Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

In his second year at Hogwarts, Harry knows what is waiting for him at school. Or at least he thinks he knows what is waiting for him. After a long summer of silence from his friends, Harry's solitude is interrupted by Dobby, the house elf, who tries to save Harry's life by preventing him from returning to Hogwarts. Despite the chaos that ensues from Dobby's "help," Harry again finds himself at Hogwarts and running into trouble in all the places he shouldn't be. As danger threatens his closest friends, Harry finds himself running headlong into jeopardy and all the mystery that surrounds it. The danger that threatens to close the school reveals some of the secrets of his beloved Hogwarts, and also some of the secrets about his own past. With no other option than to intervene, Harry finds himself facing demons both real and personal as he fights for all the things that have become his home - his school and his friends.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is the second of seven books in the Harry Potter series. Having established the world of witchcraft and wizardry thoroughly enough in her first novel, Rowling uses the second book as an opportunity to expand the depth of the storyline and characters involved in Harry's life. She fills in some - very few - of the blanks about Harry's past, giving just enough information to leave the reader eager for more, and adds layers of complexity to the wizarding world. New characters come with new spells and new dimension of what constitutes good and evil. Overall, Rowling does an excellent job at mirroring the world of Hogwarts - a second year (novel) brings new information, growth, and complexity to every facet of the story.

The "Harry Potter" books are in a league of their own in my opinion. Engrossing, original, and infallible, the books forever hold a special spot on the bookshelf in my heart. Read them. NOW.

No comments:

Post a Comment