Customer Reviews

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

5 star:		(3,822)
4 star:		(346)
3 star:		(109)
2 star:		(53)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - the start of it all.

This is when Harry discovers that he's a wizard, receiving a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Ah, don't we all dream of being whisked away into the magical world?) This is when we are all pulled into the delicious, intricate world of Harry Potter; the fantastic Diagon Alley, the idea of owls delivering your posts, moving photos and portraits, actual flying broomsticks, Quidditch... the list goes on.

There's also a slight difference between this book and the other installments; J.K. Rowling writes her books in third-person perspective, but after this book, they are more narrowed to Harry's persepective. In this book, there's many more perspectives than just Harry's. And at this stage, this book can still be considered a "children's book." This aspect changes as the characters get older, and they're more aware of the darkness in the world.

This is the start of it all - this first installment is a must-have.

this is a amazing book. i think every page is very well done and a great start for the whole series

The HP books are a great deal of fun, and it's hard to imagine anything else I could say about them that hasn't been said ten thousand times already.

I do however want to say something about the *Audiobooks.* For reasons beyond my ken, Amazon.com does not let you know that there is an infinitely better version than this available, read by the delightful Stephen Fry. According to J.K. Rowling, her daughter listens to the (Fry) audiobooks constantly. Stephen Fry's gorgeous voice is a pleasure any time, but these books give him grand scope for mimicry and vocal characterization.

Choosing to record a new version of these books for an American audience when Stephen Fry has already so brilliantly done them is perverse in its idiocy. Don't bother with this version; go over to Amazon.co.uk and buy the real thing!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a great book. The main character Harry is likeable and well described. The author pulls you into the story.Reaingthis book is like being in the story with Harry.When I first got the book as a gift I didn't read it because I thought it was children's book.I was wrong.Once I started reading it I counldn't stop.Great start to a great series.

A freind said this is a good book for all reader's, he was wrong. While some of it is kind of interesting, overall, this is aimed at kids. I wouldn't reccomend for older readers, but some nice ideas are in the book. Too bad I don't like reading, and I feel I wasted my time.

This is the first Harry Potter book I've read. It's very well written and hard to put down once you start. Now I understand why people lined up to get these books when they are first released. I will definitely buy more of this series.

Hey, So I just finished book 7 tonight. This is the only series of books I've been able to finish in my 23 years of life. It is AWESOME. You won't got wrong with these books. Enjoy them, they are a short read by the time your done.

Much has been made of the Harry Potter series. Here in the UK the hype has been almost at fever-pitch with the publication of the latest in the series. With all the fuss, and my nephew an enthusiastic reader of these books I thought I'd find out for myself whether the accolade was appropriate.

Adults, friends of mine amongst them, have read the book for themsleves (as opposed to reading it aloud to their offspring) and while I decided I wouldn't be seen reading it on a train, I would do so in the evenings.

It's very readable. Rowling manages the difficult balance between readability pitched at a young age and a fairly complex plot. My own love of literature was nurtured on Enid Blyton's Famous Five books, the style and grammatical content of which are execrable. I found this to my cost when trying to read them aloud to my children many years ago and began to realize why many libraries in the UK had banned her from their lists. Rowling's construction, on the other hand, is excellent and reads well aloud. I understand that her later novels in the series are even better, interweaving more complexity for 'older' appeal into the work. This may well encourage me to borrow the next novel from my long-suffering nephew.

Rowling also doesn't fall into the trap of dishing up cheesy humour for the youngsters but opts rather more for a nascent dry humour which is more stylish and may well prepare youngsters for a more advanced appreciation of humorous literature.

The characters are reasonably three-dimensional for a children's novel, and the story-line holds up well for the most part. Her inventiveness in the paraphernalia of the magic world, and in particular the game of Quidditch is particularly to be commended. There is even a moral message in this novel, one of not judging too hastily who is one's friend and who is one's enemy, an excellent topic for human cubs developing interpersonal skills without guidance.

The content is, however, very British (I almost said English but she's Welsh) and I can see where some references might need explanation to American readers, but this will not detract from the novel's enjoyability.

In summary, then, an excellent read for 9 to 13 year-olds, an amusing read for adults and pleasantly engaging to read aloud to young family members.

A hit.

This is the best book of the Harry Potter series so far! When Hagrid tells Harry that he is a wizard it's just so exiting for him and you don't know what is going to happen. I think it would be so good to be told you're a wizard (or a witch) and be famous too. J.K. Rowling is a really fantastic author! She makes up the most interesting names for the people and places, like platform nine and three quarters. My favourite character is Ron Weasley. Also I like his pet rat Scabbers! I'd like to taste the lollies and food in the wizard and witch world and especially butterbeer. I think it was interesting how you didn't know what was going to happen next. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone is truly the best book in the series so far, in my opinion! I would recommend it to anyone from the age of six to sixty and over! J.K. Rowling is the best author to come up with a book that would be loved so much all around the world. Keep up the good work and keep writing those Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling!

The storyline, the characters and the setting all carry you away to a magical world where friendship and loyalty are just as important as spells and potions. I have introduced this series to hundreds of 10 years olds over the past decade in my grade 5 classroom. Now, I'm reading it with my own daughter. I sincerely hope she loves Harry and his friends as much as I do!