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

[Shan ~A~]

Got back to this one tonight and I must say that the Weasley's are my favorite people. They are so cute. (view spoiler)[ It's really cute to see the Ginny acting like young girls everywhere who gets nervous around their crush (hide spoiler)] It's so wonderful that Harry has them. Being with them is the only time outside Hogwarts that he is excepted for who he is.
I've seen the movies, but for whatever reason I remember nothing, so what is going on with Percy? That's just rhetorical question, I am just a little impatient to see what's going on with him.
Blood definitely tells when it comes to the Malfoy's. The did not fall for from the tree. I wonder what the misses is like.
I think our little friend had something to do with what happened at the train station. I would like to wring his little neck.
The boys finally make it to Hogwarts. (view spoiler)[ Only to have an accident by crashing into a try snd then the tree attacked right back. (hide spoiler)] Wouldn't people be more careful if what the endured happened to us?

[Michelle]

Shan, I love that (view spoiler)[ Ginny gets so weirdo nervous around Harry! I think her crush is cute in this one. Especially knowing how confident she becomes in the future books. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Very true Michelle!

[Shan ~A~]

Kristin wrote: "So I just made it to where they arrived at Hogwart's. I love the Weasley's. Such a great family. And I hate the Dursley's. I don't like them but I find them comical in how upset they get over every..."

I have felt the same way about most YA's and still do in most cases. I prefer adult situations, but I loved the movies so much. I went to the theater to see each one and drug my children along, so I felt that it was time for me to finally read the series. I haven't been reading it as fast because I am reading several books at the same time, but I have found it very enjoyable and funnier than I remember the movies being.

[Michelle]

Kristin, I am looking forward to hearing about it through your first-time reader's eyes. I do agree that the first books are harder to identify with if you read them for the first time as an adult, but they pick up from here.

And yes, the Dursley's are terrible.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I just started re-watching the movies. The actors are so young back in these movies! They are aimed at the age of the characters at the time so I understand what you mean Kristin

[Michelle]

Kristin, (view spoiler)[Colin IS a super stalker. It's not cute, it's creepy. Calm down, boy. Poor Harry.

Lockhart is my least favorite character in all of the books. He is so two-dimensional. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Kristin wrote: "So I finished/ I gave it 3 stars. The series hasn't caught me the way I was hoping it would. I like it and the writing is simple enough but I just keep wishing more would happen. But I love the fri..."

That's because you've been reading the little bitty books. Wait until you get to book 4 that's when you start reading the over 600 page books.

I was the same when I first read them. I love them now but mostly because when you reread you see all the foreshadowing and little mentions of things that go on to play such a large role in the later books.

[Shan ~A~]

Poor Harry, he can't catch a break. On top of everything else he now has Colin(view spoiler)[ the stalker (hide spoiler)].

[Shan ~A~]

Who is Slytherin's heir? (view spoiler)[ It has been confirmed that the Chamber of Secrets has indeed been opened. I have been around the bend trying to determine who could have opened it. Obvious choice would be Draco or Harry himself, but I don't believe the choice would be thst clear. So... I thought that it must be someone new to the school, such as a first year or new teacher, which lead me to stalker Colin or self-absorbed/self-important Lockhart. Then Colin was petrified, so now I don't know what to think. Dobby is back in the mix trying to help, but causing Harry more trouble. With that kind of help, Harry doesn't need his enemies bringing more drama. I have to agree with Ron when he said that if Dobby kept helping Harry he would end up killing him. On my last note for now, by watching the movies I always got the impression that Dumbledore was larger than life, but reading the story instead makes me feel as though he must have been hyped up by the screen writers. If Harry and the gang weren't curious and brave enough to look for answers, Hogwarts would have already fallen. (hide spoiler)]

[Shan ~A~]

Getting down to the last few chapters. (view spoiler)[So am I to believe that the Chamber of Secrets has something to do with why Hagrid was expelled? Whether that is the case or not, I would never believe that he was or would ever be malicious (hide spoiler)]

[Shan ~A~]

Finished today. Had a few tears at the end (view spoiler)[most especially when Dobby was set free. I kept second guessing myself about Tom Riddle, but found that my memories of the movie was somewhat correct. The ucing on the cake was Lockhart and the Malfoy's getting what yhey deserve at the end of this chapter of the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Shan
I don't think Dumbledore is "larger than life", he is more of a presence. He is such an interesting character because he is always very calm, composed, thoughtful, but extremely powerful. As the books progress it becomes clearer the power he has and why so many are afraid of him.
So sweet that you had a few tears at the end ;) (view spoiler)[ Dobby is such an important character to the series and I love how he is freed! (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Just finished up on this one...didn't realize/forgot there was a BR here for it! First time reader of the books.

