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mpollak's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” 🥺 (p 333)
dreamscape42's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
raemay_sunshine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I love this book. I got into this book really easily but as soon as Harry got into Hogwarts and was at Hogwarts I started losing interest. But I got through it and continued reading. As much as I love the differences between the book and the movie I feel the movie was more entertaining in the middle of it than the book was.
full_quieting's review against another edition
4.0
Thought I'd figured it out. Frustrated that I didn't see what I missed when I missed it. Fun read. On to Book 3!
mena_martinez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jessica_z's review against another edition
4.0
So, I know that even though I read book as if I was drinking water, this was my first time reading the second Harry Potter book. I know I know, shocking right? I must say I enjoyed this one better than the first one. I don't know if it was the plot or the fact that I had to get use to J.K. Rowling's writing, but I feel that this book is better. The book was very dark considering that it is a middle grade book. Harry kept hearing a voice that wanted to kill. Pretty dark. And many people say it gets darker. I can't wait to read that. There were many moments in the book were magic seemed like a funny tool to use. Some of the spells just seem a little useless and would only be used for jokes. I can't really to magic seriously in this world sometimes, but it takes place in a kids point of view so I've learn to let it slide. These books are like magic mystery books. The plot and it's characters are in magical setting and there is a mystery to solve. What I don't really understand is why the trio is trying to do everything themselves. I'm sure Dumbledore would have helped them, but they willingly put themselves in danger. Compared to the movie it was easier to understand everything. As a child watching the movies I didn't get a lot of things and know I get them.
Time to talk about characters. Even though the title says Harry Potter I feel like his character was a little flat. He just didn't give off as much emotion as Ron did, so often times Harry came up short. BTW I can totally see Ron and Hermione getting together, because Harry always had to hold Ron back when Hermione was insulted. Maybe Ron is use to the magical world that Ron knows how to react in certain situations and Harry is trying to figure out what is going on. In the movies I wasn't a big fan of Dumbledore, but I like him in the books so far. I can see how Harry finds a father figure or someone that gives guidance. In the movies Dumbledore is very serous, but in the books he's more laid back. Lockhart was irritating and there was so much foreshadow that he didn't do any of the things in his books. The fact that he couldn't teach anything in the class was reason enough not to trust him. I feel like that Hermione needed to get out of the Lockhart fan club after the pixie thing. It was kind of ridiculous to have the smartest person in this book fan girl over Lockhart. Maybe Rowling was trying to show that Hermione is really a normal girl that likes to read and be the top of everything. After writing that I still don't think it fits her character.
Okay plot time. This one had a more consistent plot. Students are getting attacked and the same thing happened fifty years ago. Since the solution before didn't work the characters have to think of a new one. Okay got it. It's better then random things happening at the school and they are some how connected to a stone. But in the end what annoyed me was that they know the person that caused everything, but they can't really prove it. I mean just the way Lucius was acting proves that he had something to do with everything. The fact that Dobby knew something was going to happened and he was the Malfoy's servant. They might be able to build a convincing case against him. Lucius hated that fact that Muggle-born wizards could go to Hogwarts. He raised his son to think the same way, and he tried so hard to get Mr. Wesley fired because he wanted to pass the Muggle Protection Act. It's all there. He planted the diary so a Wesley would get it. I feel bad for Ginny that her first year at Hogwarts and that is what happened to her.
I like the book. I know I'm probably over analyzing a beloved middle grade book, but I guess at this point in the series I'm not at the obsession stage yet, maybe third book will change my mind. I've heard it is nothing like the movie and the third movie is my favorite, but I will just have to see.
