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

[goodreads]

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 251
Date read: June, 2005, October, 2014

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself


I can hardly believe I haven't read this for 9 years! I figured it was about time. And of course, it was just as good as I remembered. It annoyed me somewhat that Harry didn't trust in Dumbledore sooner, but under the circumstances I think he can be excused - when even more experienced wizards (i.e. Ron) tells him that even for a wizard "hearing voices isn't a good thing", I don't blame him for wanting to keep it to himself.

I'd forgotten how short the book is though - I'd seemed to remember that Dumbledore and Hagrid were taken away at a much earlier point than they were.

Not my favourite HP book, but not my least favourite either.