I loved, loved, loved the scene where Hermione convinces Harry and Ron to break the rules. She seems so excited, but it is probably about the complexity of the potion. It is a lovely character moment.
I am a little stumped by her admiration for Lockhart, though. She is usually so level-headed about that sort of thing, and sees through people like that. Also, I would think Hermione would be the first to dislike someone who so clearly did not know what they were talking about. Perhaps her character is still growing. I think perhaps the astuteness I am thinking about all shows up later. If so, that is a good sign of development of character.
A plot clue I noticed, which I have never noticed before:
Dumbledore comments that it is not a question of who did it, but how -- of course he knows that Voldemort is the culprit. He just needs to figure out how Voldemort is acting in Hogwarts.
Dobby ... Dobby, Dobby, Dobby...
Still annoying. I think Rowling is employing him as a suspense-creator, and all his cryptic hints work that way, I think, but it is overshadowed by his annoyingness (no, this is not my favourite book in the whole world). It is compounded by the revelation that he is the culprit behind the apparently sinister attempts to keep Harry from Hogwarts/kill him. It sets the plot back, in a way. I am not sure I am coherent right now.
The Duelling Club a lot. Mainly because of Snape's disdain for Lockhart (he really should bond with Harry over that). It struck me that expelliarmus is either a brilliant stroke of insight or a problem limiting the development of the world: the fact that it limits the complexity of the magic needed for a child to fight the bad guys is clearly a plus -- all you need is clearly a disarming charm and then later a stupefy -- no need to make it complicated; but that is also a weakness in that there is no need for her to make it more complicated. Hmmm. Again, I find I am incoherent.
I love the conspiracy nuts in Hufflepuff. They are such an excellent satirical sketch of the real kind. They take random facts that suit their idea and quietly disregard anything that contradicts it. Lovely.
And Dumbledore's office made me realise I want a revolving stone staircase and a phoenix.
I am a little stumped by her admiration for Lockhart, though. She is usually so level-headed about that sort of thing, and sees through people like that. Also, I would think Hermione would be the first to dislike someone who so clearly did not know what they were talking about. Perhaps her character is still growing. I think perhaps the astuteness I am thinking about all shows up later. If so, that is a good sign of development of character.
A plot clue I noticed, which I have never noticed before:
Dumbledore comments that it is not a question of who did it, but how -- of course he knows that Voldemort is the culprit. He just needs to figure out how Voldemort is acting in Hogwarts.
Dobby ... Dobby, Dobby, Dobby...
Still annoying. I think Rowling is employing him as a suspense-creator, and all his cryptic hints work that way, I think, but it is overshadowed by his annoyingness (no, this is not my favourite book in the whole world). It is compounded by the revelation that he is the culprit behind the apparently sinister attempts to keep Harry from Hogwarts/kill him. It sets the plot back, in a way. I am not sure I am coherent right now.
The Duelling Club a lot. Mainly because of Snape's disdain for Lockhart (he really should bond with Harry over that). It struck me that expelliarmus is either a brilliant stroke of insight or a problem limiting the development of the world: the fact that it limits the complexity of the magic needed for a child to fight the bad guys is clearly a plus -- all you need is clearly a disarming charm and then later a stupefy -- no need to make it complicated; but that is also a weakness in that there is no need for her to make it more complicated. Hmmm. Again, I find I am incoherent.
I love the conspiracy nuts in Hufflepuff. They are such an excellent satirical sketch of the real kind. They take random facts that suit their idea and quietly disregard anything that contradicts it. Lovely.
And Dumbledore's office made me realise I want a revolving stone staircase and a phoenix.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Great Harry Potter re-read: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
19/07/2010 09:32:22 AM
- 2273 Views
Chapters 1-3
19/07/2010 09:32:52 AM
- 1501 Views
Dobby
19/07/2010 02:39:06 PM
- 1482 Views
I hate Dobby.
20/07/2010 11:32:58 AM
- 1602 Views
Stuff
20/07/2010 05:54:26 PM
- 1512 Views
The Dursleys.
23/07/2010 11:35:31 PM
- 1573 Views
Chapters 4-6
19/07/2010 09:33:18 AM
- 1464 Views
Another character we love to hate! Gilderoy Lockhart. Plus Weasley vs Malfoy.
20/07/2010 03:29:39 PM
- 1505 Views
I can't remember how much I hated him the first read
21/07/2010 03:44:15 AM
- 1606 Views
You're right. It's not as bad the second (or third) time around with him.
21/07/2010 01:54:01 PM
- 1398 Views
My problems with Dobby are very different from my problems with Lockhart
21/07/2010 07:02:55 AM
- 1500 Views
More stuff
21/07/2010 07:00:04 AM
- 1445 Views
This section really brought home to me how well Rowling writes about love and relationships.
21/07/2010 07:22:43 PM
- 1522 Views
That last remark made me check out the names in the French translation...
26/07/2010 05:18:36 PM
- 1562 Views
Don't get me started on the Norwegian translation.
26/07/2010 09:52:09 PM
- 1489 Views
That is indeed genuinely awesome.
27/07/2010 12:24:07 AM
- 1502 Views
Re: That is indeed genuinely awesome.
27/07/2010 09:07:35 AM
- 1435 Views
McSnurf? MCSNURF?? WTH? *NM*
27/07/2010 08:47:55 PM
- 903 Views
Chapters 7-9
19/07/2010 09:33:44 AM
- 1438 Views
Colin Creevey.
22/07/2010 06:55:17 PM
- 1478 Views
Re: Colin Creevey.
23/07/2010 10:13:33 PM
- 1441 Views
Even more stuff
23/07/2010 10:10:39 PM
- 1512 Views
Chapters 10-12
19/07/2010 09:34:13 AM
- 1358 Views
Three good chapters
22/07/2010 02:28:20 PM
- 1412 Views
Yup.
23/07/2010 11:32:03 PM
- 1461 Views
I agree. And plain jealousy that Harry's hogging the spotlight time and again.
26/07/2010 05:28:09 PM
- 1540 Views
Chapters 13-15
19/07/2010 09:34:50 AM
- 1228 Views
Heh. I'd forgotten how near the end of the book the spiders are.
23/07/2010 11:26:43 PM
- 1307 Views
"Goodbye friends of Hagrid..."
26/07/2010 01:58:25 PM
- 1324 Views
Chapters 16-18
19/07/2010 09:35:20 AM
- 1400 Views
Overall thoughts
19/07/2010 09:36:06 AM
- 1491 Views
Thoughts on the movie quality
21/07/2010 04:15:20 AM
- 1239 Views
I always felt that the first two movies were the best, and the others bungled the atmosphere. *NM*
21/07/2010 03:08:29 PM
- 822 Views
I wonder if Rowling ever looks back and wishes she could change some stuff
21/07/2010 06:44:41 PM
- 1326 Views
Suggestions for the re-read?
19/07/2010 09:37:32 AM
- 1296 Views
Do we want a wee break before the next book?
24/07/2010 10:47:07 AM
- 1280 Views
we need an impatient smiley that taps its foot while looking grumpy. *NM*
27/07/2010 08:51:30 PM
- 790 Views
It's not Wednesday yet! *NM*
27/07/2010 09:26:21 PM
- 722 Views
But it was a question:
27/07/2010 10:25:27 PM
- 1302 Views
Yes, but the two possibilities in Rebekah's post were either Wednesday or next Monday.
27/07/2010 10:33:10 PM
- 1638 Views