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

[Kristie]

I wasn't able to get to this on in November, so I'm hoping to join you on Jan 1st.

Kelsi - I also plan to listen to the audio for the first time. I'm very excited about it. I've heard the narrator (Jim Dale) is excellent.

Shilpa - You can still get points, as long as someone that is not on your team discusses it with you. There are a few of us that are planning to read it, starting January 1st. We'd love to discuss it with you.

[❀Tea❀]

Shilpa wrote: "Can I still read this and earn points?"

Yep. As long you finish it during challenge and (as Kristie said) as long as someone is here to discuss it with you.
Again, as Kristie said, new wave of HP readers is coming here in January. ☺

Just be careful if you're rereading it. There needs to be at least 6 months between (re)readings for them to count.

[Kristie]

Ok, so I know we're supposed to be starting this on the first of January, but it worked into my schedule a couple days early so I started it. I read this book when it was first released and haven't re-read it since. There are a few parts that I didn't really remember from the book, so it's almost like reading it again for the first time. I'm loving it! I keep picturing the movie characters in my head as I go along. I love Hagrid. :)

[Kristie]

I had forgotten how different the book description of Ron (especially) is from the movie. I always just picture all the actors now.

[Shilpa]

So excited to be re-visiting my favourite series! :D
I'll start tonight! :)

@kristie: Yeah..that happens.. Also some scenes crop up in my head while reading which were not there in the books originally. I keep looking forward to some scenes only to realize that they were not in the book! :P

[Kristie]

@Shilpa - I recently read Jurassic Park. I had seen the movie multiple times and never read the book. They were so different! At first, I kept picturing the movie in my head playing alongside the book and they didn't match up. It was so distracting because even the nature of the characters was different. At least in Harry Potter, the characters personalities match up fairly well. Glad to have you joining the discussion!

[Shilpa]

I'm yet to read the Jurassic park book!!
Aaaahh!! That ever-increasing TBR! :P

[Kristie]

Mine keeps growing too!

I finished today. We took a long drive up the coast and just listened to the audiobook. Jim Dale did an amazing job!

Final thoughts on the book: I think this is such a great story. Rowling is great at describing people and giving you a real feel for them. I really enjoy her writing.

I have a hard time not making comments that refer to spoilers for the other books, so I'll try to be careful.

(view spoiler)[The Dursleys are such miserable people. I think you can not believe in magic and want to be "normal" without being miserable, but they are just over the top. It was funny to see Harry say that they don't know he can't do magic outside of school. He's so sneaky! lol Hermione was just horrified at how terrible they are. I suppose having him stay with them did help to keep him humble. I wonder if he had grown up in the magical world with all that fame, if he would be a horrible person and be friends with Malfoy or if he is a good person at heart. I also wonder if his life would have been at risk by other Voldemort followers, though I feel like he would be more at risk living with muggles. (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to discussing details with anyone that reads it.

[[deleted user]]

Just started this today!

Up to chapter 5
(view spoiler)[I love the fist chapter where Vernon is so bothered all day by all the wizard nonsense. Makes me laugh every time.

The scene where Harry meets Hagrid is one of my favorites in this book. The pig tail on Dudley! So very fitting! I would have to say Hagrid is one of my favorite characters by far.

If Diagon alley was real, I would love to visit it. So magical in so many ways. I guess I'm a bit old for Hogwarts now but I keep hoping my letter just got lost! :P (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I love the first look at Hogwarts! So magical :)

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I missed Peeves so much in the movies! I don't know why he wasn't included. He adds some comedic relief to the tension. He always manages to make me laugh! (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Started audio book today. First time reader and I'm so excited to finally be reading!

[Kristie]

Kelsi - I love Hagrid too! He's so genuine.

Tara Jo - Enjoy it! It is a wonderful magical adventure. :)

[Karla]

I'm going to join this. I have read this book at least three times.

[Greta]

Excited for you Tara Jo!

[Tara]

I really don't like Dudley! Sad thing is I know kids like him in real life...they know just how to work their parents to get what they want. And they will grow up to be horrible adults!

I'm really enjoying doing the audio book....a friend suggested it so I've got both ebook and audio for the times I can't read I can listen!

[Shilpa]

Till Chap 4: Revisiting this brings back so many memories! :)
(view spoiler)[ I love the scene where Hagrid comes in and the Dursley's are mortified! :P
He is big enough to scare anyone.. well.. :P

I keep looking for the cak which Harry draws on the floor in the movie in the book as well... But..it's not there! :(

On my way to Diagon Alley now! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Tara]

Shilpa wrote: "Till Chap 4: Revisiting this brings back so many memories! :)
..."

