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What are readers saying about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-10 01:01:59.
(Language: English)
  
The first book in the Harry Potter series. A series about magic - that is to say, witches and wizards. And no, not the Wicca type. And no, there is nothing "sacrilegious" in any of these books, at least in my view. There are some dramatic situations in the later books, however. These are fantasy novels that expand upon the "what if there was such a thing as magic?" concept, as well as classic themes such as love and death. There are good guys and bad guys and grey area, as in most books. Yes, the bad guys practice "black magic", but it's pretty clear they're the bad guys. The later books introduce more grey area. But on to the review: this particular book is a good one. I don't know if it's great. It's good, though. It's about a boy named Harry Potter who discovers he's a wizard at the age of 11. He ends up attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to learn magic. If you've ever read children's books by Roald Dahl, the very beginning of this book will have you thinking that you're reading him again. On another note, back to the series discussion, part of what makes this whole series so popular is, I think, the accessibility of the characters and story. The characters in these books are easy to identify with, even though most of them perform magic - and most of us in real life can't. The funny thing about this series is that goofiness goes hand in hand with darkness. These books have a very silly sense of humour, which only makes them more endearing, yet at the same time they have very very dark situations and elements - at least in the later books. This is what makes it difficult to answer the question "Are these children's books?" Yes and no. The books mature along with Harry, as he grows up. From my understanding this is intentional. And always, there is this bizarre contrast between goofiness and darkness. In a way, the goofiness is what makes it easy to relate to the story & characters, therefore perhaps somehow making the mature themes the story tackles easier to understand. I have one more thing to add about the series as a whole, for those who don't know anything about Harry Potter: this is not just a series of related stories about witchcraft and a boy named Harry Potter. There are 7 books in all, all of which have been published by now, but it's pretty clear these are only 7 parts of one long story. This series has a definite purpose, one that is fully realized at the end of Deathly Hallows. There are many arcs and themes in these books, that are basically concluded at the end of DH, like I've said. I don't like giving away anything that could be called a spoiler, to the people who know nothing about Harry, but I guess it can't really hurt: the main, most visible purpose in this series (storywise, not themewise) is for Harry Potter to vanquish Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard - Harry's arch-nemesis - the man who murdered his parents when he was just 1. Please keep in mind this is not a spoiler as to whether Harry succeeds in doing this or not. I'm just saying this is the main goal in the series - and basically in this particular book as well. 1 more thing to say about this first book - if you read this book thinking "that was okay, but I have no idea what the craze is all about" without reading the others, well there's your answer...you have to hang on. They tend to get more engrossing as they go on - far more engrossing. Goblet of Fire is what had me hooked on Harry Potter. As with all the Harry Potter books after this book, it is written in the 3rd person.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-22 02:26:23.
(Language: English)
As a faithful rendering of the book squeezed into a two-and-a-half hour period, the movie is beautifully done. I don't have a single complaint about any of the actors, who successfully bring to life, with the aid of costume design and special effects, the many colorful characters from the book. My favorite character, the giant Hagrid, is played by Robbie Coltrane, and I say with no exaggeration that he is exactly how I imagined him while reading the book. It's as if they took the image in my mind and transferred it to the screen. While I had my own personal image of Snape (for some reason, I always imagined him as the head villain from another Chris Columbus film, "Adventures in Babysitting"), Alan Rickman is perfect in the role. I usually expect to have words of criticism for some performances, but I just don't. The remaining adult actors, including Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall and Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore, are as good as they possibly could be, and the kids do an excellent job of holding their own against these veterans. Some have criticized Daniel Radcliffe for appearing too subdued in the title role, but that's exactly how the character is portrayed in the book: modest, unassuming, and laid-back. The kids who play Harry's two best friends are flawless.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-05-13 04:59:21.
