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Summary: B. Smith -2nd Grade teacher
Review: After reading all of the hype over Harry Potter and his somewhat mysterious stone, I had to read the book to see if it lived up to all of the excitement. I purchased the book from Amazon and waited until last month to savor it. Upon completion, I have to admit that Harry Potter was worth all the money I paid and more. As an adult, and a teacher, I must say that this book was some of the most enjoyable summer reading I have done in many years! While the style of writing may have been a little difficult for 9 and 10 year olds, it still would make a great read-aloud for parents and children to enjoy together. Parents may want to preview the book beforehand since the book does deal with some wizardry, and magic (which may be objectionable to some); although I must say that Rowling does present the magic aspect in an inocent and creative way. Rowling's characters are very detailed and the author does a wonderful job of bringing out the fears and excitement all children feel when entering new schools and meeting new friends. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the second installment (which I already ordered, by the way). Do yourself a favor and pick this book up if you haven't already! Life is too short not to treat yourself with some great, fun reading like this.
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Summary: Refreshing and Magical
Review: After reading bad news in the paper, and watching the world's situation today, this book gave me an oportunitty to drift away in to a magical world, every time I picked up this book. I was amazingly refreshing and gave a very complete message. I'm reading the sequel immediately.
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Summary: More than Magic
Review: After reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for my Children's Literature class at Kent Stark University, I found that it was much more than a book about magic and wizardry than I first suspected. It is an excellent book for school aged children. Harry deals with many of the same issues and situations that school-aged children also deal with. This book allows children to work through their daily struggles as they see Harry work through similiar struggles. Harry is a hero I would want my children to look up to. He is an excellent example of a true friend. He respects his teachers. He is caring to others to feelings. He is also a very unselfish boy. Children can relate to Harry and look up to him as a role model. Many of the Harry Potter critics seem to be dead set against these books because of thier mere mention of magic, but we see after a good read through that magic and wizardry have a small role in the book. In the last scene we see that Harry and his friends use their own human talents to track down and stop the evil ones. Ron uses his knowledge and skillfulness in chess to get closer to the sorcerer's stone (281-83). Hermione uses her logic to solve the puzzle of the bottles (285). And Harry is able to get the stone not by doing a magic spell to waving a wand, but by having good intentions (300). I believe that magic and wizardry are only in this book to draw the reader in. It isn't what this book is all about. Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone is a book that consist of more elements than mere wizardry. It is a means for children to deal with their "reality" without any fears. It provides excellent role models and deals with issues in a positive realistic way even though it is a fantasy book.
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Summary: Calling all Readers!!!!!!! You'll love Harry Potter!
Review: After reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone I am still in love with it. I love everything from his small little cupbord to his friends, Ron,Hermione,and Hagrid. The great heroic ability of Harry goes through the roof. I myself will love to meet J. K. Rowling. And as for Quddich, count me in!This is the absolute best book of the century!
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Summary: A MAGICAL TALE!!!
Review: After reading this book, I was totally hooked. I continued to read the rest of the series, and am looking forward to more upcoming books. I was first introduced to this book through the news. They said it was growing more popular than the Pokemon craze. (Boy were they right!) At fist I thought to myself, "How good can it be, it's only a childrens' book!", but curiouser and curiouser I grew, and soon enough I got the book. I had totally misjudged it. The stroy line was absolutely amazing. I loved each and every single character in this book. I feel as if I already know them personaly. This book has so many twists and turns that it makes you not want to put the book down! The suspense, the action, and the adventure bring life to this book. I highly recomend "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to anyone of any age because not only is it a good story, but also has many moral lessons in it such as friendship. It truely is a magical tale!
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Summary: It's a great read -- for anyone!
Review: After seeing Rosie O'Donnel and J.K. Rowling on television, I ordered both of Ms. Rowling's current Harry Potter novels. I just finished THE SORCERER'S STONE and wanted to share a few words about it before I begin the next book. My taste usually runs to mysteries, sci fi/fantasy,and the "classics"--but I took a chance on this book! It would be a wonderful "read aloud" book for a third, fourth or even fifth grade classroom. Teachers -- Give it a read! It has action, humor, pathos, and MAGIC! I will certainly recommend it to our local and school librarians as I am certain it is destined to be a classic!
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Summary: I Read it after the movie
Review: After seeing the movie I could not wait to read the book. I've always found that books are by far more detailed and wonderful then the movies. In the case of The Sorcerer's Stone I'm not so sure that this was the case. Maybe because they did such an excellent job in relaying the story and keeping it real in the movie.I enjoyed the book a great deal, however, Rowling seemed to move through details awefully quickly. A few examples are the chess game and the Troll getting into Hogwarts. The movie helped to create suspense and I just did not get that from her book. The sorcerer's stone is a quick read and while it is meant for children, adults will enjoy it as well. It's Alice in Wonderland meets Annie meets...well I don't know what else to compare it to. Rowling has an excellent imagination and it's no wonder that her books have reached historical sales!
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Summary: An enchanting read
Review: After seeing this book on the bestseller's list for months and encountering it ostentatiously displayed in every bookstore I entered, I decided to take the plunge. I purchased Harry and the Sorcerer's Stone to see what all the fuss was about. I'll admit I was sceptical at first. One day later, after reading it cover to cover without pause, I am addicted. This book is a definite page turner. I couldn't put it down! I just had to find out the results of the Quidditch match, and discover what was hidden under the heavily guarded trap-door. This book, written in the Roald Dahl style (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach), will entrance you and will fill you with such an obsession that you simply can't get the sequels fast enough to find out what adventures await Harry during his next term at Hogwarts. What are you waiting for? Get this book today, and discover a world that you never dreamed possible-and from which you will never want to return. As for me, I'll be searching for Platform Nine and Three Quarters at the King's Cross Station...
