Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining...but...
Review: It seems like a long time ago that I first heard about this book -- on NPR, a report about children's books that adults should read (this was at least a few months prior to the general public taking notice of the book). Even though so many people have become wild about Harry Potter, I can only share the enthusiasm to a certain degree after finally reading this one.Who wouldn't appreciate a book though that is packed with amusing characters -- even if they aren't all that deeply developed? If that book also keeps the action moving, you can't help but like it -- even if it does play fast-and-loose at least once with explanations (for instance -- How did Hermione solve the "bottle riddle" as she did when one of the clues states specifically that one of her choices could not have been correct?). And of course, who wouldn't side with a poor little "wiz" kid who makes good even though the odds are stacked mountainously high against him? This book does have a lot to offer children and adults who want some quick, amusing reading. But Ms. Rowling is not a great author -- nor would she class herself as one, I think. She has done a great job in getting young (and not so young) people interested in reading and using their imagination. And, if this book and its sequels whet the appetite for other books like it, that is all to the good. I read this after Philip Pullman's fine trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) and can only suggest that if you like Harry Potter and need something to read while waiting for further adventures, look for similar fantasy and adventure books by other authors. There is plenty of great reading to be had for people of all ages -- just look for it and don't be afraid of a challenge. Harry wouldn't be!
Rating: 
Summary: Muggles Beware
Review: It seems like some people just don't get the Harry Potter novels, and never will. The book aptly names these people Muggles. They refer to these books as hype or dangerous fantasy. They despair over the poor innocents that will be impaired by this book in some way. They fail to see that this story is the introduction to a wonderful world, every bit as fully realized as Lewis's Narnia with characters as memorable as Dahl's Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach. The only way Harry Potter could impair someone is by giving them a love for reading.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book
Review: It starts like a modern day fairy tale. The reader is immediately sympathetic towards the orphaned Harry. Harry is a worthy, courageous, and thoroughly likeable character. The author does an excellent job of drawing the reader into adventure after adventure without tiring you out. Instead, the book proves impossible to put down. I brought the book three years ago for my nephew. What was meant to be a brief peek at the first page quickly evolved into my earnestly reading the entire book. I would recommend it to anyone. There is mystery, action, and fantasy all in this one book. There are no dull moments--and, oh, yes, it's very funny, too.
Rating:
Summary: Middle to end packed with action.
Review: It starts out without Harry in the book and suddenly he comes in and the action rises. A giant comes in his house and tells him he is a wizard and is taken to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry and the rest of the story is a giant climax.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (^_^)
Review: It starts where Harry is having a horrible life and living in a horrible family. That family is the Dursleys. He is having a horrible life because his life is miserable and he is living in a room that is small and his birthdays are never celebrated including his eleventh birthday. Then something good happened to Harry. A person named Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds came and told Harry about his life with his parents and who he is. The Dursleys was in shock and so was Harry because he couldn't believed all this. Now Harry is going to Hogwarts to learn about magic and wizardry. Harry never felt this happy before because he didn't have to live with the horrible Dursleys and live with in that horrible house. Harry found many secrets about his family because of many people like Albus Dumbledore and artifacts like the Mirror of the Erise. The most horrible secret he found was the person-whom-must-not-be-named. That person was Volemort. Now Harry and his friends goes on an adventure to find out about Voldemort with many secrets being revealed.
This book is great to read because the book puts your mind into the book. It reaveals many secrets and many mysterious things about Harry's life and about Hogwarts. Also it shows many adeventurous things like where he goes to find out about who is Voldemort and what is he doing at Hogwarts. The book shows many cool and magical things like the flying broom, the wands that people have, the classes things to do like transfiguration, and other many stuff, but the most interesting about Hogwarts was Hogwarts and it's great magical powers and its creature beings living inside it. This book just grabs your mind into the book showing great and mysterious things for all the readers.
Rating:
Summary: The best book of the century
Review: It sucked me in as soon as I strated reading it. I would tell anyone who thought it sounds good you should read. You can hardly put it down and when you start reading it again you will be amazed how much it will suck you into it. If you think it sounds like devil work you are wrong its just a book about sorcerery and a kid who doesn't know he's a witch. You will laugh at the funny stuff and be scared at the scarey stuff. It's just a book that will bring you and make you want to read the others trust me I have read all three of the books out twice and I want to read the others.
