I Love CoS, too!

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 19820

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Schlobin at a... wrote:
> > 
> One of the reasons that I LOVE CoS (while everyone else does not)
> is the ending.....

I too have been curious that CoS seems to be regarded as the ugly 
duckling by so many on this group.

It was CoS that really made me an HP fan.  I first read PS/SS in 
December 1999 - while I enjoyed the book, I was ("with shame it is 
written, with sorrow it is read") really not blown away by it. It 
wasn't until May 2000 that I finally picked up CoS. I read the entire 
book in a single day, and then rushed out to get Azkaban the next 
day. (and I only had to wait two months for the next installment!)

I feel that, enjoyable though PS/SS was, it was really in CoS that 
JKR came into her own as a writer.  It's here that we first start to 
get a better picture of the wizarding world and its long history, as 
well as a greater clarification of the social rankings (eg., the 
Malfoys vs, the Weasleys, the purebloods vs. Muggle-born). I love all 
the new characters: Lockhart and Dobby are great comic creations, as 
is Myrtle. Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy present us with 
contrasting benevolent and malevolent paternal images. The 
Harry/Hermione/Ron relationship becomes truly intricate here. Harry's 
confrontation with Tom Riddle (I never guessed he was really Voldy, 
but I never figure whodunnits out)  is electrifying, and one of the 
high points of the Canon so far.  And Harry's liberation of Dobby is 
the most satisfying conclusion of any of the canon to date.

  - CMC