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

Harry, Hermione and Ron return to Hogwarts for their second school year. There's a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Ginny Weasley has taken a shine to Harry… but the real trouble begins when a number of Hogwarts students are "petrified" and rendered immobile. The heir of Slytherin is suspected to be behind these attacks, but who is the heir?

These first few books kinda feel like we're laying the groundwork for the "real" story, which is on its way and will take place from book 3 onwards. I think that's why I view Chamber of Secrets as my least favourite in the series. The first book is special because it's the beginning, we're discovering Hogwarts and the magical world of Harry Potter… but then the second book just isn't as enjoyable as I view it as merely a stepping stone to the real meat of the story. It's still pretty great though... I mean, there isn't one HP book I dislike!

One of my favourite aspects of the Chamber of Secrets is finding out more about Voldemort's background. The scenes in the chamber itself are great as more tidbits are unravelled and he reveals exactly what has been going on. Another highlight of Chamber of Secrets is the introduction of Dobby!! He has a big heart and means well… even if he almost kills Harry in the process. Oops. Once again, Hermione is the MVP and proves yet again that those two would have not got very far without her. Hermione is basically the Samwise Gamgee of Harry Potter. I also like how Malfoy seems to have a bigger role in this story, he's fun to hate at this point. This book also introduces us to Gilderoy Lockhart - his narcissism literally cracks me up and I love that Hermione harbours a little crush for him. Colin also slays me when he is obsessed with Harry!

I just love how much I actually snigger to myself when reading these books. It's such a testament to Rowling's writing that she has created this story that will fascinate children of all ages, and yet you can equally enjoy it as an adult. Harry Potter transcends all ages! And that is truly magical. 4 glittering sparkly stars!

n  n

I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets even more than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I loved that I read a few scenes that were new to me. A few things I noticed were not in the movie. I expect that will happen more and more as the series goes on. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narration was fantastic. In fact, it may have convinced me to do the rest of the series in audio!

After the last book I read, I thought I deserved a treat and decided to read the second HP book and true to everyone’s claim, I enjoyed and savored every single page on which everything written magically fits one another, exactly like the 10 year old me dreamed of. The experience was ten times better when I used Professor Mc Gonagall’s voice to read the entire thing. Lol!

Just a few of the abundant awesome moments/stuff:

1.tThe heroic, flying car, duh!
2.tMrs. Weasly’s feistiness and Mr. Weasly’s fascination over Muggles.
3.tPlate of delicious sandwiches refilling itself. (Yum!)
4.tThe Howler. (lol!)
5.tHarry catching the snitch (awesome!)
6.tBasically all scenes with Prof. Lockhart (LMAO!)
7.tHarry’s ultimate battle. (freaky but awesome!)
8.tThe scary monsters! The giant spiders and the basilisk. Eeep! (Aaah!)
9.tAll Dobby scenes. (Awe, Dobby. <3)
10.tAnd how can I forget Prof. Dumbledore’s wisest words! n  "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” n

RIP, Sir Alan Rickman- the indomitable, unforgettable Professor Snape. *sniffs*

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2), J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets begins when Harry is spending a miserable summer with his only remaining family, the Dursleys. During a dinner party hosted by his uncle and aunt, Harry is visited by Dobby, a house-elf.

Dobby warns Harry not to return to Hogwarts, the magical school for wizards that Harry attended the previous year. Harry politely disregards the warning, and Dobby wreaks havoc in the kitchen, infuriating the Dursleys.

The Dursleys angrily imprison Harry in his room for the rest of the summer. Luckily, Harry's friend Ron Weasley steals Harry away in a flying car, and Harry happily spends the rest of the summer at the Weasley home. ...

Quidditch practices begin and Draco Malfoy is the new Slytherin seeker. On the field, he calls Hermione a "mudblood," insulting her Muggle heritage.

After taunting Hermione, Draco is the suspect when, on Halloween night, someone petrifies the school caretaker's cat and writes a threatening message. Before the cat is attacked, Harry twice hears an eerie voice.

He hears it first during his detention and second during a party, moments before the cat is attacked. Everybody in the school is alarmed.

By doing some research, Harry, Ron, and Hermione learn that fifty years ago a chamber at Hogwarts was opened and a student was killed. ...

عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «هری پاتر و اتاق اسرار»؛ «هری پاتر و اتاق رازها»؛ «هری پاتر و تالار اسرار»؛ «هری پوتر و تالار اسرار»؛ «هری پاتر و حفره اسرار»؛ «هری پاتر و حفره اسرارآمیز»؛ «هری پاتر و دخمه اسرارآمیز»؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ موضوع: داستانهای خیالی و جادویی برای کودکان و نوجوانان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20میلادی؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش ماه نوامبر سال 2000میلادی؛ تاریخ دومین خوانش نسخه ای دیگر ماه آگوست سال 2001میلادی

عنوان: هری پاتر و حفره اسرارآمیز - کتاب دوم؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: ویدا اسلامیه؛ تهران، کتابسرای تندیس، 1379؛ در 381ص؛ شابک 9645757045؛ چاپ دوم آبان 1379؛ چاپ سوم 1379؛ چاپ چهارم تا چاپ هشتم 1380؛ چاپ نهم 1381؛ چاپ یازدهم 1382؛ چاپ دوازدهم 1383؛ چاپ پانزدهم 1384؛ چاپهای شانزدهم و هفدهم 1385؛ چاپ هجدهم 1386؛ چاپ بیستم 1387؛ چاپ بیست و یکم 1388؛ چاپ بیست و پنجم 1392؛ شابک 9789645757043؛ چاپ بیست و هفتم 1394؛ موضوع: داستانهای نوجوانان از نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 20م

عنوان: هری پاتر و تالار اسرار - کتاب دوم؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: طوبی یکتایی؛ تهران، انتشارات شیوه؛ 1379؛ در 345ص؛ شابک9649177892؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، میعاد، 1381؛ در 352ص؛ شابک ایکس - 964693045؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، فرتاب، 1381؛ در345ص؛ شابک 9647964080؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و اتاق اسرار؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: محمد قصاع؛ تهران، آینده نگار، 1379؛ در 383ص؛ شابک ایکس-964927071؛ چاپ دوم 1382؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و اتاق رازها؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: نسیم عزیزی؛ تهران، ذکر، قاصدک، 1381؛ در 227ص؛ شابک 9643071979؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و اتاق رازها؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: فریدون قاضی نژاد؛ ویرایش: نسیم عزیزی؛ تهران، روزگار، جوف، 1381؛ در480ص؛ شابک ایکس-9649306170؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و اتاق رازها؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: فریدون قاضی نژاد؛ ویرایش نسیم عزیزی؛ تهران، روزگار، جوف، 1381؛ در480ص؛ شابک ایکس-9649306170؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و تالار اسرار؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: پرتو اشراق؛ تهران، عقیل، 1380؛ در 376ص؛ شابک9646205275؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و تالار اسرار؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: ایران علیپور؛ تهران، عقیل، 1383؛ در 353ص؛ شابک9647689233؛

عنوان: هری پاتر و تالار اسرار؛ نویسنده: جی.کی رولینگ؛ مترجم: مریم شعبانی؛ تهران، سنایی، 1383؛ در هفت و 360ص؛ شابک9646290388؛
...

این جلد را مترجم کتاب: سرکار خانم «طوبی یکتائی»، عنوانش را «هری پوتر و تالار اسرار» نامیده اند، اما نخستین عنوان این جلد را ناشرش تندیس، با ترجمه سرکار خانم «ویدا اسلامیه»، «هری پاتر و حفره ی اسرار » گذاشته است؛ عنوانهای دیگری که کتاب با آن عنوانها منتشر شده آن بالا نوشته ام؛

هری پاتر، پسر بچه‌ ای از نسل جادوگرهاست، که پدر و مادرش را، که آنها نیز جادوگر بوده‌ اند، از دست داده؛ با این همه، از چگونگی مرگ آنها خبر ندارد؛ خانواده ی «دورسلی»، یعنی خاله، و شوهرخاله اش، او را از یکسالگی بزرگ کرده اند؛ رفتار خانواده «دورسلی»، با «هری»، هماره تحقیرآمیز بوده است؛ «هری» در یازده سالگی، برای تحصیل به مدرسه جادوگری «هاگوارتز» میرود، و آنجا تجربیات شگرفی می‌اندوزد، و در پی آن، ماجراهایی عجیب و باور نکردنی را، پشت سر می‌گذارد؛ «هری» در پایان سال نخست تحصیلی خود، برای تعطیلات تابستانی به خانه ی «دورسلی»ها بازمی‌گردد؛ اما رفتار نفرت انگیز آنها سبب می‌شود، هری به یاری دوستش از آن‌جا فرارکند، و روزهای مانده از تابستان را، در خانه ی «ویزلی»ها بگذراند؛ سپس با آغاز سال تحصیلی تازه، دوباره به مدرسه «هاگوارتز» بازمی‌گردد؛ آنگاه با ماجراهای شگفت‌ انگیز دیگری رودررو می‌شود؛ در دومین سال تحصیلی «هری» در مدرسه جادوگری هاگوارتز، او با دوستان صمیمی‌ خویش، «رون ویزلی» پسری كنجكاو، و «هرمیون (هرماینی) گرنجر» باهوش‌ترین دختر مدرسه، سعی دارند، پرده از معمای حفره ی اسرارآمیز بردارند؛ حفره‌ ای كه هیولایی مخوف را در خود جای داده است، و رازی بزرگ در ژؤفای آن وجود دارد؛ و ...؛

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 13/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 25/06/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

*** 2023 reread -

This book and this series is so much fun!

