Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publisher: Scholastic 1997

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Pages: 309

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Page to Screen; HP readalong

How I Got It: Own it!

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry, an orphan, lives with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley.

One day just before his eleventh birthday, an owl tries to deliver a mysterious letter the first of a sequence of events that end in Harry meeting a giant man named Hagrid. Hagrid explains Harry's history to him: When he was a baby, the Dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, attacked and killed his parents in an attempt to kill Harry; but the only mark on Harry was a mysterious lightning-bolt scar on his forehead.

Now he has been invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the headmaster is the great wizard Albus Dumbledore. Harry visits Diagon Alley to get his school supplies, especially his very own wand. To get to school, he takes the Hogwarts Express from platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station. On the train, he meets two fellow students who will become his closest friends: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Harry is assigned to Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, and soon becomes the youngest-ever Seeker on the House Quidditch team. He also studies Potions with Professor Severus Snape, who displays a deep and abiding dislike for Harry, and Defense Against the Dark Arts with nervous Professor Quirrell; he and his friends defeat a mountain troll, help Hagrid raise a dragon, and explore the wonderful, fascinating world of Hogwarts.

But all events lead irrevocably toward a second encounter with Lord Voldemort, who seeks an object of legend known as the Sorcerer's Stone.

This one is a reread for me.  I found a great Harry Potter series readalong from Pretty Deadly Reviews and thought "Why not?"  It's been awhile since I read the series.  I remember reading the first couple of books out loud to the boys when they were infants.  SO that's what eight years ago?  I read the last few books as they came out, but overall it's been awhile.  It was great to step back into that world, especially with the release of the last movie.  J and I definitely went to see the day it came out.  (but more on that movie when I get to the reread of the book...)

Instead of doing a traditional review, I thought I would just give you some of my reread thoughts.  Things I noticed, things I loved, quotes I like, etc.  And then I will have a mini review of movie vs. book for my Page to Screen Challenge.

Book fun:

• Favorite scene: Diagon Alley, you can just see the wondrous shops and Harry enchantment.  I love that moment!
• Favorite character: Hagrid.  He's just such a character in this book.  And I loved seeing him on the movie screen.
• Favorite expressions: "Gulpin' gargoyles" (Hagrid), "Load of old tosh" (Uncle Vernon), "Codswallop" (Hagrid), "All right, keep your hair on" (Fred), "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak" (Dumbledore)
• Didn't notice (or didn't pay attention) to the fact that Hagrid borrowed the motorcycle at the beginning from Sirius Black! I probably thought it was just another name when I read the first time.
• I feet sorry for Petunia Dursley.  As nasty as she is, I can't help that think that everything she's done has been because she's jealous of Lily.  Maybe if she had more love, or acceptance, or a talent than she wouldn't have turned out so urgh!
• How much foreshadowing is there when we meet Professor Quirrell?  Good graciousness!  And that story that he met a vampire... yeah he met a vampire, named Voldemort!
• The password for the Gryffindor tower was "pig snout." Awesome!!!
• I almost feel sorry for Professor Quirrell at the end.  Almost, but not quite...

Favorite quotes:

• "Couldn't make us a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey..."  -- Hagrid's entrance (pg. 47)
• "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." -- Mr. Ollivander (pg. 85)
• "Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling" -- back of chocolate frog card (pg. 103)
• "Troll--in the dungeons--thought you out to know." -- Professor Quirrell (pg. 172)
• "You haven't got a letter on yours," George observed.  "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name.  But we're not stupid--we know we're called Gred and Forge." (pg. 202)
• "The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution." (pg. 298)

Movie fun:

Overall, I just adore this movie.  It's the closest movie to book transition.  It brings the world to life.  Much lighter than the later movies, but the first book is much lighter anyway.  The set pieces are just amazing.  I couldn't have pictured Hogwarts better in my mind.  And the icing on the cake: the final lines of the movie about Harry not going home, not really.  So much better than the ending of the book.  Kudos to the film makers.

My favorite scenes:

• Diagon Alley -- All the shops!  All the things!  The introduction of all the wizards in the background.  Such detail!
• Sorting ceremony -- All those kids!  All those nervous, excited kids!  And the way that the sorting hat talks to Harry is priceless!
• Christmas at Hogwarts -- It's just too pretty.

Things I wished to see, but didn't:

• More scenes with the ghosts.  They severely underused the genius that is John Cleese in the movie!  The ghosts are great; the little intrigues and mysteries are so much fun.  And Peeves should have at least made an extended appearance.
• Charlie and the escape of Norbert the dragon.
• Snape's logic puzzle after the chess match -- really showed Hermione's intellect