Late to the party--again? I didn't read and review The Da Vinci Code until everyone else in the world already had, and I know I'm late to the Potter party as well--even in my own house. I'm the last to start reading the series (after my wife and college-age children), and I have studiously avoided the movies, preferring to get my first impression from the original content. Which is Rowling's howlingly successful series about young Harry Potter, a comically downtrodden (demonstrated … more
I ran across the first harry potter book quite by accident. At the time I was living with my boyfriend on the north shore of Oahu and we would hang out on the beach almost everyday. I love to read on the beach and one day I was out of my own books, so I began scouring through his bookshelf. He had 3 of the Harry Potter books, which I had never heard of, so being a fan of series I thought I would try it out. I thought it would be another 'young adult' … more
This is the very first and one if the best books in the Harry Potter series. I read this when it first came out, and then my mom read aloud to my little sister. In this book we meet young Harry in his pre-Hogwarts days when hes still living with his aunt and uncle. Watching Harry's day to day life is almost tear-wrenching, they are so mean and hateful towards him you can't help but feel badly for him. Rowling set the reader up perfectly for the rest of the story by getting us … more
When I picked up the novel and read its title, I was puzzled. But upon reading it, I was thrilled to have discovered it (not hard since JK Rowling is most of the most recognizable names). I would recommend this book for people of all ages. The plot transcends any gender or age barriers. How can you say no to a battle between good versus evil? The plot begins with the introduction of Harry Potter, the seemingly ordinary boy trapped in a miserable life and forced to obey his uncle and … more
Looking back at the Sorcerer's Stone, there was SO MUCH planning that went into the series from the beginning. I honestly never thought I would fall in love with a book about witchcraft but I think it's more about just accepting people the way they are and having tolerance for differences. All of the Harry Potter books are good but I really do just love the first book. This is a book where all age groups can like the movie. There's adventure, love, good themes, and anything … more
This book is the first one in the Harry Potter series, and in my opinion is one of the best. You first see Harry living with his Muggle (non-magical) aunt, uncle, and cousin who torment him to no end. They treat as an inferior person, making him sleep in a closet under the stairs. Harry notices that strange things have been happening about him; he then finds out that he is a wizard, and his whole life changes. The book introduces Harry's soon to be best friends, Ron and Hermione, as well as … more
ive read this book entirely too many times. i think its around 30 now. a very good start to what is in my honest opinion the best book series of all time. harry potter haters say what you want. but find a series more well written, with an everchanging cast of characters, and an equally changing magical world, coinciding with a normal world, and that has made as much money, and ill understand what your saying.
One of the most perfect series-starters ever written; also works well if you never pursue the rest of the series. A lovely introduction to a world of mundane-plus-magic. The reader is instantly taken with Harry, learns with him, enjoys the excitement of it all. Worth re-reading!
one of my favorite harry potter books, i really learned to love harry in this one since more of the book is spent with him and his family. as bad as they are to him it makes you love him even more.
The first one in the series. this book serves as a wonderful introduction to the HP saga. Harry is a confused, lost child, and you see the magical world of Hogwards- but only a glimpse.
I love this book. It is the start of a magical experience. Harry Potter is a brave kid who was treated unfairly by his family. After he found out of his parents magical ability he went on to wizard school. He was more than happy to leave his horrible family.
What made the first Harry Potter book fun to read -- aloud, to my five-year-old -- was the innocently spiteful humor and the gleeful irreverence a la Roald Dahl. The humor has slowly boiled away from subsequent volumes. The magical paraphernalia has spread like kudzu to overwhelm the empathy one felt with little Harry and the light-hearted inventiveness of Rowling's first style. Besides, each successive volume has become dozens of pages more ponderous. If you are the one reader in the world who's … more