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

[Sarah]

Just started my nth reread. I think it's the 7th?

Anyhow, I'd still managed to forget the little bit about the Dursleys before Harry was left on their doorstep (opening paragraphs, so not spoilery!).

Looking forward to revisiting an old favourite. :)

@Kaley - That sounds very plausible about the population dip at Hogwarts.

[maria helena]

Jessica wrote: "My thoughts on the book:
[spoilers removed]"

I have so many favourite characters, and the twins are definitely high up on the list. The great cast of characters is probably one of the things that I loved the most about this series, and I especially love the character development throughout the books. With some series, the characters just stay exactly the same and it gets boring. I think this is a very honest and real representation of personal developments.

[Karen ♐]

Cheryl wrote: "Chapter 1-3

It 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 ..."

I've never read this series before although I did see the movie for this book. I'm delighted to get so much background into how all of this started. I don't really know what I expected other than I didn't think I'd enjoy it. How wrong I was. I'm thoroughly enjoying witnessing Harry and how he is surviving with his aunt and uncle. And Dudley, what do I say about him except he needs to be put in his place! I agree, Cheryl. This book is definitely light and funny! Can't wait to continue reading.

[Deanna]

April wrote: "So every time I read these books I hear/find something new.
I listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the 2nd time (Jim Dale is the best) and this is the first time I noticed..."

I'd never really paid attention to how few students were in each year. I guess that explains why Hagrid say Harry's name had been down since he was born.

[Deanna]

Devann wrote: "haha i'm starting to think that the reason there isn't really 'math' in the wizarding world is because JKR isn't very good at it ;) between the how many students thing and the weird conversion rate..."

Those conversion rates are bizarre. It would go nuts if I had to deal with such odd numbers.

[Dev]

i honestly don't see why his name would need to 'be down' in the first place. i mean ...they aren't exactly turning anyone away are they? even people with very weak magic like neville are accepted and also there are plenty of muggleborns so i don't think there's any kind of waiting list or entrance exam or anything. and i doubt it's really possible for them to be like 'over capacity' since they could just magic up more room if they needed it.

[Dev]

also i made a huge rant about the money conversion rates the other day but i don't think anyone wanted to think about it as much as i did lol #understandable

[Deanna]

Just finished chapters 6-10. I'm tempted to keep going, but I have a couple of other Buddy Reads to get to today as well.

I've always wondered why none of the first years seemed to know about the Sorting Hat. It's easy to see why Fred and George would tease Ron about it. Why didn't his parents tell him what to expect? I would certainly tell my kid what to expect if I was sending him off.

I noticed two differences from the movie in this section. (view spoiler)[In the book, Snape doesn't have any reason at all to start snapping questions at Harry. There's no note scribbling and comment about not paying attention. It makes Snape's behavior even odder in the book. I also just realized that one of my favorite lines from the first movie isn't in the book. (Professor McGonagall: "Five points each to Gryffindor... for sheer dumb luck!") (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

Harry just got his invisible cloak and is roaming the halls at Christmastime I love the wizard chess where the pieces are telling Harry what to do.

[Jammin Jenny]

I finished the book today. I love that Neville won some points for the house and was the last one mentioned so he got the glory of changing the house colors On to the next one in the series.

[Caroline]

Devann wrote: "also i made a huge rant about the money conversion rates the other day but i don't think anyone wanted to think about it as much as i did lol #understandable"

Omg! I always discarded this aspect of the book, I think she just put whatever she had in mind for price and never put i down to convert it in actual money! As I re-read the serie I'm going tu see this a different way

[Caroline]

Deanna wrote: "Just finished chapters 6-10. I'm tempted to keep going, but I have a couple of other Buddy Reads to get to today as well.

I've always wondered why none of the first years seemed to know about the ..."

I guess the sorting hat is a tradition and usually you don't want to get prepared for this. Because if you think hard enough about wanting to go into a specific house, the sorting hat will mostly assign you to this one !

[Emily]

I remember reading the first time and thinking that the description for Chapter 3 the letter was where I got hooked.

[Snowtulip]

Joanne wrote: "Just finished

Reading this book really is like coming home. I can't help but have a smile on my face.

Spoiler for book 5 or 6 (can't remember exactly)
[spoilers removed]"

I'm feeling just like you, I was so happy reading this last night. So comfy with the characters and a bit surprised at how many of the details I had forgotten that made me smile even more :D

[Snowtulip]

Karen ♐ wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Chapter 1-3

It 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 ..."

So glad you are reading and enjoying it! Always love to see when people are new to the books :D

[Snowtulip]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "I finished the book today. I love that Neville won some points for the house and was the last one mentioned so he got the glory of changing the house colors On to the next one in the series."

I adore Neville, and that feeling just grows for me in this series!

[Michelle]

Snowtulip wrote: "Jammin Jenny wrote: "I finished the book today. I love that Neville won some points for the house and was the last one mentioned so he got the glory of changing the house colors On to the next one ..."

Me too! I think he really grows into his own over the course of the series. He's one of my favorite characters.

