot
Just like the first Harry Potter book, Chamber of Secrets (CoS) is also a fast paced novel bringing us deeper into a world of realistic fantasy. Unlike from other books, CoS do not suffer the middle book syndrome and a great read whether stand alone or together with book 1. JK Rowling is a master of cliffhangers and mystery that totally left me hanging on the edge of my seat as yet revelations of awesome and awful truths were uncovered in this beloved read.
The story of Chamber of Secrets is weaved wonderfully that every pieces of the puzzle connected at the end with a flourishing click. I also like the fact that JK provided us a very vivid picture of Harry’s world without lingering but instead, brought us to live with Harry and his gang of friends and enemies. It was delightful, it was funny, it was scary, and yet darker than the first book. Rowling is just a genius, don’t ya think?
Characters
Aside from the plot, I love the characters of the book that became more loveable as time passed by. Ms Rowling gave us characters that were authentic and most importantly, are people whom we can relate to. Harry, Ron and Hermione were heroes to look up to doing things that we thought they can only do and yet, at the end of the day, they’re just like us facing the normal woes of everyday life. They’re not even perfect but then their choices and their actions to make things rights despite the odds were amazing and that actually made them perfect in my eyes.
Interaction and Dialogue
One of the ingredients that I love in Harry Potter books is that it never failed to make me smile, laugh and raise my brows. The interactions and dialogues between characters are just witty, funny that I can’t stop talking to myself trying to come up with a joke that was as funny as the characters’. Even Hermione and Percy who were considered nerds were also funny in their own comfort zone.
What I also like about the book is that even without a lot of dramatic words, you can feel how friends and family members were important to the leading characters (as depicted with the Weasley family’s relationship and the trio’s friendship). Even if they joked with each other, you can actually feel that kind of burning love between the characters and how they would sacrifice everything to make things alright and normal once again.
For the funny, loveable and realistic heroes, I gave JK Rowling a big round of applause.
Lessons Learned
Again, at the end of each book, you will always take a stop and try to reflect on things. And this, I always does whenever I finished a book and ponder on the things that make the book worthy of my time. After reading CoS, I was left to contemplate about the following things:
• Never trust something unfamiliar- What Mr. Weasley told Ginny at the end of the book was always a reminder that if we are in doubt, stop and try to consult people who are in authority. There are so many times in my life that I made hasty decisions, impulsive actions on unfamiliar things that did not only threaten my job but my personal life as well.
• Our choices make us- Right-o, Dumbledore. No man is perfect and along the way, we would make some wrongs and rights. And it is within this premise, that we are defined by our choices. We may stumble and get hurt along the way but it is our choice whether to wallow in the mud we’ve been buried or die trying to stand up victorious.
This concept is a very good example for those who have been embittered by life so much who think that the future is bleak and that staying in the pits of darkness is the right thing to do. Again, we always have a choice, a choice to back down or to keep fighting until the end. If you are good or evil today, that is your choice and every second is a chance to change who you are.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Thoughts and Pens
Rinn
Written on Jan 5, 2017
Emma (SCR)
Written on Jan 1, 2017
I have to say even 18 years after it was first published this is still an amazing book. I read it in one day. I barely put it down mainly just to eat and sleep.
The world doesn’t need another gushing review of HP so I won’t bore you with the same thing you have read a million times over but I enjoyed this book just as much if not more than when first read it all those years ago.
JK really is an amazing writer. From the moment you start this book you are thrown back into the world of Harry, Ron and Hermione. From flying cars to petrified students this book has everything you need. With the perfect mix of magic and mystery this story makes you believe that Hogwarts really could be out there somewhere (I know we are all still hoping)
I have decided to read one HP book a month for the rest of the year so look out for more reviews and I will end on the 8th story.
Jo
Written on Jul 8, 2016
This isn't a review, exactly, but my thoughts after re-reading. Tons of spoilers about this and other books in the series.
And on with my Harry Potter re-read. I originally planned to alternate Harry Potter books with other books in my TBR pile, but once I finished Philosopher's Stone, and was looking at my shelves, trying to decide what to read next, Chamber of Secrets was calling to me. Once you give in to that compulsion to read Harry Potter, I'm not sure you can really stop until you've read them all.
Re-reading Chamber of Secrets, I found I really enjoyed the mystery of this story and picking on up all the clues, knowing where the story was leading. It was really interesting to see the way Ginny behaved and reacted to everything, knowing what was happening to her while everyone else was oblivious.
Though I had misremembered how often Harry heard the Basilisk's voice; I thought he heard it far more often than he did, and it being more sinister. "Let me kill! Let me rip!" is pretty terrifying, but I though I remembered it saying more. And for some reason, I also thought messages where painted on the wall with each person/animal/ghost that was petrified. I was also surprised by the climax - actual fight with the Basilisk - was much shorter than expected, and was over pretty quickly. Perhaps that's my memory of the film, though.
