Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Year: 1997

Abstract:
Harry Potter has lived a pitiful life in the shadow of his overbearing aunt and uncle, but that all changes on his eleventh birthday when he is finally informed that he is in fact a wizard and has been selected to attend the very prominent Hogwarts school. As the first year at the school progresses, Harry learns magic, makes friends, and uncovers an evil plot that could threaten everything in this new world he has stumbled into.

Advanced Mind
Exploration/Quest
Military/Fighting
Horror
Magic
Advanced Technology
Time Travel/Alternate History
Science
Aliens/Beasties
Contemporality

Other books in this series: Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [1998]
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [1999]
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [2000]

tyranist's Review
The best books out there are often the ones that compel us to keep reading in the face of many other obligations. Luckily this one is a quick easy read that won't sap away days of your life like Cryptonomicon did. It will, however, hook you and keep you reading long past when you should have put it down to take care of things like . . . ummm . . . eating. At least that is what it did for me.
It was easy to fall in love with Harry Potter and the world that he lives in. It was easy to care about what the next little adventure would bring and whether Harry would live through it. It was fun to see him rise to meet all the challenges presented.
I would say that this isn't the greatest fantasy novel ever written. Perhaps it isn't even very close. But the style of the writing and the engaging story kept me interested more than I expected to be. In fact, I'm going to have to buy the next two books soon because I already wish I hadn't finished this one so fast.

Spectre's Review
I had a difficult time sliding into the British style of writing, I haven't read nearly as many Doctor Who books as tyranist has. However, once I was able to get over the British style and think like a kid again, this book was really fun. Who gives a chocolate frog whether it's predictable or not? The secret to enjoying this book is thinking like a kid. Considering I've been nine years old for about 16 years now, that's not too difficult. About the only thing I was really annoyed with was the name creation. The names in the book are really, REALLY annoying, except for only a couple. Some of the ideas are outright dumb, and me being a very strict military scifi guy, I had to work hard at times to say to myself, "You idiot, you're a kid, you're not supposed to be concerned with realism or probability here."
Now for my political spiel. There are forces in our world--unamerican, subversive forces--that are trying to discount the validity of the Harry Potter books as worthwhile reading material for children. These people either haven't read it, or are just plain no fun. My kids are going to read this series (if they want to, of course). Whether the author intended for this to happen or not, the book teaches kids about how to have a bit of faith in yourself and become more than what other people tell you you are capable of or not.
Date posted: 2000 08 21

Spectre's Rating
Hold on to your broomsticks!

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