(Language: English)
Harry Potter se ha quedado huérfano y vive en casa de sus abominables tÃos y del insoportable primo Dudley. Harry se siente muy triste y solo, hasta que un buen dÃa recibe una carta que cambiarÃa su vida para siempre. En ella le comunican que ha sido aceptado como alumno en el colegio in terno Hogwarts de magia y hechicerÃa. A partir de ese momento, la suerte de Harry le da un vuelco espectacular.En esa escuela tan especial aprenderá encantamientos, trucos fabulosos y tácticas de defensa contra las malas artes. Se convertirá en el campeón escolar de quidditch, especie de fútbol aéreo que se juega montado sobre escobas, y se hará un puñado de buenos amigos…aunque también algunos temibles enemigos. Pero sobre todo, conocerá los secretos que le permitirán cumplir con su destino. Pues, aunque no lo parezca a primera vista, Harry no es un chico común y corriente. ¡Es un verdadero mago!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-18 08:58:00.
(Language: English)
On his eleventh birthday, neglected, unloved Harry Potter finds out that he is a wizard and starts his first year at Hogwart's. With the help of his new friends Ron and Hermione, he manages to stop the evil Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and left harry with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, from stealing the sorcerer's stone and gaining eternal life.Several people have told me that they picked up this book and were not impressed. While I realize that not everyone enjoys the fantasy genre, this book started a phenomenon that got millions of kids to enjoy reading. Rowling also wrote the early books in the series at a lower reading level so that kids Harry's age could enjoy the books. Each book gets longer, more complex, and darker. Don't miss this marvelous series!
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-26 08:36:17.
(Language: English)
OK, this book certainly wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, but it was what it was - a book intended for 9-year-olds. If I'd read it at 9, it might have been one of the best books I'd read so far. But I'm not 9, so, like I said, it was what it was. That said, I feel almost honour-bound to defend it against the allegations below. First, sexist? The reviewer down there says there's only one girl character, which is certainly not true. There are quite a few of them, including professors and athletes. True, there's only one in Harry's inner circle, but what exactly do you expect? This "inner circle" consists of three people, including Harry himself, and hello? He's a boy. How many 9-year-old boys really surround themselves with girls? If you don't happen to be fond of Hermione, that's fine, but the rest of that statement is ridiculous. Even Harry and Ron decide they like her eventually, so I really don't know where you're coming from on that. And then there's the racism accusation. I don't even know who the reviewer below is referring to as the non-white, "sub-human, smelly and a weirdo." That said, true, the three main characters are white. Don't forget that it is set in England. I'm not suggesting that England consists of nothing but white people, but there are a few of them. There's a good chance that quite a few of the wizards at Hogwarts would realistically indeed be white. However, just because Rowlings doesn't make a big issue out of pointing out what colour incidental characters are doesn't mean one should assume that they're all white. One guy is described as having dreadlocks, for example, and while there are certainly white people who wear their hair in dreads, I'd suggest about a 75% chance that that character is probably black. And how about Parvati Patil and her twin? At the risk of making generalizations, do we really think those two are blond-haired, blue-eyed aryans? Basically, I do believe everyone is entitled to their opinion of a book, but at least try to refrain from making completely baseless accusations like that when they're clearly inaccurate.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-01 10:53:53.
(Language: English)
before reading these books i had the same mentality.....dat i should read rather fantacy stories of my country than the foreigner's....but after i read all of them i now know each people criticizing harry potter are tremendously wrong....these r the best books i've ever read in my whole life....n i mean it....bcos i am a bookworm n hv read thousands of books but none of them influenced me so much...i cried like a baby when sirius,dumbledore died...this is a vry odd thing as i cry rarely....harry is a boy whose pain n sufferings r just like us,even in magic world. still now in my dreams i become harry,catching snitch or fighting dark lord...there is no word by which i can express my feelings about this series....still i would say i've read world's most perfect book n will read again n again.....
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-11-01 11:28:26.
