Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
This topic is about
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Buddy Reads: Current & Upcoming
>
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
Mod
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 ..."
lol!
Oh I love that first train ride
Just started the audio. This will be my first name listening to the book rather than reading. I definitely agree that the first and second books were more Children's books than the later ones.
Chapter 1-3It has really struck me how funny and light, in comparison, the first volume of Harry Potter is compared to the last. I have heard that the darkness of the series as it progresses was related to the aging of Harry. I am not sure if that is so or not. But what a lovely middle grades read this first volume is. I love the cleverness of the narration...something in the novels for every level of reader from child to adult...those inside jokes.
Such rich, full characters! So easy to see why so many people have become so totally drawn into the Harry Potter world! I had a fun hour with Harry Potter today! It was a nice break from the real world!
(I just read through some earlier posts here and others have made similar comments.)
@Karen I never really end up liking Hermione that much either, not that I hate her or anything but it's more like she's just ...there. But that's kind of how I feel about Ron too so maybe there's something wrong with me lol
Mod
I’ve never liked Ron(gasp). I know. Sorry Ron fans.
I always found him whiney and annoying. My sister tells me that’s just typical for the age but I have trouble accepting him 😂
haha we are going to be attacked by all the Ron and Hermione fans if we don't keep it down ;) but yeah i guess Hermione was always a bit uptight for me and Ron was like ...completely the opposite, which I also find annoying, but Harry is kind of somewhere in the middle [and also delightfully snarky to boot] so he was always my favorite.
Mod
Yes Harry was always easy to love. There are actually so many great characters that I can forgive a few annoying ones 😂
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "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..."Yes... soo pretty!! BUY THEM ALL! :P
Mod
[spoilers removed]"
Oh good point. I think you are right. Nice pick up!
Laura wrote: "Chapters 6-8Hogwarts is awesome! I loved the sorting hat ceremony!
I can see that Harry and Ron are going to have several run ins with Malfroy and his buddies.
Hermione just seems kinda annoying..."
Haven’t started my reread but enjoying looking at your spoilers knowing this is your first read. ;)
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Ch. 9-15[spoilers removed]"
Oh good point. I think you are right. Nice pick up!"
Agreed! Never thought of that. Dang! Now I’ve got to reread as well...
Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "@DevannI’ve never liked Ron(gasp). I know. Sorry Ron fans.
I always found him whiney and annoying. My sister tells me that’s just typical for the age but I have trouble accepting him 😂"
See that’s funny. I always kinda hated that they made Ron out to be so whiny in the movies, as I hadn’t felt like he was in the books where my memory had him being a bit more brave.
Cheryl wrote: "Chapter 1-3It has really struck me how funny and light, in comparison, the first volume of Harry Potter is compared to the last. I have heard that the darkness of the series as it progresses was ..."
So glad to hear that you're enjoying the book! It makes my heart so happy when people enjoy HP for the first time <333
Just finished the first book and just love it all over again. I'm just going to jump right into the second book. I'm so anxious to get to the later books!
Mod
lol
I'll be interested in what you think on the re-read then :)
Mod
For me, one of my favourite scenes has been the first chapter because as (I think Imke said) it does feel so comfortable. I especially like the entrance of Dumbledore :)
Mod
I haven't watched the movies so I didn't feel like Ron was whiny in the first book at all in fact he was rather brave accompanying Harry on their adventures and strategically trying to wi..."
I actually can't remember where I found him annoying, but tbh I think it was in the later books. It's not that I dislike Hermoine, it is just that the feminist in me would have liked another female character that wasn't the bookish/know-it-all type teehee
And I agree with you about the timing. When I first read these my sister gave them to me and I was a bit confused as to why she was giving me a childrens book. I remember thinking that it was fine and all that but nothing out of this world. And she encouraged me to keep going. I think book 4 was out by then. And then I was hooked. I do also think this was the first series of it's kind for a while where the characters grow with the series and you can grow with them. That whole idea of little easter-eggs in the books was discussed quite a bit at the time and there was just so much happening in fan forums about what may or may not be. Good times.
So the good stuff comes in book 4? There was lots to like; the quidditch matches, the sorting hat, the adventures at nighttime but I think a younger version of me would have loved them and been all over Harry Potter mania.
Ahh enjoying together with your son; priceless! Seeing Harry Potter through his eyes would definitely be a cool experience. Enjoy Karen! Hehe, maybe you convinced me to keep going.
Mod
Book 1 and 2 are setting up the world, and like you said, all those magical elements are really cool.
Book 4 is when it starts to turn a little dark and then we move into much more YA territory. You should definitely continue!
Mod
Finished! Such a treat to re-read it. I especially love how the three work together at the end. It's making me sad that my kids are grown! Maybe someday I will have grandkids to read to and let them experience the magic with me. My son especially was captivated from the very beginning.
Samantha wrote: "Ch. 9-15[spoilers removed]"
My mind is blown, that is such a good point!
Mod
spoiler"
Oh yes!! I absolutely love both those scenes as well - (view spoiler)
Mod
Book 1 and 2 are setting up the world, and like you said, all those ..."
Agreed on this. Book 3 is one of my favourites because of Sirius. And there is a little less whining all around.
Mod
I’ve never liked Ron(gasp). I know. Sorry Ron fans.
I always found him whiney and annoying. My sister tells me that’s just typical for the age but I have trouble accepting him 😂"
Haha, yeah, he is. But (fans don't hate me) Harry is such a whiny git sometimes as well, especially when he doesn't get his way. This becomes clearer in later books and I noticed it when I read the series the second time and I got soooo annoyed with him.
