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

[Jenn]

Taryn wrote: "Jenn ~ Nemirdis wrote: "I got sorted into Griffindor on the Pottermore site too."

So...I'm in this HP weight loss challenge on MFP and they ask you sorting questions, etc. And in other quizzes an..."

I would think I'd be more Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff too...I don't think myself particularly courageous.

[Clare]

Well this is a revelation for me! I am loving this book! I'm up to Chapter 10 now. Can we read the next in the series after this one?

[Anita Reads]

I think a separate thread for Chamber of secrets is a good idea. I'll probably not start that until the weekend however, as I'd like to finish some of my library books first.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I agree. Especially because we have some readers who haven't read the series before

[[deleted user]]

Someone asked mods over in BR to put us under series folder.

[Ari]

I just finished chapter 2, I think I'm behind everyone. The Dursleys remind me of the villains in Roald Dahl books. Spoilers for most of the series: (view spoiler)[ Also, I know this is jumping ahead, but it really bugs me that the adults kept sending Harry back to that horrible home life, I mean, the protection spell thing just doesn't seem worth it, with such powerful witches and wizards around, the adults should have been able to come up with some other method of protecting him. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

I just started this one again, and I think it's time for another read-through of the series. My daughter just started OOTP and I think I will make her wait to start Deathly Hallows so we can read it together.

Poor Harry! I guess I can understand Dumbledore wanting Harry to grow up without the pressure of being the famous and revered for something he wouldn't even remember, but the Dursleys make me mad for being small-minded and unkind.

[Michelle]

Kristin wrote: "Taryn wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ They are pretty mean to her because she is annoying and they are young boys, but I love how their friendship evolves over the course of the books. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Ari wrote: "I just finished chapter 2, I think I'm behind everyone. The Dursleys remind me of the villains in Roald Dahl books. Spoilers for most of the series: [spoilers removed]"

Ari, I completely agree. Frustrating to (view spoiler)[keep putting Harry in that situation. The Dursleys are so small-minded and really make Harry feel like he doesn't fit in. Thank god for the Weasleys. (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

Michelle wrote: "Ari wrote: "I just finished chapter 2, I think I'm behind everyone. The Dursleys remind me of the villains in Roald Dahl books. Spoilers for most of the series: [spoilers removed]"

Ari, I complet..."

Yes! I love the Weasleys, (view spoiler)[ and it's so wonderful that Harry has somewhere like that he can go sometimes. I love that he gets a Weasley sweater!! I think it's one of my favorite parts. (hide spoiler)]

[Anita Reads]

Ari wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ari wrote: "I just finished chapter 2, I think I'm behind everyone. The Dursleys remind me of the villains in Roald Dahl books. Spoilers for most of the series: [spoilers removed]..."

Yes that's some of the small things they miss in the movies that I really enjoy when reading the books.

[Michelle]

Ari wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ari wrote: "I just finished chapter 2, I think I'm behind everyone. The Dursleys remind me of the villains in Roald Dahl books. Spoilers for most of the series: [spoilers removed]..."

(view spoiler)[That sweater had to mean so much to Harry. I love that Molly takes him as part of her "boys" without a second thought. One thing that I felt during this read through is she had to know how hard Harry's life was with the Dursleys and how much it meant to him to have the entire family, so she was showing him family is more than blood. Love Molly Weasley! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Michelle wrote: "Poor Harry! I guess I can understand Dumbledore wanting Harry to grow up without the pressure of being the famous and revered for something he wouldn't even remember, but the Dursleys make me mad for being small-minded and unkind.
"


I think if Harry had grown up knowing he was famous and for what, he might have had a big head and been kind of Draco-ish. I hate that he has to live with the Dursleys, but it definitely makes the reader root for Harry and want good things for him. I am noticing more now how Harry is kind of a mischievous kid, even though he has good intentions. He doesn't really hesitate to break the rules when he wants to do something.

[Jenn]

Talia wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Poor Harry! I guess I can understand Dumbledore wanting Harry to grow up without the pressure of being the famous and revered for something he wouldn't even remember, but the Dursl..."

I agree with you Talia. I think the Dursley's are terrible people, but I think it's needed. I think if he had grown up in the wizarding world knowing he was famous, he would probably be even more insufferable than Draco. I think he needed his experience with the Dursley's to appreciate what he discovers about himself in this book....

