Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Author: J.K Rowling
Cover Copy: “Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy – until he is rescued by a beetle-eyed giant of a man, enrols at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learns to play Quidditch and does battle in a deadly duel. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard!”
My thoughts: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first book in a remarkably successful series written by J.K Rowling. It is incredibly rare to find anyone who doesn’t know the name Harry Potter such is the characters popularity. My first experience of this novel was way back when I was in primary school and I devoured it in a matter of days so I jumped at the excuse to read it again. Potter is a character which you cannot help but love and admire as his world is turned upside down. There is little that can be or needs to be said on this novel that hasn’t been said before, the characters have been picked to pieces and J.K Rowling has been rightfully praised for her exceptional talent. What can be said is this story exudes feelings of acceptance, warmth, friendship and belonging. These qualities are what made the world fall in love with a young wizard and his fiercely loyal friends, what made people queue up outside bookshops before the release of each subsequent book and what inspires such devotion from Harry Potter fans. Rowling’s flawless writing skill and expansive imagination created a world which allowed the reader to leave their lives behind and immerse themselves in something that was truly magical.
Favourite Quotes:
“But yeh must know about yer mum and dad,” he said. “I mean, they’re famous. You’re famous.”
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.”
“What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally the whole school knows”
“I hope you’re pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed — or worse, expelled.”
“The truth.’ Dumbledore sighed. ‘It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.’
Final thoughts:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the perfect introduction to a world you’ll never forget. An imaginative tale of a brave orphan, his loyal companions and the magical world that they must now navigate. If you haven’t read it you should and if you have read it you must read it again.
Between the Lines 