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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.…
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (edition 1998)

by J. K. Rowling (Author)

Series: Harry Potter (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
133,05920461 (4.29)7 / 1896
Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches.
Member:CW88
Title:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Authors:J. K. Rowling (Author)
Info:Scholastic (1999), Edition: 1st Edition, 309 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:
Tags:None

Work Information

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

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Showing 1-5 of 1923 (next | show all)
I mean Harry Potter is a classic, I don’t really know what else to say about the book other than they are classics and fun reads. The movies are great, I love them. I’ve read the beginning of the book and I like it so far and it’s pretty similar to the movies so far. ( )
  cmmeza0709 | Mar 27, 2024 |
Still one of my favorites of all time, for good reason. Rowling just nailed the characters and really draws you into the whole wizarding world. It was fun to go back and re-read this after so many years. ( )
  teejayhanton | Mar 22, 2024 |
This is the first book in the Harry Potter series and is Harry's introduction into the world of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry Potter begins the book with his muggle family, not knowing anything of the world that he was born into. He eventually is found by Hagrid on his eleventh birthday and is told all about Hogwarts and then Hagrid takes him to go shopping for all his school supplies. As Harry is introduced into this world, he comes to realize that he is somewhat of a celebrity because of the circumstances behind his parents death and how he survived when he was just a year old. As he progresses throughout the school year, Harry and his friends Ron, Hermione, and sometimes Neville, go on all sorts of adventures and get into all sorts of trouble. Adventures like sneaking around in an invisibility cloak, and helping Hagrid safely get rid of the dragon he was trying to keep in his little house. Despite all the times they get in trouble and they close calls they have, they make it through their first year of Hogwarts. I would recommend this book for either a 4th or 5th grade classroom, and maybe even a 6th grade classroom. The fantasy writing leaves a lot up to ones imagination and can be a very good read. The only problem I can see with this book and this series is how some families might view the whole subject of wizards and witches.
  mwik21 | Mar 6, 2024 |
Love this book of course, and this is a beautifully illustrated edition.
  ZL10 | Mar 1, 2024 |
Ah, Harry Potter. This series always gets me. I genuinely can't get enough of it. It is one of the most well-written series of all time. Let's start off by discussing the first book: The Sorcerer's Stone.

I don't really have much to say about it that hasn't already been said. It is a timeless classic. J.K. Rowling created an incredible magical world for us to explore. Sure, it's low fantasy, so it's not like we have an entire new world and location to explore, but what we have is still very interesting. I love learning about the history of the wizarding world as well as all of its spells, creatures, and notable figures. It is deep, rich, and exciting.

Rowling's writing style is phenomenal. She doesn't beat around the bush. She gets straight to the point. This is a very fast-paced book that you will not be bored reading at all. Every single character is notable and memorable. Rowling absolutely nailed it with the characterization. You can describe every single character she's created with at least a couple adjectives off the top of your head. That's a sign that these characters are well-written.

I also love the mysteries she implements into her stories. They all play an integral role in the main plot, and the massive reveals in the end are always so exciting. Every time I go on a couple years without reading these books and then come back to read them having forgotten a great deal of information, those last few chapters get me. The plot twists never fail to blow me away. Rowling is a master at setting up them and revealing them in the most enthralling ways possible.

While I do still love this book overall, I'd definitely say it's one of the weaker ones in the whole series. The biggest problem I have with this book is that it's a little too childish at times. I know that it's a children's book, but tons of elements feel a little too cartoonish and comical at times. Certain character's traits feel a little too exaggerated and not nuanced enough, and that can make them more black and white than I'd like. I prefer grayer characters, but that's just me.

Also, some aspects of the world-building don't make a lot of sense if you've read the upcoming books, so certain plot holes can arise. Why did Dumbledore fly back to Hogwarts from the Ministry of Magic instead of just apparating? If love saves you from the Killing Curse, why did no one else have that mark on them? Were they not loved as much as Lily loved her son? Also, there are tons of contradictions here and there about using magic outside the magical world. As we find out later on, the Ministry knows when magic is used in the presence of Muggles and can punish you for it. If that's the case, why wasn't Hagrid punished for using magic in front of the Durselys? Why did he tell Harry not to mention the fact that he used magic to anyone else? Can the Ministry not detect magic if it's issued from an umbrella?

