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Summary: An adventure tale for anyone to enjoy.
Review: This, the first book in the Harry Potter story, is a definite page-turner. The fast-paced adventure never seems to end. It goes on to the very last page.I've heard much about how younger readers (7-9 years of age) may find some of the things disturbing. This is not true. Everything in this story is suitable for anyone to read. Therefore this book should be read by everyone. You are guaranteed to be left satisfied. Harry Potter is a character you will quickly come to love, for his is an icon for bravery. The boy that I would like to be. It doesn't matter what you're looking for, you'll find in this book.
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Summary: A fabulous book--couldn't put it down!
Review: This--and all the other Harry Potter books--are WONDERFUL novels. Don't the mistake I made, thinking that just because they are popular with young kids, that they are stupid. I am only 12 but I read mostly adult novels. I thought Harry Potter was just some silly little kiddie book. But I was wrong as wrong can be! This book is intriguing, funny, and--well, just plain great. Everybody can relate to Harry because no matter how privileged they are, at some point in their lives, everyone has thought, "My life sucks." He's also a good role model, I think. But we don't need to cross-examine Harry Potter to see how good it is! Just read the book. You WON'T be disappointed! This book is amazing!
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Summary: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Review: Though a work of fiction, this book was a very believableunbelievable story. J.K. Rowling introduced fantasy early in thenovel, capturing your interest about a magical world that could exist in your mind and maybe in reality. It was well-written with very good detailed descriptions of each character so you knew them well individually. The book's ideas were well-organized and well-sequenced to the point where there were no boring parts in the book, making you unable to put it down.
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Summary: Towers over most adventure books.
Review: Though I am 14, and not an 82-year-old fart, I sure don't havemuch to look forward to. And so, when I read this book, it was likeopening a door in my mind that no Stephen King gore-enshrouded book that I've ever read has opened. The book is fast, fun, and easy to understand. Harry Potter seems to be this teenage boy that is almost like a symbol for bravery - and perhaps even immortality, for he never seems to die. He may be thrown from a mountain, thrown into shark-infested water, thrown amid a horde of savage beasts and yet come out unharmed. Harry Potter seems to be all that I myself would like to be. That's perhaps what makes me like him. As for the book, the never-ending adventure makes me like it. I have read it, have read the sequel, and plan on reading the third and upcoming fourth book. This Harry Potter kid is really taking the world by storm. He's good-looking, heroic, brave, and somewhat shy yet charming. He's also perhaps the most famous kid in this nation today . . . and he's not even real. END
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Summary: Every child's fantasy
Review: Though I am a long way from being a child, I borrowed Harry Potter from my friend's kid to find out what all the hype was about, and was thoroughly enchanted. While I found the close-calls a bit repetitive and tiring, I think the ingenuity of the entire concept more than makes up for it. Harry Potter and his friends live the stuff of every child's fantasy. Rowling's use of description of phenomenal. The thought of dual worlds, magic, sorcerer's spells and the like is enchanting to adults with a bit of youth's spark left in them as well. I'm eager to read the rest of the series!
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Summary: Why three stars?
Review: Though I am an avid book reader and Harry Potter fan I didn't think this book was that good. Let me explain,I think that when Rowling wrote this her writing style was just evolving. As the series continues her style gets stronger and stronger and you are pulled in to Harry's world.
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Summary: Harry Casts A Spell
Review: Though I am not the target age for this book, I still loved it. Harry Potter is definitely not your ordinary children's book. What Romwling writes astonishes me because it is so original. Never in my life have I ever read such beatifully strung together words! This is definitely worthy of all the hype surrounding the series.