I loved all the tiny clues and elements that hint at Riddle's diary as a Horcrux - during Harry's conversation with Riddle in the chamber - and Harry himself being one, during his conversation with Dumbledore at the end about Voldemort transferring a piece of himself into Harry when he tried to kill him, that led to him being a Parselmouth. It reminded me of Dumbledore's speech from Order of the Phoenix (I think?), where he tells Harry about all the times he could have told him the truth about him having to face Voldemort eventually, and how this could have been one of several moments he told him about his future. Though I don't think Dumbledore knew about the Horcruxes at this point, let alone that Harry was one himself at this point, if I remember rightly.
What I loved most about re-reading Chamber of Secrets was seeing Dobby again. Dobby! The first time we get to see him! I found him so annoying when I first read this book, but knowing how we all grow to love him, and how devastated I always am over what happens in his future, I revelled in every moment he was on the page. I also completely forgot it was him controlling the rogue bludger, too. Aww, sweet, misguided Dobby!
I have thought about picking up another novel... but I can't. I need to read Prisoner of Azkaban now. It's my favourite of the first three, and just the though of reading it is so exciting! So, on to the next!
inlibrisveritas
Written on May 31, 2016
There is still the a good bit of whimsy in this book, like the first one, but it has diminished somewhat. After the first one you are familiar with the castle, the professors, and you've got a great base for things. Now JK can focus on the characters themselves, and also on adding some more sinister elements. The new characters added are an awesome addition and add their own flair to the world.
Coming into this again I see somethings I would not have noticed before, like the vanishing cabinets being mentioned or the hints of Harry's true role. Truly JK is the master of foreshadowing and cryptic hints.
Like with the review before this one I can't really say how much I truly adore these books, they are some of the only books that can get me to cry, laugh out loud, and end up angry at someone. It may be just because I grew up with these, but I'm chalking it up to JK's impeccable writing skills.
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1999
2003
December, 2014
May 31st, 2016
maeyuka
Written on Nov 24, 2015
cornerfolds
Written on Aug 3, 2015
Book two picks up just as Harry is preparing to return to Hogwarts. His summer has been miserable with the Dursleys and he hasn't heard from his friends in months! Miserable and lonely, Harry meets a new character who I'd honestly forgotten was such a nuisance early on - Dobby the house elf. Thus begins the delightful second chapter of Harry Potter.
I. Love. These. Books. Honestly, I could end my review there, but I won't. Harry Potter is such a rare exception to my usual reading preference! I don't usually care for humor in books. You might think that makes me cold hearted, but I just really prefer other aspects of books more than jokes and silly situations. But what J.K. Rowling does with this series blends humor along with mystery, action, and adventure so seamlessly that I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions throughout the Chamber of Secrets and being totally charmed by it! Her writing is so unique and amazing!
Hermione is much more likable in book two, thank goodness. She is still a little goody two-shoes for my taste, but her redeeming qualities far outweigh the annoying ones. At least she breaks a few rules this time! Harry continues to learn more about himself and his connection to Voldemort, which is really interesting to read the second time around, knowing what will happen later on and being able to piece it all together. Ron continues to be a hilarious character who I always feel a little sorry for (hopefully he gets a new wand soon)!
Ginny, though... I know that she grows a lot through the series, but good grief she's dumb in this book. I can't help feeling that she acts much more immature than Harry, Ron, and Hermione did in their first year at Hogwarts, but maybe being the baby in the family will do that to a person. Professor Lockhart is so repulsive! I was right there with Ron and Harry gagging every time the man opened his mouth! Rowling definitely has a gift for bringing characters to life! As always, Dumbledore makes me smile and Draco makes me cringe... I could go on and on about all the other characters, but I'll stop there.
Reading this book again makes me wish (again) that I had read them as a child - before seeing the movies. Even though I had forgotten a lot of the details, I can't imagine what it would have been like experiencing the story for the first time by reading the books with no clue about what the Chamber of Secrets was! If, like me, you missed out on this one as a child, I highly recommend you give it a try now! You'll regret waiting so long.
thepunktheory
Written on Jul 19, 2015
If you read my post on The Philosopher's Stone, you know how much I fell in love with the books. In The Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling continues to create a magical world that feels almost real. I admire her for coming up with so many amazing aspect. However, The Chamber of Secrets is a bit darker than the first book. It will keep you excited from page one right until the end. There are so many plot twist, you won't see coming. Rowling wove a marvellous story, a riddle you can't solve easily. Her characters have so much depth, it's like you really know them. Simply gorgeous.
The second movie was once again directed by Chris Columbus. He did a great job capturing the atmosphere of the book. While the adaptation is in general very well made, I miss a few of the explanations and background information you get in the book. It takes away a bit of the depth Rowling's story has. There were several (really funny) scenes in the book I would have loved to see in the movie but unfortunately, they never made it to the final version. All in all the movie is a shallower version of the novel. It's not only the story itself that loses depth, but also the characters. The movie version doesn't do Gilderoy Lockhart justice. In the book he was an even bigger douche and believe me, the chapters including him are simply hilarious!
With such an amazing piece of writing it is hard to create a film that lives up to that standard.
Although I didn't like The Chamber of Secrets as much as I like The Philosopher's Stone, it is a very good movie. The book, however, is outstanding. If you never read the Harry Potter series, go ahead and do it now. You won't regret it!
Joséphine
Written on Apr 14, 2015