Time to talk about characters. Even though the title says Harry Potter I feel like his character was a little flat. He just didn't give off as much emotion as Ron did, so often times Harry came up short. BTW I can totally see Ron and Hermione getting together, because Harry always had to hold Ron back when Hermione was insulted. Maybe Ron is use to the magical world that Ron knows how to react in certain situations and Harry is trying to figure out what is going on. In the movies I wasn't a big fan of Dumbledore, but I like him in the books so far. I can see how Harry finds a father figure or someone that gives guidance. In the movies Dumbledore is very serous, but in the books he's more laid back. Lockhart was irritating and there was so much foreshadow that he didn't do any of the things in his books. The fact that he couldn't teach anything in the class was reason enough not to trust him. I feel like that Hermione needed to get out of the Lockhart fan club after the pixie thing. It was kind of ridiculous to have the smartest person in this book fan girl over Lockhart. Maybe Rowling was trying to show that Hermione is really a normal girl that likes to read and be the top of everything. After writing that I still don't think it fits her character.
Okay plot time. This one had a more consistent plot. Students are getting attacked and the same thing happened fifty years ago. Since the solution before didn't work the characters have to think of a new one. Okay got it. It's better then random things happening at the school and they are some how connected to a stone. But in the end what annoyed me was that they know the person that caused everything, but they can't really prove it. I mean just the way Lucius was acting proves that he had something to do with everything. The fact that Dobby knew something was going to happened and he was the Malfoy's servant. They might be able to build a convincing case against him. Lucius hated that fact that Muggle-born wizards could go to Hogwarts. He raised his son to think the same way, and he tried so hard to get Mr. Wesley fired because he wanted to pass the Muggle Protection Act. It's all there. He planted the diary so a Wesley would get it. I feel bad for Ginny that her first year at Hogwarts and that is what happened to her.
I like the book. I know I'm probably over analyzing a beloved middle grade book, but I guess at this point in the series I'm not at the obsession stage yet, maybe third book will change my mind. I've heard it is nothing like the movie and the third movie is my favorite, but I will just have to see.
jenni_elyse's review against another edition
5.0
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the book in which I learned to love the characters the most. Now that all the introductions are done, except for a few new characters, you start to see their true nature. The dynamic of these characters is such that without a single one of them, it’d throw off the story in some form or another.
There are the main three, of course. Hermione is a bossy know-it-all, but without her love for all things learning and her incredible logic and intellect, I don’t think Harry or Ron would’ve got nearly as far as they did in solving the mysteries of each novel. Nor would they have kept on top of their studies. Ron is the funny best friend. He keeps both Harry and Hermione grounded and can even put Hermione in her place when she’s being too bossy. (I also found a kindred spirit in Ron because he's also terrified of spiders.) Harry is the hero, but not just any hero. Although he’s very uncertain of himself, we find that he’s brave and has a good heart. He doesn’t want anything to happen to anyone. And, if there’s anything he can do about it, he’ll do it, even if he’s not the best wizard for the job.
Fred and George Weasley bring humor to the story and help us remember that even in the darkest of times, we can still enjoy ourselves and have fun. Neville, although accident-prone and the most unlikely to be a great wizard in the school, is fiercely loyal, friendly, and determined to prove that he’s just as good as everyone else.
Then there are the characters that we hate or don’t know what to think of yet. Draco Malfoy is annoying, pompous, and snobbish. He thinks he deserves everything and that everyone’s beneath him. But, without him, Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s Hogwarts life would be just too easy. Even though Snape is harsh and unfriendly to most students, there’s more to him than meets the eye. And, Lockhart … I forgot how annoying he is until I start reading his character again. But, like Ron, I’m almost sad to see him go in the end.
Apart from the characters is the actual story in Chamber of Secrets. The complexity amazes me. Having read the future books, I can see the foreshadowing Rowling does even from this point in the series. There are so many little clues here and there that tell you what’s going to happen.
There are so many little things I love about this story. I love when Harry meets Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore’s phoenix, for the first time. I love reading about his uncertainty of whether Gryffindor is the right house for him. And, I love the interactions between him and Dobby. I also enjoyed meeting Tom Riddle for the first time and how much this interaction between him and Harry adds to the breadth of the series.
