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Summary: this book deserves INFINITY STARS
Review: I've read thousands of books, but it's true that you just can't top Harry Potter - they are the greatest books ever written! Don't miss out on this incredible series!
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Summary: First time i read: hated it. Second time I read: great!
Review: I've recently just finished reading the first Harry Potter book for the second time and it was a really good book. It's been about 3 years since the first time i read it, and for some reason i hated it and found it the most boring book ever.But people were always saying how cool Harry Potter was and everything, so i decided to give it another go. I figured that when i first read it, the reason why i didn't like it was because i wasn't used to reading books that were over 200 pages and i wasnt very familiar with the whole thing. Every time i turned each page, the story became more and more interesting, and I didn't want to put the book down! J.K Rowling is a very clever author. Though i'm not THAT crazy about Harry Potter, I enjoy reading the books alot, and the movies were pretty cool too. The Harry Potter series are very unique and you'll never get bored of them no matter how many times you read them! To all those new Harry Potter readers out there, your're gonna like this book very much i garuntee. Happy reading! :)
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Summary: My review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Review: I've recently read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The story begins with Harry Potter's life with the Dursley's (Harry's uncle, aunt, and their son Dudley). Harry is treated horribly by the Dursley's as an outcast of their family and is forced to sleep in a cupboard in the basement. He is constantly being bullied by the spoiled Dudley and made fun of at school. It's interesting that Harry never questions their deprecatory actions towards him because their actions towards Harry suggests that Harry has a history behind him. That he actually has magical powers! Then all things change for Harry on his eleventh birthday when he receives a letter via owl. Being the first and unavoidable letter, it is obviously very important and reaches him even through the actions of his uncle to block them at all cause. It is an invitation to attend the Hogwart's school of magic where he is introduced into a world that provides him with instant fame, friends, and adventures he never dreamed of. He is greeted by the gamekeeper of Hogwart's who goes by the name of Hagrid, and in time gains the friendships of Ron Weasley who is poor and has to live in the shadows of his brothers accomplishments, and Hermione Granger who is a know it all and does know it all that helps Harry and Ron tremendously throughout the book. They are Harry's best friends and together encounter adventures that are exciting and dangerous. At school he constantly is in trouble but also the star seeker for his Quidditch team. He also gains a few enemies in Malfoy another student from the Slytherin house, and Professor Snape, who we learn hates Harry because of his past relationship with Harry's father. Harry's worst enemy who we meet in the end is Voldemort. He is the one responsible for the death of Harry's parents and the one who attempts to steal the sorcerer's stone. He also meets Albus Dumbledore, the head of the school who teaches Harry a lot about himself and helps him out in sticky situations. This book is not only intended for children but anyone who enjoys reading a book filled with fantasy and adventure. You will enjoy the comical descriptive writing style of Rowling and the fun characters. This book includes everything one could wish for in a fantasy: interesting characters, the battle between good and evil, plenty of mystery, dramatic twists-and-turns, and magic. I consider this book to be a must read for people of all ages.
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Summary: Review by Author of Tagger, Alone Along the Mystic River
Review: I've written two children's books, Tagger, Alone Along the Mystic River and Ame the Elephant, Terrrorized by Evil Mice, and I can say professionally that Rowlings uses the kind of dynmaic images and descriptiosns that causes the reader to jump right into the story. Even as an adult, I felt like I was a student at Hogwarts and part of the action.
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Summary: You'll love it!! :)
Review: I, a self proclaimed fantasy and sci fi synic, loved this bbok. I didn't put it down for a week. The story is enthraling, the characters are captivating and the writing is magical. I am sure, whatever genre of book you like, you will love Harry Potter!
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Summary: Before you talk bad about Harry Potter....READ THE BOOK!
Review: I, as an adult with four children, have read all four books. Ienjoyed the Harry Potter books from start to finish and cannot waituntil the next book is released.... There are many wonderful storyplots in the book that keep your attention through out the entirebook(s): Rags to riched, being poor, being too smart, being picked onby bullies at school, and yes good verses evil. All of my childrenhave read the first book and the oldest has read all four. One of mychildren has a reading disability and he sat with book and tape andfollowed along too! ....before you say something bad about HarryPotter, READ THE BOOK. I am sure that you too will enjoy them as muchas our whole family!