(Language: English)
I can't remember how many times I've read this book, the first time was the summer of 2001 though. But with the sixth book coming out in less than a month, I wanted to at least try to read the first five again. And since my sister bought me the box set of the first four from Britain, I prefer to read them that way, in the original British. It is so interesting going back and reading the first books knowing what happens in the later books. Certain things that didn't seem like much before now seem like the slightest hint of foreshadowing. It makes me wonder what else I'm not picking up on. I think it says a lot about how well written these books are that people the world over and of all ages love reading them. And that they are some of the books I love picking up again and again. Harry Potter is left on his aunt and uncle's door when he is just over a year old. They raise him, along with their son Dudley who is Harry's age, but never treat him like a son. The summer he turns eleven, as he is preparing to start secondary school, he finds out who he really is, a wizard, and a famous one at that. And he is off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns magic, makes friends and enemies, and defeats, for a second time, the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever known.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-30 09:36:00.
(Language: English)
Writing a review for this book represents a particular challenge. On the one hand, it is a delightful, short (300 pages) read that is pleasant, surprising, and satisfying. On the other hand, it is the shortest and simplest of the almost seven-book series. Comparing it to juvenile fiction books in general, Sorcerer's Stone is a solid winner. It's a very well written, charming story that introduces us to a world that we don't want to leave. Hogwarts and the world of magic become for us (as it does for Harry) home, and one is sad to put down the book and come back to the real world. It is a great introductory book, as it gets many of the main characters of the series out in the open, lets us know who they are, and the battle between good (Harry) and evil (Voldemort) is set up well. Comparing it to the other Potter books, this is by far the least complex and shortest of the books. It is a simple narrative with few subplots running around in it. Clocking in at a little over 300 pages, the size is nothing compared to the fifth book, which comes in at well over 800 pages. But, as an introductory book, one that is written with an eleven year old in mind, this is a delightful fantasy book, one that will surprise and delight. It will also leave you wanting more, which is good, because there are six more to go, and they only get better.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-19 05:11:00.
(Language: English)
Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone The book is about a boy named Harry Potter been turned over to his aunt and her family at their doorsteps as a baby. How he grows up in miserable conditions in their home. Until the day he turns 11 years. Where the family Dursleys house being searched by owls up with letters from Hogwarts school of witch artist and magician crew. His aunt and uncle are trying to prevent Harry from getting a letter it didn´t succeed. Fianlly, they must flee from the house in the hope that they can hide which failed. From this moment his life turns 180 degrees. He gets new friends who are just as himself. He finds out that he has hidden talents. He is challenged in many different ways of good and evil. The author J. K. Rowling writes in a way that capturres one's curiosity
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-12 05:10:11.
(Language: English)
I’m about fifty pages into the first harry potter. I’m not really enjoying it, because it's all too familiar. Didn’t I used to write like this in the sixth grade? Yes, in fact I did. I find this very annoying. The writing style is the same, and the characterization is the same, and worst of all, the imagination is the same. This is easily my story, I could just as easily write about a giant on a motorcycle that flies. How random, how me (giant and motorcycle disturbed me the most). I suppose I should be praising Rowling for getting into the mind of a sixth grader so well. As a sixth grader I would've loved this book, but now I’m asking, did it have to be my mind so exactly? There are differences, my stories were much more complicated, in the sense that if they had been less complicated they would have been easier to understand. But they were complicated as only a sixth grader could complicate things, and to simplify would have meant ending up with this harry potter product. It’s so simple it's almost humiliating. And I never relied on stereotypes the way Ms. Rowling does. Mostly because I didn't know what they were. I may have relied on some inadvertently, I mean hey, stereotypes are pretty funny to a sixth grader, but I never used it as a device to make my plots easier to understand. Maybe that's my problem, maybe this book is so dumbed down as only a sixth grader could do it, but then it's also refined by an adult point of view and dumb downed even more, in sneaky ways that we simple sixth graders can't understand. It’s polished and there are literary devices being used. What’s all that about? Review written in 1999 (yes, I finished it. And never picked up a Potter book again.)
