Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Ratings4,678
Average rating4.3
Rereading and trying to really appreciate it. That Dumbledore, he's a smart man with some good quotes.
Actual Rating: 4.25
So I'm finally reading Harry Potter, it's only been like 17 years oops XD
Going into this book, I knew it wasn't going to be the most spectacular thing I've ever read (thanks Alex) but I still enjoyed it a lot. My biggest gripe with it was how bored I was through the first half. Nothing was really happening. Even so, it moved at a fast enough pace that I never considered DNFing it this time around.
In addition, I don't hate the villain yet. I suspect that's because he was in it for, literally, 5 pages. I am confident that this will be remedied in the following books.
Now, as to what I liked. The characters- excluding Voldemort, of course- we're brilliant. Everyone was so unique and described so well. It felt like they could truly be real people.
I loved Rowling's writing. It's so whimsical and just so very delightful to read. I felt like I was in some sort of magical place from the writing alone, which is something that I really commend her for.
My last comment is just a mention of how interesting it was to read this having seen all the movies beforehand. What I was most surprised by was how accurately it seemed to follow the plot. I was expecting much different, since most adaptions seem to barely follow the book.
I'm continuing on with this series. I've got to do it.
I'm glad I didn't read the actual book. Listening to the reader of this audiobook was great fun. I may not need to “read” the rest of them, though. I get the idea.
Last year went without reading any potter book, I'll say a good start of the year with my favorite book.
This is a good book, just might be the best Young Adult fantasy book ever. But I just can't like the YA genre enough to give this a higher rating.
The movie is a carbon copy of the book, so there was not much in the way of wondering what was going to happen. Even though the plot is simple, very few author are able to execute this very well. Like the little tips a long the way that tells who the real villain is.
There was one thing though that really bothered me, that I attribute to the lower end of the YA (for children really). The final scoring of points for the schools. I felt it was really unnecessary to give the victory to Gryffindor. It just felt like another blow for someone who like a more gritty style.
Still this was a pleasant reading. The writing was very easy to understand, all the scenes made sense and had a natural flow to them. Well, made sense for a YA book, where you have to justify the fact that a child by no merit of his (as in Ender) is able to defeat ALONE the greatest evil the world has ever faced.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this magical and delightful series? Absolutely nothing other than that I found reading it a second time was just as fantastic as the first. My favorite quote and biggest takeaway is from Professor Dumbledore to Harry: “...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” Words of comfort I will take solace in whenever I miss those who are no longer with me.
The Goodreads count of number of reads is waaaay off. I've read this probably 50 times and I never tire of it. It will forever own my whole heart.
Oct 2019: Annotating a new copy and I've had so much fun doing it. It always feels wonderful returning to the world of Harry Potter, whether it's through the physical books, audiobooks or the movies. I hope I one day have children who will have my annotated copy to read through and treasure.
It's been a while since I picked up a Harry Potter book - about 5 years actually. So when I decided I wanted to go back a re-live this amazing story, I didn't think that it would affect me quite the way it did.
It brought back so many childhood memories, as I was probably about 9 years old when I first read the Philosopher's Stone. And it was just magical. Only being about 220 pages, I thought I'd read it in one sitting. But I found myself reading it more slowly because I didn't want it to end. I think magical is the only word I can use to describe this story, it's just amazing. A lot more than the movies - although I completely love the movies and they did an awesome job of projecting it to the big screen.
Reading the books when you are older and more able to understand the hiding meanings in Harry Potter - as it is a children's book - I think I enjoyed it more this time around. I loved Ron. He has obviously been a favourite from the series of a lot of people. One thing I will say, in the movies I can just tolerate Draco but JK Rowling makes him slightly unbearable in the books. He's such a coward and he just infuriates me. And Snape is just amazing. Maybe it's because we kno now that he is actually a good guy but re-reading from the beginning you can pick up on the little hints that JK Rowling gives us about the truth of Severus Snape.
I'm so in love with this series, it will forever be my favourite.
This will be always a part of my childhood
Is a great book series but with an author that has hurt a lot of minorities, some which I'm part of. And especially to trans people.