[Joi]

I just reached the third hour of the book and just met Draco in the robe shop.

[[deleted user]]

Joi wrote: "I just reached the third hour of the book and just met Draco in the robe shop."

The actor who played Draco in the movie was so perfect for that role!

[Storm]

Bwehehehehehe!

(view spoiler)[ Just about to go meet Fluffy and find the Sorcerer's Stone! Woo! (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

I've been working all week and have hardly read this book so I'll be finishing it tomorrow!

[Storm]

Just Finished! OMG! Since My first intro to Harry Potter's World came in the form of the movies I did find a lot of comparable material that was SO CLOSE but also different, on the whole, Good Job Hollywood! :D

That being said, OMG THERE'S SO MUCH I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK! @o@

(view spoiler)[I love how Hermoine's more active in the book, and how Ron's not always cowering from Malfoy or Danger. I honestly think the Movie would have been better if they did Ron and Hermoine a Tad bit differently, since the Movie makes Hermoine seem like just a Nerd, and Ron like a Scardy Cat. I love how the book shows Hermoine isn't just the brains straight off the bat and how Ron stands up to Draco on the Train and offered to help Harry with Draco's Wizard's Duel. (hide spoiler)]

I'm SO going to be reading the rest of the series for those special little gems the movies didn't have time to add in. X3

[Ari]

@Talia. I've always theorized that Harry's tendancy towards rule-breaking was because of his early childhood. He grew up with rules that were inconsistent and unfair, with adults he couldn't trust or come to with his problems, so it seems natural that he would learn a certain disregard for adult authority. I do agree with Dumbledore's reasoning in leaving him there in the first place, though. He had no way of knowing that they (view spoiler)[ would lock him in a cupboard and let their son beat him up. Though I guess I think somebody should have checked on him sooner. It's the sending him back summer after summer when they are such terrible guardians that I really don't like. (hide spoiler)]

@ Joi and Talia I just finished that part, too! And the whole time, I was imagining the actor who played Draco's voice in that scene. He really was perfectly cast!

@ Storm I totally agree! I've always had problems with the way Ron's character changes from book to film. Hermione seems to get better, in the later movies, at least. I haven't paid that close attention, though. It would be interesting to watch the corresponding movie right after reading the book, to see exactly what changed, and what they chose to keep.

[[deleted user]]

Ari wrote: "@Talia. I've always theorized that Harry's tendancy towards rule-breaking was because of his early childhood. He grew up with rules that were inconsistent and unfair, with adults he couldn't tru..."

Ari, I hadn't thought about how Harry's mistreatment by the Dursleys would make him mistrust adults. Excellent point!

[[deleted user]]

Storm wrote: "Just Finished! OMG! Since My first intro to Harry Potter's World came in the form of the movies I did find a lot of comparable material that was SO CLOSE but also different, on the whole, Good Job ..."

So glad you love this one!!! Wait until you continue on...you will just be enchanted (pun probably intended- wait that's a pun right?).

[Jex]

I'm loving reading everyone's reactions! I completely agree that the movies took some liberties with Ron and Hermione's characters. It seems to really focus on their flaws. But then again, that's hollywood I guess.

[Storm]

You can't expect Hollywood to get everything 100% when translating from book to film, but I think they did a pretty awesome job with Sorcerer's Stone.

[Imke]

I agree Storm. With the First two books they did a wonderful job, I think because these were shorter stories. Also the character of both books stayed the same. What I was disappointed with was the smaller roles of Hermoine and Ron.

I'm almost done (view spoiler)[ they are about to ship Norbert of to Charlie (hide spoiler)].

[Imke]

Finished the book, I don't have anything to add to all the comments made previously. Reading this really felt a little like comming home. It's one of the reasons I read the series again and again.

I'm going to finish other books I'm reading at the moment then on the The Chamber Of Secrets.

[Anita Reads]

I think there're a lot of the cast members of the movies that were well picked. Especially the adults. I couldn't picture anyone else playing Snape, Lucius, McGonnagol etc. I REALLY liked how the first actor playing Dumbledore looked, he was perfect, but I think humor wise the last Dumbledore fitted it better.

and look how many chances they had to take with all the kid actors in those movies, they could have gone horribly wrong. I always liked Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and Matthew Lewis. Personally Emma Watson was too 'pretty' to look how I imagined Hermione to look, but otherwise they all did a great job I think.

