Book 14: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

NUMBER: 14
TITLE: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling
STARTED: March 29, 2007
FINISHED: March 31, 2007
PAGES: 309
GENRE: Fantasy/Juvenile

FIRST SENTENCE: Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. 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 a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

REASON FOR READING: Re-reading the series before the (*sniffle*) last book comes out.

THOUGHTS: I only had one revelation while re-reading this book for the third (or more?) time: Harry Potter (at least the first book) truly is geared toward children. For some reason, the language of the novel struck me as being very juvenile fiction appropriate. The tone of text and the words used is directly geared toward the elementary and middle school aged demographic. There is something playful about the story, even during the darker scenes. As I re-read the series before the last book is released, it will be interested to see if the language ages as the characters age.

And, as always, I am in awe of J.K. Rowling's imagination. To sit down and think up such a world is a remarkable feat, one that I envy.

MISCELLANEOUS: I want an owl. I will name it Edgar.

KEEP/SHARE/CRINGE(?): Keep FOREVER!
RATING: 9/10 [Excellent!]