[CLOSED] The Harry Potter Book Club! - Your Notes for Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4 Of The Chamber of Secrets!

Snape maybe be a double agent but his bias against gryffindor is definitely not a pretend thing though, he is just biased with gryffindor for his own reasons genuinely it has nothing to do with being a double agent. Voldemort isn’t even back yet, nor does he know he’s being unfair to gryffindor’s plus… why would Voldemort even care that he’s being biased towards gryffindor’s?? What’s that got to do with anything? Obviously slytherin’s are more on the dark side but that doesn’t mean Voldemort has anything against gryffindor’s specifically, he’s more against muggleborns which isn’t to do with houses. Snape is more unfair to Harry even though he’s mean to Hermione, if Hermione is better at potions he wouldn’t cheat to make her lower in the exams, he more is biased towards gryffindor’s for taking constant points off for no reason.

Loveinthehat

I’ve said it a lot but I really do love how much more time you get with the Weasley’s in the books, they are such a great family, I love their dynamic (Fred and George with Percy especially) and their relationship with Harry. In the movie it’s like Harry stays their for a day but if I remember in this book he stays for almost a month? Which is cool. The weasleys also seem more aggressive in the books as well, which you can’t imagine in the movies. Like Arthur full on jumping Lucius in the book shop, you can see where Ron must get it from, since he did the same thing by attacking Draco physically in the first book as well.

Loveinthehat

"Jokely Pokely Hocus Pocus Squiggly Wiggly!" Easily my favorite spell from the series. Not to mention potentially most powerful. Look at what it did to poor Dudders! Clearly some sort of entropic spell meant to instill terror in others. xD But right after that though, the book just casually mentions that Petunia tries to smack harry in the head with a frying pan??? I mean come on.. the movie Dursleys treated Harry awfully, but this is just straight up horrible!

ambiture

I mean, he has a rich builder round for dinner and works selling drills to (presumably) construction companies. It makes sense he'd know a dude that'd be willing to do that and keep it on the down low.

S1lm4r1l

My question is what exactly do you think is the function of a rubber duck? That is such a fun line and shows us Arthur’s personality and is one of the things I love in the movie that I wish was in the book.

Jacqueline Chaiton

I would have loved to see Harry's face when the twins and Ron were de-gnoming. Can you imagine when your whole life you believed gnomes to be like "Father Christmas", end up being these bold potatoes-like things, and you would be lassoing them above your head and throwing them across the garden!!! I would have had a heart attack! Another thing I wish we could have seen is Ron's bedroom in the movies, as it would add a bit more to his character.

Jerin Akter

I really do love the Weasley family. You get to know them much better in the books than in the movies. Up to this point, which Weasley is your personal favorite? It would be kind of interesting to see, if your choice changes throughout the series, so i might come back to this question in later books. As always...keep up the great work and dedication! I am really looking foreward to see you react to all the books. Greetings from Germany.

Fiur

I love the fact that Arthur Weasley is constantly so excited about the muggle world and has questions about nearly everything muggles invented while he literally works in a department dealing with muggle artefacts every day. I would have thought that in order to work for the ministry of magic you would need some kind of expertise in the field of your department, or at least be able to memorize the correct names of the objects you work with... Maybe the muggle studies classes during Arthur's time at Hogwarts weren't that good ;) Anyway, I love Arthur, he is hilarious.

Kristina

This is not a bad book however this one is my least favorite. My favorite part in the book is Harry's time in the Burrow. I absolutely love the Weasleys and Molly is actually a top 5 character of the series to me. Also I wish the movies showed the fight between Arthur and Lucious. Arthur would have owned him lol.

Raider Max

I do agree that Mr Weasley is more serious in the movies. You can see where Fred and Geroge got their mischief from in the books more then the movies. Though he does tend to show some of his fun side, like finding out about the kids driving the flying car. He was so ready to hear the story but Molly slapped him on the arm or something. The only thing I disagree with is in the film it does show he is talking to Hermione's parents happily. He definitely noticed them. You can see his fascination with muggles between that and asking about the rubber duck. I think in later movies because the tone gets more serious they show less of his fun side to keep that darker tone.

Kunzite Blossom

Did you think that the movie did a good job of portraying the burrow? I love all of the whimsical things like the mirror that talks to you, the clock, ghoul in the attic, the thought Harry had about it looking like it was held up by magic (and then realising that is probably was). The de-gnoming would have been hilarious to see in the movies.

