Howdy y’all! As I told you in one of my posts earlier this month, I am a part of this awesome book club whose proprietor is Bianca @ notoriouslaylow. This is also co-hosted by other awesome bloggers namely MC @ blameitonthebooks; Nicka @ readbynicka; Trisha @ thebookgasmblog and yours truly.
This month marks the club’s official start and our first Book of the Month is one heck of a book indeed. It is also what we are reviewing for today. It’s none other than
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE BY J.K. ROWLING
I’m going to pretend most of you aren’t basically experts on the awesomeness that is Harry Potter so here’s a summary:
Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who are mean to him and make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. (Dudley, however, has two bedrooms, one to sleep in and one for all his toys and games.) Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed forever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! The first book in the “Harry Potter” series makes the perfect introduction to the world of Hogwarts.
DISCLAIMER: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS
Before anything, I don’t know how I can truly and eloquently justify how much I loved reading the book, but I shall try.
In all honesty, I am no stranger to the Harry Potter movies but this was my first time reading the book. Yep, you’ve read it right. I’m one of those few who haven’t read this series yet, which is why I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get it started.
Well, I finally did it, and what I could say is that it was a joy to read. It was very light and easy, and there were several parts that made me laugh and chuckle and of course some parts that frustrated me with the unfairness of Harry’s life and all. I can also say that it is one of the best starter books I have read; no wonder it became such a big hit and no wonder why the hype is still as strong as it is today.
In terms of visualization of the characters and the setting, I didn’t experience any difficulty, having watched the movies first before I picked up Sorcerer’s Stone. I loved how the movie portrayed the characters as close to the book as possible and how Hogwarts in general was perfectly exhibited – from the grandiose Great Hall to the simplicity and the coziness the common room brings. It was easy to lose yourself in the pages as if you were in the scene that Rowling wrote.
Something that stood out to me the most while reading the book was the premise of friendship and the kind of familial love you still receive even from those beyond your bloodline. I empathized for Harry and kind of related to how ignored he felt sometimes but he never lets this bring him down. I liked that about him. As this club emphasizes male leads, I felt that this particular male leads sets a great example for Muggles *oh, sorry,* readers like me, in terms of rising to the occasion – numerous occasions, in fact.
In the book, he was found at the doorstep of the Dursley’s house one night and they have adapted him ever since. For ten years, Harry lived with them, having the cupboard under the stairs as his room, having Dudley’s, the Dursley’s son, old clothes as his, not to mention being bullied in school for it. But he didn’t act like someone you would pity. He didn’t cry and sulk of the miserable things and people surrounding him. That, for me, already says a lot. It sets quite an inspiration for people who were bullied or lived an unhappy [childhood] life.
The character that I connected the most was not Harry, though. It was Ronald Weasley. Personally, he’s the type of person you’d notice, but not entirely conspicuous kind. He’s always ready to help his friends and is brave enough to fight for them when situations get tough. The fact that most of his things have a great tendency to be hand-me-downs are just another thing to add to the list of the things I can relate with this fellow. And as one of the male leads in this story, he also sets a great example and influence to those who have the privilege of getting to know him.
I particularly liked the twist at the end; how certain characters have been the epitome of deception. You would never have thought that Professor Snape wasn’t really out to get Harry, but quite the opposite. Throughout the book, several instances appeared as though he were trying to sabotage Harry’s Hogwarts student life and get him kicked out of there as soon as possible. The bigger shock was how one stuttering Professor Quirell didn’t seem to be the coward he pretended to be. You would never know between those stutters and that absurd turban that a Dark Lord would ever choose him to carry his wicked endeavors.
Over-all, I had fun reading this and by the end of the book, I found myself wishing that I would be a student at Hogwarts, myself. Even if I am technically a muggle, I refuse to think so and would prefer I’d be someone like Hermione, perhaps? Wouldn’t it be cool to receive a letter from owls and just go through life with the power of magic? Or when you want to contact a person, wouldn’t it be more fun saying “send me an owl” rather than “here’s my e-mail”? Man, oh man. Let me pick the next book up and take me back to Hogwarts.
What do YOU think about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for reading! Til the next post. X
pigeonreads 
Leave a comment