Rowling, J.K ; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone (Harry Potter #1) - Informal Buddy Read; Start date November 10, 2014 - REVISIT - July 5, 2017 - REVISIT - 12 May 2018 - REVISIT Sept 1, 2020

[Judy]

What better way to start Tower Teams than with a Harry Potter reread, right? I’m reading the illustrated edition this time, I got it for Christmas and I’m sooooo excited to finally see all the pretty pictures 😍 I always love reading the first few chapters because of all the hints we get!

Team Moaning Myrtle

[Sallie(GeorgiaGirl)]

I'm in Newt Scamander....love all things HP -

[Halli]

I’m reading the illustrated version too! Planning on getting started on it this morning.

[Kirsten]

I'm hoping to read my illustrated edition too... but I wonder if it is going to become too bulky to carry around (as I tend to not have just one "reading spot"). Also wondering if looking at all the images (while enjoyable) will slow me down reading even more than my usual slowness, which might not be best for a challenge... hmm...

[Judy]

Kirsten wrote: "I'm hoping to read my illustrated edition too... but I wonder if it is going to become too bulky to carry around (as I tend to not have just one "reading spot"). Also wondering if looking at all th..."

I worried about these things too, but it is so, so worth it!

[Dev]

[edit, my wording below might be confusing I guess? but this isn't the first time I've read this book, I've read most of them 10+ times so just wanted to state that so people know where I'm coming from]

so like i said, i accidentally finished the book last night lol. i mean it knew it was short but it only took 3 hours to read so i was like ...might as well. my roommate got home from work at 11:30 and i was like 'i accidentally reread the sorcerer's stone' 'what, the whole thing? right now?' 'yes' 'well only about 5 things happen in it so that sounds about right' kind of harsh but also kind of true, which leads me into my first question:

[this is just general so no real spoilers, i figured i would space my comments out over a few days and do the general ones first]

i'm interested to see the opinion of people who are reading for the first time and also people who have read this book like 10+ times, but do you feel like this book is kind of slow to start at the beginning? i mean i know she has to set all the groundwork and i'm not saying it's boring by any means but it DOES take them a third of the book to even get to hogwarts, which is so out of whack with the pacing in the rest of the books. then once they get there i feel like everything is moving in fast-motion and like i'm reading an abridged version of a story. it's still a good book but when you compare it to the intricacy of the later books it feels very simple. i know she kind of wrote them for an older audience as we all grew up with this series, but it's always so weird for me going back to the beginning and see how bare-bones everything is.

[Laura]

chapter 1
(view spoiler)[
First time reading Harry Potter, I'm wanting a little clarification; is a "muggle" just an ordinary person? Muggles were mentioned a lot in chapter 1.

Looking forward to learning more about the Harry Potter world (hide spoiler)]

[Elen]

Laura wrote: "chapter 1."

I am not rereading this book, bc I just read it, but I want to join the discussion.

(view spoiler)[Muggle is a person who was born in the non-magical family and doesn't have any magical powers aka ordinary person. In later books, you will learn other terms, for example, a term for people who are wizards but not born in magical family and etc. (hide spoiler)]

Devann, I have read the first book 10+ times. Sometimes when I read it, it seems to be slower, in the beginning, than in the end, but I am so into the story that I just pay attention to it. The first book is more like an introduction to HP series, who is he, how he ended up there, why and so one.

[Tammie]

Laura wrote: "chapter 1

First time reading Harry Potter, I'm wanting a little clarification; is a "muggle" just an ordinary person? Muggles were mentioned a lot in chapter 1.

Looking forward to learning more ..."

(view spoiler)[Yes...a muggle is basically a human...no wizardry. Now a wizard can be born from a muggle....I watched the movies so I know a few things...I'm reading this as well (via audio)...started yesterday and about 1/2 way through now (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

I'm about 1/2 way through the 1st book. I confess that I tried reading this book when my daughter finished it...close to around the time when the 1st movie came out. I didn't like it. I think it was because I was just getting started with reading at the time...and I just wasn't in to the genre. Since that time, I've read quite a lot more PNR and fantasy type books...I'm enjoying this. I really like the narrator...Dale...he's good...takes on the different characters personalities in his reading very well!

(view spoiler)[ I'm also surprised at how many differences there are so far from the movies. The Dirsley (I need to get a hard copy so I spell these names right) family is still totally wacko...but some of circumstances are different in the book...the way Harry comes to live with them as an example (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

Devann wrote: "so like i said, i accidentally finished the book last night lol. i mean it knew it was short but it only took 3 hours to read so i was like ...might as well. my roommate got home from work at 11:30..."

