When in doubt, go to the library.
Rating: 3/5
Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read the book, this review will contain spoilers so it’s up to you if you continue…
Though Chamber of Secrets is one of my least favourites from the series, I really enjoyed revisiting it; this book contains a lot of Hogwarts history, and solidified the relationships that Philosopher’s Stone introduced, setting up character dynamics that we’re going to see throughout the series. It begins to expand the world that was set up so well in the first book, and I think as I reread them I will repeatedly praise Rowling for her world-building. Every book expands just enough on the lore we already know, giving us a chance to take in the world in stages, instead of overwhelming us with information.
Let’s start at the beginning: the Dursleys. I don’t entirely believe in the Dursley’s. The first time I read the books they were the oppressive muggle family who stopped Harry doing magic, this time round they were genuine child abusers. They locked him in his room, put bars on the window, barely seem to feed him - they aren’t fun or funny and why Dumbledore/McGonagall/Hagrid/anyone let’s Harry stay with them after he finds out he’s a wizard is beyond me. They are an abusive family and I’m surprised that they don’t have more of an affect on Harry’s mentality. They feel like the least realistic parts of the book and obviously they are intended as a stark contrast to the joy and freedom of Hogwarts, but I don’t believe in them - even if they only ever come up in the first and last chapters of the books. Somehow, Dobby - a magical subservient elf - was a more believable character than the Dursleys.
When Harry escaped from the Dursleys with the help of Ron, Fred, and George is always a great moment, but I enjoyed it especially after realising how awful the Dursleys were being. Harry’s absolute amazement at such a simple, happy household is lovely to witness, and I maintain that Molly Weasley is one of the best characters to come from the Harry Potter series. She knows to tell off her sons for taking an illegal flying car, but turns to Harry with nothing but warmth and concern. She’s a formidable woman and people know not to cross her, but she is also one of the most thoughtful, welcoming characters I’ve ever come across. Honestly, she’s what I want to be when I grow up.
I definitely prefer the opening of Chamber of Secrets to the rest of the book. Witnessing the Weasley family, learning about their home, letting Harry have a happy end to summer, and witnessing some new magic with the introduction of Floo Powder on the way to Diagon Alley was all a lot of fun. Part of finding entertainment in these moments is because I know the adventure/mystery side of things, and, perhaps more importantly, I know how dark the series gets, the things these kids have to go through, so seeing the fun side of things feels much more important to me this time round. Instead of being amazed at the small, everyday pieces of magic in these moments, I want to stay in that happy time where things are okay.
To confront the dark parts of this book though, I will have to say I love this look at Tom Riddle. Voldemort in Philosopher’s Stone is barely there, we’re glimpsing at him in his half-life, and the challenge of reaching the stone, rather than of defeating Voldemort, is the focus - Harry doesn’t even know about Voldemort being present until he confronts Quirrel. True, Harry doesn’t think it’s Voldemort behind the voice he hears and the petrified students, but we do get a proper look at Tom Riddle, who he was before Voldemort. I just appreciate that we get this before knowing too much about Voldemort; a load of exposition further on in the series would have felt like too much, and this introduction indicates that this was a long-term plan for Voldemort, displays his intelligence and forward thinking - as well as Rowlings.
I know this is quite a cursory glance at Chamber of Secrets, but like I said, it’s not my favourite, and I’ve already started Prisoner of Azkaban (one of my favourites) so my mind is much more focused on the third book than the second. I think I’ll write my next review as I go, because there’s a lot I forget when I come to actually write it all down,and realistically there’s so much I could say about these books. But there we are, 2 books down, 5 to go, and already I don’t want to be witness to the darkness that’s to come - it’s going great!
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