The first time I read Chamber of Secrets in 2001, I figured out the mystery long before Harry, Ron, and Hermione did. But, I still remained on the edge of my seat, excited to see how and when they found out what everything meant and how to put a stop to it.
There’s so much more I can say about Chamber of Secrets, but I don’t think anyone wants to read all of it. Simply put, it’s a wonderfully, complex, rich story and makes me excited to continue on with Harry’s adventures in the next books.
There are the main three, of course. Hermione is a bossy know-it-all, but without her love for all things learning and her incredible logic and intellect, I don’t think Harry or Ron would’ve got nearly as far as they did in solving the mysteries of each novel. Nor would they have kept on top of their studies. Ron is the funny best friend. He keeps both Harry and Hermione grounded and can even put Hermione in her place when she’s being too bossy. (I also found a kindred spirit in Ron because he's also terrified of spiders.) Harry is the hero, but not just any hero. Although he’s very uncertain of himself, we find that he’s brave and has a good heart. He doesn’t want anything to happen to anyone. And, if there’s anything he can do about it, he’ll do it, even if he’s not the best wizard for the job.
Fred and George Weasley bring humor to the story and help us remember that even in the darkest of times, we can still enjoy ourselves and have fun. Neville, although accident-prone and the most unlikely to be a great wizard in the school, is fiercely loyal, friendly, and determined to prove that he’s just as good as everyone else.
Then there are the characters that we hate or don’t know what to think of yet. Draco Malfoy is annoying, pompous, and snobbish. He thinks he deserves everything and that everyone’s beneath him. But, without him, Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s Hogwarts life would be just too easy. Even though Snape is harsh and unfriendly to most students, there’s more to him than meets the eye. And, Lockhart … I forgot how annoying he is until I start reading his character again. But, like Ron, I’m almost sad to see him go in the end.
Apart from the characters is the actual story in Chamber of Secrets. The complexity amazes me. Having read the future books, I can see the foreshadowing Rowling does even from this point in the series. There are so many little clues here and there that tell you what’s going to happen.
There are so many little things I love about this story. I love when Harry meets Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore’s phoenix, for the first time. I love reading about his uncertainty of whether Gryffindor is the right house for him. And, I love the interactions between him and Dobby. I also enjoyed meeting Tom Riddle for the first time and how much this interaction between him and Harry adds to the breadth of the series.
The first time I read Chamber of Secrets in 2001, I figured out the mystery long before Harry, Ron, and Hermione did. But, I still remained on the edge of my seat, excited to see how and when they found out what everything meant and how to put a stop to it.
There’s so much more I can say about Chamber of Secrets, but I don’t think anyone wants to read all of it. Simply put, it’s a wonderfully, complex, rich story and makes me excited to continue on with Harry’s adventures in the next books.
readtheroom1992's review against another edition
5.0
JK Rowling's writing and storytelling ability surpasses most of what I've ever read. Re-reading this book so many years later felt very nostalgic and this series will stick with me for life.
Fav characters in this book: Hagrid, Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Nearly Headless Nick, George Weasley, Fawkes, & Dobby
Least fav characters: Gilderoy Lockhart, Lucius Malfoy, Percy Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, & Goyle
This was such a fun read from beginning to end.
Fav characters in this book: Hagrid, Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione, Nearly Headless Nick, George Weasley, Fawkes, & Dobby
Least fav characters: Gilderoy Lockhart, Lucius Malfoy, Percy Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, & Goyle
This was such a fun read from beginning to end.
infernalreads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 if goodreads allowed it!!!
Again childhood classic but I don’t like how the first 50ish pages had constant reminders of what happened in the last book. Like I get having a few because the books came out a year apart, but Jesus having literally just finished the first one then having to reread what had happened was kinda annoying
Again childhood classic but I don’t like how the first 50ish pages had constant reminders of what happened in the last book. Like I get having a few because the books came out a year apart, but Jesus having literally just finished the first one then having to reread what had happened was kinda annoying