Chamber of Secrets
After a bit of a break, I continued my re-read of the Harry Potter books yesterday. I've now finished Chamber of Secrets, and I'm just utterly confused as to why I used to hate this one. I think this is the only HP book I've ever read once before, so something must have been up with me during that first read through. ... because I wasn't able to put it down this time around. And this time I knew what was going to happen. Perhaps that made the mystery even more exciting somehow? Plus the fact that I could pick up slivers of foreshadowing for the later books. That probably helped the reading experience too.
As always when I read books on my iPad, I highlight things that stand out to me. I love going back after I've finished reading to see what impressions I end up with through these highlighted passages :D
[Quotes and things]
Re-reading the HP books at this stage has made me realise that these are indeed meant for younger readers. That doesn't make them any less wondrous in my eyes, but some things stand out as particularly... oh I don't know. Some things have a tendency to be exaggerated just a tad too far in order to get the point across. The reader is not supposed to have any kind of sympathy at all with the Dursleys that much is clear. This little section on uncle Vernon's reaction after he finds out Harry isn't allowed to use magic outside of school is just completely ridiculous:
The following morning, he paid a man to fit bars on Harry's window. He himself fitted a cat-flap in the bedroom door, so that small amounts of food could be pushed inside three times a day. They let Harry out to use the bathroom morning and evening. Otherwise, he was locked in his room around the clock.
Wow.
My wife used to sneer at my feeble charms, but one month into your fabulous Kwikspell course and I succeeded in turning her into a yak! Thank you, Kwikspell!
This particular quote made me laugh more than it should have. It just reminded me of things I've had to translate for various marketing materials at work :D
Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets.
Hey guys, think this'll be important later? ... that is basically THE WHOLE ENDGAME IN ONE SENTENCE. LAWL 8D
You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.
What about this? Also, I love Dumbledore.
If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'.
And Hagrid.
He pulled Harry's wand from his pocket and began to trace it through the air, writing three shimmering words:
tom marvolo riddle
Then he waved the wand once, and the letters of his name rearranged themselves:
i am lord voldemort
I think one of the gripes I had with this book the first time around, was that the diary got discarded so early on. The sequence where Harry realises how to work it is just so exciting. You don't want it to end.
Voldemort put a bit of himself in me? Harry said, thunderstruck
I didn't realise this sounded so dirty when I highlighted it :x I highlighted it for future reference. I think.
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Dumbledore ♥
Now I absolutely can not wait to get started on Prisoner of Azkaban. It was always my favourite, but it'll be interesting to see if it'll live up to the pedestal I've placed it on. It's been so long since I properly ventured into the HP universe, I honestly can't remember what happens in it.
But first a break. I started watching X3: The Last Stand earlier, and I can't remember having seen this at all. What. I'm sure I must have. I sometimes worry about my memory :| Anyway, it looked like fun, so I'll go watch that now~
As always when I read books on my iPad, I highlight things that stand out to me. I love going back after I've finished reading to see what impressions I end up with through these highlighted passages :D
[Quotes and things]
Re-reading the HP books at this stage has made me realise that these are indeed meant for younger readers. That doesn't make them any less wondrous in my eyes, but some things stand out as particularly... oh I don't know. Some things have a tendency to be exaggerated just a tad too far in order to get the point across. The reader is not supposed to have any kind of sympathy at all with the Dursleys that much is clear. This little section on uncle Vernon's reaction after he finds out Harry isn't allowed to use magic outside of school is just completely ridiculous:
The following morning, he paid a man to fit bars on Harry's window. He himself fitted a cat-flap in the bedroom door, so that small amounts of food could be pushed inside three times a day. They let Harry out to use the bathroom morning and evening. Otherwise, he was locked in his room around the clock.
Wow.
My wife used to sneer at my feeble charms, but one month into your fabulous Kwikspell course and I succeeded in turning her into a yak! Thank you, Kwikspell!
This particular quote made me laugh more than it should have. It just reminded me of things I've had to translate for various marketing materials at work :D
Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets.
Hey guys, think this'll be important later? ... that is basically THE WHOLE ENDGAME IN ONE SENTENCE. LAWL 8D
You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.
What about this? Also, I love Dumbledore.
If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That lead 'em right! That's all I'm sayin'.
And Hagrid.
He pulled Harry's wand from his pocket and began to trace it through the air, writing three shimmering words:
tom marvolo riddle
Then he waved the wand once, and the letters of his name rearranged themselves:
i am lord voldemort
I think one of the gripes I had with this book the first time around, was that the diary got discarded so early on. The sequence where Harry realises how to work it is just so exciting. You don't want it to end.
Voldemort put a bit of himself in me? Harry said, thunderstruck
I didn't realise this sounded so dirty when I highlighted it :x I highlighted it for future reference. I think.
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Dumbledore ♥
Now I absolutely can not wait to get started on Prisoner of Azkaban. It was always my favourite, but it'll be interesting to see if it'll live up to the pedestal I've placed it on. It's been so long since I properly ventured into the HP universe, I honestly can't remember what happens in it.
But first a break. I started watching X3: The Last Stand earlier, and I can't remember having seen this at all. What. I'm sure I must have. I sometimes worry about my memory :| Anyway, it looked like fun, so I'll go watch that now~