Harry Potter 1 Discussion

Would you look at that! November already, which means anyone participating in the book club will have finished the first Harry Potter book by now!

Tone

I found it interesting how different the tone of this book is from the others — particularly the ones after book 4. This was much more lighthearted and almost goofy, with candy frogs and jelly beans. Not that it was entirely fluff, just that the overall feel of this book is much closer to a middle-grade book.

I like that the books mature as its readership would have matured.

Roald Dahl

I heard someone once say that Roald Dahl was probably an influence on J.K. Rowling, and I can see why they’d say that. Some of the larger-than-life cartoon-like situations from Dahl books (the student thrown out of a classroom window by her braids, for example) can be found in this book as well. The best example I can remember offhand was Uncle Vernon pulling great patches of his mustache out at one point.

For all that there may have been some influence, I don’t think it was more than just a nod. There’s far too much even in this book that sets it apart from Dahl’s work as a whole.

Surprises

I’d forgotten that Harry meets Malfoy in Diagon Alley, at the robe shop. Does anyone know if that happened in the movie as well?

I’d also forgotten that Hermione was actively disliked for the first half of the book. She didn’t become friends with them until she lied to protect them. The relationship is so strong later that the realization came as a pretty big shock to me.

Quibbles

I feel like the magic system is weak. You’ve got enchanted food and pictures and mirrors and a sorcerer’s stone, but there doesn’t seem to be much of a ruleset behind what is allowed and what isn’t.

Take the wand selection, for example. Harry’s a powerful wizard, right? And yet they went through SO many wands at Ollivander’s before they found the wand for Harry. Ollivander says the wand chooses the wizard, but I think I remember that the Weasleys pass wands down? Ron definitely tries to do magic with a broken wand in later books. Doesn’t he get a new one? Is it just that Ollivander is so particular that he would refuse to sell anything but a perfect match?

Loved

As cartoony as his character is, I do love Hagrid. He’s just such an open and loving character.

My favorite part in the book was definitely when Neville won the 10 points for his bravery in standing up to his friends at the end of the book. I remember that bit striking me as perfect the first time I read the book, and it hasn’t diminished for me yet.

Quiddich and Harry’s pure joy in flying on the broom? Still a huge favorite for me, and watching the matches in the movies only made them better.

Dumbledore

We can see signs of Dumbledore grooming Harry to be a warrior even as far back as this. Deliberately arming and training him by making sure he had the cloak and putting him in harm’s way.

Snape

Even knowing what I know about the end and Snape? I still think he’s a vile, horrid man. Can a good act redeem a bad life? I don’t know, and although I can sympathize with the things that led him down this road, I still feel like he’s not a GOOD person.

Power of a Name

Dumbledore tells Harry “Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”

In this book, that means using the name Voldemort instead of You-Know-Who. In later books, it means calling Voldemort by his real name. I think it’s interesting when something this small can mean so much in later books.

Your Turn

What struck you as you read the book? Anything you’d forgotten or particularly loved? Anything that bothered you or felt out of place?

Related posts:

Harry Potter Book Club
An Open Discussion on Reading
[Perry] Be Careful What You Leave Out