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A review by georgierosereads
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
5.0
When I look back to my history as a reader, one of my earliest memories of truly engaging with a book without illustrations was listening to my Mother reading Harry Potter to me, and then encouraging me to read it to myself independently. As the books were released over the years, we had to buy two copies so that Mum and I didn’t have to fight over who read them first (neither of us wanted to risk the plot being spoiled to us by others, or have to cope with the envy of watching the one who won). I have been rather lucky to grow up in a household where books have always surrounded me, and to this day I still count J.K Rowling as the author that truly sparked that love of literature. Like many people my age, Harry Potter grew up alongside me. When the books started to be translated into a film series, I went from a young child insistent upon bringing her baby doll with her, to a young woman holding her Mother’s hand as the final film started, welling up in emotion as we experienced that last tradition together. Sometimes stories are more than stories.
The unprecedented outbreak of Coronavirus has meant that, for many of us, anxiety has raised its ugly head to taunt us. We cannot turn on the television, or listen too long to a radio station, without being reminded of the tragedy that has inflicted itself on our world and the resulting restrictions on our everyday lives. To me, books have always been a way to escape from the general mundanity of everyday world, and the social pressures we ascribe to those who reside in it. For the first time in years, I felt that need for escapism to a place that, for many a time, felt just as home to me as the real world. I wondered if, as an adult, with a wider range of fantasy material under my belt, Harry Potter would still hold its weight for me as just one cut above the rest. It was with this in mind that I buried my nose firmly into this book.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is definitely a book which was written for children. It is not that the plot is entirely childlike, as exemplified by extraordinarily dark figures such as the infamous You-Know-Who, but the style of writing is clear, concise and straight-forward. I find it remarkable that the novels managed to evolve along with its audience, reaching a point towards the end of the series where more adult themes such as death, discrimination, racism and complicated relationships were introduced more openly, while still remaining true to the original foundations built upon in Philosophers Stone. I don’t need to tell you that the worldbuilding here is astounding. Rowling is the queen of low fantasy, creating a world which is so similar yet astoundingly different to our own. I think it simply marvelous that the wizarding world is one step ahead from the muggle world in so many ways, yet also so backwards in others. (So an 11 year old can open a locked door with a simple ‘Alohamora’, but you have to use Owls to send your post rather than picking up a telephone?). This was an age before the internet. Harry, Ron and Hermione could not simply google ‘Nicolas Flamel’. The result is a world which feels more simple, where strong relationships are built fairly quickly. You celebrate alongside the characters when they solve their mystery, as it feels well earnt.
J.K. Rowling is a witty lady, and this brings about some great moments. Fred and George Weasley,
the charismatic twin brothers of Ron, are perhaps the most obviously funny characters that Harry Potter has to offer. Yet, horrified as I was, I found myself snorting in laughter at some of Draco Malfoy’s one liners during this re-read. I know that I should be rooting for Ron, but “You’re in luck Weasley, Potter’s obviously spotted some money on the ground!” as Harry is diving to catch the snitch is so awful that one cannot help but laugh. Harry, too, is so cheeky sometimes that you almost catch yourself gasping. This is a redeeming quality for the Boy Who Lived I remembered, who – rightfully so I suppose – appeared to be angry with everything for a while and lashed out to those closest to him.
The origins of magic, or the way it works, are never explained, but magic appears to be a rather strong force with little limits other than ability and skill. It is exciting to consider how different our lives could be if we had that helping hand, and yet my favorite part of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has got to be the most ordinary, human themes. The golden trio is such an iconic motif of Harry Potter that it is easy to forget that for the first half of this book, Harry and Ron abhor Hermione and wish she would leave them alone. This developing friendship benefits from a re-read. It’s pretty humorous, considering you know what is coming and how close they will be for the remainder of the series. Young Harry, a boy who if not entirely neglected, was never shown any love or friendship, settles into Hogwarts life as I settle into a hot bath at the end of a long day. Perhaps most memorable for me, and beloved, are the Weasley family. Never have I so envied a family life before. The Weasley clan are introduced as gangly redheads who went without, but never without each other. That, in my opinion, appears to be the overarching message of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, considering all these things – and a jolly good message to promote to adults and children alike, if you ask me.
The unprecedented outbreak of Coronavirus has meant that, for many of us, anxiety has raised its ugly head to taunt us. We cannot turn on the television, or listen too long to a radio station, without being reminded of the tragedy that has inflicted itself on our world and the resulting restrictions on our everyday lives. To me, books have always been a way to escape from the general mundanity of everyday world, and the social pressures we ascribe to those who reside in it. For the first time in years, I felt that need for escapism to a place that, for many a time, felt just as home to me as the real world. I wondered if, as an adult, with a wider range of fantasy material under my belt, Harry Potter would still hold its weight for me as just one cut above the rest. It was with this in mind that I buried my nose firmly into this book.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is definitely a book which was written for children. It is not that the plot is entirely childlike, as exemplified by extraordinarily dark figures such as the infamous You-Know-Who, but the style of writing is clear, concise and straight-forward. I find it remarkable that the novels managed to evolve along with its audience, reaching a point towards the end of the series where more adult themes such as death, discrimination, racism and complicated relationships were introduced more openly, while still remaining true to the original foundations built upon in Philosophers Stone. I don’t need to tell you that the worldbuilding here is astounding. Rowling is the queen of low fantasy, creating a world which is so similar yet astoundingly different to our own. I think it simply marvelous that the wizarding world is one step ahead from the muggle world in so many ways, yet also so backwards in others. (So an 11 year old can open a locked door with a simple ‘Alohamora’, but you have to use Owls to send your post rather than picking up a telephone?). This was an age before the internet. Harry, Ron and Hermione could not simply google ‘Nicolas Flamel’. The result is a world which feels more simple, where strong relationships are built fairly quickly. You celebrate alongside the characters when they solve their mystery, as it feels well earnt.
J.K. Rowling is a witty lady, and this brings about some great moments. Fred and George Weasley,
the charismatic twin brothers of Ron, are perhaps the most obviously funny characters that Harry Potter has to offer. Yet, horrified as I was, I found myself snorting in laughter at some of Draco Malfoy’s one liners during this re-read. I know that I should be rooting for Ron, but “You’re in luck Weasley, Potter’s obviously spotted some money on the ground!” as Harry is diving to catch the snitch is so awful that one cannot help but laugh. Harry, too, is so cheeky sometimes that you almost catch yourself gasping. This is a redeeming quality for the Boy Who Lived I remembered, who – rightfully so I suppose – appeared to be angry with everything for a while and lashed out to those closest to him.
The origins of magic, or the way it works, are never explained, but magic appears to be a rather strong force with little limits other than ability and skill. It is exciting to consider how different our lives could be if we had that helping hand, and yet my favorite part of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has got to be the most ordinary, human themes. The golden trio is such an iconic motif of Harry Potter that it is easy to forget that for the first half of this book, Harry and Ron abhor Hermione and wish she would leave them alone. This developing friendship benefits from a re-read. It’s pretty humorous, considering you know what is coming and how close they will be for the remainder of the series. Young Harry, a boy who if not entirely neglected, was never shown any love or friendship, settles into Hogwarts life as I settle into a hot bath at the end of a long day. Perhaps most memorable for me, and beloved, are the Weasley family. Never have I so envied a family life before. The Weasley clan are introduced as gangly redheads who went without, but never without each other. That, in my opinion, appears to be the overarching message of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, considering all these things – and a jolly good message to promote to adults and children alike, if you ask me.