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Summary: enchanting for adult readers, too
Review: I will forgo the usual plot outline in deference to the wealth of information from other reviewers. Yes the book is popular with younger readers - but this is not just a kid's book. As an adult reader, I was surprised and pleased to be as drawn into the J.K. Rowling's world. What an imagination! And what a marverlous cast of characters. Little wonder so many are so taken with the story and that they are so wildly popular. A wonderful mental vacation - I highly recommend it. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but there's something else....
Review: I will never have even considered reading this book if its not for the hype. I have just finished the book and really, what's all the hype about?True, the story is entertaining, and very easy read. I finished the book in one reading, something I don't do often. As noted on countless reviews here, the story just keeps you going. In very simple language, the story describes love and hate, rich and poor, friends and foes, pulls afew puzzles, and one twist at the end. However, there really isn't anything particularly great about this story that would leave great impressions on me. If you're talking about Fantasy books, there are dozens of great titles, M Weis and T Hickman's Dragonlance series are my favourite. If you're looking for an apprentice mage story, RE Feist's earlier Magician series are better. However, strange enough, I will be reading the next book in the HP series, and most probably the entire series for as long as Rowling will be writing them, and I don't even understand why! I am wondering what is the secret of this title's success. Perhaps its the simplicity that appeals to everyone. Probably, in the Information Age, people wants fast, cheap, and simple entertainment. I admit reading Sorcerer's Stone probably yields the highest level of entertainment value per unit time, AND effort spent for me. Cool. If you want good entertainment from an easy read, get this book.
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Summary: This is the TAPE review. ISBN: 0807281751
Review: I will not go through the story reviews as that has been done thousands of times. What you do not want to overlook (even if you bought the book) is this most excellent tape. Many people that thought the book too long or convoluted or (even though it is supposed to be) juvenile. Can appreciate the TAPE version. It even works in the car. I have both the tape and the book so I can see how the names are spelled. I also bought the English "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" ISBN: 0747542988 from amazon U.K. for the unique cover. People are always listening to the tape again to hear the parts that they missed the first time when they were just concentrating on the plot. What really makes the tape impressive is the reader (Jim Dale.) He stresses the different characters when he is reading their part; just like watching a movie you can not read the book without hearing Jim Dale.
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Summary: ADDICTED to HARRY POTTER
Review: I will say that I typically read books aimed at adults, but one day my friend told me about this one book about a wizard boy, and I decided to read it. I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and went out the next day to buy the next two (both are excellent as well). I see how it is aimed for kids but the writing is so exceptional that it just comes aross as one of the best books ever. I am addicted to these books and am couting down the days until I can get my hands on the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th of her series. This book is too good for words. Go read it to see what I mean...you won't be sorry!!
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Summary: Truly fabulous!
Review: I wish I could give this book more stars. This book was fabulous (and the sequels are fabulous too)! Great for ages four to one hundred and four! A MUST READ FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE!
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Summary: A Potter-head and proud of it!
Review: I won't lie and say that I never liked reading and this book made me want to read. Although I did change me, and I'm sure it has many others, to make them read and helping them write, it wasn't that exact way for me.
When I was little, I used to love reading. I still do, but that's not my point. On day at the Library when I was seven, I was browsing the shelves when my mom called me to go. Before I went to check out my other books, I saw one sitting in the magazine rack that sat at the end of the rows. It was a thick book, but I like thing that challenged me. Needless to say, I got the book.
A few days later, when the books were due, I can remember telling my mom: "But mo-ommmmm, I'm reading this really great book! It's about this kid named Harry, who's a wizard. And mom! He acts like a normal kid! And all the great things are happening..." The funny thing is, I cannot remember any of the other books I got from the Library. There was something about Harry that seemed uniquely normal compared to the other fantasy books I've read. In fact, all of Rowling's books feel natural and completly logical despite their flair for magical beings and secret castles.It makes you feel that if something like this could ever happen, that's how it would happen. The words fit perfectly and flawlessly into the book, creating a vivid movie in your mind and leaving you hopelessly grasping for words to describe it to those who haven't read yet, as if you're trying to explain colors to a blind man. And even if we caught those words and could lay them out for everyone to see, for book burners and angry preachers and for children and adults who had trouble reading or couldn't, I can tell you right now it would be more than a "maximum of 1,000 words". In fact, the explination would be long enough to be a book of it's own.
So go on, read the book, read the series. You know you want to. And for those muggles who turn this book down: You don't know what you're missing.
Rating: 
Summary: Not revolutionary, not award-winning, but cute...
Review: I wonder if the big fanfare about the Harry Potter books is due to us Americans having little experience with the light/humorous fantasy books more prevalent in the UK, both adult and juvenile. I can't help but feel Rowling was influenced greatly by other authors, possibly even the hilariously clever Terry Pratchett. I like the books, but they are not, as some have decided, revolutionary in juvenile literature. I would hope this might encourage readers to expand their vision to those like C.S. Lewis, Douglas Adams, and other British writers of fantasy. Additionally, it's a downer that Harry is repeatedly placed in bad situations where the numerous authority figures to which he's entrusted at school either don't care, can't be trusted, are unbelievably unfair. Adults love these book, yes, but are actual kids comfortable with them?
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Summary: Excellent reading
Review: I wondered what all the hoop-li-da was about on these Harry Potter books. Curiousity finally won out and I ended up purchasing this book. I have to be honest in that I expected to be a bit disappointed but I was very happily surprised. It is excellent reading, no matter your age. Now I can see why it appeals to young people. It has all the right ingredients. A hero that that any young person can relate to, and dare I say it, even adults. The book is fast-paced and keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen. Plenty of villainy to boo and heroics to cheer. I also purchased the next two books in the series and enjoyed them as much as the first. I plan on purchasing the fourth and am sure I will enjoy reading it as much as the last three. Cheers to the author for writing a series that both kids and adults can enjoy. Keep up the good work.
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Summary: Not just for kids! Loved it and eagerly await Harry's next.
Review: I work at a public library and this title is circulating among the staff as quickly as it is the patrons! We all love this book and highly recommend it to adults and children alike. Mark our words, Harry Potter books will be classics!
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Summary: Muggles Beware - this is NOT fiction!
Review: I work for one of those large British multinationals, and I know. We are surrounded by Muggles (unfortunately). Those are the ones who sign their memos "regards", whereas the others (witches, warlocks, goblins, dragons, etc) sign "cheers" or "ciao!" or "bye". The Muggles are the ones who come in at 5 (a.m.) and leave at 8 (p.m.) whereas the others stay in the office as little as possible, then rush off to LIVE. The Muggles are the ones who follow all the rules, or at least try hardest not to get caught breaking them, whereas the others take a little company time everyday to dedicate themselves to a good laugh and a little fantasy. It's been a while since anyone wrote a good fantasy. I grew up on Roald Dahl, CS Lewis, Tolkein, and so many more. Thank goodness fantasy is back in style. I hope that the popularity of these wonderful books will inspire writers to write fantasy, and publishers to publish it. Cheers!
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