Anyway, I still find tons of enjoyment in this book despite the problems I have with it. It is a great read and will instantly hook in anyone who's never heard of Harry Potter before. ( )
  Moderation3250 | Feb 24, 2024 |
Showing 1-5 of 1923 (next | show all)
One can reasonably doubt that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is going to prove a classic of children's literature, but Rowling, whatever the aesthetic weaknesses of her work, is at least a millennial index to our popular culture. So huge an audience gives her importance akin to rock stars, movie idols, TV anchors, and successful politicians. Her prose style, heavy on cliche, makes no demands upon her readers. In an arbitrarily chosen single page--page 4--of the first Harry Potter book, I count seven cliches, all of the "stretch his legs" variety.

How to read"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"? Why, very quickly, to begin with, perhaps also to make an end. Why read it? Presumably, if you cannot be persuaded to read anything better, Rowling will have to do. is there any redeeming education use to Rowling? Is there any to Stephen King? Why read, if what you read will not enrich mind or spirit or personality? For all I know, the actual wizards and witches of Britain, or America, may provide an alternative culture for more people than is commonly realized.
added by vibesandall | editWall Street Journal, Harold Bloom (Jul 11, 2000)
 
Gerda Wurzenbergers Rezension ist deutlich anzumerken, dass sie eigentlich nicht so recht nachvollziehen kann, was die Ursache für das grassierende „Harry-Potter-Fieber“ sein mag und wieso sich gerade Erwachsene mit solcher Emphase auf diese Geschichten stürzen. Und der Tatsache, dass dieses Kinderbuch nun in einer deutliche teureren Ausgabe für Erwachsene erschienen ist (mit „erwachsenentauglichem Schutzumschlag“) mag sie auch nur wenig Begeisterung entgegenbringen. Sie findet die Geschichte einfach nur bedingt interessant. Spannung, Abenteuer und Phantasie könne man genauso gut auch in anderen Kinderbüchern finden, die „Ambivalenz des Lebens in der realen Welt“ spiele hier keine Rolle und mit „pädagogischen Bedenken“ hält sich die Autorin ihrer Ansicht nach auch nicht unnötig auf. Sie vermisst den Tiefgang in dieser Literatur und erklärt sich die Begeisterung vieler erwachsener Leser damit, dass diese sich möglicherweise an die Internatsgeschichten von Enid Blyton erinnert fühlen.
added by vibesandall | editNeue Zürcher Zeitung (Mar 22, 2000)
 

» Add other authors (24 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
J. K. Rowlingprimary authorall editionscalculated
Astrologo, MarinaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bar-Hilel, GiliTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Beck, RufusNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bravo, BeckyTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Buddingh', WiebeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Crnković, ZlatkoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dale, JimNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dellepiane Rawson, AliciaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Duddle, JonnyCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dzhebarova, TeodoraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Escorihuela, LauraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fraga, IsabelTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fries-Gedin, LenaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fritz, KlausTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Fry, StephenNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Götting, Jean-ClaudeIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Giraudeau, BernardNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
GrandPré, MaryIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Høverstad, Torstein BuggeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Huws, EmilyTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jivanyan, AlvardTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kapari, JaanaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kasoruho, AmikTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kay, JimIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Künster, Doris K.Cover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kibuishi, KazuCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mahmūd, Sahar JabrTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marienė, ZitaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Matsuoka, HirokoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ménard, Jean-FrançoisTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mendiguren, IñakiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Moss, OllyCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Needham, PeterTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nic Mhaoláin, MáireTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nong, SuTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Oosthuysen, JanieTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Peng, Chien-WenTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Piatrovič, AlenaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pinfold, LeviIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Riglietti, SerenaIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Srisanti, ListianaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Taylor, ThomasCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tóth, Tamás BoldizsárTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tomic, TomislavIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vierikko, VesaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wilharm, SabineCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wyler, LiaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Epigraph
Dedication
for Jessica, who loves stories,
for Anne, who loved them too,
and for Di, who heard this one first.
First words
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
Quotations
The wand chooses the wizard, remember…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the original title in the UK.

The change to 'Sorcerer' is in the US title.

Please do not use the canonical title field to force one title over the other.
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Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary
Harry's a wizard
studies magic at Hogwarts
fights possessed teacher
(asbunny)
A wizard child
saves his school from a Dark Lord
and makes some new friends.
(marcusbrutus)
Orphaned a baby
but growing up unknowing
he is a wizard
(Firefox-Flame_dancer)
Went with a strange man

because he gave me chocolate.

Almost got murdered.

(CathWhitney)
Mamija raconte
L'histoire du sorcier célèbre
Mélen comprend rien
(Tiercelin)

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2 775
2.5 198
3 3861
3.5 793
4 8822
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