By JK Rowling
Narrated by Stephen Fry/ Jim Dale
Reviewed by Gabby
Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
Get the Stephen Fry Audible version here.
Get the Jim Dale version on Audio CD here.
Get the Stephen Fry version on Audio CD here.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Overview:
All Harry Potter wants is to get away from the Dursleys and go back to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby – who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone–or something–starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Audiobook Review:
STORY
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The Good:
This has always been my favourite Harry Potter audiobook of the series (closely followed by the Goblet of Fire). I love a good mystery and the Chamber of Secrets was my first real introduction to this genre. I really loved the sequence of events that led Harry and Ron finally figuring out the secret of Salazaar Slytherin. The final chapters are just so intense because of this. Also, apart from the Goblet of Fire, this is probably the scariest book in the series. Bearing in mind I was five when I listened to it- every time Stephen Fry did the scary disembodied voice Harry kept hearing, I actually fast forwarded the tape or turned the volume down because it scared me so much. I’ve since gotten over that, but it’s still downright creepy. The magic in this book certainly takes a darker turn and we start to learn a lot more about Hogwarts, Voldemort and Harry himself. If you haven’t read the books ( or have seen the movie and want a bit more insight into the mystery) then this audiobook is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery, with a fair bit of Quidditch thrown in.
[/span6][span6]The Bad:
Nothing bad of note.
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CHARACTERS
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The Good:
Apart from characters introduced in the first book we have a one addition of note.
Dobby was a male house-elf who served the Malfoy family. His masters were Dark Wizards who treated him cruelly. Dobby is a wonderful addition and voiced extremely well by Stephen Fry.
[/span6][span6]The Bad:
Nothing bad of note.
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NARRATOR
[columns] [span6] The Good:
There are two versions of the Chamber of Secrets, one narrated by Stephen Fry, and the other Jim Dale. Please find our overview below and and a side by side video for comparison.
Stephen Fry makes the characters even more vivid. His voice for Hagrid is low, gruff and gentle, just what you would expect. Hermione sounds incredibly precocious and annoying but gradually becomes less so as the book progresses. The story wraps you in a warm cloak of positive feelings, happiness and a sense of belonging. Having Fry read such a lovely story to you makes it all the more comforting and enjoyable. Even though Harry Potter is J K Rowlings first book and her prose may be flawed in places, (particularly in the beginning describing life with the Dursleys) Harry Potter is undoubtedly a classic made even more magical by Stephen Fry. I highly recommend this audiobook for all ages.
Jim Dale is another fantastic narrator. Born in England, Dale also has an English accent. Dale is a voice artist, and definitely weighted towards to the dramatized end of the scale. Dale invites a sense of urgency in his voice, and has you on your toes. This increased dramatization, although predominantly great, I feel it is sometimes a little over the top.
Dale is magician in character range; he created 134 voices for the Harry Potter series. This series has given Dale more awards than any narrator previous. His prestige, and breadth of bestseller coverage is rather astonishing.
[/span6][span6] The Bad:Some people can find Stephen Fry a dry and nasally, and some people can find Jim Dale a little over the top. For the US audience I would suggest go with Dale. There is definitely a consensus in the US market that Dale is more preferred. Otherwise I would go with Fry, however i am biased as this is where i started.
Check out a side by side comparison here! (**SPOILERS**)
[kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJobfh62WAo” width=300 height=300 maxwidth=300 ] [/span6][/columns]More Harry Potter Reviews
- Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I hope you enjoyed our ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ Audiobook Review, come back soon!
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