The Real Weird Sisters (Alice and Martha) recap chapter four of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Be aware that the show may contain spoilers for events which take place later in the series.
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RE: the vanishing cabinet
Looking at the chapter, when Harry enters the cabinet in Borgin and Burkes, he doesn’t pull the door closed all the way … “he shot inside it and pulled the doors closed, leaving a small crack to peer through.” I think this would keep the cabinet from activating. It seems to me that this is the second vanishing cabinet – and one that works. It’s the one at Hogwarts that Draco has to fix to complete the pathway between the two cabinets.
Just my thoughts. I always enjoy your chapter reviews!
Agree, it still works as the cabinet if you want to believe that is what it is.
Without knowing the rest of the book, this chapter might seem a bit of a slow one, but knowing what Malfoy is up to really makes this a very important chapter.
– I too have often thought that Harry should have donated a few $$ to the Weasley’s, but also agree that the Weasley’s would probably be offended.
– Having to buy all 7 of Lockhart’s book is a great way to make some side money off of the students, what a great guy. I had a professor that once required 4 books for his course, and we only ever opened 2 of them. It really annoyed the @#$% out of me.
– Traveling by Floo Powder does not sound pleasant at all.
– The chapter specifically says Harry did not close the cabinet all the way. It still works if you want to believe that this is the Vanishing Cabinet.
– As to Borgin and Burkes, it seems like it is chuck full of dark artifacts. Why has not Arthur and his department inspected the shop?
– Both Lucius and Gilderoy are brilliantly cast. Lucius is haughty and commanding while Gilderoy is outwardly charming, handsome and seriously vain.
In university I only had one book assigned by a teacher who had co-written it himself. But he was the most absolute sweetest teacher ever so not like Lockheart at all.
Lockheart’s books totally remind me of the Bailey School Kids.
I didn’t think of Percy dressing up for Penelope.
I love the way you talk about how you droned out the adults’ conversation as kids.
The ‘forget-me-not’ blue jumped out at me for the first time here too.
I’m currently reading the UK illustrated edition with my kids. In our book it’s Mr. Weasley who repairs Harry’s glasses. Given the discussion in this episode about Hermione repairing Harry’s glasses, I’m wondering if the illustrated editions have strayed from the original publication. Have you noticed other details that differ between editions?
That’s super interesting! We hadn’t heard about that one before. With the exception of the first book episodes, most of our show was recorded before the illustrated versions were out, so we haven’t paid as close of attention to the later books. Let us know if you find anything else of note! Thanks for listening 🙂
I recently have started listening to the podcast as I am reading the illustrated editions for the first time. I’m really enjoying it! But I noticed this mistake in this episode as well. I just double checked, and my American paperback version also had Mr. Weasley fixing Harry’s glasses. Hermione fixing them in Diagon Alley is just a movieism, I believe.