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The most helpful favourable review
The most helpful critical review
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
I Can't Praise This Excellent Recording Highly Enough
Stephen Fry's superb readings of the Harry Potter novels have already become contemporary classics: they are far too good to be left for children only. I am delighted that they have been re-issued on cd, as the cassette medium is all-too-fragile and many repeated plays leave the cassettes in an all-too-worn state. CDs are much more durable. And believe me, though these...
Published on 12 Sep 2000
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10 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Entertainment 5, Practicality 0
There is no doubt that Stephen Fry is entirely the MOST suitable person for the job of reading ANY story for an audio book. His voice is perfectly suited to story telling and he is able to define and animate the characters in his own colourful way. It's a good audio book and this is very much attributed to the talented Mr Fry.
I am disappointed however,...
Published 13 months ago by Frequent Flyer
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
I Can't Praise This Excellent Recording Highly Enough, 12 Sep 2000
By A Customer
Stephen Fry's superb readings of the Harry Potter novels have already become contemporary classics: they are far too good to be left for children only. I am delighted that they have been re-issued on cd, as the cassette medium is all-too-fragile and many repeated plays leave the cassettes in an all-too-worn state. CDs are much more durable. And believe me, though these recordings are expensive, they are well worth the money as they will be played over and over again. Stephen Fry is a highly talented comedian and actor with a very wide range. Without seeming to try too hard, he gives each of Rowling's characters their own voice, which is necessary in a reading of this sort, but the voices he uses are so cleverly chosen and executed that they do far more than merely help us distinguish one character from another. By assigning each character a specific accent he places them in the Great British Class Battleground and with his excellent sense of timing and nuance he accentuates Rowling's satires with his own sly wit. I actually prefer Fry's readings of the Harry Potter novels to the novels themselves, as Fry adds a whole new dimension to the books, grounding them firmly in the debates (squabbles?) of modern British life. An especial joy in his reading of Chamber Of Secrets is his interpretation of the ghastly Gilderoy Lockhart, who becomes almost frighteningly alive and believeable in Fry's hands. I would not be at all surprised to find the Loathsome Lockhart popping up on Start The Week! He'd fit right in...
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Review of the CD - Brilliantly read, 4 Jun 2007
Stephe Fry's narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. We bought all of the other Harry Potter CDs, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Laugh and listen to the loveable, looney Lockhart!, 29 Oct 2003
Not only does Steven Fry do this ostentatious story justice but also the character Lockhart is the most hilarious thing on audio CD! Phrases like: 'Harry, Harry, Harry', and 'Fame is a fickle friend', gave us hours of tumultuous hysterics. This story is for all ages and despite not being the best of the novels, it is the epitome of family fun, and if you can only buy one set of CDs/tapes this should be the one. J. K. Rowling mixes wit, an intoxicating plot, vivid description and a fascinating culture into an unforgettable experience. This is the ultimate 'must-have' of the audio CD world. Stephen, you have created a masterpiece out of a masterpiece.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
It’s no secret that this is a splendid sequel, 10 Feb 2004
When the Harry Potter phenomenon first became apparent, I was determined, absolutely DETERMINED, that I wouldn’t give in to the hype. Seven years after J K Rowling first introduced her books to the public however, I was forced to resign myself to the fact that the excitement surrounding her lovable boy-wizard was not going to disappear, and so I began reading the set of books. Whilst I enjoyed the Philosopher’s Stone, I still wasn’t sure whether or not the hype was justified, but upon completion of the Chamber of Secrets, I was certain that it was.The second book in the Harry Potter series follows our hero as he enters his second year at magic school Hogwarts. The adventures begin when Harry and Ron, ready to descend upon platform nine and three-quarters to board the Hogwarts train, find that the entrance to the platform has mysteriously sealed. Determined to get to school on time, Ron takes the decision to drive the boys in his Dad’s flying car. All goes well until they are close to the school, and the car refuses to fly any further. They find themselves close to expulsion as the automobile collides with a rare Whomping Willow tree, and their Professors are none too pleased with the boys’ behaviour. There is more trouble for Harry as students (and a ghost or two) are petrified and rendered unable to move, by a horrifying creature people believe Harry to have let out of the mythical Chamber of Secrets. One of the most entertaining characters in the book is new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher - described as a ‘smarmy git’ by straight-talking Ron – Gilderoy Lockhart: “‘You can address the envelopes!’ Lockhart told Harry, as though this was a huge treat. ‘This first one’s to Gladys Gudgeon, bless her – huge fan of mine.’” Another character to look out for is the Malfoy’s house elf, Dobby, who frequently visits Harry to warn him of an unspecified danger present at the school. He is a great source of humour value. One character I missed in Chamber of Secrets however, was the Harry’s hapless fellow student Neville Longbottom who, although he features in the book, is not as prominent as he was during the first book of the series. There are many wonderful ideas in the book, such as Floo Powder: Throw a pinch of it into the fire then step in, and it can transport the individual to any place they wish to go. Chamber of Secrets is a wonderfully imaginative, warm-hearted book, and fully deserves its place in the BBC’s Big Read list. I urge you to give it a read and get caught up in Harry’s enchanting world.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Money well spent!, 30 Nov 2002