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Bei posted a review at 2009-03-06 12:55:34.
(Language: English)
Among so many productions about magic, the most famous one is undoubtedly the series of Harry Potter written by T.K.Rowling. In the recent few days, I finished reading the first one of the series, Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone. This book tells us a quite excellent story: Harry Potter, born with the greatness and mystery, lost his parents but stopped being killed by dark enemy by an incredible power successfully. The time flew, when he became 12 years old, he got the litter from Hogwarts, a great magic school. Though there was still some hindrance like his uncle and aunt, he still went to the school with the help of Hargred. Then, the story was continued with lots of interesting and singular events: the monster attacking the dormitory, found of the aggressive dog with three heads, the adventure in the Forbidden Forest and so on. After these strange experiences, Harry with his friends found the conspiracy of the evil enemy and triumphed at last. In my opinion, this book is quite interesting for having so many magic elements and suspense, and actually the ideology in the content is also a success of the book. Firstly, this book shows the importance of the friendship and how is the real friendship like. In the fighting against the giant, it was actually the friendship that gave three characters power to defeat a monster which was even hardly beaten by a master. In the process of going into the chamber, Ron was willing to be beaten hard for other two guys’ going forward with the friendship and at last Potter drank the magic potion went forward bravely because of his trust of the friend. Indeed, without the friendship among Harry, Ron and Hermione, the victory could never come to the side of Potter and Hogwarts would be destroyed finally. Secondly, the desire and the determination is also an important topic in this book. Actually, both Voldemort and Harry Potter used to be attracted by something. As the readers of this book know, Voldemort was crazy for the great power and undead, however, Harry used to be infatuated by the magic mirror. The difference was that Harry controlled his desire as Voldemort did not. Maybe that is a significant reason for why Harry won. In fact, there is also an interesting clue in the final part of the book: Potter used his desire to get the philosopher’s stone through the magic mirror but Voldemort could not though he apparently had a strong desire of the philosopher’s stone. The author may want to tell us a truth in this way: the willing under the control can bring more than the desire out of control. Though this book is regarded as a book for children, it has also lots of things with the deep ideology and inspiration so this book can be never just for fun. This book is really worthy reading.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-18 05:23:54.
(Language: English)
Great book, great translation. Since this is the first modern book that I've read in Latin, the thing that initially surprised me most is the fact that it could be done at all. It's a testament to the timeless quality of J. K. Rowling's writing, as well as to the brilliance of her translator, Peter Needham, that the book reads beautifully and fluently despite the occasional appearance of twentieth-century problems such as Uncle Vernon's car (autocinetum), the trafffic jam (vehicula impedita) in which it gets stuck, and motorcycles (birotulae automatariae), flying and earth-bound. What I began to realize as I read Needham's delightful translation is that reports of the demise of Latin have, as they say, been exaggerated. One of my Greek professors used to joke about a student of his who went on to study at Oxford after getting a degree in classics here in the U.S. The report came back that his tutor at Oxford was pleased with this student's Latin, to which the response from his teachers here was, "That's high praise coming from a native speaker." As you read Needham's translation, it seems indeed that Latin is his native tongue. That Harry Potter could be translated so convincingly into Latin also says a lot about the indebtedness of our culture to the Romans--the Romanness of European culture if you will--even this far down the road from Cicero and Caesar. In ways so deep and broad that we entirely overlook them, our culture is unthinkable without the Romans. Indeed, despite advances in science, technology, and general knowledge, Roman culture still feels remarkably modern and offers enough points of similarity and contact with our own that it's not absurd to imagine Harry Potter transposed to ancient Rome. How different it would be reading Harry Potter in Sumerian or ancient Egyptian or even biblical Hebrew. Here's to hoping Needham will continue on with the rest of the series! Original review date: 12/31/05. Updated 3/6/07. The much-hoped-for, and equally delightful, second installment of the Latin series was released in late 2006. I have reviewed this book as well.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-04 07:36:10.