I didn't feel it was slow to start personally...but I only saw each movie once and, like you, I'm just reading for the first time. I tried reading before...I'm liking better this time...explanation in my post.

I was worried I would not like...but the audio version is very good...I'll continue this route for as long as the books are available at the library.

[Dev]

@Tammie, I haven't seen the movies in ages but I actually had the exact opposite thought as you because I was surprised how much was the same in this book and the movies, right down to a lot of the dialogue, like I was reading and I kept hearing the actor's voices in my head because they lifted a lot of the film dialogue directly from the book. I think the earlier movies are more 'accurate' adaptations because they were working from shorter books.

Also I'm not reading for the first time lol Sorry if I gave that impression, maybe I should go edit my post to make it clearer? But I've read this book like ...10 times at a conservative guess, probably more.

[Tammie]

Devann wrote: "@Tammie, I haven't seen the movies in ages but I actually had the exact opposite thought as you because I was surprised how much was the same in this book and the movies, right down to a lot of the..."

I know exactly what you mean...I do see those exact characters in my mind when I'm reading...not all bad when there are sooooo many characters.

I always prefer to read first...I think when you watch the movie first you feel like the book is 'wrong' or 'different'...you are right...when you read first, it's a feel of 'how similar' they are.

You get a bit more detail in the book...as in it's explicit what houses the professors are from...it wasn't like that to me with the movie...anyway...I didn't assume anything particular about the characters and what house they were from when I watch the movies.

[Rosina]

Morning

Jotting down a few comments for now.
I have seen a couple of the movies and have read none of the books. I have just finished reading about Daigon Alley.

@Devann - I don't think that the pace of the story is too slow, and perhaps that is because I don't know what is going to happen in the rest of the book. Once I finish the book my thought may change about the pacing.

Rowling does indeed need to set the stage and give some back story on the Dursleys. That Dudley is one rotten little boy. Its one thing to say that Dudley is a bully but it really sticks in your thoughts when she gives a few examples of what he and his gang have done. (view spoiler)[ Had a chuckle when Hagrid used magic on Dudley and gave him a pigs tail... (hide spoiler)]

I am really enjoying the descriptions when Hagrid takes Harry to Daigon Alley. (view spoiler)[ One thing I noticed was that on the list of supplies- the books were written by authors whose names were connected to the title of the book...example One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore... (hide spoiler)]

Rowlings attention to detail in this world is amazing and I wonder how long she took in designing this world. She must have lived these series of novels brewing in her head for many years.
I am envious of those of you who got to grow-up with HP. I don't think that in my childhood that there was any novel or series of novels that I could compare this to.

[Sassafrass]

Just finished chapter one. It so interesting to me how the characters are described in the book. I have the characters from the movie in my head so sometimes the description are a bit different.

Jim Dale's narration is spot on though.

[Jammin Jenny]

I agree with Tammie. I usually like to read the book first, then watch the movie It helps me create the characters more in my mind and create my own world in my imagination. Sometimes if I see the movie first, then read the book, it's harder to do that.

For HP, I've seen the movies so many times but this is my first re-read, and I am so far surprised about how many things I forgot were not in the movie (although I remember there being a lot). I am totally enjoying this re-read.

For those of you saying you're reading the illustrated version, where did you get that? I'm so jealous.

[Dev]

@Tammie yeah i saw all the movies after i read the books so i imagine it's quite a different experience, although i have done the 'watch the movies first' thing, most notably with lord of the rings

@Rosina good to know re: the pacing. honestly i think it only seems weirdly paced to me because i've read it so many times so i'm like picking it apart on every level lol

and she definitely spent a lot of time and effort planning out this world. you don't really notice it until your first reread i think but she very clearly had the entire plot planned out even from the time she published the first book because there are tons of parallels throughout the books [mostly notably they kind of fit into pairs: 1&7, 2&6, 3&5, and then 4 all alone in the middle lol]. but it's a really intricate series.

[Erika]

Cracking my Hufflepuff edition of HP today! Ohhh the Dursley’s

[Sassafrass]

@Devann I didn't realize what you were saying about the parallels in the books and how they fit into pairs. I only read the first two books so I'll have to pay attention to it as I move further along in the series this time.

[Judy]

@Devann I'm definitely in the 10+ times read category - my sister and I used to play the audiobooks of the first three books on repeat all the time.
I agree that the first one is much slower than the others, but it is very much a children's book more than any of the others and does lay the groundwork for the whole series - so I don't mind it at all! And I only notice that it takes nearly halfway through until they're at Hogwarts while I'm reading the book; when I think about the story later, it never feels that way to me.