Garry (Not Jerry)

Mr Weasley in the movie is more serious then book Mr Weasley. Him fighting with Malfoy in the store wouldn’t fit right in the movie because he’s too serious. I wish they would of showed more of his personality. He’s more like an older version of Fred and George. In the movie they write him as if he is afraid of Malfoy or weak while in the book he speaks up for himself and more enthusiastic about muggles. He was so excited to see Hermione’s parents in Diagon Alley and want to talk to them while in the movie I don’t think he even notice them. Which version do you like best?

Kristen Campbell

What character or characters are you most excited to get to know better, and to see get more depth and time in the books? What has been the thing that was sadly NOT included in the movies that you most wish HAD been so you wouldn't have to read the books to not miss out on it?

sarah4hp

I really liked how Arthur and Molly Weasley got to speak more and we learn more about Arthurs work. Makes them much more of a character! Also thought, that the book list from Lockhart would make a perfect Netflix Spin Off Series, with one Episode for every book. As Always, thanks for your effort to make these videos, im loving it :D

Jonas (Methanoutput)

I enjoy Molly piling a bunch of food onto Harry's plate, because given the chance, I would do the same. I'm really excited to see your thoughts on the Weasley's in the books. They aren't explored enough in the movies. In my opinion Ginny is the most different. Also Harry is a little sh*t and I love it.

Katie Rapp

I find it interesting how Vernon managed to find someone to fit bars on Harry’s bedroom window, no questions asked. As though this is a normal request.

Ian

The contrast between the Dursleys and the Weasleys is so great. When Harry gets in trouble, he is abused and locked in his room and underfed. Molly Weasley might yell at the boys but it is out of concern for them, and one of the first things she always does is offer food even if she is upset. Withholding love and nourishment would never cross her mind.

PaulaC

After all these years, I still take it very personally that Harry nearly LEFT HEDWIG BEHIND. After she's been shut up in a cage for months, too, Harry's only real link to the wizarding world and his only friend... I'm honestly so glad that the films didn't let Harry forget her. Speaking of owls, poor little Errol is so hard done by... I'm sure he's doing his best!

Rebecca May

When people talk about how "horrible" Professor Snape is, they often seem to forget that as a double agent, Snape has to pretend to be biased against Gryffindor. However, in chapter 4 we learn that Hermione has better grades in Potions than Malfoy. If Snape really was an unfair teacher, this wouldn't be the case. xxx "Harry got a shock the first time he looked in the mirror over the kitchen mantelpiece and it shouted, “Tuck your shirt in, scruffy!" I love little details like this. They make the wizarding world feel so much more real.

Hawwah

Once again, the book gives us SO much more detail about this magical world. I do think that the movie did pretty well with this bit of the book though. I love all of the extras at the Burrow: the gnomes, the ghoul, the quidditch, Ron's room. It just makes it come so alive for me! I also love how we get another taste of Harry's sassiness with Dudley. What was your favorite part of these chapters that didn't make it into the movie? Also, I love the book club! It's always a great day when I get to hear your thoughts about the book :)

itsanursething

Oh someone asked J.K this question many years ago, and she said that any discrepancies involving numbers were entirely her fault because she was horrible at maths

Nick Brønnum

I notice in "At Flourish And Blotts" Fred said Percy got 12 O.W.L.s...? - In Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione took 12 subjects, and needed a Time-Turner to do so. However, it is mentioned in the series that both Bill and Percy Weasley and more got 12 OWLs how?, maybe the explanation would be that in previous years the lesson planning simply didn't result in any overlaps, negating the need for a time-turner and allowing high achievers to attend all twelve lessons...?

Nick Brønnum

I just love all the extra detail like Fred & George having to pick locks to get Harry's stuff. More time at the Burrow and details about the Weasley family. Also the stuff in Flourish & Blotts like Harry giving the books to Ginny and the fight.

Annette Elliott

I know you liked how much more Weasleys content there was in the first book, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how you like the book versions of Molly and Arthur considering how much more fleshed out they are in this and in the future.

Predaguy

Not a video. It's just a pic. He includes our comments here in the actual video which comes out later.

