Reviews

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

oliviagracereads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

auders's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

noragrace89's review against another edition

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5.0

When in doubt, go to the library ..

desreads5's review against another edition

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2.0

the book and movie are horrible. it was hard to read, that’s how bad it is.

lucyclay's review against another edition

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4.0

I’m rating it a 4, but i feel it’s between a 3.75 and 4.

jonesy1136's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lbrlk's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

alexagabaree's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging lighthearted mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

good but least fav of the harry potter books

linda_1410's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Book review here:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/43cc5c73-09a5-4df8-8859-9d6b0557abff

It's been so interesting listening to the British edition of this series after all these years. This book was up and down and all over the place in regards to the changes that were made to the American edition. Oftentimes, I was simply baffled why some words were changed at all, and on a few occasions, I was surprised to find some extensive additions - and bemused at one omission. 

American readers got the scoop on Apparating, since there's an explanation from Ron how his parents will be able to get home before they steal the car. And Dobby shows up with Malfoy at the end with no explanation in the British edition, while the American edition explains that Malfoy stormed out mid-shoe polish and Dobby was trying to finish the job. There were a couple of other minor deletions/additions, but the one that ticked me off was removing some of Ron's and Ginny's reunion after the Chamber of Secrets, in which Ron is much more caring and attentive to Ginny, and I can't figure out why that'd be left out. It's so important to see that affection between them and leaving it out for no reason makes no sense.


It's easy to forget or overlook how pivotal this book is to the rest of the series, possibly even more so than the first book, but this really does set up the coming books and provides the framework for the finale. I missed not seeing as much of Neville in this one. Lockhart is just as obnoxious as ever, and Draco is just as pathetic. 

I'm still enjoying Fry's narration. He doesn't have the range for voices that Dale has, but he brings a liveliness and whimsy to the story that suits it very well. 

linda_1410's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Oh, Dobby, you meant well but...

This one isn't as strong as the first or the others in the series. I think only Half-Blood Prince would rank lower than this for me, but who knows. That might change when I get around to listening to that one.

I'm remembering how much I enjoyed book!Ron and I wish they'd more of an effort to get him right for the movies. :( And while every book has its share of plot holes, the ones here were pretty glaring. Are we really to believe that Hermoine, of all people, would rip a page out of an old book - AND WRITE ON IT?!!! No. There are some things I can suspend my disbelief for, but not that. It's asking too much. 

"It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

True that.