Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [Harry Potter, book 2]
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: ★★★★★
Local availability: Amazon | National Bookstore | Fully Booked |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least favorite books because I didn't like Ginny and the plot was not as interesting as the other books. In fact, I planned on skipping this review and just re-read it for the sake of reading the whole Harry Potter set this year (including the three Harry Potter library books). But when my mind was blown--twice--while rereading it, I knew I had to write about my newfound love for book 2.
I don't know how I missed these in my first, second, and third rereading of Harry Potter. I guess this experience just proved to me that there's still something new I can discover when I reread a good book. It may perhaps be because I skipped over that one the first time, or I looked over its significance because I read this while the series wasn't finished yet, or simply, I grew up and became more sensitive to the tiny details in the story.
My first mind-blowing experience with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was during the dueling scene. It was the first time that the disarming charm, Expelliarmus, was used in the whole Potter-verse. (Spoiler alert) And this said disarming charm later became Harry Potter's signature spell. But do you remember who first used the spell? Severus Snape. My Harry Potter fangirl screamed when I realized that. I was like, Oh my god oh my god oh my god! Did J. K. Rowling mean for that to happen? Did she realize that? I bet she did because she's epic like that.
The second moment was when I realized this: Voldemort was awarded a Special Awards for Services to the School for 'catching' the Heir of Slytherin. Fifty years later, Harry Potter earns the same award for the same reason. God, that realization was mind blowing. It is also in this book that Voldemort told Harry Potter that they had a lot of similarities. But J. K. Rowling, in her brilliance, said it through Dumbledore: It is our choices that define us. That is certainly true.
Am I the only one who missed out on these things? Heh, I hope not.
There are a lot of things that can be said about the three friends, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but this was the first time I truly admired Ron Weasley. I know a lot of people love him, but this was the first time I realized how truly brave and loyal he was. This was displayed when he put aside himself and followed Harry into the forest despite his psychological terror of spiders. I am the same towards cockroaches, and I cannot imagine myself doing the same thing he did for anyone. I'll probably have a mental break down if I find a cockroach as big as Aragog. His act of doing that for Hagrid and Hermione just spoke volumes about him, and I have started to love him for it.
As I said in my opening statement, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least-liked in the series. But now that I've discovered these little gems, I can safely say it's one amazing book. In fact, with these, I feel like I'm going to be reading the next five remaining books with a fresh set of eyes. I'm ready.
What about you, lovely, what's your favorite book in the Harry Potter series?
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: ★★★★★
Local availability: Amazon | National Bookstore | Fully Booked |
The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for 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 Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, 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.
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 Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, 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.
I don't know how I missed these in my first, second, and third rereading of Harry Potter. I guess this experience just proved to me that there's still something new I can discover when I reread a good book. It may perhaps be because I skipped over that one the first time, or I looked over its significance because I read this while the series wasn't finished yet, or simply, I grew up and became more sensitive to the tiny details in the story.
My first mind-blowing experience with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was during the dueling scene. It was the first time that the disarming charm, Expelliarmus, was used in the whole Potter-verse. (Spoiler alert) And this said disarming charm later became Harry Potter's signature spell. But do you remember who first used the spell? Severus Snape. My Harry Potter fangirl screamed when I realized that. I was like, Oh my god oh my god oh my god! Did J. K. Rowling mean for that to happen? Did she realize that? I bet she did because she's epic like that.
The second moment was when I realized this: Voldemort was awarded a Special Awards for Services to the School for 'catching' the Heir of Slytherin. Fifty years later, Harry Potter earns the same award for the same reason. God, that realization was mind blowing. It is also in this book that Voldemort told Harry Potter that they had a lot of similarities. But J. K. Rowling, in her brilliance, said it through Dumbledore: It is our choices that define us. That is certainly true.
Am I the only one who missed out on these things? Heh, I hope not.
There are a lot of things that can be said about the three friends, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but this was the first time I truly admired Ron Weasley. I know a lot of people love him, but this was the first time I realized how truly brave and loyal he was. This was displayed when he put aside himself and followed Harry into the forest despite his psychological terror of spiders. I am the same towards cockroaches, and I cannot imagine myself doing the same thing he did for anyone. I'll probably have a mental break down if I find a cockroach as big as Aragog. His act of doing that for Hagrid and Hermione just spoke volumes about him, and I have started to love him for it.
As I said in my opening statement, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least-liked in the series. But now that I've discovered these little gems, I can safely say it's one amazing book. In fact, with these, I feel like I'm going to be reading the next five remaining books with a fresh set of eyes. I'm ready.
What about you, lovely, what's your favorite book in the Harry Potter series?
Every time I read these, I find things that I didn't notice before, so you are not alone
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Brandi! (h)
DeleteLoved this book a lot! All of the 7 harry potter books are wonderful novels but the third one has a special place in my heart as that was that point of time in Harry's life he felt he still had family left. Also this is the last time I truly liked Ron... after book 4 he became such a nitwit! LOL
ReplyDeleteLovely review!
Faye @ The Social Potato
Aw really? I only started to appreciate Ron, so I'll see how I'll feel about him in the future. :D Thanks, Faye! :)
DeleteWHOA. Snape used it first? I had no idea! That would have blown my mind too, wow! That is definitely cool. I never liked this installment THAT much either but those things are interesting to know!
ReplyDeleteYes! Harry even says in the book "Shouldn't have let Snape teach us that" (as told to Gilroy Lockhart). I don't know if my surprise comes across the review, but I was really so thrilled!
DeleteI too love to read these books over and over!! I just did a re-read myself last year. Even though I have the movies memorized the books always seem new to me! my review: http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.com/2012/12/harry-potter-and-chamber-of-secrets-by.html
ReplyDeleteAngie
Angela's Anxious Life
I don't have a copy of all four movies but I"m definitely getting the first ones now :)
Deletei have yet to re-read this, great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amy! :)
DeleteI just made my way through the Harry Potter books again and YES I discover new things and latch on to new things each time I read them. I'm so glad you are experiencing them again as well.
ReplyDeleteThey're still amazing, aren't they?? Thanks for visiting, Jennifer! :)
DeleteLove this book as well. My ultimate fave would have to be The Sorcerer's Stone just because it was THE book that introduced me to Harry Potter and my love for the series. I actually fell in love with Ron in the first book (he is my favorite HP character).
ReplyDeleteI need to re-read the whole series again, though. It's been awhile.
Same here, Zeee! It's really our introduction into the mad, fab, addicting world of Harry Potter. :)) I hope you enjoy your rereading :)
DeleteYou're not the only one who missed those things! Please feel free to check out my blog(http://readingshy.blogspot.ca/) as I discuss the Harry Potter books as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Aly! :) I visited your blog. :) cheer
ReplyDelete