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Summary: Enduring themes
Review: I, like many others, really enjoyed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". It is a delightful read for adults (speaking from experience) as well as kids. Many of the previous reviews attack Rowling's use of the Cinderella story-line/theme. I don't think this use is a bad thing; there are several themes/stories that are used over and over, like the Cinderella story, because these themes are universal and appeal to a broad range of people. It's the new characters with their qualities and personalities, settings, and details that make each use of an old theme a new and viable story. True, it can make the overall story predictable at times, and this is not altogether untrue of "The Sorcerer's Stone". But the characters have depth--their own style, personality, and values--as well as some of the human traits like hope, perseverance, courage, bravery, and loyalty, and also jealousy, cruelty, pettiness, and biasedness. There are a lot of things that spark the imagination--a new world to explore; fantastic, "magical" creatures; new games; and just plain magic. I would recommend that anyone with an imagination and a sense of adventure read this book. It is written for younger people, so much of the vocabulary is on that level. But even so, it is a good book for older people to read--to remind them of what being a kid is like at times, and for many, to reawaken their imaginations; and it's good for the younger set--to awaken and develop their imaginations and sense of possibilities.
Rating:
Summary: Enduring themes
Review: I, like many others, really enjoyed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". It is a delightful read for adults (speaking from experience) as well as kids. Many of the previous reviews attack Rowling's use of the Cinderella story-line/theme. I don't think this use is a bad thing; there are several themes/stories that are used over and over, like the Cinderella story, because these themes are universal and appeal to a broad range of people. It's the new characters with their qualities and personalities, settings, and details that make each use of an old theme a new and viable story. True, it can make the overall story predictable at times, and this is not altogether untrue of "The Sorcerer's Stone". But the characters have depth--their own style, personality, and values--as well as some of the human traits like hope, perseverance, courage, bravery, and loyalty, and also jealousy, cruelty, pettiness, and biasedness. There are a lot of things that spark the imagination--a new world to explore; fantastic, "magical" creatures; new games; and just plain magic. I would recommend that anyone with an imagination and a sense of adventure read this book. It is written for younger people, so much of the vocabulary is on that level. But even so, it is a good book for older people to read--to remind them of what being a kid is like at times, and for many, to reawaken their imaginations; and it's good for the younger set--to awaken and develop their imaginations and sense of possibilities.
Rating:
Summary: Magical Modern-day Classic
Review: I, like so many others before me, found myself absolutely charmed by this whimsical, yet vital, book. Being an adult, the obvious resistance to reading a "children's book" was evidently there, but once the barrier was broken down, the first chapter read, I was hooked. 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' is the first of seven books (four completed at the time of this review) which center around a young boy named Harry Potter. He is a wizard (though he doesn't know it yet), and comes from wizard parentage. His parents are dead, having been killed when he was a year old by an evil Dark Lord, Voldemort. Harry was the only one to survive the attack by Voldemort, which left him with a lightning scar on his forehead. Voldemort's failure to kill Harry pushed him into hiding, and the wizard world has been a fairly safe place in his absence. The book begins on Harry's 11th birthday, when everything starts falling into place. He begins to learn about his true identity, and is soon whisked off to Hogwarts (the school of wizardry). How he gets there, and what happens *after* he gets there, I will not disclose here - that is the entire fun of this wonderful book. Though this is supposed to be a "children's book", I found it terribly engaging as an adult, and even wondered if some aspects of it would go over the heads of alot of kids. It is written crisply, cleanly, and with much heart. I was awed by so many of the things which happened in the story, every chapter revealing a new magical journey. The author, J.K. Rowling, has invented some new wizards and creatures, but has also borrowed some, most notably from Greek mythology. They are all meshed together well into a beautiful book full of good values, and a smashing showdown between good and evil. Parts of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' were sometimes frustrating, because you wanted to yell at the protagonist kids "Go and tell one of the adults what's going on!" The book is littered with wise wizard professors, but rarely do the kids (who are, of course, the main players) go to them for guidance. I found that aspect a little grating, but then realized that this is a "children's book", and as such, the "children" must be the heroes, solving the puzzles (mostly) on their own. The book works well on its own, so even though it is the first part of a seven-part work, you will not be left with huge loose ends. However, *some* things are left unanswered, and the desire to read the second entry, 'The Chamber of Secrets', is most high. This is a nice, magical, adventure-filled story which has alot of proper values to teach to children, underneath all the magic. I also suggest reading it aloud, if you have a reading partner (child *or* adult) - it makes the experience that much the better.
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Summary: Teaching At-Risk Youth
Review: I, personally, loved this book. I am a public school English teacher and I chose this book as high-interest curriculum for my at-risk High School students. In combination with the fast pace of the cd's, this book is excellent in motivating students to read and retain what they have learned.
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