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A review by jenni_elyse
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
5.0
I’ve had the chance to read both the UK and US editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer's Stone. (I’ll refer to it as Sorcerer’s Stone from here on out because that’s what I’m used to.) While I love the cover art of the US edition more, reading the UK version was like reading an entirely new story (not really, I just liked all the Britishisms). I loved every minute of it!
When I first read Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001, I was transported to a wondrous, magical world. I was awed by Rowling’s ability to capture my attention and evoke a desire stronger than anything I had ever experienced to be a part of a world other than my own. Now, a little more than a decade later, I still feel that same magic, captivation, and desire as I reread this novel.
Rowling’s ability to foreshadow the events to come is amazing! Even with this read, I found foretelling of things that I hadn’t noticed before. Even if I didn’t know what happened in the other six books, her foreshadowing within the same novel is amazing. But, I think it’s a true testament of her ability to see the overarching story and the foreshadowing she does throughout the entire series. Every time I encounter foreshadowing, I just smile and think, “Rowling, you genius!”
I love the little bit of humor Rowling brings into the story. The story is very intense. Many of the topics are not easy to discuss or even think about. But, the humor interwoven throughout the story helps lighten the way, making it easier to deal with the darker topics.
The characters are complex and endearing, even the ones you hate or can’t make up your mind about. I loved getting to know the main characters in Sorcerer’s Stone. Even though, as a reader, you’ve barely touched the surface of who they are, you learn to love them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s friendship is one to be jealous of, one to wish you were a part of. Not only do you wish you could share in their adventures, but you also wish to have a friendship as strong as theirs that can withstand anything that comes its way.
Out of all the characters, Dumbledore is, by far, my favorite. In fact, he’s my all-time favorite literary character. We don’t often get to see him. He waits along the sidelines, allowing Harry and his friends to figure things out on their own. But, when he is around, you can be sure that Harry (and the reader) leave as better people. His wisdom, or I should say Rowling’s, is astounding. I’m always amazed at how profound these stories are because of Dumbledore.
Illustrated Edition Review: I especially loved reading the illustrated edition and looking at Jim Kay's beautiful artwork.
When I first read Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001, I was transported to a wondrous, magical world. I was awed by Rowling’s ability to capture my attention and evoke a desire stronger than anything I had ever experienced to be a part of a world other than my own. Now, a little more than a decade later, I still feel that same magic, captivation, and desire as I reread this novel.
Rowling’s ability to foreshadow the events to come is amazing! Even with this read, I found foretelling of things that I hadn’t noticed before. Even if I didn’t know what happened in the other six books, her foreshadowing within the same novel is amazing. But, I think it’s a true testament of her ability to see the overarching story and the foreshadowing she does throughout the entire series. Every time I encounter foreshadowing, I just smile and think, “Rowling, you genius!”
I love the little bit of humor Rowling brings into the story. The story is very intense. Many of the topics are not easy to discuss or even think about. But, the humor interwoven throughout the story helps lighten the way, making it easier to deal with the darker topics.
The characters are complex and endearing, even the ones you hate or can’t make up your mind about. I loved getting to know the main characters in Sorcerer’s Stone. Even though, as a reader, you’ve barely touched the surface of who they are, you learn to love them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s friendship is one to be jealous of, one to wish you were a part of. Not only do you wish you could share in their adventures, but you also wish to have a friendship as strong as theirs that can withstand anything that comes its way.
Out of all the characters, Dumbledore is, by far, my favorite. In fact, he’s my all-time favorite literary character. We don’t often get to see him. He waits along the sidelines, allowing Harry and his friends to figure things out on their own. But, when he is around, you can be sure that Harry (and the reader) leave as better people. His wisdom, or I should say Rowling’s, is astounding. I’m always amazed at how profound these stories are because of Dumbledore.
Illustrated Edition Review: I especially loved reading the illustrated edition and looking at Jim Kay's beautiful artwork.