Mackenzie
Written on Sep 2, 2016
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry and anyone who reads about him will find unforgettable.
For it's here that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.
- ISBN10 0590353403
- ISBN13 9780590353403
- Publish Date 1 September 1998 (first published 26 June 1997)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Scholastic US
- Edition American ed
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 309
- Language English
Reviews
inlibrisveritas
Written on May 24, 2016
It's rare that you find books that you can return to years after your first read and still find yourself in love with them. I remember having this read to me when I was 9 in 4th grade by my teacher and adoring it. I'd sit in the front of our group on the floor and be completely pulled in. Now as I sit here after reading it again at the age of 21 I still feel that same enthusiasm I did back then.
I still feel all the same emotions and had the same reactions, but I think it's been intensified. Knowing the whole story I can look at that first book and see things I didn't the first time. I certainly appreciate my favorite characters more.
There isn't much else I can say about how much I love these books. They've been with me for so long that I can't imagine a world without them.
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By this point everyone knows I love Harry Potter, so this review is less about the actual story (which is awesome) and more about the experience of the new Illustrated edition.
I first encountered Harry Potter at the age of 8, in fourth grade. A full year after it had first released, so after my teacher finished reading the first one to us in class I pressured my dad into buying both the first one and second one for me. It’s been 17 years (with the US release date, not UK) since that wonderful year, and this story has aged beautifully. Instead of growing tired of the same story, I only love it more with each reading and I love finding new ways to enjoy it like buying foreign editions or reading them with friends. So of course I used my birthday money to buy this (in July) and then proceeded to freak out until it finally released in October. It was so worth the wait!
I barely got a chapter in before I realized that THIS is the way Harry Potter should be read. Not only did the larger book format make the story easier to gobble up, the pictures only fueled my need and desire to keep flipping the pages because I so desperately wanted to know what the next one would look like. The illustrations themselves are gorgeous and I think that Kay really knocked it out of the park with his interpretations and art style. I spent a ton of time simply staring at each one looking for all the small details that he skillfully added in and even letting others look at them to see if they spotted anything I didn’t. The one image I had issue with, and yes there was only one, was the image that of Snape. I just didn’t get the potions room…it looked less like a dark, dank, apothecary and more like a chamber of horrors. I think my favorite character portrayals are Hagrid, Hermione, Dumbledore, and McGonagall.
To top it off, they have plans to release the entire series like this and I really hope with everything I have that they do. It’s so amazing to have something new to look forward to again. This Harry Potter nerd is completely in love and utterly satisfied.
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May 24th, 2016
Emma (SCR)
Written on May 17, 2016
Earlier this year I managed to find a paperback copy of this book in a local vintage shop and I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to read this story again.
When I first read Harry Potter I was in my teens and I was instantly hooked, and this time it was exactly the same. I felt like I had been propelled back to my younger years.
I enjoyed every page and was wishing I had a copy of the Chamber of Secrets as soon as I finished the last page.
These books really are timeless and I know when I have children that I will eagerly waiting for the day that I can read them Harry Potter.
boghunden
Written on Sep 9, 2015
cornerfolds
Written on Jul 15, 2015
There is something magical about Harry Potter that I really can't understand. I never got to read it as a child for... reasons. But I did FINALLY get to watch the movies starting in late 2006. Then, in 2011, something amazing happened... I read the series for the first time and fell in love. I've never quite understood re-reads though and I never thought I'd give Harry another glance other than having as many gorgeous editions as possible lining my shelves. But then something worked itself loose in my noggin and I changed my mind. Thus began the great Harry Potter re-read of 2015.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is magic. I know that's pretty cheesy to say about a book that's literally about magic, but I don't know any other way to describe it. As I was reading this book I thought to myself (on several occasions), "How did J.K. Rowling think this stuff up?!" And reading it for the second time is even better because you can see how intertwined everything really is all the way through book seven.
I cannot think of one thing to complain about in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and you can rest assured it isn't nostalgia talking. This is just good storytelling, plain and simple. The characters are sympathetic (even Hermione later on, although she starts as a nightmare), the world building is spectacular, and I was totally sucked back into the world of Harry Potter from page one. And can we take a second to appreciate these awesome new UK covers? The artwork is absolutely gorgeous!
Knowing now how amazing these books are makes me really sad that I never got to experience them from a child's perspective. Despite that, I am so glad I DID get to read them as an adult and I have finally discovered what everyone loves so much about re-reads! I can't wait to pick up book two!
thepunktheory
Written on Jul 10, 2015
I have no idea why it took me so long to read the books, but once I got started, I fell in love instantly. The Philosopher's Stone is written magnificently. It's a lovely read full of amiable (and also odious) characters. J. K. Rowling filled her novel with many smart ideas and created an entire world that appears so real you almost start to wonder why you never got a letter from Hogwarts. She weaves an intriguing tale that will fascinate you. It's composed so cleverly, you will be surprised ever other chapter.
Having such an amazing book at hand, it's difficult to create movie that lives up to it. But Chris Columbus managed to direct a lovely little film that is almost as charming as the book. Especially the casting was done perfectly. I couldn't imagine anyone being a better fit for the roles of Ron, Hermione or Harry. Seeing all of J. K. Rowling's ideas brought to life is simply fascinating.
Although the movie was very well made, the book was even better. I really love Hagrid in the novel version. Favourite character ever!
Dumbledore, however, doesn't feel 100 % right. The feeling he gave me while reading the books isn't captured in the film.
Nevertheless, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a great adaptation of an outstanding book.
But believe me, everyone should have read Harry Potter at least once in their life. I consider it to be a book even those who usually don't like to read will love. You don't know what you are missing!
Joséphine
Written on Apr 7, 2015
Book rating: 4 stars
Initial thoughts: Somehow Stephen Fry's narration didn't quite charm me as much as the book itself. I think to some degree the accent bothered me a little. I'd say it's authentic British and all, which fits with the setting but my head hurt every time Fry swallowed the "h" in "forehead". I also didn't like the voice he spoke for Hagrid. Those "r"s he spoke on behalf of Hagrid drove me mad.
In any case, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone didn't fail to entertain, of course. The beginning before Harry Potter entered Hogwarts was just too funny. A cat reading a map and street signs, a stranger hugging Mr Dursley on the streets, owls crowding the skies of London during the day, and so on. So many strange things happened, which still are funny with every re-read.
bumblingbookworm
Written on Jan 29, 2015
WHEN I First Read
I received this book for Christmas from my mum and dad in the year 2000. Honestly, I thought it was a bit of a dud gift and wasn't all that keen to read it... I has it in my head that I wouldn't like the books, for some bizarre reason! Shows what I know...
Anyways, I thought I'd give it a crack and I read it not long after that fateful Christmas. This kicked off my love affair with JK Rowling's brilliant writing, and I've re-read it countless times since. The rest, as they say, is history!
Check out the rest of my review here!
adastra
Written on Dec 31, 2014
Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews
Written on Nov 6, 2014
Harry Potter, the boy who lived has no idea that he is special or famous, how could he with a cousin like Dudley Dursey? So when Harry gets his letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a whole new world opens up for him filled with adventure.
It is hard not to fall in love with Harry Potter and his slew of run-ins with danger, not to mention defeating Voldemort the most powerful Wizard not once but twice. Although, even though the stories are enchanting, they have a kind of nostalgia to them as this was one series I read over and over again (and obviously still do). Recently, my mom told me that when she would read the novels to my brother and I it took everything in her power not to continue on after we had fallen asleep. I think it really says something about a book (or books) if they can be read and enjoyed by multiple generations. Classic.