| Product: |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Audio CD) |
| Date: |
10/09/00 (135 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Captivating
Disadvantages: None
As a die-hard fantasy fan who has long outgrown his childhood, I first eyed the Harry Potter books with askance. They seemed to me to be more suitable for little kids and hardly the material that an adult would read, especially one who has long since been jaded by the typical fare produced by Tolkien-esque authors drawing upon Celtic-Nordic traditions.
However, I was soon persuaded by the many positive reviews of this series, both by my friends and by book critics everywhere. The first book I could not put down until I finished it; the sequel ensnared me just the same.
While the fantasy genre is composed of hackneyed plots and themes, regurgitated by the many different authors out there, each cranking out thousand page novels, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone proved that succinctness is indeed a virtue. All of the stereotypes are here, but instead of just rehashing the same old fare that Tolkien dished out, Rowling re-defines it. And while many readers, especially those, like me, who are well-read in this genre, will recognize in Rowling's novels elements that have appeared in countless other stories and myths, Rowling does not use these as crutches to drive her story where none existed; rather, these are bridges she uses to communicate to her readers, common archetypes that exist in the minds of all. Hers is far more than one author's interpretation; it is a book that has captured the imagination and echoes the awe of the fantastic that resides within all of us
Seldom has an author written with such clarity that her words flow so smoothly from the page into our thoughts. The fantasy genre owes its revival in large part to Rowling's gift of gab. Instead of alienating most readers as many other authors do, Rowling appeals to the mundane, beckoning them, in their own language, to visit the world of the incredible, the fantastic, the impossible that nevertheless seems so real.
Harry Potter is a character of the n
ew millennium, and his exploits usher in a new philosophy of fantasy. An orphaned child living in adverse conditions, Harry discovers that he is truly extraordinary; he is a wizard. Thus begin his adventures and his escape from his cruel life. He makes us all seek within ourselves that spark of magic that will allow each of us to transcend the mundanity and normalizing pressure of society, to become true individuals, unique to one another, and special, each in our own way.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets continues the tradition--yes, tradition, even after a single book!--of Rowling's novels. Engaging and funny, clever and entertaining, the sequel further develops the world in which Rowling has set for her Harry Potter novels, one much like ours but influenced by wizards who move behind the scenes, unsuspecting to the common person. Harry displays the unflagging spirit of determination in the face of adversity, as even his friends slowly turn against him. Rowling's novel teaches children the value of courage, intelligence, and morality while reminding adult readers of the same. Continuing her excellence, Rowling crafts a fantasy series perhaps one day as defining as Tolkien's contribution to fantasy literature. Certainly, it is a worthy addition to everyone's bookshelves, young and old alike.
Summary:
|
|
