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Summary: The best book around! : - )
Review: I used to dislike the Harry Potter books, but when I finally sat down to read one, I was thrilled. For once in my life, I knew who my favorite auther was. It's J.K.Rowling!It's pointless to write a review on this book. The only way to describe it is to say: IT'S THE BEST BOOK AROUND! If you have not read it, or onee of the other books in the series, you skould do so RIGHT NOW!
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Summary: enthralled. . .
Review: I used to read many Roal Dahl books when I was younger, and although they are meant for the young adults age group, i find that they are still very enjoyable to the older age group since the writing is timeless and breaks all age barriers. Finally I have found an author that emulates, and actually improves on the late Roald Dahl, and I plan on reading all of the Harry Potter books I can get my hands on. The writing is simple enough for middle schoolers to understand, yet the agelessness of the plot and compelling creation of the characters can hook even the oldest of readers. I top pick for any age group, a must read.
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Summary: UNDESCRIBEABLELY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I usually hate books, I'm 9 and my dad read this book to me. And I think that it Really great!
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Summary: A bit darker than the original...
Review: I very much enjoyed the first Harry Potter book, and I opened this one expecting to see more of the same. While I did find it very well-written and original, I was a little surprised by the tone of this book, which chronicles Harry's second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course, JK Rowling spent a good part of the first book introducing us to Harry and the characters and locations that share his world. There's not as much need for this here. Rowling proceeds on the assumption that you've read the first book (as she should), and jumps right into the plot with little in the way of character introduction. Someone or something unknown is attacking students at Hogwarts, and the evidence begins to pile up and point to Harry. Some of it is so convincing that Harry starts to think that maybe he IS involved somehow. He, along with his friends Ron and Hermione, begins to investigate the strange happenings in order to clear his name, and stumbles right into a 50-year old mystery. All of this takes place amid a backdrop of school life, including a plot to discredit Headmaster Dumnbledore, and of course, a few Quidditch scenes (though not enough to satisfy me.) There are a couple of new characters introduced here - The new Dark Arts teacher, replacing Professor Quirrell from the first book, and Moaning Myrtle, a ghost who haunts the first-floor girls' bathroom. We also learn a little more about the history of Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy, and his father, Lucius. AS I've mentioned, this book has some parts in it that are fairly dark and disturbing, though nothing any worse than R. L. Stine. All in all, a worthy sequel to the excellent debut. I look forward to reading the next book.
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Summary: Magical Fun !
Review: I waited about six months before I chose to plunge into the second book in the Harry Potter series. I just had too many other books to read on my list. Anyway, I'm glad I decided to read this one. The one thing about Harry Potter is that you (the reader) escape to a fantasy world filled with magical fun. I love how the books end with key morals to the story, too. There are definite messages that we must live by. The last 4 or 5 chapters in this sequel really keep one on edge for 'what happens next'! I understand HP & The Sorcerers' Stone (Philosophers' Stone), the movie, is released on Nov. 19, 2001 here in the U.S. Warner Brothers quickly starts filming the sequel (Chamber of Secrets) in Nov. 2001 for fear of the stars getting older--haha. I can't wait to see the movie...from the character still photos I saw in the Vanity Fair Oct. 2001 issue it will be Magical Fun...and relatively close to the book storyline so we (Potter Reading Fans) shouldn't be too disappointed.