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Summary: The Classical Fantasy - With a Slight Modern Twist
Review: Though initially insulted by the teacher's choice of a "children's" book as an 11th grade literature assignment, J. K. Rowling's ingeniously imaginative world quickly convinces otherwise. From the first chapter to the final page, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone spurs an almost childlike delight and fascination within the reader's mind. Harry Potter too, despite previous apprehensions, turns out to be a delightful character. Orphaned at an early age by the murdering, black magician known as Voldemort, Harry is reluctantly raised by his non-magical relatives who take obvious pleasure from tormenting him incessantly. Hiding his magical past, the Durseley's manage to criticize, nag, and be just generally mean to him. While, seemingly trapped in this hateful relationship forever, Harry surprisingly receives a letter from Hogwart's, a prestigious school for wizards. Reluctantly coerced into sending him off, the Durseley's finally agree to let Harry leave and suddenly his future brightens at the dawning of this new wizardly career. As the Hogwart's school year progresses, Harry quickly develops new friends, makes a few enemies, and discovers some hidden talents. At the same time, though thoroughly immersed in magic, Harry still manages to caricature the typical boy as he stumbles over tricky wizardly words and clumsily brews potions and poultices. Meanwhile, each time Harry finally succeeds, the prior hard work and dedication teach a poignant moral lesson. Those lessons, sprinkled throughout the novel, combine with Ms. Rowling's rich subplots and thoughtful character development to turn her text into reality (or at least the next best thing). Her writing seems to, "Foll[ow] in the footsteps of the great," according to "Matchgirl" in her review from St. Augustine, Fl, and indeed the author's script, though imaginative, owes much of it's success to the classical formula created by the likes of Asimov, Tolkkien, and Lewis. A variation on the timeless tale of Good vs. Evil, Ms. Rowling's plot cast both the hero(Harry) and villain (Voldemort) in their typically "crystal clear" roles. However, unlike the amazingly successful Star Wars type universe, (where the villain's henchmen remain identifiable throughout the story) her book contains a shocking character role twist reminiscent of the suspense and surprise tactic of early mystery writers like Edgar Allen Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle. That combination of styles provides a great read; satisfying the readers sense of the genre even while surrounded them with a cast of twelve year olds. The usage of twelve year old characters and their England home setting within her novel adds another clever dimension to Ms. Rowling's writing: that of language. Regardless of age one can't help but chuckle at the invention of a term like quidditch (a sport resembling a mixture of basketball, soccer, and dodge-ball combined,) or Muggles (non-magical people). Furthermore, the clever insertion of colloquialisms like knickerbockers not only highlight the author's English background but often create levity or lighten the otherwise serious mood in some areas of the plot. Through careful manipulation of other author's successful models and the addition of her own unique touch (such as language, characterization, and vocabulary) Ms. Rowling creates a plot whose immense popularity alone testifies to its effectiveness. Eagerly awaiting the publication of her next book I join the millions of other readers who "dare to dream dreams no mortal ever dared to dream." ...for perhaps I too, like Harry, might one day fly off into that night sky... but until then, I read. Steven Palmer, Age 15, created at request of English teacher (Mrs. Bray), 12-12-2000, Beaumont, Texas
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Summary: A Great Book
Review: Though the beginning is rather hard to getn into as the as the story umnfolds it becomes a unique and wonderful book. The Author is a genius. I am reading this for a mother\daughter book club and I absolutely love the end. I thing the activies will be quite interesting (we are playing quiditch) and the discussion great.
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Summary: Setting in Rowling's Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
Review: Throughout Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling the setting plays an extremely important part in the novel. The images brought to life by the many colorful adjectives used throughout the book paint an immense picture in the reader's mind of what Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is really like. The proper twentieth century time period portrays a sense of stability and monotony that is shattered by the strange letters that Harry receives acknowledging him of his acceptance to Hogwarts. Also, Harry's malicious "muggle" family and their run-down house provide for a colossal change of scenery when Harry enters the beautiful campus of Hogwarts. This symbolizes the immeasurable change that Harry is about to experience when he meets people who actually love him and are not ashamed of him. The exotic surroundings and creatures of Hogwarts exemplify the bizarre lifestyles that all of the teacher's posses. The mysterious moat that surrounds the castle of a school that inside contains moving staircases, secret passages and endless adventure is shown exuberantly by Rowling's wonderful use of a descriptive setting. Every piece of the parallel world of Hogwarts is fully explored by Rowling. The bizarre types of candy that are eaten on the train to Hogwarts by Ron Weasley and Harry reveal the strange adventure that they are about to embark upon. From dragons to Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans this novel is exquisitely written where the setting of the story augments and parallels the changes of the characters personalities throughout the novel.
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