Sunday, 19 April 2015

Carole's Sunday Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone

Author: JK Rowling
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Sci-Fi, & Classics
Pages: 310
First Published: June 1997
Where I Got It: My shelf (From my parents? Its been sitting there for ever)

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.


But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.



This is my second time reading through this book. It has been YEARS since I read it. I think I read it a couple years after it came out. I wasn't much into fantasy in my youth, but I heard good things from my fellow youth, so I decided to give it a chance. I liked it then and I liked it even more my second time reading it. I gave it a re-read because it was selected for the book club. :)


I forgot how much was left out in the movie. There is many other characters and little plots that was left out. Bummer. Especially the bank scene, they cut that by 90% in the movie. Whenever I think of Harry Potter, I oddly think of the bank. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps its because I was amazed by it and the author certainly brought such an odd thing to life. 


JK Rowling certainly does have a talent for bringing this world to life. It doesn't seem "fantasy"-like...it feels real. I wish it was real. haha. That would be a lot of fun. 


It felt so weird at starting at the beginning after reading the last book and knowing the ending. So many things seemed so ironic (she prolly didn't mean it to be), but there was a lot of foreshadows as well. However, it felt nice to go back to a more "simpler" time in the Harry Potter world. Harry was so innocent and happy. Yes, there was action and some scariness, but it was simple and the baddie was easily beaten at this stage because he was just finding his footing too.


Dawwwwe, I can't wait to re-watch the movie at the book club meeting. :3


In the end, I think I liked this better then the first time I watched it. Is it because I knew the ending? Or do I like fantasy more so now then I did back then? I have no idea, but for some reason I flew through this and liked it a lot more then I did in my youth. I totally recommend this for everyone who likes fantasy or is new to fantasy. I also recommend all kids should read this. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4 stars. 
Favorite Character(s): Snape, Harry, Ron, & the owl
Not-so Favorite Character(s): The main baddie (duh) & Hermione (she still bugs me for some reason in the first book)


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11 comments:

  1. Unknown19 April, 2015 22:11

    For this series, the books are better in that it's complete. Rowling just did an amazing job with the world it'll be too expensive and will make the movie too long to capture on screen. Glad you enjoyed it enough.

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  2. Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings19 April, 2015 22:17

    This is a series I wish I could go back and read for the first time. I am though looking forward to sharing it with my kids in a couple of years.

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  3. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)19 April, 2015 23:17

    I've read all of them so many times and I seem to be on the verge of rereading them all again. I just can't resist. It's practically an annual thing.

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  4. Blodeuedd19 April, 2015 23:31

    Thanks C!

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  5. Carrie at In the Hammock Blog20 April, 2015 01:28

    Gotta love Harry Potter!!

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  6. Jenny Girl20 April, 2015 02:54

    Just read this for the first time and loved it! I started Potter with book 5 and am finally going back tot he beginning. While reading I thought the movie came close, but it seems I'll have to rewatch to really see the differences.

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  7. Melliane20 April, 2015 08:14

    It's been years for me too but I did read it a lot younger. It's quite nice.

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  8. Anachronist20 April, 2015 12:39

    Believe it or not *sniff, sniff* I used to be a huuuuuge HP fan *sniff, sniff*. And a known Snape-hater. I even moderated on one HP fandom sites.

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  9. Piecraft Bucharest20 April, 2015 15:10

    I started reading Harry Potter with my son, and wow! Kids really do "feel" it differently. You should see him chewing his nails, gasping and "oh, no"-ing! :)) I was a teen when I read these, and I loved them, but I don't recall "feeling" them like my ten year old does now... And, yes, Gringotts - awesome venue <3

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  10. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer20 April, 2015 18:13

    This series is worthy of re-reads I am on my third go round

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  11. Unknown21 April, 2015 13:17

    I reread Harry Potter for the first time since book 7 came out last year. Out loud, to my husband, LOL. It took forever, but it was awesome. I'll keep reading and rereading these books for as long as I'm alive ;)

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