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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
by J.K. Rowling

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VC8RPZA2L._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1077326.J_K_Rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16194593?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 4 of 5 stars The phenomenal success of Harry Potter makes it almost superfluous to review the books. Nothing a detractor could say will deter fans. Nothing a fan could say will make the books any more enjoyable. However, I would like to try to comment on this first book, simply to try and understand the appeal. 
 
 As everyone who has not been living on a deserted island or in a deep pit already knows, Harry Potter is the story of a boy who learns that he is a wizard. Recently, the final book of the series came out and the epic battle between the good wizards and the hellish Death Eaters has drawn to a close. However, this first book shows few signs of the saga to come. It opens with a Roald Dahl-esque story about a unique child in an exaggeratedly bad –yet humorous– situation (not unlike Matilda). As the story progresses it becomes more whimsical, but retains the dark humor and colorful (sometimes even grotesque) characters that testify to the Dahlian influence. Even by the end, when Harry faces off (for the first time) with the evil Dark Lord, the story is no darker than the climax of The Witches. There is no hint in this work of the dangers to come. 
 
 But, everyone knows the plot of Harry Potter. Or else, they really should. Anyone who wants to be up to date in the world of literature and modern culture must read the most popular book series of all time. Not everyone will enjoy it, but it must be read. The real question is, are the books of any merit?
 
 There are really two dominant groups when it comes to a book as popular as HP: the detractors who give it but one star, and the fans who heap on as many as allowed. The detractors, however, are also made of two groups: those who honestly do not like the books, and those who are jealous and biased against them (one reviewer was obviously against fantasy). The latter, who believe that reading one of the books enables them to judge the scope of the series, who brush aside the fans with cheep name-calling, are not to be taken seriously. After all, with a series so universally loved, there must be some element of universality that should be honestly examined. Are all of the millions of fans idiots? Or is there an element to the story that touches on a universal aspect of mankind? I would argue that it is the latter, as to stereotype a huge number of people is not only difficult but probably impossible and smells of elitism. 
 
 The universality of the story, in my opinion, lies within J.K. Rowling’s characters. One could go on and on about certain weaknesses in her prose (though I notice many of these detractors tend to dislike children’s books in general and cannot come to grasp the idea that the writing in a book for children should be less dense than the writing of Dante). One could complain about various discrepancies. But, one cannot condemn her characters. And it is in these characters that her genius lies. Any one of them could be someone you know. I found myself so often looking at this or that character and thinking, “Why he/she is just like so-and-so!” What is more, Rowling’s insights into the hearts of children are penetrating. Who cannot recall the feelings that she gives her characters? And each one perfectly fits the situations given in the book. 
 
 The characters are not the sole strength of the books, either. A list of her strengths would be as follows:
 
 1. A world that is believable and transcends the story. The wizarding world and culture is not only interesting to imagine, colorful, and enjoyable to escape into, but it has a life outside of the realm of the book. Many fantasy writers do not seem to know their worlds, and the readers are left lost and unsure of the culture they are supposed to immerse themselves in. The wizarding world is well-developed and structured, and as fully realized as Middle Earth. 
 2. Rowling’s use of mythology is charming. She brings to life both classic creatures (giants, centaurs, unicorns) as well as less familiar ones (hippogriffs, boggarts). She also puts her own twist on otherwise familiar characters, and manages to conform each of the creatures to her own mythology. Say what you may about the books, this takes some skill.
 3. The witty wordplay in the books found me smiling. 
 4. The books are filled with plot-points. Hardly an event happens that does not either move the plot forwards or reveal new layers of character. Again, this is difficult to do and takes some skill and literary vision.
 5. Rowling works into the stories universal themes that have moved civilizations since antiquity: good vs. evil; the weak outshining the strong; the value of courage, love and friendship; self sacrifice. Naturally, such universal themes would help account for the books’ universality. And Rowling’s take on the themes is both as fresh as it is timeless. (Take Harry’s final battle, for example.)
 6. Lastly, Rowling manages to reach into the depths of her readers’ hearts and bring us back to our childhood fantasies. How many of us did not imagine ourselves on great adventures in mythical worlds? The stories bring to mind nothing so much as the stories of my early childhood. The magical feel is both familiar and exhilarating, sending the readers on a journey as nostalgic as it is adventuresome. 
 
 Frankly, I believe that to write off these books is foolish. One may find fault with them, but certainly something with such universal appeal is worth more than one star. And I believe that in the years to come, these books will find their place alongside Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and the collected works of Roald Dahl. 
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/772594?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Chloe's review
rating:
recommended for: Fantasy-lovers and those who can still remember their childhoods.

** spoiler alert ** The phenomenal success of Harry Potter makes it almost superfluous to review the books. Nothing a detractor could say will deter fans. Nothing a fan could say will make the books any more enjoyable. However, I would like to try to comment on this first book, simply to try and understand the appeal.

