Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

(This was written by my friend. I have read the book but we thought it would be interesting to see his point of view on things. This will only be for the Harry Potter series.)
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.


All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.



His rating: 5 stars of 5


Lemme just say, there are multiple reasons why this book should be read, regardless if you’ve seen the movie. IT’S NO EXCUSE. Just kidding, I’m not mean. :) I thought this book was outstanding. As great as it was, though, there were a few things that rubbed my fur the wrong way (“Really, Rowling? Really?”), but the moments of pure mind blowing-ness easily trump out the irking.

SYNOPSIS TIME. -Skipping major plot points, skipping major plot pooooints.. - Harry Potter was an 10 year old boy who lived on Privet Drive with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and his cousin Dudley. Why his aunt and uncle, you ask? For alll Harry knows, his parents died in a car crash after he was born, and he was left in a basket on his Aunt and Uncle’s door step. How Harry survived this crash with just a lightning shaped scar on his forehead was a mystery, and no matter how many different ways he’d ask, no matter how many tones he’d use, and no matter many time’s he’d pester his family, they wouldn’t give him details about it. Oh, and by the way, his aunt and uncle are stricter than.. God knows what, so ever since Harry could remember, he’d been living in a cupboard under some stairs. Life sucked.

Just days before his 11th birthday, Harry was coerced into getting the mail. Harry couldn’t help but realize, he had a letter written to him, simply addressed to “Harry Potter, Number Four Privet Drive, cupboard under the stairs.” This was one of the greatest days of Harry’s life, he’d never received MAIL before! The second Harry began to open it, it was snatched out of his hands and ripped to shreds by his Uncle Vernon. Harry was rather sad. What if it had been a birthday card? It’d be the first birthday card he’d ever received! The next day came, along with a multitude of letters, all addressed to Harry.. AAAAAND here comes the plot. Skipping a little.. Turns out, all the letters addressed to this “normal” boy were invitations. Invitations to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; the single greatest school in the magic world.

Yeee, now it’s time for a review.

I figure I’lll get all my uncomplimentaries out of the way first.

1. Don’t get me wrong, not every scene was like this, and I do realize it’s a book about wizards and witches and mystic creatures, but I felt that there were some times where the magical elements of this book were over the top and cliche. Like, if we were a little more magical, we wouldn’t be in Hogwart’s school for witchcraft and wizardry. We’d be in Candy Land. This is Harry Potter, a crazy epic story, not a 5th grader’s fantasy.

2. Just kidding, there is no 2. I don’t have anymore bad things to say.

The reasons why I LOVED this boooook...
1. I thought Rowling did a fantastic job setting the scene and giving a great load of background information. It really helped me understand and feel for Harry on more of an empathetic level, not just a plain ol’ “Hary hav scar on forhed. Hary lve with unkle and ant. and dudley. they r meen. harry hav no parnts. wher do thes lettrs keep cming frm.”

Just kidding, she didn’t say it like that. But the harsh setting, described with great detail and examples, is not only relevant in the beginning of the story, it has a great impact on very many decisions made in the latter parts of the book.

Not only was the beginning setting described perfectly, the “Wizard” areas in the book were illustrated, well.. Magically.. I find my self wishing I was able to live in some of the places Harry was in.


The plot was full of many twists and turns, and even on my second time reading it, I CAN’T PUT IT DOWN.
I’m a very detail oriented person, though you miiiiiight not be able to tell in this review. There’s a certain technique to the way Rowling writes. Every now and then, there will be dialogue.



Back,

Forth.

Back,

Forth.

Back,

Forth (Something really cool that forwards the plot in parenthesis here, whether it be a personal thought of the character, a relevant memory, something said in the background, ect.)



Back,

Forth.


Me, being the meticulous person I am, fell in love with this miniscule technique.


I found myself wondering when Rowling would use it next. Weird, I know, but this also helped me create a level of empathy towards, well, everything in the book.


It takes place in Britain. It’s a common fact that British people are an automatic win.


5. The Harry Potter movies are terribly popular, I know, and the likelihood of someone reading the book without watching the movie is close to zero. I saw the movie before I started reading this book, and it created a lot of suspense. I knew what was coming, yet I was still blown away. The boook and the movie compliment each other.