I liked this book, but not quite as much as the first one. I really liked watching (view spoiler)[Ginny Weasley and her crush on Harry....looking forward to seeing where that goes. I just like the Weasleys in general! They seem like a very fun-loving, kind of bizarre family! They are the kind of family you'd want to hang out with if you had to be away from home! (hide spoiler)]

I really didn't like (view spoiler)[Tom Riddle...I found the diary aspect kind of interesting, but really thought he was a bit of a snake (no pun intended!). Once I got to the end and found who he was, it all made a bit more sense why I disliked him! (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Going to watch the movies this weekend hopefully! Now that I've read 2 of the books, it would be nice to see the movies in relation to the books.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Rebooting this thread to start a new buddy read of the series in October 2015

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "

Rebooting this thread to start a new buddy read of the series in October 2015"

Yay! Thank you! I'll be back in a few hours. Finished book one about an hour or so ago. Plan to start book two after I wake up. For now, good night! :-)

[Jen]

I'm now starting Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!

[Jen]

"...for a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked like a saber-toothed tiger." I'm in Chapter Three, I think: "The Burrow." I really love this description of Mrs. Weasley. :-)

[Jen]

"But Harry, grinning widely, said, 'This is the best house I've ever been in.' " I have to agree. "The Burrow" is a favorite chapter of mine. I love the Weasleys! :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Ah yes!
Their house is awesome. So fun and chaotic and basically the opposite of Privett Drive

[Jen]

So, not having eaten anything yet today, all of the mentions of toast finally got to me. lol





I had to make my own "mountain of toast."

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

haha

[Jen]

"Aragog." That's the chapter I'm in now. I am scared to continue. Harry and Ron are following the spiders into the forest... Like Ron, I am massively afraid of spiders. And unfortunately, Ron doesn't hide his fear, which is going to make the coming scenes ever so much harder for me to read. *gulp* Wish me luck, please.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

But he is just a fluffy little critter ;)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "But he is just a fluffy little critter ;)

"

O.M.G. I think I jumped a foot in the air when I saw that.

Couldn't you have made it pink? And put roller skates on its feet?

Thanks, Karen. (Not.)

lol ;-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Lol
Be thankful I chose a cartoon image ;)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Lol
Be thankful I chose a cartoon image ;)"

Had you NOT chosen a cartoon image, I might have refused to do buddy reads with you ever again. ;-)

[Jen]

Finished and this second book was/is also wonderful. So much to love (and fear) happens in this story. Despite the fact that I may have nightmares tonight, I really loved it. :-)

Now to write my review and go to bed. I'll start book three in the morning. :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Jen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Lol
Be thankful I chose a cartoon image ;)"

Had you NOT chosen a cartoon image, I might have refused to do buddy reads with you ever again. ;-)"

lol
it was tempting, but I didn't because I know we have some members with a genuine fear of bugs and spiders - so that saved you!!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

My favourite parts of this book...

Dobby ; especially the end
Lockhart ; such a love to hate character
The development of Draco into a more sinister character
Weasley House
The discovery of being able to talk to snakes.

And so many bits and pieces that will be important as the books progress!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Book 3

Link is here

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "it was tempting, but I didn't because I know we have some members with a genuine fear of bugs and spiders - so that saved you!!"

I am genuinely afraid of spiders. (Thought I said so in my comment about "Aragog.") I have occasional phantom-spider nightmares that I usually come awake from screaming. :'( When I lived in Seattle, the phantoms were usually no bigger than a Daddy Long-Legs. Here in Tucson, they're usually MUCH bigger, because we have those awful, furry, big, T-spiders and I've been unlucky enough to see two of them (one dead, one unfortunately so-not-dead).

