Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) by J.K. Rowling
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.25 You Save: $24.74 (99%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.20 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
Book Review: Those Brits don't write half-bad
Summary: 5 Stars
Here goes with the much needed review number 5,040 of "The Sorcerer's Stone"- as of this writing. It'll be a little difficult to say anything that hasn't already been said many times over by others, and probably much better at that, but I'll give it a whirl. This will also be from the viewpoint of a 48 year old Bible-thumper, so perhaps it will give some different perspective.
The story, as everyone knows by now, begins in a fine Dickensian, young adult literature tradition. Like "Wolves of Willoughby Chase", "Great Expectations", and a multitude of other young adult novels,the protagonist is an orphan brought up in a tough spot without much love. Harry is watched from afar down through the years by other witches and wizards, and finally they make known to him that he is a bit special, to say the least. It would at this point disintegrate to a "Prince and the Pauper" kind of rags to riches story, except that Harry must still stay dependent on his unpleasant relations, a process that has the effect of keeping him humble and a bit grounded. He also has the blessing of falling in with the right crowd, and making some great friends.
The first time I read one of the Potter books I knew I was in for the kind of enchantment I'd not encountered since the Lord of the Rings. Vivid, exciting, they immediately lift one to a place reservered for the loftiest of fantasties. Lots of good versus evil, and in the tradition of Lewis, magic can be either, and lots of drama. Only occasionally does one feel that Rowling has forgotten what it's like to be a kid, and even rarer does one feel preached at or condescended to.
The books are problematic theologically, no doubt about it- and I sometimes wonder if they are not unwittingly part of a larger push to make the dark supernatural attractive. It's not so much that they are evil in and of themselves, in fact I think they are quite the opposite- although clearly Rowling is not an apologist like Lewis. Rather, the problem comes more from the mood it helps to set- that "magic isn't all that bad"- and that kids starved for a supernatural encounter have nowhere else to turn save the occult. This is not true, but few Christian authors have come even close- Peretti comes to mind as one, and Lewis's muse George MacDonald is another- to opening this possibility to the young mind. I have no kids, but I probably wouldn't let very young kids read HP until they were able to determine good and evil at a fairly sophisticated level for themselves.
I also read the book in German, one of the first books I've ever read in another language. I'd read it twice in English, so the story wasn't all that tough to follow in German. For the record, it translated pretty well and I thoroughly enjoyed it in both languages. I think it's some of the best new literature out-for kids or adults, and even the larger and less well edited later volumes of the HP series I've thoroughly enjoyed as well. To compare to Lewis one last time- if you're looking for good theology, dry intellectual humor, and well developed characters, then go with the Chronicles of Narnia. If you're looking for a more in-depth view of a child's world through modern eyes with less theology, and the most vivid, vibrant, alternate world you've ever encountered, then Rowling is choice one. Reading them both is best. And you might want to track down some old George MacDonald as well- "The Princess and Curdie" or "The Princess and the Goblin".
Book Review: Redemption found in Harry Potter
Summary: 5 Stars
This is what I wrote as a review for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
After reading book one, I can defenitely see why these stories were so popular. The author does a great job of creating suspense throughout the whole book. She sets you up to believe one thing and then surprises you in the ending. She sparks your imagination with the fantasy world and life at a wizard school. But I think there are two themes that come out in this book that touched me the most:
1. The rise of the underdog. Harry Potter is raised in a family that doesn't value him; his peers in school don't value him;he is a true underdog. But he is famous in this other world of wizardry because he (as an infant) had defeated the great dark wizard. Many kids and adults can relate to Harry's circumstance of be devalued by the culture, society, world in which you live in. You do find yourself rooting for him throughout the book.
Years ago we went to a family camp and the speaker used movies throughout the weekend. One thing he said has always stuck with Acey and me. He talked about movies being the modern day parables, similar to the stories which were used in the Bible. How many times do you find yourself relating to a scene in a movie, or being brought to tears by something protrayed on the big screen. Yet these parables need to be interpreted in light of Biblical thinking. Why do these scenes, themes, shows touch us at the core?
2. In light of that, Acey asked me today when I finished the book what was the spiritual theme that needs to be redeemed in this book? As I began to think about his question it came down to the the last chapter when Harry asks the trustworthy Dumbledore for some answers to his mysterious life.
One question he asks is why the bad character in this story, Quirrell, couldn't hold on to him and was acutally burned when he tried to touch him. Dumbledore's response brought tears to my eyes: "Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort (the dark wizard who tried to kill Harry) cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leave its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul wiht Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."
