Poor unloved CoS!

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 182987

I notice that several posters to SSS's new thread have listed CoS as
their least favorite book and I don't think anyone has listed it as
their favorite. Why? Is it all Dobby's fault? A little bit Lockhart's,
maybe?

CoS is, after all, a crucial book, the one in which we discover that
Harry acquired at least one power, Parseltongue, from Voldemort, and
in which we're introduced, though we don't know it, to the first
Horcrux. (Is that another reason? A lot of people hate the whole
Horcrux idea.)

CoS also introduces Polyjuice Potion and Expelliarmus, both of which
have important roles to play (and both of which, dare I mention it,
are introduced to the Trio by Snape). Snape has a couple of great
scenes, one in which he shows up Lockhart's ineptitude and essentially
takes over the leadership of the short-lived duelling club and another
in which he leads the teachers in their exposure of Lockhart as a
coward and a fraud ("the man! the very man!"). and, of course, there's
the moment when Harry and Ron look through the window and see Snape
missing from the staff table ("Maybe he's ill!" "Maybe he's left!" "Or
he might have been sacked!" "Or maybe [dramatic pause] he's waiting to
hear why you two didn't arrive on the school train.")

Even Ginny has a fine moment standing up to Draco before she's
possessed and falls into her victim-requiring-rescue role. And, of
course, we meet the young Tom Riddle, even if he is a memory/Horcurx,
soul bit. He was certainly a surprise to me on a first reading. I
think I was as thoroughly deceived by the handsome young Prefect in
the diary as Harry was.

Maybe, given the importance of the events of CoS in retrospect, its
detractors might enjoy it more on a rereading?

Carol, just curious as to why CoS is apparently so low on everyone's
list of favorites