(Language: English)
Since pretty much everyone I know has read these books, I figure reviewing them is pretty pointless. But with the new book coming out in a couple of weeks, I have to go through them beginning to end. To make the reviews more entertaining, I will be doing them in a variety of unexpected formats. For this review, I will be writing as someone incapable of suspending his disbelief. This book was terrible! I mean, this author is obviously on drugs or insane or something like that, and why she has been allowed to publish such patent nonsense is beyond me. What is even more horrifying is that so many people, adults and children, are supporting this madwoman. I mean, even some of my friends and family, people I respect have come under her spell! Her spell. Ha! As though such things as spells and magic really exist. I know she and her hoard of followers believe so, but we, the right-thinking, rational people of the world know better, don't we? The beginning was okay, and I had high hopes for it. I thought it might be an interesting story about this family, the Dursleys, who seem to be people after my own heart. Sensible, no-nonsense folk, these, who know what's real and what isn't. But within ten pages, I knew something wasn't right. Think about this - some crazy old man in robes shows up with a tiny device that can put out streetlights from a distance? A cat changes into a woman? Outrageous! And then the flying motorcycle, and nonsensical ravings about magicians and dark lords and curses, and that's where it all started to go downhill. I forced myself to slog through this mess of nonsense, though by the time I got to chapter five, I had pretty much given up. Nothing this book describes could possibly take place in the real world, and it is almost criminal that she should get this kind of fame and attention. She is a font of nonsense and mayhem, poisoning the minds of everyone her work touches. If you haven't read these books, I recommend that you stay away from them. If you have, then I beg you to come to your senses and embrace the real world. Give up this madness and join us over here in the world where truth is truth and Harry Potter is meaningless vapor.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-01 08:12:27.
(Language: English)
Okay, so I am probably the last person to read this book. It just never interested me. One of my brother's and best friend continued to ask me to read it though. I relented. Now, can I be objective in my review since I had no interest in reading it ??? The writing felt aimed at a ten-year-old throughout much of the book and I believe that is for whom the book was originally meant. While I was not interested in reading the book I must have found it readable as I did finish reading it. Toward the end of the book though I found I couldn't read many pages without falling asleep and that is very atypical for me. While the plot twist was creative I felt the author hurried a bit to sum it up in the end. I also felt that the very ending was pretty formulaic (when enters Dumbledore and everything ended grandly). I'll give the book a 3 out of 5 stars. I have read better but I have certainly read worse. Overall my opinion remains the same: I do not wish to find myself in a position where I am rooting for a "lesser evil" over a "worse evil" and that is really what the story is, as I had assumed. It is possible I will read another from the series just to see how the author progresses with her telling of the story and to see if the writing progresses as one might expect the age of the reader might progress. I am not rushing out to get the next book though.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-17 03:17:20.
(Language: English)
Not the first Harry Potter read but Vernon and Petunia is simply an aurora of enthrallment to future plots. Harry being borned with a dark secret and blemish, it is a wonderful launch and establishment of Rowling's future works. The zoo experience was simply enticing and when Hagrid thumped and trudged in the filthy hut in the middle of the ocean, it was nothing but comical and hiarious. One doubt, however, budges me frequently: Does Professor McGonagall really own an Animagus? She doesn't use it that often in further development of plots, does she? But that being said, I loved the progress and gradual effect when Harry finds his magical powers, enters Hogwarts and forms the main trio. The Quidditch selection is simply awesome, while breaking record as well, and furthermore, great catching or I should say, choking of the snitch, Harry! In general, great foundation, inauguration and opening to the Magical World. I look foward to more that would create and realisticalise Harry Potter.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-05 02:34:14.