Isn't that the message of Christ. Christ died to save us. If there is one thing Satan does not understand it is love. Christ's love leaves its own mark on our lives. To have been so loved by God that He sent His only Son, Jesus into the world is what stirs our hearts that are so desperetley seeking love. This belief in what Christ has done will give us protection forever from the the enemy who desires to destroy us.
My conclusion as a Christian parent is that I would allow my children to read this first book under two conditions: (I am only concluding this about the first book so far...I haven't read the others)
1. I get to read it with them
2. They have to discuss it with me.
This allows me to talk about what is true, what is fiction. It helps me to find out what things from the story they are connecting with. And in the end it allows me another opportunity to present the gospel to my kids.
Book Review: How did Harry Potter become a household word?
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
ISBN: 0590353403
How did Harry Potter become a household word?
I am intrigued by the phenomena of Harry Potter, and this review is a writer / editor's perspective. The plot and characters are well known and described in many reviews, so I will not address them.
I purchased all four books over two years ago, but they sat on my shelf unread. Then, I was away from home without a book, and a friend loaned me her copy of The Sorcerer's Stone. Within two weeks, I read all four books. Why?
J. K. Rowlings captures the imagination with prose that draws her readers in. Details that are not in the movie, such as Harry's hair that stayed one length no matter how often it was cut, which showed that he was a wizard, but did not know it.
* He was different from his peer group; isolated in a world of Muggles. Children often feel isolated and mistreated, as do adults, therefore most people can relate to this situation.
* He is an orphan who believes his parents died in a car crash, and he has no pictures of them. He longs to belong, an emotion that is common in all ages.
* His room was a closet under the stairs, he never received gifts or a kind word, and was viewed as something to get through by his guardians. In reality, anyone treated like this is abused. Yet Harry kept a positive attitude, and enjoyed the privacy the room gave him. He made the best of bad circumstances.
* His cousin was a pampered slob, but he was created by his parents overindulgent behavior. He received 36 presents for his birthday, but it was not enough. Things do not replace guardianship.
* Harry, small for his age, was the object of ridicule. Magic delivered him. Who does not dream of a magical solution to their problems? This is a writer's tool known as "deus ex machina" or "God out of a machine." Commonly, in editing, this is the "hand of God" tool. It is generally used in an unconvincing plot, character, or event, however, Rowlings success is because she foreshadowed the magic as part of Harry's character through the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
Other aspects of the writing itself are:
* Rowlings does not talk down to her audience of young adults.
* The same story elements that appeal to a child, appeal to an adult; and the book is unique and readable.
* Her characters grow, change, and make decisions based on their own motives.
* Life is not simple; people do die.
* Good and evil exist, as they do in reality, in many guises.
* She takes time to set up the characters, plot, and scenes. I wondered why she dedicated so many pages to Privet Drive. This introduced Harry, and because we know how he is treated, we know why Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry immediately becomes his home. He was wanted.
* It is easy to read. The text flows naturally, even with strange words and unusual names.
* Her creativity and descriptions bring life to the story, and you want to know what happens next.
Rowlings did not expect her marvelous story to capture readers from all age groups. She was surprised to be compared to Frank L. Baum who wrote the Wizard of Oz.
Now I, like million of J. K. Rowlings fans from all over the world, anxiously await the next book. Thus, Harry Potter, became a household word.
Victoria Tarrani
Book Review: Harry Potter an Extraordinary or Poor Book?
