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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
(Harry Potter #2)
by
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay's dazzling full-colour illustrations in this stunning new edition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Breathtaking scenes, dark themes and unforgettable characters – including Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart – await inside this fully illustrated edition. With paint, pencil and pixels, award-winning illustrator Jim Kay
...more
Hardcover, UK Illustrated Edition, 272 pages
Published
October 4th 2016
by Bloomsbury Publishing
(first published July 2nd 1998)
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Start your review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” CHILLS.
(REREAD)
Okay DUH 5/5 stars. I actually liked this book more than I remembered! This used to be my least favorite of the Harry Potter books and, while that still might be true, I was more entertained than I expected! I always forget how different Book Ginny is from Movie Ginny (way better all around) and how she has such a bigger role in the books than the films.
NOW ONTO HP AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN!
(REREAD)
Okay DUH 5/5 stars. I actually liked this book more than I remembered! This used to be my least favorite of the Harry Potter books and, while that still might be true, I was more entertained than I expected! I always forget how different Book Ginny is from Movie Ginny (way better all around) and how she has such a bigger role in the books than the films.
NOW ONTO HP AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN!

JK Rowling really knows how to write a great book, thats for sure! Although this wasn't my favorite book in the series, it definitely wasn't because it was bad. I loved the plot and conflict, even though it wasn't as intense as the others were. I was definitely shocked at the end...so epic and mind blowing!
...more

(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.
Notes: A bit bland at times, with less wonder and discovery than before, but finishes well with a more satisfying conclusion.

Nov 30, 2017
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Paige
Continuing my reread with the illustrated editions! Gotta get through this one so that my daughter can start it next. <3
*********************
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
What can I say that hasn't been said before about this series? What words can do this book justice? I've felt at a loss on how to explain my feelings for these books as I've read them. I didn't experience them as a child and therefore my experience is clearly different than ...more
*********************
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
What can I say that hasn't been said before about this series? What words can do this book justice? I've felt at a loss on how to explain my feelings for these books as I've read them. I didn't experience them as a child and therefore my experience is clearly different than ...more

“I'll be in my bedroom, making no noise and silently donating to organisations that support trans lives.”
- me reading JKR's tweets
Mermaids UK
The Trevor Project
Black Visions Collective because Black trans lives matter. ...more
- me reading JKR's tweets
Mermaids UK
The Trevor Project
Black Visions Collective because Black trans lives matter. ...more

Nov 25, 2012
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
I love this book, of course I do, but the fact remains that this book prominently featured two of my most hated Harry Potter characters. Ginny Weasley and Dobby. There, I said it. I hate them both. In my Harry Potter hate list, Ginny and Dobby probably rank somewhere below Umbridge and Peter Pettigrew. Yeah, you heard me. I hate them that much.
The reason I hate Ginny is---well, never mind. I don't want to start another shipping war here, the last one was terrible enough, so let the reason for my ...more
The reason I hate Ginny is---well, never mind. I don't want to start another shipping war here, the last one was terrible enough, so let the reason for my ...more

I'm quite hyped to keep reading this series, The wizarding world is definitely an interesting one..
Watch my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Fk5... ...more
Watch my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Fk5... ...more

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: A clever conjuration, it's a cozy castle mystery, a creature-fest, and Ripper-esque: lit by monsters, ghosts, and history. ...more
Notes: A clever conjuration, it's a cozy castle mystery, a creature-fest, and Ripper-esque: lit by monsters, ghosts, and history. ...more

This was a cute middle grade book. Even though it was slow, I liked it a little more than the first book since at this point the world has already been established and now we get to see more of the characters and the setting. Ron and his family, especially the twins, are endearing. I also thought it was interesting seeing Harry’s internal struggle with whether he was truly Gryffindor or Slytherin, and the payoff later on about how it is our choices that show what we truly are. I didn’t like how
...more

Re-read audio 2017 ♥
Okay, I'm going to do a little *spoilery* in this review so those of you that haven't read the book then you might just want to look at the pictures. I have picked a ton of pictures from the book but believe me, there are plenty more beautiful ones in the book. Plus, if your a Harry Potter fan you will be getting the book anyway if you haven't already!

So poor Harry is stuck back with the Dursley's on Privet Drive. And even though Harry is a relative, they still treat him like ...more
Okay, I'm going to do a little *spoilery* in this review so those of you that haven't read the book then you might just want to look at the pictures. I have picked a ton of pictures from the book but believe me, there are plenty more beautiful ones in the book. Plus, if your a Harry Potter fan you will be getting the book anyway if you haven't already!

