by Mercedes Czlapinski

Created on: July 29, 2010

The first time that I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was 10+ years ago and I didn’t even read it, it was read to me. Yes, while the book was being banned in Florida, it was being worshipped in my fifth grade class, and my teacher was the one to introduce us all to the magical world of Harry Potter, by making the first book one of our read-out-loud books. I was wondering the other day, why I had never written reviews on the Harry Potter series and I realized that it was probably due to this fact – the fact that I had the first one read to me, and that I hadn’t read any of the earlier books from the series for quite some time – remembering only what happened in the movies, and wouldn’t have made for an accurate review.

One thing that I enjoyed about rereading the first Harry Potter book was finding all of the little details that they left out of the movies. Like the fact that Mrs. Dursley and Dudley are both blonde in the books, but brunettes in the movies; that Hermione Granger was much more stuck up than the first movie portrayed her to be; or that Peeves even existed! I think you can tell I haven’t read these books in quite some time.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone opens with a scene that remains unexplained for the beginning parts of the novel – the leaving of a one, Harry Potter, on the front steps of number four Privet Drive by people who the Dursley’s would have considered not normal. Fast forward to present day to find Harry Potter living in a cupboard under the stairs in the home of his only living relatives, the Dursley’s. Harry has led an abused and neglected life with the Dursley’s, who find their jerk of a son to be the most perfect thing to walk the Earth, while Harry somehow manages to do everyhing wrong in the eyes of his Aunt and Uncle and is complete scum.

Harry, wondering if he would ever escape this lifestyle, stumbles onto his way out, when a letter (actually many letters) arrive from Hogwarts, the most prestine school of Witch Craft and Wizardry. From the moment the letter arrives, Harry is thrust into a magical universe that one could only imagine. During his first year at Hogwarts, Harry discovers the truth behind his parents death, and the mystery behind Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard who seeks to regain the power he once had.

My favorite thing about J.K. Rowling’s writing is her attention to detail. I love the small details that she incorporates into her books that at first you find unimportant, but later turn out to be some of the most significant details of all to the plot of later books. I also love how captivating her books are; how you just get sucked into this world that she has created and don’t return until about a week after finishing the novel – the feeling is wonderful.

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