[Nicole]

About to start this and so excited! Last time I read HP was in 2000. This will be fun :)

[Caroline]

Emily wrote: "I remember reading the first time and thinking that the description for Chapter 3 the letter was where I got hooked."

I agree with you ! When they introduce magic into the story is the best part !! For me, I got hooked when he went to Alexander's store. I don't remember if it's because of the book OR the movie though.. LOL

[Bee]

Can we start reading anytime, or is it too late to join the fun?

[Melissa]

Anytime - never too late to join HP :)

[Melissa]

I've forgotten just how important Neville is to the books. There are many things he is involved in that I forgot and it doesn't make sense until the end when the prophecy is explained. JKR is such a sneaky dickens.

[Paula]

i started this one on friday (the challenge started at 8pm friday
for me xD), but only had the chance to read the extra material about Ravenclaw's House in my edition, I'm reading the 20 anniversary Bloombury hardcover edition, and it's so beautiful !

Today I got into the story, I'm just on chapter one, but I'm getting really nostalgic, I started to remember how my mother forced me to read this book when I was 11 back in 2001, I didn't want to hahaha, and now I'm soooo in love with the series xD

I don't know if any you had noticed that they NEVER say the word (view spoiler)[ magic (hide spoiler)] until Hagrid tells Harry about it, I think that's very clever.

[Nicole]

Just finished chapter 1 and realized how the movies have influenced how I envision the characters 🙈 Professor Mcgonagall is supposed to have black hair but Maggie Smith didn't. Same goes for Petunia having blonde hair in the book but not the movie. Darnit.

[Nicole]

Paula wrote: "i started this one on friday, but only had the chance to read the extra material about Ravenclaw's House in my edition, I'm reading the 20 anniversary Bloombury hardcover edition, and it's so beaut..."

I never noticed that they never said that word! JKR is a genius. Every time I discover something new I'm blown away.

[Melissa]

That is very clever Paula - i never realized that until you said it.

@ Nicole - same for me. While reading the description of Petunia I realized she was not really similar to who played her in the movie looks wise. Character wise I think she was spot on.

[April]

Melissa wrote: "April wrote: "So every time I read these books I hear/find something new.
I listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the 2nd time (Jim Dale is the best) and this is the first ..."

5 in each house. Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, and Sheamus(sp) in Gryffindor
Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaize were boys for Slytherin

Blaize was the last student and Slytherin still didn't have all their boys, so Ron was very worried when he put on the Sorting Hat

[April]

Melissa wrote: "I've forgotten just how important Neville is to the books. There are many things he is involved in that I forgot and it doesn't make sense until the end when the prophecy is explained. JKR is such ..."

Yeah the movies really do Neville and Ginny the worst. I forgot that Neville fought with Ron against Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle during the match against Hufflepuff

[Melissa]

April wrote: "Melissa wrote: "April wrote: "So every time I read these books I hear/find something new.
I listened to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the 2nd time (Jim Dale is the best) and th..."

I understand now - thanks! I didn't realize that was how they did it. it makes much more sense how worried Ron was right before he went to the sorting hat. I never noticed that before.

[Kaley]

Nicole wrote: "Just finished chapter 1 and realized how the movies have influenced how I envision the characters 🙈 Professor Mcgonagall is supposed to have black hair but Maggie Smith didn't. Same goes for Petuni..."

I had remembered Petunia and Dudley were supposed to have blonde hair, but I completely forgot about Professor McGonagall's black hair. I then tried to adjust my mental image to Dame Maggie Smith with black hair and it didn't quite work.

[Melissa]

April wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I've forgotten just how important Neville is to the books. There are many things he is involved in that I forgot and it doesn't make sense until the end when the prophecy is explain..."

So did I. And he was there with Harry when he first found Fluffy.

[Nicole]

Melissa wrote: "That is very clever Paula - i never realized that until you said it.

@ Nicole - same for me. While reading the description of Petunia I realized she was not really similar to who played her in the..."

Yes. Fiona Shaw did a fantastic job portraying Petunia. The Dursley's were pretty spot on in the movie.

[Melissa]

I agree whenever I read the books I picture the movie Dursley's and except for the image of Petunia there isn't much to think of differently.

[Dev]

it's always weird to me how there seems to be exactly 5 boys and 5 girls in every year in every house. i mean i know it's just because it's actually a book and it works better to have it even that way but imagining if it were real and the hat was like 'oh slytherin is all full you'll have to go to hufflepuff' makes the entire sorting process even more illogical than it already is lol

[Melissa]

Devann wrote: "it's always weird to me how there seems to be exactly 5 boys and 5 girls in every year in every house. i mean i know it's just because it's actually a book and it works better to have it even that ..."

That's what I was thinking too. That's why I wasn't understanding it at first. I feel like oh so did Blaize really deserve Slytherin or was it because that was all that was left. Like you said it's a book so it all works out but it makes it more scratch your head like to be that way.