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Summary: Mostly Harmless
Review: After seeing what a furor the 4th book caused in the media I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I, personally, don't see what the big appeal of these books is...but, then again, I'm not 10 years old. I have to agree with the reviewer that wrote "if a so many people think that this is really a great book it is a very, very sad statement on the state of children's education and culture not only in the U.K. but in the industrialised countries worldwide." It certainly isn't a classic and isn't even near to being so. But I won't complain about it if it gets kids excited about reading. Apparently it has done this. I've only read the 1st book in the series and am awaiting the other three in the mail so these comments are only directed at the very first book: I found it a bit boring at times, but it all came together nicely at the end and I am looking forward to reading the next book. As an elementary school teacher, I would've liked to see a character that had more regard for following rules than Harry does. Everything in the book has been done many times before. We have the "orphan" who was taken in by relatives who didn't want him and neglect him. They have a spoiled-rotten son who gets everything he wants and Harry gets the left-overs...and the cousin generally makes life miserable for Harry. How many times has that been done before in books and movies? Then we have the typical boarding school scene where we have the "snooty big-man-on-campus" who wins at everything and makes fun of the underdogs--with his requisite lunk-head followers. The main character ends up with a motley group of friends who end up "saving the day" in the end. I could make a list of movies and books that have been done around that theme. Hardly anything is new except that this time it has magic in it. I am a Christian parent and didn't see anything in the book that Christian parents need to fear--which has been alluded to in other reviews. I was (and still am) fascinated with stories about magic, and I didn't turn out evil (thank you very much). There are a couple of scenes toward the end of the book that are a bit scary and disturbing for young readers. I had been thinking about reading it to my 2nd graders until I got to those parts. I believe I'd have some angry parents on my hands should I read it aloud to my students. Some children may not be bothered by such things, but I do know that some are. The writing could be a lot better. It gets tedious to read after a while and is not entirely grammatically correct. One should never say "try and". You do not "try and" do anything. That indicates doing two things. Such as if someone tries AND kills Harry--doesn't that say that he DID kill Harry? It's "try TO". I hope this is corrected in the next few books. But that's just a pet-peeve of mine. All in all, it's not a bad book, but it's not GREAT, either.
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Summary: Hogwarts, Year 1
Review: After the constant media bombardment - Harry Potter here, Harry Potter there, I couldn't stand it any longer, decided to find out what this is all about and ordered all four books. This was a risk, if I didn't like the first book, I would have bought three books in vain and wasted a lot of money (I ordered the hardcover editions). But the risk paid off, I loved this book. After the first two chapters, which were interesting but not particulary outstanding, I had my first encounter with Mrs. Rowling's brillant and never-ending imagination. I'm talking about the "letters which have a very, very precise address" (readers of this book will know what I mean, I don't want to spoil it for the others), a simply wonderful idea, and from there, I was completely hooked. As many readers here only pointed out that they liked the book but not why, I'm trying to get a little bit more into detail. First, I'm an adult reader (yes, one of those who are not supposed to read childrens' books - give me a break) and was astonished that a surprisingly high number of adult readers posting reviews here are 28 years old. As I was astonished, you can easily guess my age.. Back to the book. What makes it such a great read? Well, the plot is cleverly constructed, extremely fast-paced and features a surprising amout of clever twists and turns. You're one of those who always knows what will happen next? Try this one, you will be surprised! The reader encounters a huge array of wonderful and loveable characters (too many to mention here), so wonderful in fact that you even start to like some of the "villains" (it would be a shame to loose, f. ex. Professor Snape) and is deeply immersed in a universe (well, a school) that is so detailed and so well conceived that it is simply impossible not to love it. The prose and style are ok and always appropriate (making it far better than those of other people who also sell millions of copies; no, no names here, I don't want to be dragged into a court). So, adult reader, what are you waiting for? You get everything you expect from a great book - and more, including a slam-bang, very imaginative and satisfying grand finale. Yes, sure, Mrs. Rowling did not re-invent the wheel, but she makes all the elements that she borrowed from countless other fables look fresh - and that is no small accomplishment, making her clearly stand out. This is not a success-story conceived by some marketing people or based on pure luck and I dare to say, even though it might make some people flinch, quality prevails! Well, I don't know if she is a "story-telling genius" like some of the book-covers say, but she is a natural storyteller with an abundance of talent, so again, her success was not based on pure luck, it had to happen. As an adult, I was enthusiastic about this book, I can't even imagine what it would be like if I would have read this book as an eleven-year-old, I think I would have gone completely nuts. What qualifies this book as a children's novel? Only four things: The absence of sex (come on, the main protagonist is eleven years old!) and overt violence (which would be out-of-place in this novel anyway), that the main characters are children (who cares?) and that the book-covers are aimed at children (if you're ashamed to be seen with one of those, just buy the adult editions). All the other elemnts can and will be enjoyed by adults, too. The only people to whom I cannot recommend this book are those who prefer "ultra-realistic" dramas, they will have problems with wands, spells and owls delivering the mail. To anyone else whose imagination is still intact, try this, you will not be disappointed. After closing this book, I immediately picked up book two, so if you're interested if it is as good as this one, check my review there.
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