Following the Philosopher's Stone is the 2nd book in the series, this book named Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Now knowing exactly where he belongs, having had an unreal first-year at school, Harry cannot wait to have a seemingly normal year at Hogwarts. Little does he know what's in store for him this year! And this year, trouble finds him even before he is on the Hogwarts Express! Taking a detailed view of the book below.
The book starts with a chapter titled 'The Worst Birthday'. Now, if you think the Dursleys treated Harry wrongly up till this point, this book just goes further to show how piteous his condition was. From making him work for hours on an end to nearly starving him, the behavior just gets worse, reaching near levels of abuse. To make matters even worse, Harry is visited by an unusual well-wisher who very counter-productively lands Harry in further trouble. Consequentially, the Dursleys punish him to a point where he thinks that unless he is back to Hogwarts soon, he was sure to die of hunger.
But to his life's rescue, Ron, his amazing friend along with his eccentrically talented brothers Fred and George rescue Harry and bring him to the burrows where life is how Harry has never seen it. Everything written about the Burrow is always so pleasant to read. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, despite their worrisome financial condition (having literally 1 gold coin at Gringotts) treat him as one of their own.
In the next and probably one of my favorite chapters from the book At Flourish and Blotts is where we read a lot of exciting events taking place. A very intriguing mention of an object which Harry sees while hiding in Borgin and Burkes seems to be of a lot of significance in the books to come.
And I couldn't help noticing that he's obviously already in love Hermione, it's just that nobody knows it yet!
The review continues in the 3rd book of the series - Hary Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Some other things that you would definitely find interesting in this chapter are Lucius Malfoy's expectations of Draco, the introduction of Hermione's parents, and Ginny standing up for Harry. It also shows just how pathetic Draco was to the lot of them.
The plot in this book is set in motion to harm certain students of the school by unleashing a monster from an apparent Chamber built secretly in the school by one of its founders. The Heir of Slytherin sure makes life difficult for all those at Hogwarts, until the Golden trio decides to get to the truth of it, making them face near expulsion and a significant number of near-death experiences!
You already know how much I love Ron Weasley's character in the books. From saving his best friend from abuse, dealing with bullies at school, being ACTUALLY smart and funny to being a loyal friend and a caring brother, Ron Weasley is it all!
And I couldn't help noticing that he's obviously already in love Hermione, it's just that nobody knows it yet!
And speaking of Hermione Granger, in this book we get to see her being actually smart and not only in the bookish sense. She also seems quite zealous about breaking rules (for the Greater Good) which is very unlikely of Hermione Granger. I personally think this is one instance of many to show why Hermione is a better fit into Gryffindor House as opposed to Ravenclaw.
Coming to focus on the teachers this year, if from the movie depiction you think that the new DADA teacher Gilderoy Lockhart is a narcissist, let me tell you that the book takes his narcissism to a whole new level.
Professor Snape, on the other hand, is the same terrifying bully to the other house students.
('When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville,...)
Professor McGonagall is shown to have deep empathy and concern for her students.
The book also opens some old wounds from some disturbing incidents of Harry's past and also affects the things that are yet to happen in the course of his life. The Chamber of Secrets ends the somewhat 'pleasant' phase of Harry's life as he goes through another spooky year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and comes back again to face fears beyond his wildest imagination.
DETAILS
Name: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Author: J. K. Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Date: 1998/ 1999
Pages: 251
I love this review! I can't wait for the next one! 😀
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :D
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