So poor Harry is stuck back with the Dursley's on Privet Drive. And even though Harry is a relative, they still treat him like ...more

Jul 04, 2017
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
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”It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
And here I go with another one of my short “My thoughts about this book” reviews. I can’t believe that I forgot so many things. Like for instance the fact that Dumbledore actually was a Transfiguration teacher before he became headmaster. Kinda suitable that this is McGonagall’s role now. ;-)
1.) ”Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby … Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never k ...more
And here I go with another one of my short “My thoughts about this book” reviews. I can’t believe that I forgot so many things. Like for instance the fact that Dumbledore actually was a Transfiguration teacher before he became headmaster. Kinda suitable that this is McGonagall’s role now. ;-)
1.) ”Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby … Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never k ...more

ENGLISH (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) / ITALIANO
Bedtime reading for my daughter (and second reading for me). It is once again exciting to wander across the Hogwarts halls, observing the mysterious facts that involve the protagonists, just like we were there too. This is Rowling's rare gift: making sure that we see through the eyes of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
The summer holidays have passed, and the new school year is about to start at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry'
...more
Come for the saga. Stay for Gilderoy Lockhart.

4th read (April - June 2019):
5 stars
Physical re-read
3rd read (May - June 2018):
5 stars
Listened to the audiobook (Stephen Fry) and again it was amazing. amazing. amazing. Especially his narration of the howler from Molly Weasley. Priceless.
5 stars
Physical re-read
3rd read (May - June 2018):
5 stars
Listened to the audiobook (Stephen Fry) and again it was amazing. amazing. amazing. Especially his narration of the howler from Molly Weasley. Priceless.

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 ...more
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 ...more

Stephen Fry was made for these audiobooks.

Dec 24, 2020
Tharindu Dissanayake
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites-fiction
"My late lamented lords, ladies, and gentlemen,"
"The best of us must sometimes eat our words,"
Every time you loved the first book of a series, and then start reading the second - eagerly waiting for the story to continue - there's always the apprehension, that things might not be as great as the first. Well, Chamber of Secrets will convince you otherwise: everything keeps getting better.
"Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?"
I was glad to find everything I loved abou ...more
"The best of us must sometimes eat our words,"
Every time you loved the first book of a series, and then start reading the second - eagerly waiting for the story to continue - there's always the apprehension, that things might not be as great as the first. Well, Chamber of Secrets will convince you otherwise: everything keeps getting better.
"Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?"
I was glad to find everything I loved abou ...more

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is a fantasy novel written by British author J.K. Rowling, and the second novel in the Harry Potter series.
The plot follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls of the school's corridors warn that the "Chamber of Secrets" has been opened and that the "heir of Slytherin" would kill all pupils who do not come from all-magical f ...more
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is a fantasy novel written by British author J.K. Rowling, and the second novel in the Harry Potter series.
The plot follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls of the school's corridors warn that the "Chamber of Secrets" has been opened and that the "heir of Slytherin" would kill all pupils who do not come from all-magical f ...more

I read this all in one 8 hour sitting... I need a life

Overall, I loved this, and I can't wait to start Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban today.
Quick thoughts on the things that stood out to me:
Wow, the Dursleys were even more loathsome in this book than the first.
I love the Weasleys even more than I already did.
I am so glad my mother never sent me a Howler.
I thought Dobby was annoying in the movie (which I saw when it came out over a decade ago, not having read the book) but I thought he was awesome in the book. In fact, we rewatched the ...more
Quick thoughts on the things that stood out to me:
Wow, the Dursleys were even more loathsome in this book than the first.
I love the Weasleys even more than I already did.
I am so glad my mother never sent me a Howler.
I thought Dobby was annoying in the movie (which I saw when it came out over a decade ago, not having read the book) but I thought he was awesome in the book. In fact, we rewatched the ...more

Feb 23, 2016
James Trevino
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
all-time-goodies
I am always surprised by J.K. Rowling's ability to make her books an allegory of our modern world and it's big and hideous problems. We all know, after all, that she covered discrimination, wars, hate crime, the Kardashians, etc.
Let's take this book for example. Harry goes back to Hogwarts. Now enter Gilderoy Lockhart. A fame enamored charlatan, who knows nothing about anything, except memory spells. So clearly a Kardashian. Now some might ask: do Kardashians know memory spells. And the answer i ...more
Let's take this book for example. Harry goes back to Hogwarts. Now enter Gilderoy Lockhart. A fame enamored charlatan, who knows nothing about anything, except memory spells. So clearly a Kardashian. Now some might ask: do Kardashians know memory spells. And the answer i ...more

In memory of Alan Rickman who showed us what Severus Snape looks like on the Big Screen.

