The Cursed Castle - Discussion 1

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

Our activity, The Cursed Castle, resolves around the story in the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

What is your experience with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets? Is your knowing of the story based on reading the book? If so, when is the last time you actually read the book? How many times have you read it? Did you enjoy it (I certainly hope so!)

Or, have you ever read the book itself? If the answer is no, is your knowledge of the story based on the movie? In which case, how many times have you seen the movie? Again, did you enjoy it?

Or, have you both read the book and seen the movie? Tell us!

You’ll earn 20 beans when you answer with 100 or more words.

Post your response below by 11:50 PM HOL-time on the 4th of April to get your beans!

[Janne Halla]

I've both read and watched The Chamber of Secrets many, many times before. Both recently, as of a few months ago, since nearly all of the kids are grown up enough to follow the story along.

I have to admit that the book isn't one of my favourites, it's probably in the lower three, but I like the movie much better! I think Lockhart as a character just annoys me too much to really enjoy a good part of the story, and even as a kid, I figured there was something sus about him.

Still, I do enjoy going back to it from time to time, especially now that the kids can really understand what’s happening in the story. It’s fun noticing the little details again and seeing how they react to different parts that I remember from when I first read it.

[River Fenwick]

I’ve read the book and watched the movie for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It's been some time since I've fully read any of the books, mostly just some skimming here and there for classes and activities, but I’ve just rewatched the movie within the last year. I tend to watch the movies more than I read the books (time crunch, or I would reread them fully), but I greatly prefer the books to the movies.

Chamber of Secrets is not my favorite book or movie of the series, as I’m more of an end-of-series lover and a fan of darker themes. So, why do I bother rewatching this one in particular at all? Christian Coulson. I absolutely love him as teenage Tom Riddle, since I think he was a great portrayal of the ill-intent charm Riddle had that fooled his peers and mentors for years.

[Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis]

I have read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets a handful of times at least. My last full read through may have been for Read-Along in the Dungeons back in 2016. I have likely referenced random chapters for various activities and puzzles since then though.

Similarly, the last time I can remember actually sitting and watching the whole movie was for Harry Potter in Concert series back in October of 2017. The chocolate frog I received at the concert inspired me to run one of my favorite Chamber of Secrets themed Slyth-o-ween activities in the Dungeons. I've probably caught bits of the movie when the Harry Potter movie marathons run during the holidays.

I'm not sure where I would rank Chamber of Secrets, but it is definitely a book that is great to revisit after reading the entire series.

[Kaylee Oatsong]

Hello,

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was one of the only books I read in the Harry Potter series before watching the movies. I remember adoring this book, because a few chapter made me get the chills, which is always pretty fun to read at night! I especially loved how everything was tied together in a firm knot, and every one of the movements to tie it made me want to read more and more to the point my eyelids close by themselves. I actually read it last year, since a few years ago, I only read up to the Order of the Phoenix, and forgot some main information much later. I decided to read the whole series in a shorter lapse of time, to really understand the entirety of the series. I remember reading it no more than 3 times, and watched it more or less five times. Somehow, some parts of the movie still surprise me every time I re-watch it!

Kaylee Oatsong