Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Ratings4,407
Average rating4.3
I enjoyed this book more as an adult than I remember enjoying it as a child. I think I was just a tad too old for it as a kid. But now I can appreciate her writing and world building. To paraphrase CS Lewis, I'm old enough to start reading fairytales again.
I truly believe that any one of any age can read and enjoy this book. I'm currently reading all of the Harry Potter books and I read the first all the way back in 2018. It may be intimidating to start such a long and famous series, but it's worth it!
I absolutely love the story telling, the sense of humor, the morale, the building of a magic story that really gets you. I remember reading it for the first time and trying to explain it to people who listened half heartedly because after all it was a juvenile book about a wizard. I still feel involved and in love with JK Rowling after Twenty years. And cried all over again with the pictures from Hagrid to Harry and the final house points.
Not for anything it's one of the most read books: well written, interesting, good characters, mistery... Summary: GREAT!
I remember that I read this when it first came out when I was 12, but just vaguely. I can't recall if I liked it back then or even why I didn't finish the entire series. Probably because I was either reading Nancy Drew, Dear America, or my carrying case full of Condensed Classics.
So I mostly count now as my first time reading it. And based on the first book, I'm a little underwhelmed. I mean, yes it's good, and keeping in mind that this is a book written for a younger audience, I've still read a lot of other fantasy/magic books that I prefer. I also think the movie is pretty spot on for this first book - but I still really wish I had read the books before seeing the movie. Thanks to ABC Family, I've seen the movie so many times that I can vividly picture the movies in my head while I'm reading these books. And that just ends up making me frustrated because let's be honest - books are way better than movies.
I have several friends that are Harry Potter book fanatics and I feel ashamed that I call myself a book nerd and have never read them all, so for theirs and my sakes I'm going keep going. My verdict is still out..
What can I say? The book was great at the time I read it, but I've simply grown out of it now. Still have all 7 original books though.
I will not rate it, because I don't want my recommendation to be filled with books like this.
What else is there to do but re read HP for the 8th time when you're stuck in a rut. Reading these books to me is a little bit like time-travel. I have read the same scenes so many times that re reading is now about me getting sentimental over my 16 yr old self and her reactions to things unfolding the first time or the 20 yr old me realizing i would never get tired of this series even if i know every single sentence by heart or 23 year old me buying collector's editions because i saved up for them and then ending up reading all 8 without planning to because i can't put these books down once i pick them.
This book helped me reconnect with a beloved magical world from my childhood and re-reading it has allowed me to fall in love with the magical world all over again. I am really enjoying the beginning of my re reading of the Harry Potter collection.
My absolute favorite book and the one that got me addicted to reading
I wasn't expecting much. I always assumed Harry Potter would be too childish. I was pleasantly surprised to read a light hearted but fast paced and enjoyable fantasy.
A favorite of mine since I was a kid. Such a nostalgic classic (even if I am not so fond of JKR anymore...I still love Harry and the books).
(Reread, obviously)
This is my very favorite book in the series. There is just something so comforting and cozy about it. Rowling does an incredible job putting together her world piece by piece, so we are experiencing it right alongside Harry. There is this indelible sense of wonder that, even though it's my umpteenth read, follows and covers the reader like a familiar blanket.
There is also the perfect amount of humor in this book. I've read this particular one more times than I can count, yet it still makes me laugh out loud. Whether I read the book or listen to the audiobook, I can see the funny parts coming and still relish in them when they arrive, as if it was my first read.
Also, anyone who knows me knows my very favorite character in the series is the one and only Rubeus Hagrid. This book has LOTS of Hagrid bits. I just adore him, and therefore I love this book.
I just...there aren't enough words to say about this book. So much love. <3
⭐⭐
Not a book for me and not one I would recommend. It didn't hold my interest, and probably felt more of a chore to get through. Not completely terrible, but I didn't have a good experience. This book was an enjoyable read, but there are several things I wish were done differently.
I remember diving into “The Sorcerer's Stone” back in my youthful days, somewhere between the age of fifteen or fourteen – an era when asking for books as gifts was considered a rebellious act, met with disdainful looks from the less literarily inclined. But, oh well, who cares about mundane presents when there's a magical world waiting to be explored?
Now, fast forward to adulthood and a second rendezvous with the boy who lived. It's not the same, not as enchanting. As a responsible adult (or so they say), I found myself scanning for flaws, peering into the corners of the narrative that only grown-ups seem to notice. Let's be honest; there's no need to delve into the plot because even the Muggles know about Harry Potter these days.
Yet, as the veil of nostalgia lifted, I couldn't help but notice the gaping differences between the beloved books and their cinematic counterparts.
Oh, the sacrilege!
I get it; adaptations often require trimming the excess, but as I meticulously documented every variance, I couldn't shake the feeling that the movies missed the essence.
Firstly, let's talk about Harry's intellectual prowess. The films somehow painted him as a tad dim-witted, oblivious to the magical world hidden by his neglectful relatives. Excuse me, but Harry wasn't just the kid with a lightning-shaped scar; he was sharp, picking up on the magical intricacies quicker than a Quidditch match. His analytical mind was severely downplayed, especially during his stint as a living Horcrux, but we're getting ahead of ourselves with that.
And dear Neville Longbottom, the unsung hero. The movies did him dirty – way dirtier than Professor Snape's greasy hair. In the Forbidden Forest escapade, Neville was right there, in the thick of it, not some sidelined extra. It wasn't Ron who stayed behind with Hagrid – it was Neville! But, oh well, who cares about continuity and Neville's crucial role in helping Harry escape on a centaur? Apparently not the filmmakers.
In the end, it's a shame – a wizarding travesty, if you will – how little love Neville received in the cinematic realm.
And where was Peeves The Poltergeist in all this! ?
And why only one match of Quidditch? I know I may be asking for too much, but how can I not?
I can only wonder, we can only wonder.
I just hope that the new HBO show can do what the movies didn't.
First time listening to the audio book and it made the whole magical experience even better!
I first read this my junior year of high school, and I fell in love with the story. I was borrowing the book from a friend, and when I got to the last page I immediately started over again (something my friend was none too pleased about; she took the book back from me). While I can't say that the writing is without fault, it's a fun and enjoyable read in a magical world.
