Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (#2)

By J.K. Rowling

THE SHORT

Harry Potter returns in a blaze of glory in this book, in which, we, as readers get to know more about Harry's history, as well as that of Lord Voldemort, who, in the last book was only a shadowy figure. This book is certainly a fun ride, although it may drag on for quite a bit in the middle, and Rowling resorts again to various dei-ex-machina to resolve many issues in the book. However, the complicating mystery, satisfies readers with many different "tidbits" in the middle to keep us going. The plot is interesting as Rowling introduces us to more of the wizarding world, and weaves her magical mystery into Potter's story, although one may not quite believe the fact that Harry is always causing trouble. All in all, this novel certainly has its pitfalls, but Rowling once again manages a tricky bit of excellent writing to bring this superb plot to justice.

THE REVIEW

Some of you may wonder why 'THE PLOT' section has disappeared from this review; unfortunately the reason is that I wish not to spoil your many experiences when reading this book. I hope that this review will serve as an introduction into the magical world of Harry Potter and many other books. Then again, there may be small spoilers in this review, and if you do not want spoilers I do suggest you read 'THE SHORT' above. Afterwards, if you have finished the book, you can read 'THE REVIEW' below.

A brilliant blaze and mixture of action and mystery, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a wonderful concoction from Rowling, who somehow manages to follow-up to her break out novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Harry is fleshed out even more this time, and his relationship with Lord Voldemort is explored in greater detail. Harry's character grows, from his annoyance at the Dursleys and his bravery to stand up against Lord Voldemort, who returns, but not in the way one would expect. He exhibits his curiosity when he is contacted by a house-elf named Dobby, proving that there is more to the world of magic than was written down by Rowling in the first novel. His friendship and bond with his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger is tested and proven, especially when they embark on many adventures, trying to find out the "Heir of Slytherin" who has opened the mysterious and mythical Chamber of Secrets. Both of them help Harry when he starts to hear strange voices in the walls that no one can hear, and as such their friendship grows ever stronger.

Another character of interest is Lord Voldemort, who returns in a flash. This time, however, the actual physical self of Voldemort is not there, and instead his memory takes his place. The memory is exactly the same, if not even more evil, than Voldemort, although he does make stupid mistakes, in hindsight. However, he is not more threatening than the actual form of Voldemort, the hissing, spitting, incarnation in the back of Quirrell's head was far more frightening.

Rowling explores various themes throughout this book, and one of them, although it may be small, is the issue of slavery. Dobby is no more than a slave (as Hermione correctly points out in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) to his master Lucius Malfoy. Dobby's enslavement parallels that of African slaves, first a long period of slavery in which there is no hope of escaping, and then Harry (or the British parliament in the African slaves' case) saves them from their cruel masters. Perhaps Rowling is trying to make up for the British's mistakes in slavery, or perhaps she is simply trying to make a point.

She also shows us the power of deceitful people, who lure others in, and use them for their own purposes. Voldemort's memory also does this, seemingly sweet to Ginny Weasley at first, and then possessing, with no regard for her feelings. The evilness of his plan is just sickening, not, maybe, because a 16 year-old boy is inhabiting a girl, but because we had never heard of possession in the magical world, and before, all we had though Voldemort could do was rage and cast angry spells. We learn, now that such is not the case, that Voldemort has far more dangerous powers.

But the novel isn't all about Voldemort and Harry (although much of it is spent exploring their intertwining histories), another character's personal background comes to light: Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid's reason for expulsion was kept mum in the previous book, but here he is revealed as keeping the "monster" that had killed the poor girl in the bathroom. Hagrid's love of monsters is shown to be his demise, and eventual expulsion from Hogwarts, having been caught out by a boy named Tom Riddle, who knows more than everyone thinks.

The plot, this time, is a bit more slowly paced than the first one, the middle half of the book being concerned with the trio's plan to make Draco Malfoy admit he is the Heir of Slytherin, and with the stuck-up and self-conceited Gilderoy Lockhart (who is later revealed to be, to no one's surprise, a bungling Professor). Rowling utilises the same amount, if not more, deus-ex-machina in this book, and one marvels at all the lucky coincidences that Rowling concocts, making sure that no one dies when the Monster of Slytherin is loose, and the events that could only have happened if Harry had had a giant lucky rabbit's foot and a five leaf clover. Perhaps this may be a result of "destiny", but it still is remarkable, and nearly impossible. Harry doesn't even defeat the Monster himself, Dumbledore's phoenix does most of that. Maybe Malfoy does have a point: "Potter is just lucky. He doesn't have an drop of skill in him."

However, Rowling makes a mystery this time in the book. The mystery is compelling and confusing, but not confusing in a bad way, confusing enough to lead us onwards, but not enough to make us scratch our heads and say "What is going on here???" The plot is satisfying enough that it will make you read on despite your serious forebodings of something bad happening. And happen it does, with a terrible fate falling on Hogwarts students, and even ghosts. The plot weaves in beautifully with the previous novel, and also whets our appetite for more of Rowling's world. Harry's history with Voldemort is exactly what we readers needed after the first one, and Rowling gives us just that, successfully bringing her second amazing novel to the table.

This novel may not be perfect, but it is very nearly close to perfection. The pitfalls of this novel seem nothing next to the novel's superb plot.

Rating: 9.0/10
Advice: A certain must-read as a follow-up to the the first novel.

Next week: The film was dire, but is the book any better? I set out on an exploratory journey to Terry Brooks's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Perhaps it will be promising, but maybe it will be as boring as the film...