Annette Elliott

Ryan O'Driscoll

I just love book Harry and how he scares Dudley by muttering «magical words»/nonsense. Also I think it is better explained how the whole thing with house elfs works and why Dobby makes the dessert hover. In my opinion it is not clear in the movies that Harry could be expelled for this. We get more background on the Malfoy and Weasley family as well which I find very interesting, since most things like Mr. Weasleys job doesn’t get mentioned in the movies. By the way, keep the shop Borgin & Burkes in Knockturn Alley in mind, it will come up later in the other books (that is all I will say about that) 😉.

Tämi

What I love most about the books is that the story is understood through Harry. We see what he sees, hear only what he hears. So the plot only gets revealed as Harry grows up and starts asking the right questions. For example, Harry endures horrible abuse from the Dursleys. We all are left to wonder why, only to wait until Dumbledore and Harry talk about this in book 7. The entire major plot is revealed this way too, as we patiently wait for Harry to grow up and start asking the right questions.

Mika Ravenclaw

Can we just take a moment to appreciate what a great friend Ron is? He's so worried about Harry not writing to him back and has obviously been voicing it to his family. Enough that his parents have promised to get Harry themselves if he hasn't written back by Friday. But that's still not soon enough for Ron. And the twins understand that. Great friends, great brothers, great parents. Even if Mrs Weasley does commit the cardinal sin of comparing her children to their siblings she still loves them all.

Elizabeth Mann

Personally I need to see the alternate timeline where every summer Harry gets to go to Majorca, including having to fly from there to safety at the start of Deathly Hallows. Also let's not gloss over the fact Petunia straight up tries to whack him in the head with a frying pan.

Matthew Whelan

Love that the books give so much more dynamics to the Weasley family who take Harry as one of their own

AWR93

I love how many things are mentioned in these chapters that are relevant later in the series.

Jacob sparks

We get so much more of Fred, George, Ginny, and The Borrow! I love the twins learned how to pick a lock the muggle way! Have you watched the movie again to refresh your memory?

YaeliEz (Yael)

Character and plot development right across the board is far deeper and more developed in the books as you are discovering. I'd say that you are doing things the right way round having watched the movies. Given that the later books were twice the size of the earlier ones but the movies were not -well just enjoy the extra content and we'll enjoy with you!!!!

Nix001

Looking forward to you covering the "incident" that occurs in book flourish and blots and not the movie !

Matthew T

Note Harry's feeling of isolation and loneliness- the tone of Harry facing things alone continues through the book. /it comes up later in the series also.

Laura Klaassen Minnick

The books say he's been given birthday presents in the past from them. Nothing nice though; a pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks or a coat hanger were some examples

Katie

I've always wondered how Harry knows his birthday since the Dursleys act as if it doesn't exist. How would Dudley know as well.

Kattie Martin

“Muggle duelling” as I think it’s referred to in later books 😂

Hilde

I love the fight in Flourish and Blotts between Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy. Wand? Duel? Who cares... we use our fists! Muggle-Style!

Benjamin Hütz

I completely forgott that Dobby didn't levitate the pudding over the guests' heads but just in the kitchen were no one can see it. I think it makes sense in that he wouldn't want to risk revealing magic to them. But I have to say that I actually really like the visual joke so I'm not mad about it😅

Diego Zenhäusern

in the film, they made harry look so dumb when he just said diagonally without any proper reason. in the book he swallowed a lot of ash and coughed so his pronunciation wasn't as clear. how hard could it have been to make daniel radcliffe fake cough and mutter 'D-dia-gon alley'

ari

I like to remember the image I have of Dobby from reading rather than the movie version. :)

Katherine

The first time I read the book, I absolutely loved the part that takes place at the Burrow, just the atmosphere and Harry's first time spending the summer pleasantly 🧡

Milena

I'm really glad you finally get to meet Dobby! It's impossible to read without imagining the film version of him for me. I didn't like how they reduce his role so much in the films, but I did like his look and his voice. I think it's interesting how depressing the first chapter is. Harry is like someone who have started to believe everything their bully is telling them... It's a good way of showing how much Hogwarts and his friends there actually means to him, I think, which explains why he's not very keen to listen to Dobby's warning since it involves not going back. You'll probably say it before arriving at the book club part of the video, but if not: did you notice Mundungus Fletcher getting a mention?

H

I really enjoyed the banter between dudley and Harry. I feel the movies just glossed over their dynamic.

Annamarie schwirian