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Summary: You have to love Harry Potter
Review: I want to start out by saying the only reason I am giving this four stars and not five is simply that I liked the other three books more. I still loved this book, and was mesmorized by the life of a little kid picked on kid, torchered by his step parents living in the world of magic. I read that the average reading age is between 9 and 12. Adults, forget about that, my parents loved this book, and I loved this book. It may be targeted for young children, but anyone can read it and enjoy it. If you loved books such as "The Lord of the Rings" then this book is just for you. I loved it and so has most of America
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Summary: Caught in the spell-- JK Rowlings is THE master storyteller
Review: I wanted to avoid "Pottermania" but I made the BIG mistake of picking up and reading several of the Potter novels. Ok, so what is the big draw here? Well, I have to admit, author Rowling is a master storyteller, and she has created a new classic series that will be on juvenile bookshelves along with the Wizard of Oz and Through the Looking Glass. I was impressed with the levels of humor (adults can read this and have a good chuckle.) The sheer imagination and wealth of language makes these books very appealing. What's even more impressive is that they apparently translate well into other languages. My German friends are very enthusiastic about Harry Potter "auf Deutsch" and that is a testament to the superb storytelling ability of the author. There is some gross stuff in this volume: the "Deathday Party" for Nearly Headless Nick is none too savory (Nick is a ghost who had a botched beheading and now is socially an embarrasing rung below the well-guillotined.) The refreshments at the party are pretty disgusting. Of course, that appeals to kids, who love the sensational and thrilling, and yes, the gross. I'm going to gloss over the controversy over whether these books glorify Paganism and witchcraft. Any fairytale in the last two centuries has a lot of this kind of thing, so if you are going to read a fairytale, that's the kind of stuff that's in there. As a study for how to write a classic fantasy tale, you can't get a better example than Rowling's works. I'd put her up there with Tolkein for creating a fantasy world.
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Summary: A sequel worth its salt
Review: I was a little afraid that this book would not live up to the high standards set in the first. Sequels often disappoint by their very nature. If a book was monumental enough to spawn a follow-up, then that follow-up has got to be equally brilliant. As with movies, few authors succeed. Those that have - Tolkein, C. S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, Stephen King - do it because they try harder than some and, consequently, their skills sharpen and become second nature. Sometimes even first. Such is the case with J.K. Rowling. If you thought that the first book lucked its way onto the bestseller lists and the bookshelves of nearly ever kid in the world, this book will throw some serious doubts your way. Equally intricate and broader in scope, Rowling pulls out all the stops. We learn that there is more than one way for evil to return. It might just never leave. Once again we find the loveable characters we've grown to love and hate in Harry Potter's world. We worry about his adventurous nature and incessant refusal to confide in his headmaster. We feel the beginnings of a cute crush. We gain more backstory and are left in awe at how masterfully she weaves story threads from book to book. In short, this book continues our love affair with Harry Potter and his world and that is the most we could ask for from a sequel.
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Summary: Great follow up, however.....
Review: I was a little disappointed in the second one. It didn't hold my interest as much. I found myself almost wanting to skip over some sections as I found myself growing ansy. But, that's not to say that I didn't enjoy reading it. Overall, it's a very good book, and definitely worth a read, particularly if you are a fan of the Harry Potter trilogy. After all, it'd be silly not to read all of them, right? Having said that, I don't think that it was as good as the first one. I didn't have that same "Wow!" reaction as I did with the first book.
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Summary: A bridge over the generation gap
Review: I was a little surprised by how much I liked this Harry Potter sequal. I thought the first book was great, but I'd have to say this one was even more entertaining. J.K. Rowling does a great job not only keeping the twists and turns of plot flying fast and furious but also making you feel that the characters are old friends you're getting the chance to catch up with. When you join Harry, Ron, and Hermione for another year back at Hogwarts, you really feel like you're part of the gang. This is a great book for kids, but also offers much to adult readers. I think Harry Potter is great, not only because it has gotten so many kids truly interested in picking up a book, but also because it gives parents something they can share with their children. I think any sharing of enthusiams is a good thing. On a side note, I found it interesting that a certain similarity of plot with that of the Star Wars films is continued in this sequal. In the first book, Young Harry, who doesn't realize that he has been born with a great purpose, leaves his uncle and aunt's hum-drum home to go on a journey and learn the ways of the magic arts. He must battle a dark nemesis who was once a good magician, but was seduced by the dark side. In this sequal, as in the first Star Wars sequal, one of the main characters is even frozen solid towards the end of the story. If you enjoy Star Wars, give this series a shot; it has much the same spirit to it.
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