audiobooks

alright, let me try and explain my self out of giving "Chamber of Secrets" only 3 stars. First of all, let me say that though i haven't rated all of the other novels, i have read them all and believe that "Prisoner of Azkiban" is the best of the four released. "Goblet of Fire" and "Sorceror's Stone" are close seconds, but this novel lacks something the other's have. But for those of you who are not yet potter-fans, let me explain the story a little.

Harry is a twelve year old wizard who is to start his second year at a wizarding school called Hogwarts. His best friend, Ron Weasley, and Ron's brother's free harry from his mean-spirited relatives, the Dursleys. He goes to school and gets himself into tons of trouble on the first day. To wrap up, the novel gets going with several of harry's least favorite people turning to stone.

OK. You want to know more? Read the book. But for those who have read it or those who need a better explination as to why this book is not as good, continue forth.

J. K. Rowling does an amazing job of writing in the other three novels. However, i feel that thematically, this book falls short. In "Stone," Harry faces Voldemort for the second time in his life. His mother's love protects him from the evil wizards power and harry is saved by LOVE (Theme 1). In the third novel, Harry faces the prosepect of meeting his godfather, who is an accused murderer and the novel ends with harry using patience and understanding to solve problems. UNDERSTANDING (Theme 2). In "Goblet of Fire," Harry is saved by his wit, trusting, and bravery. WIT AND BRAVERY (Theme 3).

Alright. Here we go. The Themes i've capitalized show how Harry's problems are resolved. These three (well, four really) themes are good things for children who read these novels to apply to their own life, using these four characteristics to help them live life.

The Problem: "Chamber" has a theme, but it is not something that is populary among wise parents. Harry uses violence to finish his problems. He fights evil with evil, and that is a wrong on itself. Rowling has a shortfall here and I wish that she could have used the same creativity shown to design the plot (which is very good and creepy) to finish it. However, this novel is not one that is necessary to read because it doesn't have anything really, really important. If you want, you can skip it, but i don't necessarily recommend that.

"Chamber" is worth reading once (or twice), but it is not of the same calliber as the other novels so far. I highly reccomend any of Rowling's other works and listening to any of Jim Dale's beautiful protrayals on CD or Tape (The unabridged productions are extraordinary).

I hope i've dug myself out of any serious holes and helped someone on whether they will buy this novel or not.

I picked up the first Harry Potter book to see what all the fuss and media hype was about. Now, I'm hooked. I had to read the second book and now I'm searching for the third.

Harry returns to Hogwarts against the advice of a mysterious visitor, only to find that life there is not the same as it was his first year. There's an egotistical new professor on the faculty, mysterious attacks against Muggle-born students, and a new ghost that haunts the girls' bathroom. Harry and his cohorts must get to the bottom of the mystery and, in the process, discover the real reason Hagrid was expelled.

These books are not just for kids. They're for anyone who enjoys a light, fast read with a little injection of mystery.

As for those critics who insist that the books are about the occult, that's nonsense. I grew up watching "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie", and these books are as "evil" as these television programs. The plot is the classic "good vs. evil" with a magical twist and a young, likeable hero.

Year two at Hogwarts has a rough start for Harry, who misses his train and has to make his own way to Hogwarts, breaking every rule in the book along the way. He's in a lot of trouble, yet he still manages to hold his head high and trudge along through school.

Draco doesn't let up as he taunts Harry and tries to cause even more trouble for our hero. We are introduced to new characters that we'll see later in the series. While we don't learn much about Harry's past in this sequel, we learn much more about Hogwarts, the teachers, and the students.

If the HP series were a journey "Chamber of Secrets" would be the bridge from "Sorcerer's Stone" to "Prisoner of Azkaban" where we learn much more about the hows and whys.

It's truly a thrill to read.