Rowling, J.K.- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2); Informal Buddy Read: Starts November 12, 2014 REVISIT 15 May 2018

[Jenny]

Thanks Karolyn!

[Colleen]

JanEyre9 wrote: "Jenny wrote: "And day three of the "use the treadmill while reading HP books" has begun.
About a quarter of the way in, and I remember why this is my least favorite of the seven books. Although Gil..."

Yes - loved the ending and the cleverness with Dobby. I haven't (yet!) read the other books, so can't quite say where this will fall on the favorites scale. It seemed good though, but yes, I was suspecting Lockhart for some reason....the tenseness.

[Karolyn]

I'm already 2/3 the way through! I had forgotten (view spoiler)[ how ridiculous Lockhart is! He's so full of himself and all talk. He almost makes me like Snape. (hide spoiler)]

I think I'll finish it today. I wish I would take more time with it, but it's too good to put down.

[Karolyn]

Colleen wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Jenny wrote: "And day three of the "use the treadmill while reading HP books" has begun.
About a quarter of the way in, and I remember why this is my least favorite of the seven bo..."

Collee, are you going to start the 3rd book with us? I just finished this one and agree that (view spoiler)[ that the way Harry frees Dobby is very clever. And the fact it upsets Malloy makes it even better! I was also glad to see Lockhart get what he deserved in the end. <\spoiler>

On to book 3... (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Lockhart is horrible...and I totally understand him kind of making you like Snape! Kenneth Branagh did such an excellent job playing Lockhart.

[Jen]

To those of you who mentioned that this is your least favorite book in the series, it might be mine, too. Because I am INCREDIBLY arachnophobic and reading about the acromantulas never fails to give me nightmares.

But then again, book six is the hardest one for me to read, and I really, REALLY, hate Umbridge in book five. So perhaps book five is my least favorite? I just don't know. . .

I do know that book three is my most favorite. :-)

[Kaley]

I’ll be starting this tomorrow if anyone’s still around to discuss!

I see some of you have mentioned this is your least favorite HP book... it has always been one of my least favorites as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing if that changes now since it’s been a little while.

[Jenny]

I will check in for you, sure. There are parts of this that are magical, as with all of her others. Chances are, you will enjoy the reread!

[April]

Sarah wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Finished on Saturday & didnt have a chance to come & comment re final thoughts.

Favorite part: Harry freeing Dobby

Some of my favorite scenes in the entire series are when Harry..."


I love how the Vanishing Cabinet get mentioned in Book 2 for the first time (and I never really paid it much attention). Explains how it gets broken! She is so good at leaving little bits of info everywhere!

[April]

Jen wrote: "To those of you who mentioned that this is your least favorite book in the series, it might be mine, too. Because I am INCREDIBLY arachnophobic and reading about the acromantulas never fails to giv..."

I used to say Book 2 was my least favorite because it was so childish (it's a kids book what am I expecting) but I guess it's because even though we meet Tom Riddle, he doesn't seem so extreme bad as Voldemort in Book 1.

But as I listen to the books again, I catch so many secrets hidden in the book. I may not pick it as a favorite, but I don't dislike it as I used too

[April]

Sarah wrote: "Lockhart is horrible...and I totally understand him kind of making you like Snape! Kenneth Branagh did such an excellent job playing Lockhart."

I think Branagh listened to Jim Dale read it. They way they both sau "Harreee. Harreee. Harreee. I can see(hear) Lockhart smiling with the eee's and then Branagh doing it. It's a weird double image. Like the Cheshire Cat. First the smile, then the face

[Jenny]

I think you may be right about Branagh having listened to Dale. There were a couple of line deliveries that were spot on. Only steal from the best, right?
I personally can't get over the juxtaposition of Henry V and Lockhart. I probably wouldn't have ever had a crush on Branagh if I had seen Chamber first!

The fact that Rowling sprinkles so many little hints of things to come makes me think that either she had the whole thing mapped out in her head before she put one word down on paper, or she reread the earlier books to mine them for ideas. Probably a combo. But it makes rereading them very fun.

[Kaley]

Ch 1-2

I just thought about how messed up it is that (view spoiler)[House Elves have to punish themselves for disobeying their masters. I've certainly thought in previous reads that House Elves are treated poorly, but I never really thought about it much. It's so terrible! (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Jenny wrote: "I think you may be right about Branagh having listened to Dale. There were a couple of line deliveries that were spot on. Only steal from the best, right?
I personally can't get over the juxtaposi..."

I'm listening to Jim Dale read it now and I agree. Just some of the way he says certain things.... That or they both thought "how do I sound super arrogant" :-P Because that's how everything comes out of Lockhart's mouth.

[Kaley]

Through Ch. 6

I forgot how just awful (view spoiler)[Lockhart is! I remember him being arrogant, but not quite to this level. Trying to compete with a 12-year-old about who's more famous by belittling him? "I was a nobody when I was your age too. Maybe more of a nobody. A few people know who you are." Talking about how he did Harry a favor by posing with him in a picture. Ugh. So awful. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Question for UK buddy readers -- I noticed that at Hogwarts they always measure their essays by length (i.e., Hermione only needed two more inches to complete her essay) -- is that just a Hogwarts thing or is that a UK thing to measure essays in physical length? I'm sure you wouldn't use "inches" either way and that's just something that's been changed for the US version, but I didn't know if that was customary there and I was curious about it. I tried to look it up, but I couldn't find anything about it.

[Kaley]

Cathy M. wrote: "Working my way slowly thru this!

Thru Chpt 16 -

[spoilers removed]"

I was just wondering the same thing about (view spoiler)[Lockhart. I'd never really thought of it before, but how on earth did Dumbledore actually hire him? I know Hagrid said something about Lockhart being really the only option, but I don't see how Dumbledore could hire him. Even though he pretended to have done all these great things....surely Dumbledore would have seen right through it. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Kaley wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Working my way slowly thru this!