I assume a lot of this has to do with the fact that Ron was always overshadowed by his many older brothers who were all pretty awesome in their own right (I adore the twins) so whatever he did was never really anything new and it made him into a bit of brat at times. For Harry, used to being treated like shit, he suddenly can do whatever he wants, can buy whatever he wants and is adored a lot of the time because he's famous, is a great seeker, etc etc, and then suddenly things don't go his way anymore and that just rubs him the wrong way - at Hogwarts anyway.
Mod
There was lots to like; the quidditch matches, the sorting hat, the adventures at nighttime but I think a younger version of me would have loved them and been a..."
If you liked the Quidditch matches, then you have to read at least until book 4 because the beginning of book 4 is simply awesome :-D You'll see why hehe.
@Laura I'm Slytherin and I love Harry but don't really like Ron or Hermione so ...idk if that 'proves' anything but just for the record lol@Eldarwen Harry can get whiny as well but also a lot of the times when most fans say he is like ...unnecessarily whiny I guess [mostly in books 5 and 6] I think he is completely justified in that so I guess it just all depends on how you look at it. Also I don't necessarily think Ron is whiny ...more just like ...idk he's like the comic relief sidekick but not in a good way? I don't know how to explain it lol
random addition but my favorite books are 3&5 then 2&6 then 1&4. I'm not really solidified on where book 7 fits in my layout because I've only read it once or twice.
Laura wrote: "Chapters 2-5For me those are also favorite scenes, that is why I always start with the first book when reread the series eventhough for me the story really starts with book 3. The first two are nice introductions.
Chapter 6:They are on the train. Harry and Ron get their first impressions of Hermonie and Neville. I was surprised that Hermonie was described as having overly large teeth.
I saw the movie before reading the books so I've always seen Emma Watson as Hermonie. This description of her in the book took me aback. I don't think I noticed that the first time I read it.
Eldarwen wrote: "Laura wrote: "Chapters 2-5spoiler"
Oh yes!! I absolutely love both those scenes as well - [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)
Teehee, alright you all convinced me to keep going!
Chapters 13-endAnd finished, the first two books are always pretty fast. It was nice to listen to the Dutch audio. The Narrator is not as good as Stephen Fry, but I do like his voice. I will continue with the Dutch narration.
I'll be joining in the buddy read. I want to read from my Ravenclaw anniversary edition. I haven't read from it yet :) Anybody else who has bought one of those editions? Which house did you get ?
Team Hermione Granger !
✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I'll be joining in the buddy read. I want to read from my Ravenclaw anniversary edition. I haven't read from it yet :) Anybody else who has bought one of those editions? Which house did you get ?
..."
Claire!!! Hi!
I haven’t even seen them! But I keep hearing about them, so I might need a trip to the bookstore just to check them out. My youngest wants the Hufflepuff edition. ;)
✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I'll be joining in the buddy read. I want to read from my Ravenclaw anniversary edition. I haven't read from it yet :) Anybody else who has bought one of those editions? Which house did you get ?
..."
I picked up the Ravenclaw hardcover edition.
✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I'll be joining in the buddy read. I want to read from my Ravenclaw anniversary edition. I haven't read from it yet :) Anybody else who has bought one of those editions? Which house did you get ?
..."
I usually don't read actual books and usually read on my kindle. But I am looking into getting the Ravenclaw boxed set.
so can we talk about wizard money for a second lol when they went to diagon alley and were buying stuff it got me thinking about what this person had said and it's an interesting point but only if galleons and sickles are the same size. like if a sickle was 1oz and a galleon was 1/3oz then the ratio would be pretty accurate actually. but it still doesn't necessarily make sense in terms of how much things actually cost in the wizard world. i guess we have to put it in terms of 1997 vs now. in 1997 1oz of silver was worth about $6 and now it's worth about $16. So that more or less makes sense, I can't remember exact prices from the book but if you think of a sickle in 1997 as like a $6 coin then okay. But the galleons! Again, it's got to be about 1/3oz [slightly larger than a quarter] to make it work and today that would be worth about $433 but in 1997 it was about $95.
But still, i feel like they routinely spend galleons throughout the series and I'm like are you just running around spending hundreds of dollars all the time? Is stuff more expensive in the wizarding world? like for instance could a wizard order a custom set of robes from a muggle and actually pay less for them?
idk, i guess to really answer you'd have to find the prices of everything in the books and also compare to how much stuff cost 20 years ago because hello inflation, but it's always been something i've thought about. also if sickles really are 1oz [which there is no proof they are but kind of makes sense] then carrying a ton of those around would get HEAVY. do all wizards use some purse lightening spell we don't know about? also bronze is like basically worthless so ??? why bronze too ??? not even gonna get into that lol
at this point i feel like i've possibly put more thought into this than JKR even did so i'm gonna go read lol
@ Devon - interesting. I didn't think about the money much except the weird conversions.
Reading my Slytherin edition. I love these books so much, it is like visiting and old friend.
I read each of the books as they came out, but haven't touched them since. I am REALLY enjoying getting back into them. Right from the start, the quote that hit me was, "I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future - there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name."
One of the reasons I chose to pick up this series again was because a few of my students have been reading it and discussing it in class. I wanted to be able to lead them in a bit of discussion about their reading. How very true this quote actually is. I read these books as a college student and now 15 or more years later, my students are finding the same magic.
Finished with this book. I really enjoyed the narration and am really looking forward to them growing up as like many of you I found this one a 'younger' audience type read. I really do like Hermonie...if you think about it she's grown up being so 'unlike' most other children...muggle parents...really smart...I'm sure she's felt like an outsider most of her life. I'm certain we'll see the greatest change in her as the books go along.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (other topics)
More...
(view spoiler)[
Rowling does a great job of describing the magical world. I particulary like the scene with the owl dropping off the newpaper and looking for his payment from Hagrid's pockets as well as the wand choosing scene.
Hogwarts here we come!
(hide spoiler)]