(Language: English)
The Harry Potter books have been criticized for being derivative. There is a very clear influence from Lord of the Rings. Harry and Ron are Frodo and Sam, Dumbledore is Gandalf and Voldemort is Sauron. Less frequently mentioned, but just as influential are the Jennings and Derbyshire stories of Anthony Buckeridge. Yes the books do show their influences quite clearly. So what? This is an excellent story with good characters. It is exceedingly well written with much wit and humour. Unlike some of the later books, it keeps up a good pace and does not flag. Most importantly Ms Rowling has revealed the joy of the written word to a generation who might otherwise never have found it. For this alone, she deserves her success. Anyway, who would you rather see making lots of money; an author or a banker? By the way, I'm 51 and feel no shame at reading these books. Those who condemn adults who read them have obviously never heard of fun
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-12 11:13:44.
(Language: English)
The boy who Lived.....and HOW!!! I was expecting my return trip to be something of a dampener. I had finished the series…. and after all, how many more surprises could the first book reveal? The magic must have faded over time and the characters must surely have achieved the status of house-guests who had overstayed their welcome. But predictably enough, I was proved wrong. It offered me new avenues of thought. It was interesting to see how the complex and brave heroes of the later years started off as grimy, nervous, ickle-firsties! It was a time for firsts…..neglected, ill-treated Harry’s discovery that he is a wizard – an actual-honest-to-goodness-magic wand-wielding-wizard….that he had a family who loved him and lost their lives to save him……..that there exists a fantastic magical world where’s he much, much more than just an unwanted kid who stayed under the stairs. It is also the first time he meets his to-be best friends, not know that it would be the start of unforeseen but memorable adventures for them. My personal delight lay in the re-introduction to some of the finest characters I could hope to find sandwiched in one series: Dumbledore, McGonagall, Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, Peeves, Filch, Malfoy,Nearly-Headless Nick, Hagrid, Snape, Voldemort, Fred and George, the Dursleys and of course…..a truly well-crafted hero…The Boy Who Lived. I also liked the fact that Rowling didn’t patronize her young readers. She spoke about death and other sensitive topics that usually don’t find their way into a children’s book. Minimal sugar-coating…..she created realism in a world of improbability. It’s not all fun and games…..at the end of the day, Harry has to face his demons. He gets his first opportunity to prove that he’s more than just the kid with a glorious and mysterious past. The book sets an adequate pace, unsolved questions and a strong foundation for the rest in the series. It engages, it thrills, it satisfies. Needless to say……the rest is history.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-12 04:04:27.
(Language: English)
I guess if Disney can romanticize 18th century pirates to the point of making them palatable enough to star in a blockbuster trilogy, it is no surprised that Rowling could present so favorable a fairytale world of witches and men. That said, I liked the book a lot and probably would have liked it more had I not seen the movie on television about five years ago. High points: great characters, humor, irony. Mid-points: it is almost too easy for Harry -as though everyone else (with the notable exception of you-know-who and Dumbledore) in the world of spells and magic is pretty impotent. There were very few times when I really wondered if he was really going to make it. Then again, this could be because I had seen at least some of it on TV ): Finally, I do not recommend turning to witchcraft to escape your depressing life. Life can and will hurt. While it may seem like a good idea to get an edge on things by "bending the rules", that road is wide and it leads to destruction.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-06 04:21:12.