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling is one the best books to read by any age. This book has elements that will keep the interest of a reader. After you have read the book once you would want to read it again. The book tells a story of a boy who finds out he is a wizard. Ten years old Harry Potter lives with his mean uncle Vernon, his wife Petuna, and their young bratty son Dudley. Harry's parents were believed to have been killed in a car crash, but in fact they were killed by a powerful dark wizard named Voldemort. On Harry's eleventh birthday a giant tells Harry that he is a wizard. He is then sent to a world where fairy tales come true in order to learn the ways and magic of a wizard. The story goes to describe Harry's adventure in this land and the past that is sealed by his Uncle and Aunt. The plot keeps the readers drawn to the story. The world of magic and fantasy would persuade a child to read this book. Harry Potter is an extraordinary story that is interesting to readers, young or old alike. The story plot of a child who is a wizard would attract a child to this book. Most Stories that has been told by a child consist of fairy tale elements. Some examples of fairy tale elements, such as: giants, trolls, magic, and mystical worlds are all included in Harry Potter. The first three chapters lack the fairy tale elements of a fairy tale book but as the reader continues to read the book more and more fairy tale elements are introduced. Another element that makes this book an excellent book to read is the magic written about in Harry Potter. A new type of fantasy world is introduced in this book. In a child's mind his or her world consists of imagination. Harry Potter extends a child's imagination. A child dislikes reading books which tend to get boring. In order for a child to read, a book should include elements of imagination. Harry Potter is introduces into his new world, trolls, giants, unicorns, castles, forbidden forests, ghost, and wizards. As the child reads this book he would imagine himself as Harry Potter. In the book, J. K. Rowling describes Harry as an excellent student who finishes his homework. As a child learns some of Harry Potter's characteristics he or she would perform his homework and imitate some of his other characteristics so he or she can be more like Harry Potter. This book can be considered to be a good means to persuade a child that reading is fun. Although as the book is good there are some small drawbacks to it. It is intended for young readers and for some older readers it may not be appealing. The entire vocabulary used in this book in simple and suitable only for third or fourth grades. In order for this book to lure a child to read, J. K. Rowling should have included some harder vocabulary words so the child would learn some vocabulary words that are presented in the seventh grades. In spite of the drawbacks of this book Harry Potter is a capital book to read for young and older readers. A person who write a book that encourages a child to read, she or he may be considered the best author in the world. Harry Potter has the best qualities of a children's book. A book that includes a good plot and fantasylands where kids can imagine them in are interesting books to read, Harry Potter is an outstanding book to read even if it is intended for young kids.
Book Review: A funny, excitable, and great book.
Summary: 5 Stars
Harry Potter has to live with his Uncle, (Vernon Dursley)his Aunt, (Petunia Dursley)and his annoying cousin(Dudley Dursley).They didnt treat him with much respect. They only let him eat, go to school, and sleep in the cupboard.Harry didnt have a memory of his dad or even his mom.His aunt and uncle always told him they passed away in a car crash when he was still a baby.All this disrespect until one day, he got a letter... His uncle and aunt wouldnt let him see it and Harry had no idea why. After each day, another one of the same letters would come, except more came along with it. Harry tried countless times to get ahold of one of them but could never. On his birthday(still receiving letters), the Dursleys didnt celebrate(which they never did) but a strange thing happened, a stranger who's name turned out to be Hagrid stumbled upon their door. He showed Harry what the letter had said, it said he was invited to the wizarding school of Hogwarts. Hagrid also told him that he was a wizard. This freaked Harry out and he just couldnt believe what Hagrid told him, but he said it was the truth. So Hagrid brought Harry to Gringotts, the wizard bank. Harry discovered he had secretly had a fortune of not money but gold, silver, and bronze, being called galleons, sickles, and knuts. They took some handfuls of the wizard money and set off to get some suplies for Harry's first year at Hogwarts. After getting the suplies, Hagrid took Harry to get a train ticket that would take him to Hogwarts (on a train that muggles,the wizard name for non-wizards, could not get on and cannot find). Harry told his uncle (when he returned)that he needed a lift to the station. Once he was there, he couldnt find platform nine and three quarters which was where the train was supposed to be. But with the help of a nearby family (who also turned out to be wizards), he was able to find it: behind a wall which he was supposed to walk through. Once he was on the train he met a wizard boy named Ron, Ron Weasley and became his first friend at Hogwarts. Ron told him good facts about being a wizard,what they usually did at Hogwarts, and many more good and helpful things. He also met a girl named Hermione, Hermione Granger. She as well became a friend with the two boys. They once again met someoneon the train. His name was Draco, Draco Malfoy and he wasnt really nice to them after Ron laughed at his name.Once they arrived at Hogwarts, they had to put on the sorting hat. Hogwarts is divided into four different houses or in easier words, groups:one is Gryffindor (which Harry, Ron, and Hermione were selected to by the sorting hat),then theres Hufflepuff, next is Ravenclaw, and finally Slytherin(which Malfoy was selected to join).The Slytherin's kids werent really nice to the other kids in the other houses. After a few days they learned their Professor's names:Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape(who wasnt really nice to Harry since he was the leader of the Slytherin's), and Professor Quirrel(who is only in Hogwarts this year), and some other ones(sorry, I cant really remember them all).At their first feast at Hogwarts they met their headmaster of the school, Professor Dumbledore. I dont want to share too much of this fantastic story so if you want to find out what happens, you should read this book and I hope you find it very intriguing.