Here is a video to understand better the hurt that she made against trans people:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Avcp-e4bOs&t=1s
Decided a little comfort reading was required to get me to the end of the year. Opted to jump back and re-read the Harry Potter series. Had recently re-watched all the movies - and had forgotten how much simpler HP#1-the-book was compared to the film (in a good way) - also very interesting reading the book through again knowing how it will all shake out in HP#7... 1 really does tie quite well into 7. At any rate - I really enjoyed re-reading this one and can't wait to dive into HP2.
A re-read because it's been ages! It's amazing how much story is packed in such a short book (less than 250 pages!). Makes for a great audiobook too!
A nice book for children and a good fun read for adults who like a bit of whimsy.
Mais uma vez chorando com esse livro. Reler Harry Potter é aquela coisa, faz lembrar de tudo o que passou, de como a história começou e daí quando vê, você (eu) tá apegado de novo a todos os personagens! <3
It was so fun to reread this one! The early books remain my favorites! I feel like I got even more out of it than before. Beautiful as always
there are a couple of things that i want to make clear before writing this review.
First of all , i'm one of those people who didn't get the chance to read Harry Potter as a kid, and feel the joy in growing up with Harry, i didn't get the chance to be excited for the books and movie releases because as i said , Harry Potter wasn't introduced to me when i was a kid.
The second thing is , i became a PotterHead immediately after watching the last movie , which means am reading a book that am in love with it's story, even before reading it .
The last thing is , Harry Potter is one of the most famous book series of all time , everybody loves it and everybody considers it their favorite series of all time , which makes our minds automatically love it , or expect to love it.
These three things makes it really difficult for me to rate and review this book but i'm gonna try and express my feeling towards it anyway :D !
The story :Harry Potter , the boy who lived , the main concept of this series is this : there's a little boy named Harry , who was born to a wizard and a witch , one night the greatest evil wizard comes and kills Harry's parents , tries to kill Harry but fails and leaves him with only a scar on his forehead .Harry then sent to his Aunt's house to live with her and her family until Harry reach a certain age and be able to go to Hogwarts , the greatest school of Magic !.so let's think , if i read this story before all the hype , would i like it ? well the answer is probably yes . just think of how interesting it would be to go to a MAGIC SCHOOL ! and study there to be a wizard ! . think of why that great wizard couldn't kill Harry , what will Harry learn in that Magic school , all these things make it obvious that i'll probably be liking this story even if i didn't watch the movies before.The Writing : J.K Rowling knows how to tell a story , that's a fact . her writing is just smooth and beautiful , it made you wanna read more and more and never put the book down . although Harry Potter is supposed to be a children's book (Kinda) , you don't get that (Am old for this) feeling , i mean i'm 23 and i couldn't put this book down !Favorite things about This Book :* Harry's personality is just perfect , he's the perfect kid , the sweetest , kindest , he has a good heart , and he has Manners ! . the best thing about this , is this feeling i got about Harry's personality ,see , he's a good person , not because he didn't grew up with his parents , i think Harry is the kind of kid who would never be one of those spoiled kids who demands everything and stuff , he would be a really good and kind kid , even if his parents spoiled him as their first child.* Another favorite thing is the part when Hagrid comes to tell Harry about him being a wizard and stuff , now that part made me really laugh and cry at the same time , it was GOLD .* Another thing , i cannot believe the imagination thatJ.K Rowling has , all these imaginary things that you just wish they were real because she made them sound so real ! , all the magical things i want : I Want to look into The mirror of ErisedI Want to go to Hogwards , study magic , and after i graduate , i want to study Dragons !I Want to have a Dragon !I Want to have Books about Magic , real books.I Want to have a Wand.I'm really despressed that i read this after watching the movies not before , Aughhhh i wish i could turn back the time to read this without knowing anything .!! but i think i liked this book despite the fact that i know how it all ends , because i'm sooooo excited to get my hands on the second book ! like i need it immediately . yup that's how much i loved this book.
Simple, straightforward, YA beginning to the epic series. But very well done and entertaining nonetheless.
My second read through. It is great to read through it a second time knowing what happens.