(Language: English)
The novel begins with the wizarding world's celebration of the downfall of Lord Voldemort, an evil, powerful and cruel dark wizard. After he killed James and Lily Potter, Voldemort attempted to murder their one-year-old son, Harry. The magical curse rebounded and destroyed Voldemort's body, leaving only a lightning-bolt scar on Harry's forehead. Harry is placed in the care of his Muggle (non-wizard) relatives, the Dursley family. The book skips the next ten years and resumes shortly before Harry's eleventh birthday. The Dursleys have kept the truth about Harry's parents from him. However, the truth comes in the form of Rubeus Hagrid who tells Harry that he is a wizard and has been accepted at Hogwarts for the autumn term. One month later, Harry takes the train to Hogwarts from Platform Nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross Station. On the train, Harry sits with Ron Weasley who quickly befriends Harry. They are visited briefly by Neville Longbottom and Hermione Granger who are in search of Neville's missing toad, Trevor. Later on in the journey, Draco Malfoy comes into Harry and Ron's compartment with his friends Crabbe and Goyle and introduces himself to Harry. After Ron laughs at Draco's name, Draco offers to help Harry distinguish the wrong sort of wizards, but Harry declines............
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-04 07:11:52.
(Language: English)
Thought I'd Best start reading these when my son did (For 'only' his sake .."OBVIOUSLY " ..Lol...Yeh Right )..He was 4 at the time,Yes ..4..he'd read em all as they came along,me too.... he's 8 now..And I feel like I wrote the God d..m Series,edited,and played in the films!LMAO I wish..LOL..Just an excuse to be a Kid again..It's good to have something to share,and the films are fantastic...(Shhh....I'm talking about the popcorn 'n' pic 'a' mix..)..Hehehe... My son will read this...and post..."Mummy's more of a fan than I" Don't believe a word of it Kids..Adults alike!! Hahaaar....Get your asses down the cinema's....I always get DVD'S...But,it just isn't the same unless it's on the big screen! Fiennes 'Rocks' as Voldemort ! Gaz Oldam as Sirious Black ,I Like the new Dumbledore,but ,Sorry though...Nobody..but nobody! could beat the Original..God Bless him.. (And even 'Spielberg' couldn't have hand picked a better TRIO as we have been blessed with as for' Harry',' Hermione', and 'Ron' )..May You Go Far.... (This is for my son)..Harry 'Snotter' Potter 'RULES'" In our house kid..Always "I discovered Magic when 'You' entered my life 8 yrs ago son"...Never...Ever.. doubt it..." THANKYOU( Harry P ).. For Loving me...Same as..and more.. Signed...Hermione...Ooops...I mean..Mummy(See what you've done to me Snotter)..
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-22 01:07:44.
(Language: English)
Well after experiencing the raves of the media over this children's book, I decided to take a look. It is after all quite refreshing to immerse oneself into the mind of children every now and again to re-acquaint the experiences of your own childhood Although the book cetainly was aimed at children and felt simplistic (when compared to the later volumes of the series), the story got me hooked. I just had to read the rest! What I really enjoyed was the fact that the lessons Rowling teaches kids through the book are priceless. She has found a way to educate children of the rights and wrongs of society whilst describing the life and traumas of a character instantly likeable by both children and adults. A remarkable first book and who would have guessed the size of the dynasty it was to become? I am astounded at the way kids have lapped up the whole series and their capacity to understand the deep plotlines throughout. This, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (not Sorcerer's - grrrrrr....) begat an amazing seven volume pleasureable and always fascinating read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-19 12:28:00.
(Language: English)
Harry Potter is an orphan whom Rowling imagined as a "scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard." She developed the series' story and characters, including Voldemort, to explain how Harry came to be in this situation and how his life unfolded from there. Apart from the first chapter, the events of this book take place just before and in the year following Harry's eleventh birthday. Voldemort's attack left a lightning bolt-shaped scar on Harry's forehead, which produces stabbing pains when Voldemort or a close associate of the dark wizard feels any strong emotion. Harry has prodigious natural talent for Quidditch and the ability to persuade friends by passionate speeches.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-14 10:57:10.