[Dev]

yeah i think it's something you only really notice after several re-reads or maybe if you read all of them really close together, but JKR was definitely a woman with a plan

[Jammin Jenny]

Just finished the chapter where they get sorted and put into their different houses. That Hogwarts song is pretty bad, and I loved that the Weasley twins were doing it to a march song and were the last to finish. Those two..

[Michelle]

Devann wrote: "yeah i think it's something you only really notice after several re-reads or maybe if you read all of them really close together, but JKR was definitely a woman with a plan"

So true, Devann! It's really set the standard in my mind for excellence in world building. It's why it's so enduring and has launched so many things - Pottermore, the games, the theme parks. People want to live in this world. Amazing!

[Laura]

Tammie wrote: "Laura wrote: "chapter 1

First time reading Harry Potter, I'm wanting a little clarification; is a "muggle" just an ordinary person? Muggles were mentioned a lot in chapter 1.

Looking forward to ..."

Elen wrote: "Laura wrote: "chapter 1."

I am not rereading this book, bc I just read it, but I want to join the discussion.

[spoilers removed]

Devann, I have read the first book 10+ times. Sometimes when I r..."

Thank you Elen and Tammie for clarifying for me!

[Rosina]

can't remember the exact chapter but HP was the boy who would be known through out the world.
JK really knew what she was doing.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

Just finished my re-read and still think it is a phenomenal book. Going to start book 2 today.

[Dev]

i'm going to try to only read one of them every week but idk how long that will last as i'm already really wanting to crack open chamber of secrets. i guess if people start commenting over on the thread for book 2 i'll know it's time lol

[Diane ~Firefly~]

I guess I could wait a bit. I was wanting to do the Kate Daniels re-read as well, so I could keep switching back and forth.

[Michelle]

I will read Chamber but I need to finish up a couple of others I just started first.

I've always wanted to start Kate Daniels so I should pop over there and give her a go.

[Kirsten]

From Team Flitwick and just started my first re-read of this book. I read it first soon after the 4th book came out. & although I have seen the movie a few times I never re-read the book until now. (I'm only one chapter in so far. oh the scenes & details I had forgotten about!)

As tempted as I am to read my illustrated editions I am starting with this edition as it is far easier to carry about.

[Dev]

do a lot of you have different editions of the series, by which i mean do you own more than one copy of each book? i'm reading what I guess you would just call the original American hardbacks because those were all that there were basically back when they came out and for me personally there's no point buying another copy of a book I already own, but I'd be interested to see how many people have multiple copies

[Kirsten]

In general I don't purchase multiple copies of a book. But most of my books I get from thrift stores so I might pick up a book i am missing for a set even if it doesn't match with the rest of the series I have, then find the matching book later, pick it up, & then donate the first one I found.

For the Harry Potter books it's a bit different as I see those as a collection and enjoy the hunt of finding different editions (only at deep discounted prices/yard sales/etc.) and pick them up when I do, to add to my original Raincoast Books/Bloombury set from my childhood & the illustrated editions I've recently been getting for Christmas ever year. (oh & the Ravenclaw edition of the 20th anniversary book which I couldn't resist lol)

Of the first book these are the editions I currently own (I have the most of the 1st book - my only full set is my childhood originals):

[Michelle]

I have British and American hardcover versions, Jim Dale and Stephen Fry versions of the audiobooks, and the ePubs.

[Diane ~Firefly~]

I started with hardback versions because I couldn't wait, but replaced with paperback as soon as they were out as I hate reading hardback. So now I only have 1 copy of each in paperback.

[Erika]

I have mulitiple versions of favorite books. HP wise- i have full series in hardcover from back when they originally appeared in the us, an anniversary edition of HP&PS, and am working on collecting the illustrated editions

[Samantha]

Chapters 1 & 2

I don't have much to say at this point, but that I'm really excited to be back in these books! I totally forgot about Piers being Dudley's friend lol.

Although, this is the first time I've wondered this question: The wizards spent the whole day celebrating after finding out that Voldemort was gone. If Harry didn't go to the Dursley's right away, where was he for the very first day of life? Was he with Hagrid all day? I can't imagine they spent a whole day traveling. It makes me wonder how that first day went. I never thought about it before.

[Jammin Jenny]

That's a good question Samantha! Maybe Godric's Hollow is really far from Privet Drive, and Hagrid had a hard time getting him out among all the muggles.

