Review : Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Pages : 223
Genre : YA and Children, Magic!
Series : Harry Potter, book 1
My Rating : 5/5
About the Book :
My Thoughts :
The Harry Potter books have been sitting at the center of my bookshelf for a what feels like forever. Their sight is a comfort to me; whenever I hit a reading slump, I remember that magic is still there, and I just have to find it. I have reread some of them countless times, first in French and then in English, and all of them have been picked from the shelf multiple times so that I could relive some favorite passages.
I started the blog five years ago and even since, I have kept saying « I really need to give the Harry Potter series a complete reread! ». It’s one of those promises bloggers and readers like to make to themselves I believe, before we realize there’s only so much time and still so many new books to discover…
But when I discovered the Harry Potter reread, I immediately wanted to join. This was it, the little push I needed! And I wouldn’t be doing it alone!
So, how was it to revisit Harry in his cupboard after all these years?
Quite fun, actually! Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the one I have read the most often, so I was in familiar territory. Like seeing old friends. It was fun meeting Ron and Hermione for the first time again, and Hagrid and Dumbledore, and even Snape and Malfoy.
What surprised me most this time around was the brisk pace. I have been reading more adult fiction recently, and I had forgotten how much younger the first few books felt. Even though there is a single mystery linking everything together, at times the chapters almost feel like their own little short stories rather than a continuous string. This happened and then this happened and then, the end. I have seen it in children books before; even I noticed it made it really easy to pick up the book after a while, or to read just a little at a time. I wouldn’t count it as a negative aspect of the book.
While it is not the most well written of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is where it all began. And even though I knew what was coming, and rereading it will never be like reading it for the first time, I still felt that little twinkle of magic.
Now it’s on to the Chamber of Secrets. I’m expecting to have a great time, but for some reason it’s always been my least favorite of them all – am I the only one who feels like this? Which is your least favorite of the series?
Series Reading Order :
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I want to re-read these books at some point too! Tony & I recently rewatched the last 3 movies, which was so much fun, especially as I had only seen the final 2 films once apiece and it had been long enough that it felt completely new.
Chamber of Secrets is definitely my least favorite book, followed closely by Order of the Phoenix.
Order of Phoenix is my second least favorite, too. I have never reread it (Deathly Hallows either), but I remember being confused by it and feeling like it was dragging along. I’m really looking forward to reading it again and seeing if my feelings change!
I’ve never reread the Harry Potter books but I loved all of them the first time around.
I did too! Even my least favorites, I enjoyed. I have no doubt I’ll have a great time with all of them again! 🙂
The fourth book is actually my least favorite, but Chamber is 2nd least. It’s too similar to the first book, I think, in terms of the pattern. But still – all good! 🙂
I remember really enjoying Goblet of Fire, but then I read a post (I think it *may* have been on your blog, long ago!) pointing out some inaccuracies and it changed how I perceived it a little. Now it’s more a “in the middle” book, not my favorite, not my least favorite either!
And I think you hit it right on the head about Chamber of Secrets : it’s very similar. I’m looking forward the most to Prisoner of Azkaban right now!
My collection of “Harry Potter” books has survived a few moves and taken up permanent residence in our new bookcase, so I definitely think a re-read is in order! Glad to hear the magic held up for you!