As everyone who has not been living on a deserted island or in a deep pit already knows, Harry Potter is the story of a boy who learns that he is a wizard. Recently, the final book of the series came out and the epic battle between the good wizards and the hellish Death Eaters has drawn to a close. However, this first book shows few signs of the saga to come. It opens with a Roald Dahl-esque story about a unique child in an exaggeratedly bad –yet humorous– situation (not unlike Matilda). As the story progresses it becomes more whimsical, but retains the dark humor and colorful (sometimes even grotesque) characters that testify to the Dahlian influence. Even by the end, when Harry fac...more The phenomenal success of Harry Potter makes it almost superfluous to review the books. Nothing a detractor could say will deter fans. Nothing a fan could say will make the books any more enjoyable. However, I would like to try to comment on this first book, simply to try and understand the appeal.

As everyone who has not been living on a deserted island or in a deep pit already knows, Harry Potter is the story of a boy who learns that he is a wizard. Recently, the final book of the series came out and the epic battle between the good wizards and the hellish Death Eaters has drawn to a close. However, this first book shows few signs of the saga to come. It opens with a Roald Dahl-esque story about a unique child in an exaggeratedly bad –yet humorous– situation (not unlike Matilda). As the story progresses it becomes more whimsical, but retains the dark humor and colorful (sometimes even grotesque) characters that testify to the Dahlian influence. Even by the end, when Harry faces off (for the first time) with the evil Dark Lord, the story is no darker than the climax of The Witches. There is no hint in this work of the dangers to come.

But, everyone knows the plot of Harry Potter. Or else, they really should. Anyone who wants to be up to date in the world of literature and modern culture must read the most popular book series of all time. Not everyone will enjoy it, but it must be read. The real question is, are the books of any merit?

There are really two dominant groups when it comes to a book as popular as HP: the detractors who give it but one star, and the fans who heap on as many as allowed. The detractors, however, are also made of two groups: those who honestly do not like the books, and those who are jealous and biased against them (one reviewer was obviously against fantasy). The latter, who believe that reading one of the books enables them to judge the scope of the series, who brush aside the fans with cheep name-calling, are not to be taken seriously. After all, with a series so universally loved, there must be some element of universality that should be honestly examined. Are all of the millions of fans idiots? Or is there an element to the story that touches on a universal aspect of mankind? I would argue that it is the latter, as to stereotype a huge number of people is not only difficult but probably impossible and smells of elitism.

The universality of the story, in my opinion, lies within J.K. Rowling’s characters. One could go on and on about certain weaknesses in her prose (though I notice many of these detractors tend to dislike children’s books in general and cannot come to grasp the idea that the writing in a book for children should be less dense than the writing of Dante). One could complain about various discrepancies. But, one cannot condemn her characters. And it is in these characters that her genius lies. Any one of them could be someone you know. I found myself so often looking at this or that character and thinking, “Why he/she is just like so-and-so!” What is more, Rowling’s insights into the hearts of children are penetrating. Who cannot recall the feelings that she gives her characters? And each one perfectly fits the situations given in the book.

The characters are not the sole strength of the books, either. A list of her strengths would be as follows:

1. A world that is believable and transcends the story. The wizarding world and culture is not only interesting to imagine, colorful, and enjoyable to escape into, but it has a life outside of the realm of the book. Many fantasy writers do not seem to know their worlds, and the readers are left lost and unsure of the culture they are supposed to immerse themselves in. The wizarding world is well-developed and structured, and as fully realized as Middle Earth.
2. Rowling’s use of mythology is charming. She brings to life both classic creatures (giants, centaurs, unicorns) as well as less familiar ones (hippogriffs, boggarts). She also puts her own twist on otherwise familiar characters, and manages to conform each of the creatures to her own mythology. Say what you may about the books, this takes some skill.
3. The witty wordplay in the books found me smiling.
4. The books are filled with plot-points. Hardly an event happens that does not either move the plot forwards or reveal new layers of character. Again, this is difficult to do and takes some skill and literary vision.
5. Rowling works into the stories universal themes that have moved civilizations since antiquity: good vs. evil; the weak outshining the strong; the value of courage, love and friendship; self sacrifice. Naturally, such universal themes would help account for the books’ universality. And Rowling’s take on the themes is both as fresh as it is timeless. (Take Harry’s final battle, for example.)
6. Lastly, Rowling manages to reach into the depths of her readers’ hearts and bring us back to our childhood fantasies. How many of us did not imagine ourselves on great adventures in mythical worlds? The stories bring to mind nothing so much as the stories of my early childhood. The magical feel is both familiar and exhilarating, sending the readers on a journey as nostalgic as it is adventuresome.

Frankly, I believe that to write off these books is foolish. One may find fault with them, but certainly something with such universal appeal is worth more than one star. And I believe that in the years to come, these books will find their place alongside Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and the collected works of Roald Dahl.
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