[Rosina]

I have the first 4 in paperback and I also have them from Kindle Unlimited....i was very tempted to get the Kindle in Motion variations but decided not to for now....still think it would be neat to see videos and hear sounds as I'm reading....has anyone seen the Kindle in Motion

[Judy]

I've got multiple copies too - my German hardcover set (of which I've only ever read the 6th & 7th, all the rest I originally read from the library or my aunt), a full UK paperback set, the illustrated ones and the 20th anniversary Ravenclaw edition. And all the German audiobooks too, of course - they're absolutely amazing!

[Vicki]

I think I am odd man out because I don't own any HP books. I know, I know. So I need to still get my book from the library or MAYBE I'll but the entire set. Some books are simply more than a book and this I see as a collector's item/set.

[Eldarwen]

Samantha wrote: "Chapters 1 & 2

I don't have much to say at this point, but that I'm really excited to be back in these books! I totally forgot about Piers being Dudley's friend lol.

Although, this is the first ..."

Huh, that definitely is an interesting question. Never thought about it, but there is definitely a time gap somewhere in there because with a flying motorbike it definitely take that long to get from Godric's Hollow to the Dursley's. Maybe they just had to hole up somewhere for a while so no Deatheaters could get to him in case some were still around and dedicated to the cause?

[Imke]

Devann wrote: "do a lot of you have different editions of the series, by which i mean do you own more than one copy of each book? i'm reading what I guess you would just call the original American hardbacks becau..."

I have a lot of different editions, complete series: Paperback English, Paperback Dutch, Ebook English, Ebook Dutch, Audible audio narrated by Jim Dale. I have also listened to the complete series narrated by Stephen Fry via Storytel and I have the films on DVD. I have started my collection of the illustrated editions, but only the first three are out.

I have now started the Dutch audiobooks via Storytel
(Storytel is a audiobook service where you pay 10 euro a month and have unlimited acces to audio and ebooks both in English and Dutch)

[Eldarwen]

I own only one edition of the books and that's by far enough for me no matter how much I'm tempted by some of the newer editions because the covers are so pretty. Or, well, I wouldn't mind a Slytherin edition ;-)

I just finished my reread of the first book and I have to admit that by the time the end was nearing, I was starting to get bored by it. I'm not sure whether that is because I remember most of the story - the general drift anyway even if I've forgotten a lot of the smaller details. I usually don't reread books and this is actually the third time for HP#1.

I loved this first book when I first read the story but in the meantime... I'm not so sure I'm still so thrilled by it all. I'm not quite sure why exactly that is, in the first book anyway.

Also, I never realised how much of a scaredy-cat Hermione was in the first book. Almost cowardly, which doesn't fit into my overall image of her.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Vicki wrote: "I think I am odd man out because I don't own any HP books. I know, I know. So I need to still get my book from the library or MAYBE I'll but the entire set. Some books are simply more than a book a..."

And there are so many editions of these books you can buy which are just gorgeous!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Eldarwen wrote: "I own only one edition of the books and that's by far enough for me no matter how much I'm tempted by some of the newer editions because the covers are so pretty. Or, well, I wouldn't mind a Slythe..."

The first book is much more of a "children's" book. There is quite a leap once we get to book 3, I feel.
I like going back to book 1 because it is easy to forget how young and different all the characters were (like Hermoine) and how awful the Dursely's were to Harry!

[Imke]

Chapters 1-12

This is not my first read and probably not my last. It is the first time listening to the Dutch audio and I like the narration so far.
It is not the best one, I liked the Stephen Fry narration best.

From the first line in this book it is like stepping into a warm bath. It's difficult to say anything about what I have read so far, because I've read this series so often. This book is just a nice introduction to the magical world and to the characters of this book. This is also what I love about this series is that you grow with them.

[Dev]

@Eldarwen I really hate Hermione's characterization in the first book, and also just the fact that the only girl in the trio has to be the uptight rule following tattle tale one because just [yawn] but that's like a whole different rant [and of course she does grow into a more well rounded character later in the series].

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Devann wrote: "@Eldarwen I really hate Hermione's characterization in the first book, and also just the fact that the only girl in the trio has to be the uptight rule following tattle tale one because just [yawn]..."

so true.
I never really warm to her though. Probably my only criticism of JKR (but I still love you!)

[Melissa]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "I own only one edition of the books and that's by far enough for me no matter how much I'm tempted by some of the newer editions because the covers are so pretty. Or, well, I would..."

I agree the books definitely aged with the characters. You can tell her writing matures as the characters mature and become more complicated. Going back and re-reading them is going to be so much fun.

[Halli]

Harry is on the train for me!!

The thing that stuck out to me so much so far was the letter Dumbledore wrote to Harry & left with the Dursleys. I’m dying to know what that said and I hate that we don’t get to read it!