(Language: English)
I suppose this book needs no introduction, but it goes without saying that even if you have read it three times, there is always something new. J.K. Rowling's insights into the characters are absolutely incredible. It is obvious from the way she writes that she knows the life history of every single character. She probably even knows everything about a little girl that was standing in the line with Harry for the sorting hat. She makes me laugh, think wonder, and forget about all my troubles. When its all said and done you don't only come out of it with an enjoyable experience but a learning experience. This is a story about growing up. The first time that as a child you realized that in order to do something right, you had to do it without a grown up. When your still alive at the end....you become wiser. Rowling does a perfect job making you see it without slapping you in the face with it. It's definitely a world like no other and is given five stars without question.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-23 12:42:13.
(Language: English)
I will admit right off that I mainly read this to see what all the hype--positive and negative--what about. I found most of the negative hype unfounded, and most of the positive to be well deserved. I think most of the positives have been well enough publicized that I don't need to examine them here, but lets look at the negative rumors and criticisms. Objection: they use Magic. However, I've never been one to object to the presence of magic in a story. Pure fantasy material. Rumor: J.K. Rowling was involved in Wicca, and the Harry Potter books smuggle in content from real witchcraft. While I can't speak for Ms. Rowling's history, I can say that I know a little about Wicca from another series of novels, and I'm pretty sure that this series has little to do with it. I don't think the Wiccans claim to be able to do that kind of magic, at any rate. As for Harry being a Wizard/his female schoolmates being Witches, this is Wizardry/Witchery purely in the vein of Merlin and his sort. Pure Fantasy. Criticism: Harry is a bad example, always breaking the rules without consequence. I think this one is actually partially justified. He DOES frequently break the rules, and it is implied in the end that the headmaster knew and was helping him behind the scenes the whole time. In fact, he is rewarded for an illicit flying experiment with a position on the Quidditch team. Nevertheless, I found the book very enjoyable, and am having to restrain myself from bingeing and moving straight on to the next book.
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Marcel posted a review at 2009-05-15 04:35:03.
(Language: English)
But I'm really waiting for that inevitable film when Harry's nads drop and he bags Hermione....Maybe Goblet of Fire will be it. I didn't review the second Potter, but I'll be doing the third one, which is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, who directed an overhyped movie called Y Tu Mama Tambien. Could be really bad... Harry Potter and the Tongue of Fire? I think I need to Petition Rowlings. :P That's pretty funny... I will let dung beetles run across my eyes before I see another Harry Potter movie... And yeah, I am down for Cuaron's Harry. I'm thinking Harry Potter masturbation scenes. Maybe even a magic circle jerk. For Not Very, for me, despite what I said earlier, is Harry Potter. I'm kind of pissed off about it, because it's not just the book itself, which is really choppy in the 50 pages I read, but that I've got those damn mediocre movies of the first two books in my head, so I no longer have my original mental images of the characters and settings. And then with all of the reviews and the Byatt article and the counter-point on Salon.com, there's just too much white noise. I think I'm *not* going to go to *any* adaptation of a book I love if I'm afraid it's going to do that. I'm not going to rent HP 2, however. But the Cuaron thing piques my interest. Given the bodily fluid-fest that Y Tu Mama... was, maybe this one'll be Harry Potter and the Projectile of Love, or some shit. I ain't putting it on my dance card yet, but it's a possibility... I try to avoid kid movies, but I did see one Harry Potter thing...I can't do it again. Actually, I like Shawshank Redemption and think it works nicely. It falls into the same category as Harry Potter for me--harmless escapism, entertaining and decently constructed. I guess I have a couple of categories in my mind--stuff that's the mental equivalent of popcorn and stuff that's the mental equivalent of a four-course meal. For popcorn, I don't have a problem with Shawshank or Harry Potter. I don't confuse it with a four-course meal. Yeah, forgot (wonder why) about Harry. He hasn't vanished, he's been degaussed... So, like does it follow Harry Potter is a warmongering reactionary? Sounds good to me. I'll incorporate the notion in my next review. Harry Potter and the WMD. I have to admit something, though: I like Harry Potter. Yes, I said it. I like Harry Potter. It's good escapist fantasy, and there's nothing wrong with that.
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