Thru Chpt 16 -

[spoilers removed]"

I was just wondering the same thing about [spoilers removed]"

I had that thought as well, about Dumbledore (view spoiler)[ hiring Lockhart. But, Dumbledore probably had some grand scheme in mind. Teaching the kids about humility or something. Or, he was able to predict that he would be useful to Harry et al in some way. Or, maybe he just liked having a fool around for a minute. I don't know. But, I am sure that Dumbledore knew what the truth of Lockhart was. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Jenny wrote: "Kaley wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Working my way slowly thru this!

Thru Chpt 16 -

[spoilers removed]"

I was just wondering the same thing about [spoilers removed]"

I had that thought as well, abo..."

Very true! That’d be a good lesson.

[Sarah]

Kaley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Kaley wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Working my way slowly thru this!

Thru Chpt 16 -

[spoilers removed]"

I was just wondering the same thing about [spoilers removed]"

I had that though..."

Don't forget that Dumbledore would have known that Lockhart would be teaching in the Defence Against the Dark Arts spot for only a year. Maybe he just realized there was no other choice and that they had to suck it up.

[Jenny]

I think they should have hired Molly Weasley.

[Kaley]

Sarah wrote: "Kaley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Kaley wrote: "Cathy M. wrote: "Working my way slowly thru this!

Thru Chpt 16 -

[spoilers removed]"

I was just wondering the same thing about [spoilers removed]"

I h..."

That’s true! I forgot that they [series spoiler] (view spoiler)[considered it “cursed” because no one held the position for more than a year after he turned Voldemort down. (hide spoiler)]

[Kaley]

Jenny wrote: "I think they should have hired Molly Weasley."

She would have been so good! But [series spoiler](view spoiler)[maybe it’s for the best that she didn’t because bad things seemed to happen to everyone who held that position! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

I agree, but I think she is the most underutilized character in the series. I wouldn't mind a back story book of her and Arthur's courtship. I bet it would be full of tales of bravery and hilarity.

[Sarah]

Kaley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I think they should have hired Molly Weasley."

She would have been so good! But [series spoiler][spoilers removed]"

Yep, just as long as her leaving wasn't the result of something bad happening to her or the family. On the other hand, can you imagine her teaching her children? The poor children... They would have to basically ace everything, otherwise they would receive the wrath of Mrs. Weasley.

[Sarah]

Jenny wrote: "I agree, but I think she is the most underutilized character in the series. I wouldn't mind a back story book of her and Arthur's courtship. I bet it would be full of tales of bravery and hilarity."

I would love a back story on all of the characters but I agree that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's back story would be fascinating. We know that they were married pretty quickly... I wonder what their first few years were like as a married couple. And I would love to know more about her famous clock!

[Kaley]

I am all for this! I would love a Molly & Arthur story!

Anddddd finished with CoS!

[Jenny]

Did you like it better this time around?

[Kaley]

Jenny wrote: "Did you like it better this time around?"

I did! We will see what my opinion on it is after I finish all the rest though. Unfortunately 1&2 are usually my least favorites just because I love the other ones that much more, even though I like them all. But I feel like before this one has felt like it dragged (which is weird since it’s so short compared to 4-7) but this time it didn’t!

[Colleen]

Karolyn wrote: "Colleen wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "Jenny wrote: "And day three of the "use the treadmill while reading HP books" has begun.
About a quarter of the way in, and I remember why this is my least favorite..."

I should have started Book 3 - but I had other commitments I guess. Maybe I could still squeeze in for TT - I want to read more, and they're quick & fun. We'll see - thanks for asking!

[Lauri]

I've just started reading this again. I've lost count of how many times I've read the whole series! The very first time I read them aloud to my son who is now 25! We saw all the movies & I still never miss a Harry Potter Weekend on TV!

For all of you who said that this is your least favorite book, who could not like a flying car? I don't care all that much for spiders either, but am much more frightened of Nagini and the basilisk!

The world building is, as always, extraordinary, and I think of Ms. Rowling with her baby in a carriage writing away in a cafe. Thankfully for us all she never gave up on her dream.

We meet Dobby for the first time & learn more about the Wizarding World. As strange as Dobby may seem, he turns out to be a steadfast friend...

Onward!

[Bee]

As I said with the first book, this is my first time reading the books. I watched the movies, of course, and that's maybe the reason why I never got around to reading the actual books. I was afraid to be disappointed. So far, that's not happening.
Although, in contary with the first book there is a few differences between the book and the movies, which wasn't that obvious in the first book.
I'm half way through chapter nine and it's starting to be really clear. Like Hermione didn't know what mudblood meant. and Filch is a squib. Those are intresting informations.

[Lauri]

Abir, I am so glad you're reading the books! I love the movies, but the books are always better! Especially in this case. If they were to include everything that's in the books in the movies, each one would probably end up being 8 hours (or more!) long.

I remember going to see the first movie and being a bit disappointed because the characters didn't look the way I'd imagined them in my head! Only Ron looked the way I thought he should...

[Bee]

When watching the movie before reading its book, I'm always afraid that when reading the book I'll be either disappointed because the movie was better, or the other way, that the book was mistreated and should have been just left alone.
But with this serie I'm discovering that sometimes it could be wrong. Which is really nice when it comes to books.
I just finished this one and even if it weren't as good as the first one, it was still intresting. And I agree with you Lauri, in this one we meet Dobby and get to know the Weasleys better. I liked that

[Lauri]

You all won't believe it, but this movie is on TV right now! I'm so excited! Worse than any child....
Love these films!