[Ashlee]

Just finishing, and oh how much I forgot about. I can't wait to continue the magical Hogwarts journey.
(view spoiler)[ I completely forget about the strategy and skill that Harry, Hermione, and Ron used to get to the Sorcerer's Stone. I also completely lost sight of Hogwarts receiving the extra points at the end of school year. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Devann wrote: "it's always weird to me how there seems to be exactly 5 boys and 5 girls in every year in every house. i mean i know it's just because it's actually a book and it works better to have it even that ..."

Devann, I had never really thought about this. Maybe the magical world has some kind of mystical balance, like the force, and it sends only the right amount of letters to balance the houses? Or each person has a little of every house in them, and the hat figures out the right mix?

Or I'm over thinking it and I need more coffee this morning!

[Dev]

haha honestly i think it's the second one and the hat just arbitrarily decides. i mean i know we all have the house that we think we would be in and i'm totally always going to put slytherin first but i could easily see myself in ravenclaw or hufflepuff as well so yeah i think everyone has all these traits inside them to an extent. i personally don't see myself in gryffindor at all but i'm sure it's buried down there somewhere lol

[Emily]

Caroline wrote: "Emily wrote: "I remember reading the first time and thinking that the description for Chapter 3 the letter was where I got hooked."

I agree with you ! When they introduce magic into the story is t..."
That is what I thought and your imagination can just visualize all of this.

[Emily]

Nicole wrote: "Paula wrote: "i started this one on friday, but only had the chance to read the extra material about Ravenclaw's House in my edition, I'm reading the 20 anniversary Bloombury hardcover edition, and..."

Me too

[Kirsten]

Melissa wrote: "Devann wrote: "it's always weird to me how there seems to be exactly 5 boys and 5 girls in every year in every house. i mean i know it's just because it's actually a book and it works better to hav..."

If that was the case, getting shafted with whatever was left, I'm glad I didn't get my Hogwarts letter, as I have almost always been the last in the alphabet in all my classes. :P

[Kirsten]

Just finished reading this book. I too had a lot of the movie visuals in my head. I even found a few sequences that I preferred the movie version (shocker I know) (view spoiler)[ like when Harry catches the rememberall, when Quirrell turns to a pile of ash & Voldemort swoops away, and when they are all trying to escape the Devil's Snare and they have to relax "He isn't relaxing, is he?" (hide spoiler)]

I was also very surprised that one line that seems to be quoted more often than others was only ever in the movie & not in the book. (view spoiler)["It's leviOsa, not leviosA" (hide spoiler)]

[Emily]

Kirsten wrote: "Just finished reading this book. I too had a lot of the movie visuals in my head. I even found a few sequences that I preferred the movie version (shocker I know) [spoilers removed]

I was also ver..."

Me too, sometimes I get lost in that and wish I had not seen the movie so many times.

[Kristel]

Jumping in from team Tom Riddle:)

[Kristel]

Nicole wrote: "Just finished chapter 1 and realized how the movies have influenced how I envision the characters 🙈 Professor Mcgonagall is supposed to have black hair but Maggie Smith didn't. Same goes for Petuni..."

Same! I totally didn't remember that they had light hair and that McGonagall wore glasses. Come to think of it, I don't know whether she wore them in the movies.

[Kristel]

My feelings on chapters 1-4

(view spoiler)[I was very put off how indifferent the wizards were to the Statute of Secrecy in the first chapter. Isn't it constantly emphasized how important it is to keep it? Harry got into massive trouble by doing magic outside of school, but a bunch of wizards partying it up in broad daylight is fine?
Ch 3: Dudley is everything I hate about spoiled children! When Harry described all the broken things and how he sold his parrot. Oh, and he threw his tortoise through the greenhouse roof!! What? This boy needs some serious help!
Ch4: I do appreciate how offended Harry was when Hagrid told him that he knows nothing about anything and felt the need to tell Hagrid that he knows "maths and stuff". I would be offended to:) (hide spoiler)]

[April]

Melissa wrote: "Devann wrote: "it's always weird to me how there seems to be exactly 5 boys and 5 girls in every year in every house. i mean i know it's just because it's actually a book and it works better to hav..."

Maybe this explains how u can be the "dumb" Ravenclaw

[Kirsten]

Kristel wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Just finished chapter 1 and realized how the movies have influenced how I envision the characters 🙈 Professor Mcgonagall is supposed to have black hair but Maggie Smith didn't. Same ..."
She wore glasses occasionally in the movies..

[Cheryl]

I just finished my re-read of the book. (There are so few books that I have read more than once!) I believe that I enjoyed the re-read even more than the first time through!

What has really struck with all of the details involved over the seven Harry Potter books. Rowling had to keep so many details straight that she brings into the light in one book and then helps you to understand the significance in a later one. I wonder how many bloopers people have been able to find over the years where details went awry between books. Rowling is simply brilliant!

[Emily]

Kristel wrote: "My feelings on chapters 1-4

i>
I agree with you on chapter 3, it is interesting how their is such a blind eye. Makes you wonder if she was using someone as an example?