Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (December 2019) Group Read Discussion

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨]

This is the group thread for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!

This thread is open for discussion beginning December 1st! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up if needed!

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 12/1
December 1: Chapter 1-2
December 2: Chapters 3-4
December 3: Chapters 5-6
December 4: Chapters 7-8
December 5: Chapters 9-10
December 6: Chapters 11-12
December 7: Chapters 13-14

Week of 12/8
December 8: Chapters 15-16
December 9: Chapters 17

[Brianna]

I wan tto join! can't turn down a harry potter reread :)

[Dolinka]

Im joining for sure! But probably a bit later in the month.

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨]

that's totally fine, Dolinka!

[rosechen]

i'm in! harry potter has my whole heart

[Tahera]

I will try to make it! :D

[Leslie]

I will join! :)

[Cat]

I’m in. I’ve been meaning to re-read it for a couple months now.

[Laura ☾]

I will join too! :D

[Elena]

I've ordered the illustrated edition recently. I'm totally in for this read!

[Agnes]

i will join

[Roksy]

I'm in!

[Petronilla]

I am very curious, where are you guys from and what is the title of this book in your mother tongue? I am from Italy and they translated it so that it's still "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".
I remember being very confused when I discovered that in English the UK and the USA versions have different titles.

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨]

The original title (the UK one) is Philosopher but when they did the US edition, they changed the title to Sorcerer for some reason (I'm really not sure why because "the Philosopher's stone" is an actual thing and it's not like people in the US wouldn't know any more than someone from the UK but oh well)

So essentially, most places will probably have it as Philosopher but since I'm from the US, I know it as Sorcerer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Roksy]

1/12, chapters 1-2 ✔

It's been a long time since I last read this. Although I certainly understand a lot of the critical analyses which have popped up over the years, this will always be a significant book (and series) in my life. It's going to be hard to limit myself to a couple chapters a day!

[Leslie]

I have to admit that I started with difficulty the first 2 chapters of the book, I hope this doesn't keep happening to me.

[Petronilla]

Leslie wrote: "I have to admit that I started with difficulty the first 2 chapters of the book, I hope this doesn't keep happening to me."

I love this book dearly but I have always thought that the first chapter was exceedingly boring in comparison to the rest of the book (it says a lot about Vernon's character that even one chapter in his POV it's too much to bear)

[Roksy]

Petronilla wrote: "I love this book dearly but I have always thought that the first chapter was exceedingly boring in comparison to the rest of the book (it says a lot about Vernon's character that even one chapter in his POV it's too much to bear)"

I think we're supposed to get that impression though - he is a painfully dull human being! I think the first chapter is kind of funny in a way because it tells us so much about what the Dursleys are like and it makes it so much easier for us to understand Harry's experiences with them and feelings about them.

[Petronilla]

Roksy wrote: "Petronilla wrote: "I love this book dearly but I have always thought that the first chapter was exceedingly boring in comparison to the rest of the book (it says a lot about Vernon's character that..."

Yes it's true. I think in this aspect it targets a grown-up audience, or someone who has already read the book: when I read it as a child I had to force myself not to give up reading

[luna ☾]

I wasn't going to start this reread yet but I couldn't help myself! I miss this world and I honestly can't wait for the Diagon Alley and his first days at Hogwarts scenes!

As of right now, I'm only on chapter 2 and the Dursley's are doing their Dursley things and I honestly forgot how annoying this family is XD Petunia with Dudley is insufferable!

[Elena]

First of all... The illustrated addition is gorgeous! I'm happy I've bought it. I love Harry Potter series so much and enjoy reading the book. But agree here, the first chapter is pretty boring.

[Leslie]

At least we agree that the first chapter is boring 😂

What happens to me is that when I read book 5, I ended up hating Harry and now that I want to read the first book where we know him, it costs me a little for my resentment towards him.
Today I will try to read a little more and we'll see what happens :)

[rosechen]

I’m halfway through chapter 3! Harry is so innocent and cute..

[Petronilla]

Leslie wrote: "At least we agree that the first chapter is boring 😂

What happens to me is that when I read book 5, I ended up hating Harry and now that I want to read the first book where we know him, it costs m..."

Book 5 is where bratty teenager Harry shows up in all his glory! I found it funny and at times relatable so I didn't mind that change too much, but I agree with you in saying that once you read this series the feelings you have towards certain characters will change your outlook on them forever (this is especially true for many of the 'villains' like Dudley or Snape)

[✨faith✨trust✨pixiedust✨]

(view spoiler)[(just cutting in to say that I found Harry to be most annoying in book 3 because for most of it, he didn't have real problems to complain about but in book 5 his life freaking sucked so he can moan all he wants and I'll moan with him. also he was the very definition of angst: feeling of deep anxiety or dread; his whole world was crumbling from under him because he was fated to either kill someone or die trying and everyone he loves was either dead or in danger so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I don't consider him annoying in book 5 whatsoever but when all he wants to do is go to Hogsmead and lie to his friends in book 3, I took issue) (hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

(view spoiler)[ Different opinions... I remember that from the first book there were certain attitudes of Harry that I did not like, but I let it happen because I was a child and you understand. But as he read more books, he accumulated more resentment towards those attitudes of Harry and Ron. Upon reaching the fifth book, I was just waiting for something to explode with Harry and at the end of the book they gave it to me. If I understand everything that was going on with Harry at the time, they were quite strong situations. But, for me there came a point where I am very stressed about what he does and says, and he totally loses me. In fact, this caused him to leave the saga. > (hide spoiler)]

[sky ⚡️]

i have the illustrated edition but forgot to bring it to my dorm with me! so i will be starting this later in the month, but i’m super excited about it. :)

[Roksy]

It is so nice to be back in the HP universe

[Laura ☾]

Will be jumping in on this tomorrow I reckon!

[Roksy]

"Harry then did something very brave, and very stupid."

That's it. That's the whole series.

[Laura ☾]

Roksy wrote: ""Harry then did something very brave, and very stupid."

That's it. That's the whole series."

YES! This is so true

So I kind of raced through this - I really enjoyed it even now !:D

[luna ☾]

Ahhh! I would have been done with this book sooner but I got majorly waylaid. I am now on the Christmas day chapter and I have so much good feelings and I want to spend christmas day at hogwarts :')

[luna ☾]

Roksy wrote: ""Harry then did something very brave, and very stupid."

That's it. That's the whole series."

OMFG! BWAHAHA! Where is the lie?!

[Kylie]

For those with the illustrated edition, is it abridged? I was considering the illustrated edition because they look beautiful, but didn’t know if the story had been shortened.

[Roksy]

I can confirm the illustrated versions are not abridged :)

[Dolinka]

Omg i really need to start this. So many books to read, so little time.

[Elena]

Yes, the illustrated edition is unabridged.