Yes, a lengthy, scattery review. I know. THE END.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

(This was written by my friend. I have read the book but we thought it would be interesting to see his point of view on things. This will only be for the Harry Potter series.)
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.


All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.



His rating: 5 stars of 5


Lemme just say, there are multiple reasons why this book should be read, regardless if you’ve seen the movie. IT’S NO EXCUSE. Just kidding, I’m not mean. :) I thought this book was outstanding. As great as it was, though, there were a few things that rubbed my fur the wrong way (“Really, Rowling? Really?”), but the moments of pure mind blowing-ness easily trump out the irking.

SYNOPSIS TIME. -Skipping major plot points, skipping major plot pooooints.. - Harry Potter was an 10 year old boy who lived on Privet Drive with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and his cousin Dudley. Why his aunt and uncle, you ask? For alll Harry knows, his parents died in a car crash after he was born, and he was left in a basket on his Aunt and Uncle’s door step. How Harry survived this crash with just a lightning shaped scar on his forehead was a mystery, and no matter how many different ways he’d ask, no matter how many tones he’d use, and no matter many time’s he’d pester his family, they wouldn’t give him details about it. Oh, and by the way, his aunt and uncle are stricter than.. God knows what, so ever since Harry could remember, he’d been living in a cupboard under some stairs. Life sucked.

Just days before his 11th birthday, Harry was coerced into getting the mail. Harry couldn’t help but realize, he had a letter written to him, simply addressed to “Harry Potter, Number Four Privet Drive, cupboard under the stairs.” This was one of the greatest days of Harry’s life, he’d never received MAIL before! The second Harry began to open it, it was snatched out of his hands and ripped to shreds by his Uncle Vernon. Harry was rather sad. What if it had been a birthday card? It’d be the first birthday card he’d ever received! The next day came, along with a multitude of letters, all addressed to Harry.. AAAAAND here comes the plot. Skipping a little.. Turns out, all the letters addressed to this “normal” boy were invitations. Invitations to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; the single greatest school in the magic world.

Yeee, now it’s time for a review.

I figure I’lll get all my uncomplimentaries out of the way first.

1. Don’t get me wrong, not every scene was like this, and I do realize it’s a book about wizards and witches and mystic creatures, but I felt that there were some times where the magical elements of this book were over the top and cliche. Like, if we were a little more magical, we wouldn’t be in Hogwart’s school for witchcraft and wizardry. We’d be in Candy Land. This is Harry Potter, a crazy epic story, not a 5th grader’s fantasy.

2. Just kidding, there is no 2. I don’t have anymore bad things to say.

The reasons why I LOVED this boooook...
1. I thought Rowling did a fantastic job setting the scene and giving a great load of background information. It really helped me understand and feel for Harry on more of an empathetic level, not just a plain ol’ “Hary hav scar on forhed. Hary lve with unkle and ant. and dudley. they r meen. harry hav no parnts. wher do thes lettrs keep cming frm.”

Just kidding, she didn’t say it like that. But the harsh setting, described with great detail and examples, is not only relevant in the beginning of the story, it has a great impact on very many decisions made in the latter parts of the book.

Not only was the beginning setting described perfectly, the “Wizard” areas in the book were illustrated, well.. Magically.. I find my self wishing I was able to live in some of the places Harry was in.


The plot was full of many twists and turns, and even on my second time reading it, I CAN’T PUT IT DOWN.
I’m a very detail oriented person, though you miiiiiight not be able to tell in this review. There’s a certain technique to the way Rowling writes. Every now and then, there will be dialogue.



Back,

Forth.

Back,

Forth.

Back,

Forth (Something really cool that forwards the plot in parenthesis here, whether it be a personal thought of the character, a relevant memory, something said in the background, ect.)



Back,

Forth.


Me, being the meticulous person I am, fell in love with this miniscule technique.


I found myself wondering when Rowling would use it next. Weird, I know, but this also helped me create a level of empathy towards, well, everything in the book.


It takes place in Britain. It’s a common fact that British people are an automatic win.


5. The Harry Potter movies are terribly popular, I know, and the likelihood of someone reading the book without watching the movie is close to zero. I saw the movie before I started reading this book, and it created a lot of suspense. I knew what was coming, yet I was still blown away. The boook and the movie compliment each other.



Yes, a lengthy, scattery review. I know. THE END.

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