I made myself a promise not to use any stills from any Harry Potter movies in my reviews for any book of the series, but I have to make an exception today January 14, 2016 thus the image above.
Even people who somehow managed to avoid reading the books and seeing the movies can guess that this book is about Harry Potter's second year the School of Wizardry, Hogwarts. Before he gets there though he had to fight ...more

I made myself a promise not to use any stills from any Harry Potter movies in my reviews for any book of the series, but I have to make an exception today January 14, 2016 thus the image above.
Even people who somehow managed to avoid reading the books and seeing the movies can guess that this book is about Harry Potter's second year the School of Wizardry, Hogwarts. Before he gets there though he had to fight ...more

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, infuriat ...more
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, infuriat ...more

Reading HP to ring in the new year may be a new tradition of mine, since I've done just that two years in a row.
I haven't read this book since the first time I read it in 5th grade, but I loved it! I never would have thought before that CoS was one of my favorites from the series but I stand corrected. ...more
I haven't read this book since the first time I read it in 5th grade, but I loved it! I never would have thought before that CoS was one of my favorites from the series but I stand corrected. ...more

Re-read #?: November 27-28, 2014
Re-read #??: November 29-December 3, 2016
While this is probably one of my least favorites of the series, it's still a fantastic book. I can't say for sure why I don't love it as much as the others, but it's just never stood out to me.
However, upon rereading it, I am reminded again how great Rowling is at developing a story arc! There are so many hints to later parts of the series in this book! Especially with Tom Riddle showing up, the diary, hints of Ron's affect ...more
Re-read #??: November 29-December 3, 2016
While this is probably one of my least favorites of the series, it's still a fantastic book. I can't say for sure why I don't love it as much as the others, but it's just never stood out to me.
However, upon rereading it, I am reminded again how great Rowling is at developing a story arc! There are so many hints to later parts of the series in this book! Especially with Tom Riddle showing up, the diary, hints of Ron's affect ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Oct 31, 2017
Tina ➹ the girl who lives in Fandoms
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
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fav-of-fav,
5-stars,
nostalgia,
reviews,
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2000-2010,
cover,
golden-stars
5 Golden Stars Complete!
& thousands more
this one is Beyond AMAZING!
Delightful! Mysterious! & Cute!
My favourite book in the middle grade-ish side (1, 2, 3) of HP.
I enjoyed every moment of it, every time. every page has something new.
& Always my first TOP favourite. (above OotP & GoF)
& I'm always wondering why this beautiful, cute, exciting, mysterious, full of backstories & plot-twist book is so many people's least favourite one in the series :(
it is the cutest & no one can tell me otherwise. :D
t ...more
& thousands more
this one is Beyond AMAZING!
Delightful! Mysterious! & Cute!
My favourite book in the middle grade-ish side (1, 2, 3) of HP.
I enjoyed every moment of it, every time. every page has something new.
& Always my first TOP favourite. (above OotP & GoF)
& I'm always wondering why this beautiful, cute, exciting, mysterious, full of backstories & plot-twist book is so many people's least favourite one in the series :(
it is the cutest & no one can tell me otherwise. :D
t ...more

first read: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
second read: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 // buddy read with ines!
this book was absolutely brilliant!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars
Lead Male Character: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★/ 5 stars (everyone)
Lead Female Character: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars (everyone)
Plotline: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars
Genre: fantasy, middle-grade, wizards
Will I recommend this book to others?: YES
Will I reread this book?: YES, I already did LOL
Overall story summed up in one word: BRILLIANT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last read of 2016!
Which house are you in? I wo ...more
second read: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 // buddy read with ines!
this book was absolutely brilliant!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars
Lead Male Character: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★/ 5 stars (everyone)
Lead Female Character: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars (everyone)
Plotline: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 stars
Genre: fantasy, middle-grade, wizards
Will I recommend this book to others?: YES
Will I reread this book?: YES, I already did LOL
Overall story summed up in one word: BRILLIANT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last read of 2016!
Which house are you in? I wo ...more

Before I say anything else, it's important you know that I LOVE HARRY POTTER. In my fingers and my toes. LOVE.
That being said, this is my least favorite of the early books (I'll let you know whether it's my least favorite overall after I reread HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX).
The reasons are LEGION:
1. Gilderoy Lockhart is a prat and I hate him.
2. Deathday party. It's creepy and gross.
3. Poor Ginny.
4. The trouble Harry and Ron get Mr. Weasley into stresses me out.
5. I don't like snakes ...more
That being said, this is my least favorite of the early books (I'll let you know whether it's my least favorite overall after I reread HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX).
The reasons are LEGION:
1. Gilderoy Lockhart is a prat and I hate him.
2. Deathday party. It's creepy and gross.
3. Poor Ginny.
4. The trouble Harry and Ron get Mr. Weasley into stresses me out.
5. I don't like snakes ...more


It's actually quite fascinating how much happened in this book, to be honest. ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Word Game (I love these, so reply! ;) ) | 48494 | 11931 | 1 hour, 41 min ago | |
what i think | 1 | 9 | Feb 10, 2021 01:58PM | |
asdasdasdas | 1 | 4 | Feb 03, 2021 09:52PM | |
Harry Potter Read...: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 1 | 9 | Jan 08, 2021 09:13AM | |
Harry Potter Book...: Chamber Of Secrets Main Discussion {Non-Spoilers} | 1 | 3 | Dec 27, 2020 04:48PM |
See also: Robert Galbraith
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she ch ...more
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she ch ...more
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