[Beth]

I took a break from this to finish a few other books so I will hopefully be finishing this tonight. I'm liking it so far but unfortunately I'm not falling in love like everyone else did

[Ari]

@ Anita I was really disappointed when the first movie came out by how pretty Hermione was, but I enjoyed her acting so much in the later movies that now I don't mind too much. It's still a little annoying. They could at least have given her a bad perm of something.

@Beth(Ducky) I honestly was pretty lukewarm on the Harry Potter series until book 3 or 4, the first time around.

I've made terrible progress, the students are just now arriving at Hogwarts, which is one of my favorite parts!

[Beth]

Ari wrote: "@ Anita I was really disappointed when the first movie came out by how pretty Hermione was, but I enjoyed her acting so much in the later movies that now I don't mind too much. It's still a little..."

That's what I've heard, so I'm sticking through it. They are just a whole decade younger than me and I never read it when I WAS their age, so it's pretty hard to connect to them at all

[Ari]

I just finished the first Quidditch game, and I'm loving Dean Thomas's football/soccer fan-ness.

[Amanda A]

This is my first time re-reading this series and it has been several years since I read them for the first time. There is so much I have forgotten. I also hate the Dursleys and love the Weasleys. I think I need to watch the movies again too as I am re-reading so I can compare.

I just read the part where Harry flies on a broomstick for the first time. His rivalry with Malfoy is just getting started!

[Ari]

Omg! I just figured out (view spoiler)[ the inscription on the mirror of Erised is "I show not your face but your hearts desire" backwards! Though possibly everyone else has already figured this out. (hide spoiler)]

@Amanda A. The Weasleys are so wonderful! I just got to the part where (view spoiler)[ Mrs Weasley gives Harry a sweater for Christmas, which is one of my favorite moments! (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

I'm finished. (view spoiler)[ It always seems so unfair to me that the final points were assigned at the end of the year banquet, so Slytherin thought they had won up until the last second. They must have been so disappointed! That aside, I loved the last half of the book, with the finals, and the teamwork and everything! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[But nobody likes the Slytherns. Lol (hide spoiler)]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy, unmanageable hair?

[Ari]

Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy, unmanageable hair?"

(view spoiler)[ I know! My 'it's not fair' side is warring with my 'but they're jerks' side whenever I think about that part. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

lol Pigletto!

And Yes, Hermoine doesn't match what I see of her in the books

[Amanda A]

Ari wrote: "Omg! I just figured out [spoilers removed]

@Amanda A. The Weasleys are so wonderful! I just got to the part where [spoilers removed]"

I did not figure that out either, Ari!

[Amanda A]

Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy, unmanageable hair?"

(view spoiler)[Definitely don't like the Slytherins! I think it all starts with Snape. (hide spoiler)]

Hermione was nothing like I expected her to be in the movies, but that is Hollywood. I plan to watch the movies again too as I am rereading the series.

[[deleted user]]

Amanda A wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy, unmanageable hair?"

[spoilers r..."

I don't like the Slytherns but I love Snape.

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Pigletto wrote: "Amanda A wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy, unmanageable ha..."

I love Snape also, I think they chose well when they picked Alan Rickman to play him in the movies.

[Ari]

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Amanda A wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the films. Where were the teeth? Where was the bushy..."

I guess I'm kind of dead neutral about Snape, but I love Alan Rickman. Omg, his voice! He is so perfect as Snape.

[Joi]

Ari wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Amanda A wrote: "Pigletto wrote: "Ari wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

I agree about Hermione in the fi..."

I do love Alan Rickman as Snape. He was just so.....awesome.! And as I read the book now, I picture him.

[Joi]

BTW, I'm at chapter 10...(view spoiler)[right after Harry and the others got trapped in the room and Hermione told the others that the three headed dog was hiding something. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I always picture Alan Rickman too. He was wonderful

[Greta]

I'm planning on starting this January 1st for anyone who wants to join in!

[Tara]

I'll be here for it! First time reading so I'm looking forward to finally doing it!

[Greta]

Tara- how exciting that you get to read it for the first time!!

[[deleted user]]

I will join in, I have read it a few times before but I will be listening to the audiobooks for the first time. I have been told they have really good narration so I'm looking forward to it :)

[Shilpa]

Can I still read this and earn points?