I just got to that part! I can't imagine (view spoiler)[ the Dursley's and how Hagrid would be looming over them! Hagrid telling Harry he's a wizard was fun to listen to. Feel so bad for Harry, having never known his background! (hide spoiler)].

[Tara]

Imagine being 43 years old and reading this book for the first time (and only having seen parts of some of the movies)! That's how much fun I am having right now! I am really enjoying it and we during why I never read them before!

[Greta]

I'm through Ch. 5 and loving this reread! It really is such a fun book and exciting to get into this world again.

(view spoiler)[I love these chapters leading up Hogwarts. I know it's terrible how the Dursleys have treated Harry, but Uncle Vernon's unraveling and the descriptions of their family are just hilarious! I love the description of Uncle Vernon friving to a remote rock on the sea and making sharp turns to lose anyone who might be following!! (hide spoiler)]

[Greta]

Kelsi wrote: "Just started this today!

Up to chapter 5
I love the fist chapter where Vernon is so bothered all day by all the wizard nonsense. Makes me laugh every time.

The scene where Harry meets Hagrid is o..."

Yes, seeing Uncle Vernon react to that is priceless!!

[Tara]

Finished just now.....it was SO GOOD! How did I put it off this long? Can someone tell me that?

I'm so glad I took my friend's recommendation and did the Audio Book for this! The narrator was so good and put so much expression into the various characters and told the story so well! When he got excited, I got excited! Towards the end I kept feeling the anxiousness and could feel the story's climax coming.

I can't wait to jump into the next book...hoping the Audio Book comes in on time as there are several people on hold before me. If needed, I can read it, but after doing the audio book for this one, I think I want to do them all this way. Audio books have been hit or miss for me....this was definitely a hit! Now, we can watch the movie on Saturday night!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Ch. 1 thru 3

I really cannot stand the Dursleys! I remember disliking them the first time around and this time I seem to have even more anxiety and anger toward the way they treat Harry. (view spoiler)[It is abuse, starving him and forcing him to sleep in a small cupboard under the stairs with spiders and dust all around. They deny him his basic rights and it really pisses me off. They should have been reported to child services. The only thing they didn't do was physically abuse him but hey, Dudley and his cronies took care of that. (hide spoiler)]

Can't wait till we get to Hogwarts...

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Revenantღ♥ღ wrote: "Chapters 1&2

I've only every read this book once before when I was 15 so when I started reading it now at age 23 it feels like i'm reading it for the first time again. A lot of the things that i'm..."

I also forgot that Mrs. Dursley was really skinny!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Am up to chapter 5 now. They are in the bank. I'd forgotten about some of the little things that are described in Diagon Alley. I can't remember if we ever find out what the package is that Hagrid picked up in Vault 713!

It has been 16 years since I read this book. I can't believe I let that much time pass without reading it more than once. I did start the British version but I didn't get far. I have the first 4 books in the British publication and will read them sometime but not just now.

[Karla]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Ch. 1 thru 3

I really cannot stand the Dursleys! I remember disliking them the first time around and this time I seem to have even more anxiety and anger toward the way they treat Harry. [spoilers..."

I absolutely agree with you! (view spoiler)[The Dursleys should be arrested for child abuse! They're horrible (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Teresa and Karla:

Totally! I forgot how awful they are until the re-read.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Ari wrote: "@Talia. (view spoiler)[I've always theorized that Harry's tendency 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 [ 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. " (hide spoiler)]

I agree with what you said about (view spoiler)[Harry's rule breaking. I hadn't really thought about that before, the reasons and his upbringing being so inconsistent where rules were concerned. I really hated when Harry was sent back to the Dursley's after school each year! Ugh!!

I just met Draco in the book and I did the same thing - heard it in the same voice of Tom Felton, haha. I love how Draco has a pointed face. The descriptions of the characters are so vivid and really fit their personalities.

I can't remember what Ron or Hermione were like in the books so I look forward to meeting them again for the not-first time! (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Tara Jo wrote: "Imagine being 43 years old and reading this book for the first time (and only having seen parts of some of the movies)! That's how much fun I am having right now! I am really enjoying it and we d..."

So glad you are having fun with this one, Tara Jo! I'm 43, too, but I read this for the first time when I was 29. Still older than the intended audience but I fell in love with this series back then for some reason. I guess it just felt so magical to me, even as an adult.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Greta wrote: "I'm through Ch. 5 and loving this reread! It really is such a fun book and exciting to get into this world again.

