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A review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

by J. K. Rowling

Destined to Be a Classic, Popular Wizard Tale Plays on Language and Fantasy

Reviewed by: Linda A. Smith
About Linda A. Smith

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone If you haven't yet read the first book in the Harry Potter series, I can only ask, what are you waiting for? Don't make the mistake of assuming this is purely for children, drivel pumped out of some series fiction formula factory. It is genuinely original, well-written and entertaining. What is more amazing is that it seems to be equally appealing to both kids and adults.

Harry is a likeable underdog, beset with a unique set of problems, made the more interesting by the discovery that he is indeed a wizard. The author has come up with a delightful alternative world to our plain old routine, and the word play alone will delight anyone who enjoys language. Owls are "dead useful," and Muggles think wizard instructions are "barking, howling mad." There are a multitude of new ideas and fun twists on everyday details. Their world is described believably, from the typical broomstick to the pictures that move, from the units of money to the fantastic invention of Quidditch.

The plot is suspenseful, and the characters are believable and appropriately likeable or detestable. Harry's friends Hermoine and Ron are not one dimensional stereotypes, and Hagrid, the unlikely giant that befriends Harry at school, is surprisingly complex and certainly helpful to Harry. It seems that every character has a part to play, and no matter how small it may seem, they are all equally important. You will be pulled along as Harry and his friends try to discover the secret of the Sorcerer's Stone, the third story locked room and Fluffy, and encounter an assortment of adventures along the way. The story is funny and scary in turns, and the improbable quickly becomes likely. You may be familiar with the story, but if you are not, the twists and turns will keep you page-turning long after you should be asleep.

While the story itself is adventure enough, it does carry enough of a message about some important things to become a classic. Harry learns a lot about his new world, and while he is trying desperately to catch up, he learns a lot about love, friendship and loyalty. He is a wonderful character, and while he is learning, you will find yourself rooting for him and hissing at the bad guys in the best old fashioned way.

This book puts the craft back in writing, even if it is "witch" craft! Having just finished reading it for the third time, I can assure you that it will spark your imagination and hopefully help you understand what all the hype is about. This book even got my 8th grade son reading! The movie does not really do it justice; for this one, you must read the book.

Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Copyright © by Linda A. Smith, 2002

Reviewed by Linda A. Smith:
-- Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader - by Anne Fadiman
-- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - byJ. K. Rowling









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