By A Customer
I bought this audio book for my six year old daughter last year and she can now practically recite the whole thing by heart! She is allowed to listen to it in bed on weekend nights and she also takes it on car journeys and its even been to America and back with us. We also have The Philosophers Stone on CD and we are saving up for The Prisoner of Azkaban. Stephen Fry's adaptation of Rowlings characters really bring them to life and I don't know when I have ever spent my money more wisely. Also, with the number of times my daughter has played them, I am very happy that we invested in CDs as opposed to cassettes. Highly recommended!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Here's to Harry, Fred and Hermione, 8 Nov 2001
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...While I would like to write a review from the point of view of this 28 year old professional software developer and try to be studious and comment on the plot, character development and so on in this book, I can't. This book makes you want to stay awake into the early hours to keep reading it, it makes you laugh out loud, it is exciting, thoughtful, clever and a hundred other enthusiastic adjectives. I actually found myself making time to read a book for the first time I can ever remember. The one thing I will say (being rather sensible for a moment) is that you absolutely must read the Harry Potter books in order. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say nothing happens without reason.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Flying Cars, House Elves, and Mysterious Voices, 6 April 2007
Harry is spending a dreadful summer stuck with his uncle, aunt, and cousin. Even though he now knows who he is, they still treat him like dirt and refuse to acknowledge his magical powers. Harry is looking forward to the end of summer so he can return to Hogwarts and his friends.
But one night he finds a weird creature in his room. He announces that Harry can't return to school because of the danger Harry would face there. But he won't get into specifics. Harry's attempt to go anyway is met with a road block, and Harry and Ron must sneak there in a flying car.
But things aren't any easier at Hogwarts. Someone is whispering in the walls, and only Harry can hear it. The new defense against the dark arts teacher is a little too full of himself. But worse yet, pupils are turning to stone and the rumor is Harry is doing it. Can he figure out the truth?
Yep, I'm just now joining the party, but I can see what all the praise has been for. Like the first book, I thought this one started a little slowly. But it build speed faster and I was hooked for the entire second half. The characters are growing on my as well. I can't wait to spend more time with them.
If, like me, you've been waiting until the final book is announced to start the series, the time to wait is over. Act now and discover just how much fun these books really are.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Big Potter Fan Here!, 2 April 2008
This is the second book in the series of Harry Potter, here is the plot:
On his twelfth birthday, Dobby, a house-elf, visits Harry to warn him that he will be in earthly danger if he returns to Hogwarts. Harry ignores Dobby's terrible caution but is determined to return. Harry unintentionally gets sent to Knockturn Alley in a store that Draco Malfoy (Harry's foe) and his father, Lucius, are stopping by.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to find out who the Heir of Slytherin is. With the help of Ron and Moaning Myrtle, Harry discovers the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Harry makes it to the Chamber where he finds an unaware Ginny. Harry learns that Ginny, under the control of Lord Voldemort, opened the Chamber. Lucius Malfoy, (who was very angry over Harry having deceived him into releasing his slave), attempted to attack Harry... Find out what happens in this great book which continues the adventures of the first!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Fantastic, 19 Aug 2001
I read this book in a day because I really was unable to put it down. It was enchanting and dark and funny and I can't wait to read the 3rd book. I laughed out loud when Dudley Dursley began hitting people with his Smeltings stick! It was quite scary at times too, JK Rowling is brilliant at building up an atmosphere and creating tension. I think the plot to this book was more complex than the first, at times it got a bit confusing, but everything is unwrapped and explained at the end. I like Albus Dumbledore, he seems so wise and wordly, he (apart from Harry of course) is probably my favourite character. It was impossible to work out what is going to happen next, I tried several times to try and work out for myself who the heir of slytherin was, and of course I was completely off the mark. I suspected Gilderoy Lockheart for quite a while, and also Percy Weasley! I think I might have liked The Philosophers Stone a tiny bit more than this, but it was still an utterly amazing book and i'd recommend it to anyone, of any age, male or female.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
A brilliantly written piece of fantasy, 6 Dec 1998
By A Customer
I bought Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in a bookshop to read to my two sons (7 and 9), and they were enthralled; my wife could hardly believe her eyes when she interrupted the showdown at the finish and discovered them both sitting bolt upright holding their breath! When we found the Chamber of Secrets in the local library we had to get it out immediately. I found it even better than the first, to the extent that I could not wait to read it at bedtime before finishing it. To my mind it is better paced than the Philosopher's Stone, which I felt was a bit slow in setting up the really exciting bit; the Chamber of Secrets starts to hot up about half way through in a well-judged crescendo. But it is even better at developing the characters, including the ever so vital Hermione, who gets a bit more get-up-and-go just when it's needed. This is not a great children's book; it's just a great book. When the paperback is out, we'll be getting a copy.
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