[spoilers removed]"

Hahaha! (view spoiler)[I was giggling at Vernon doing the turns so nobody would follow them, haha. And finding a house way out at sea, what a nutter! I noticed that Hagrid takes Harry out of that house with the boat so how did the Dursleys get home?? I wonder if that will be revealed later or not, I can't remember. (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Loved revisiting Harry's first trip to Ollivander's wand shop!! I remember reading that scene the first time and wishing I could go get fitted for a wand, wondering what sort of wand I would receive. Oh, to be a wizard!

Also, the dun-dun-dun moment when we find out (view spoiler)[ about Voldemort's wand containing a feather from the same phoenix that has contributed a feather to Harry's wand! Their first connection!! *chills* (hide spoiler)]

[Greta]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Loved revisiting Harry's first trip to Ollivander's wand shop!! I remember reading that scene the first time and wishing I could go get fitted for a wand, wondering what sort of wand I would receiv..."

Teresa, now you just have to go to Universal Studios to get fitted for a wand! That is a pretty neat experience even if it's not real.

[Greta]

Through Ch. 13 (view spoiler)[ I love the scene with the mountain troll, the wand in the nose and how this experience brings Harry, Ron and Hermoine together as friends.

The quidditch matches are so exciting! That would be so amazing to see. (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Kelsi wrote: "Chapter 7
[spoilers removed]"

Same here! (view spoiler)[ Why didn't they include him in the movies? :( (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

Done till Chap 7: (view spoiler)[ It was so good to go back to the song of the Sorting Hat! Intelligent hat huh! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Greta]

I finished! I absolutely LOVED this reread!

(view spoiler)[I was crying when Neville ended up winning the House Cup with those last 10 points...go Neville!

I appreciated all of the obstacles the 3 of them had to face at the end and the courage it took for Harry to tell Hermoine to go back and face Snape (or so he thought) by himself. I don't think I would have been that brave...I probably would not have been sorted into Gryffindor by the read sorting hat! (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Greta wrote: "ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Loved revisiting Harry's first trip to Ollivander's wand shop!! I remember reading that scene the first time and wishing I could go get fitted for a wand, wondering..."

That is on my wish list, for sure!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

I finished last night! Loved this revisit and will try to read it again before another 15 years passes!

(view spoiler)[Love Neville at the end! And I love how everyone worked together for the final battle. (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

chapter 5 (view spoiler)[I never thought about how the Dursleys got home after Hagrid took the boat! I don't know anything about the London transit system, but how did Harry get to the Dursleys after he got off his train?

I love Hagrid! He is one of my favorite characters in the whole series. It was so sweet of Hagrid to buy Harry the ice cream and Hedwig.

I completely forgot that Harry met Draco before going to Hogwarts. Harry has a good reason not to like Draco, with what Draco said about Hagrid. (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

Kelsi wrote: "Just started this today!

Up to chapter 5

The scene where Harry meets Hagrid is o..."

I love Hagrid, too! And I agree, (view spoiler)[Dudley with the pig tail is so funny and fitting! (hide spoiler)]

[Shilpa]

54% in!

(view spoiler)[ Oh my! THese two boys really wanted to get rid of Hermoine!
That part totally faded away.. later! :P
(hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

I remember the first time I read this, I had no idea how to say Hermione! It was the first time I ever saw the name. I can't remember what I called her, but it wasn't close to her name.

[[deleted user]]

I had the same issue the first time I read it Karla! I believe I pronounced it Her-me-own...lol

[Karla]

Kelsi wrote: "I had the same issue the first time I read it Karla! I believe I pronounced it Her-me-own...lol"

I think I called her something different every time I read it, then gave up and sort of glided over her name. It wasn't until the movie that I learned her name!

[[deleted user]]

Heehee me too :)

[Tara]

Since I just recently read it, I heard the name before seeing it...I couldn't figure how to spell it!

Is it a common name in the UK? Curious if it's a typical name or unique one?

[Karla]

Shilpa wrote: "54% in!

Yeah, I forgot (view spoiler)[how much the boys disliked Hermione at first. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Tara Jo wrote: "Since I just recently read it, I heard the name before seeing it...I couldn't figure how to spell it!

Is it a common name in the UK? Curious if it's a typical name or unique one?"

I don't know if it is common in the UK or not but it is the name of a greek goddess (daughter of Menelaus and Helen) I don't think she actually stands for anything but that's where the name came from. I would assume it is a much more popular name since the books became so huge!

[Shilpa]

In the penultimate chapter!

I love how Hagrid keeps telling what he shouldn't and then tells them I shouldn't have told you that, Forget I said that..etc :P

[Shilpa]

I watched the first movie first.. so I knew how to pronounce it! :P

And I haven't finished the movie series yet.. :P