Not gonna lie, the 2002 film directed by Chris Columbus was always a little confusing to me. I’ve read this before and have watched the film several times, but this time I think all the pieces fit together perfectly and I really had fun reading this.

IMDB says the film garnered almost a billion dollars after a budget of $100 million. I read somewhere that you can multiply Goodreads ratings by 7 and that gives you a fairly close representation of book sales. If this is true then the book has sold more than 21 million copies. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon has about the same amount of certified sales.

And this was the second book in the series, the sequel.

So, really popular.

I also recall when these first came out how English teachers were saying that the series helped to spark an interest in reading and improved literacy amongst this generation.

All that to show that this is, in the parlance of our times, kind of a big deal.

I’m all in for this series reread and I’ve already begun Prisoner of Azkaban.

***

Hooray for Harry Potter!

And three cheers for author J.K. Rowling!

I know, I know, I’m 20 years too late to the party, but these are turning out to be timeless classics. I took my children to see the films when they were younger and now that they are adults, I am finally getting around to read Rowling’s wonderful creations.

Harry returns to Hogwarts for his second year of wizardry training, quidditch playing, time with his friends Hermione and Ron, as well as building on the animosities with his rival Draco Malfoy, as well as more time with professors Snape and McGonagall. And of course Head Master Albus Dumbledore.

As I write this in 2019 there are 44,000 other reviews on this book – so what else can I add?

I’m digging the Dickensesque naming from Rowling. Draco Malfoy is as evil sounding name as they come and we also have gem names like Severus Snape, Rubeus Hagrid and Cornelius Fudge.

Also Rowling demonstrates her talent for characterization and we get a scene stealer with professor Gilderoy Lockhart.

This time also we see some more glimpses at the darkness inherent in her world building. We read some brief elements of horror in her first book and here we find an ancient evil lurking the halls of Hogwarts and petrifying students.

And there’s big spiders.

All good fun and we’re off to start the next book.

Third time time's a charm (previously last read in 2007)… as on my third reading of this series, it is only now that I really do begin to appreciate just how good The Chambers of Secrets is. Better late than never? At Hogwarts, paranoia, suspicion and danger becomes the norm as it is rumoured that the mythical Chamber Of Secrets has been reopened. This book sees a nice expansion of the main and supporting characterisations, of life at Hogwarts and underlines just how key Harry's friends and classmates are, and will be. 8 out of 12. Four Star read.

2013 read; 2007 read; 2005 read

I sat down to "read a few pages" of this before bed two nights ago and had to force myself to stop at page 100...then picked it up and flew through the rest the next day.

I really enjoyed this one (as did millions of others, obviously) and, with this installment, I am definitely seeing why this is such a beloved series. The magical wizarding world of Harry, his friends, and the folks at Hogwart's is just FUN to read about.

I am in LOVE with Fawkes the phoenix and I adore Dumbledore...And now I am so worried something bad is going to happen to one of them over the course of the remaining books.



And, yes, I know it's probably made you gasp in shock that - in addition to never having read the books before now - I have also never seen any of the movies...and I truly have no idea what happens throughout the remainder of the series.

I guess it IS possible to blissfully ignore spoilers for over two decades...unless we are talking about Game of Thrones. Good luck making it a fucking day with all the assholes posting every single scene on Twitter.



Not that I'm on Twitter...

But I digress.

So yeah, firstly, loved this book and looking forward to the next one.

And secondly, now more of the art on the HP mug I got from OwlCrate a few months ago makes more sense and I totally love it more now, so there's that.



Winning all around.

BRING BACK TOM RIDDLE ALREADY!!
Fav character: Draco Malfoy.
Least favorite: Harry Potter.

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: A bit bland at times, with less wonder and discovery than before, but finishes well with a more satisfying conclusion.

Favorite of the series.So many memories!

I don’t know who’s worse: Lockhart or Umbridge.

i always re read hp when i start the year, instead of actually reading other books, lmao. will i ever learn? i don't think so