So yeah, I am VERY grateful that you chose a cartoon image. Thank you! :-)

[Jen]

On the rare occasions when I'm unlucky enough to see an image or *shudder* a live spider, I only stay "sane" (in other words, I avoid becoming a gibbering mess) because I immediately color them pink in my imagination and put roller skates on their feet.

Unfortunately, my brain hasn't fully got that message, so they're "true" in my nightmares, apart from their size, and its only after I'm awake and calm that I color them pink and put the roller skates on them (and usually go back to sleep at dawn with the lights on).

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "Book 3

Link is here"

Thanks! I'll pop over there once I've written my review of book two. Which I'm going to do RIGHT NOW. No more distractions! :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I love that you transform them on your mind - especially the roller skates!!
I'm very glad I didn't give you a real picture then ;)
We have pretty big spiders here, but it's actually the small ones we have to watch out for. I don't like them, but I don't have a phobia or fear. My pet hate is actually cockroaches. I had one fly into my bath once *shudder*

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "We have pretty big spiders here, but it's actually the small ones we have to watch out for. I don't like them, but I don't have a phobia or fear. My pet hate is actually cockroaches. I had one fly into my bath once *shudder*"

Where is "here"? And sorry about the cockroaches. I'm thankfully not afraid of them, even though I once slept on the floor in an apartment that had thousands of them (this was an apartment in Siberia, in Russia, when I was younger...20 years ago now, and those cockroaches were itty bitty things.)

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "My favourite parts of this book...

Dobby ; especially the end
Lockhart ; such a love to hate character
The development of Draco into a more sinister character
Weasley House
The discovery of being ..."

I finished my review. :-)

My favorite parts are, of course, Chapter Three, "The Burrow." I love the Weasleys. :-)

I also love the scenes that involve Ron and the Howler in Chapter Six. And I may or may not have cheered aloud (I certainly cheered in my head) when we learned in Chapter Eighteen that (view spoiler)["Lucius Malfoy had been sacked as a school governor" and that "Draco was no longer strutting around the school as though he owned the place. On the contrary, he looked resentful and sulky." (hide spoiler)] :-D

I also got chills in Chapter Eighteen when Dumbledore tells Harry why (view spoiler)[Fawkes came to him (hide spoiler)] and shows him (view spoiler)[that the sword was Godric Gryffindor's (hide spoiler)].

And I teared up when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had their (view spoiler)[tearful reunion with Ginny, Ron, and Harry (hide spoiler)], again in Chapter Eighteen.

There were other smile-worthy moments, but these are the ones that stand out the most. :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

sorry ; "here" is Australia. creepy crawlies are our thing!

They are lovely moments. I forgot about the Howler. That is an awesome scene! :D

[Jen]

Karen wrote: "sorry ; "here" is Australia. creepy crawlies are our thing!

They are lovely moments. I forgot about the Howler. That is an awesome scene! :D"

Australia? Neat. :-) I've never been there but hope to one day. (Hopefully the eight-legged creepy crawlies will get the stay-away memo when I do get there.)

And I agree that the Howler scene is awesome. I'm of the opinion that any and all scenes with Mrs. Weasley in them are awesome. :-)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

:)
I'd love to give her a big hug

[Jen]

Karen wrote: ":)
I'd love to give her a big hug"

I want her to adopt me! (But I wouldn't say no to just a big hug. lol)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Haha

[Debbie (Doc)]

I just finished book 1 and am starting on book 2.

[Jen]

Debbie (Doc) wrote: "I just finished book 1 and am starting on book 2."

Is this a reread for you, too, Debbie?

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

We're revisiting this buddy read for Tower Teams VI.
Join us anytime from May 12th to July 31st.
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Participating in a Harry Potter buddy read with a member from a different team, or with a member of NBRC who isn't on a Tower Team = 40 points
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[Daniela]

so ready to re-read this :) who's in??

[Elen]

I'm in. Team Hermione Granger.

[Dev]

i was gonna wait til friday to start so i could space them all out a bit but if this thread gets active i could start it any time

[Elen]

I can also wait, I'm not in hurry. Spacing them out is a very good idea, so everyone can catch up. :D