Rating:
Summary: This is pure magic.
Review: It sucks you in line by line. Word by word. This book doesn't underestimate your intelligence or minimize the plot for kids. It's complicated, exciting, funny, and full of twists and turns. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Clever story, a good read but somewhat bothersome
Review: It took me a long time to choose reading this first Harry Potter book. My primary hesitation was that it is a children’s book and I wasn't sure if I wanted to invest the time. I was also concerned about all the attention to its’ occult references. Having finished reading it, I can honestly say that this is a really sweet, compelling story and a pleasant read. Rowling has done a fine job of building a story in the Roald Dahl mode. You know where “certain” adults are simply irredeemably cruel, countered by a truly innocent character. In this case, an innocent Harry Potter is counterbalanced against his cruel Aunt, Uncle and cousin. As I said, like Dahl’s characters, Harry is simply a victim of circumstances but his true character is intact, strong and courageous. There is a confidence about him that seems to give him strength. Like all escapist fantasy, this story just seems to strike a common chord with so many people. I liked it a great deal. Additionally, I think the author does a really good job of introducing us to this otherworldly place of wizards and witches since Harry learns along with us. That being said, and as a Christian, I found constant references to witchcraft, spells and dark magic to be really bothersome. I can accept it as a plot device for the foundation of a fantasy book. The witchcraft and wizardry in this book is similar to that made-for-television witchcraft, in so much that some people have inherited magic genetically while others do not in the variety of Darren and Samantha Stevens. This sort of witchcraft simply doesn’t exist in reality. Real witchcraft is dark and sad. I am concerned that undiscerning kids would take their fascination with the story and explore the real thing. With all that in mind, I would have loved this series when I was a kid. I’ll allow my children to read it when they can discern (they’re too young to read now anyway). I would suggest that parents read it too. I think it's important to be involved in your kids’ activities and this is certainly a very quick read. People who criticize this series for occult content based on presuppositions without reading it should be ashamed. It is a good piece of work and not worth the negative attention. Though Rowling is probably experiencing the truth of the phrase, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” I’ll look forward to the movies.
Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLE!
Review: It took me a while to actually read the first Harry Potter book, as I am a fourteen-year old girl that is constantly busy with work and extracurricular activites, not to mention that I was skeptical at the idea of me enjoying a book that my eight year-old brother could read with facility. However, today, I was extremely bored, with it being the end of the school year, so I decided to read the Harry Potter book that I had heard so much about and it just so happened that it was sitting on my shelf that very moment. Once I started reading, and the hours passed, I found myself totally engrossed in the book and with the setting, the characters, the plot, everything! The fantasy of it all makes you feel little again, and as if you want to be right there with Harry Potter, going on all of his crazy adventures. The plot was also riveting and suspenseful, and I was absolutely addicted to it, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. This book was definitely a page-turner, and with its humor, charm, uniqueness, and a stellar surprise ending, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is definitely the book to read, no matter what age you may be.
Rating:
Summary: "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone"
Review: It took me awhile to catch on to what I like to call "The Harry Potter Obsession" but once I did, about 3/3.5 years ago...let's just say, I'd rather be face to face with Lord Voldemort himself then never read another word of J.K. Rowling's extraordinary work. Since I caught on to "the obesession" I've read all four books multiple- actually dozens of times, have watched the 1st movie like 50 and am anxiously waiting the arrival of the 2nd out on video April 11 2003. But I am not here to publicize for J.K Rowling. I am here for the review of her 1st book. In this book, which lays out the plot for all 7 of the Harry Potter books.(the 5th due to come out in June.)The series FYI will follow young wizard Harry Potter through 7 years of wizard school. Ok, so here's my review. Harry Potter, an average (or not so average) 11 year old boy being raised by his unkindly Aunt and Uncle who had taken him in unwillingly when his parents "died in a car crash" when he was a baby. Then he finds out that he is a wizard and is going to Hogwarts, a concealed (from the non-magic world "muggles")school for witchcraft and wizardry. And that his scar which his Aunt had always told him was a result of the car crash, was actually the result of an evil dark wizard who killed his parents with a single curse but failed to kill him. Well, before I get into a detailed summary of the entire novel I will stop, and if I've got you in anyway interested ...for god sakes...buy the book and Enjoy!!!!!!
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