HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (J.K. Rowling) - January 12/12

The Harry Potter series improves immeasurably with this installment, as Rowling has all but dropped the overly kid-oriented atmosphere and embraced the serialized nature of the story. As such, the book doesn't feel quite as episodic as the first one, and there are a number of unexpectedly exciting passages (eg Harry and Ron are saved from enormous spiders by a sentient car). The inclusion of several nifty twists - Riddle is Voldemort! - ultimately elevates the whole thing, and I have to believe that the series is just going to get better and better. ***1/2 out of ****