Merideth says: Is it even necessary to talk about Harry Potter anymore? Hasn't everything been said? I've read this book more times than I really care to think about, for programs at the library, and I still enjoy it. That makes it a good book I think. The audio book read by Jim Dale, is especially good because Dale is such a great reader. ( )

Harry Potter is undoubtedly good reading for children. The story emphasizes positive traits such as courage, loyalty and teamwork. It puts education in a positive light and teaches that things are not always as they seem. Above all, it is a fun story to read with a continual high level of interest and a clever plot.

I had seen the series recommended as reading for adults as well (for example by Charles Van Doren in "The Joy of Reading"). I'll have to say that it was a pleasant diversion for me at a time when I didn't feel up to more serious reading, but nothing more. Perhaps having seen the movie first took away the suspense. The book offered little in depth of character beyond what was portrayed in the film, and that is rarely the case. I don't regret reading it, but neither do I think it likely that I will read further in the series. ( )

The first book in the famous Harry Potter series that sets up the whole universe. We're introduced to Harry and he is introduced to the magical world. His first adventure at Hogwarts begins his life changing 7 book long escapades.

It being the first in the series, I do enjoy this book just a bit more than the others. It's much more light-hearted and fun.

I would introduce this book to children as soon as they were ready to begin reading chapter books. ( )

I loved the Harry Potter books when I was in junior high all the way up thru high school. At first it was a book I was forced to read, but after the first chapter I was in love. This story is about a boy named Harry Potter who was orphaned and forced to live with his terribly mean aunt and uncle as well as his rude cousin. He sleeps in a little room under the staircase and is verbally abused day in and out. Through an odd turn of events he gets a letter inviting him to Hogwarts, a school of wizardry and learns so much about his past as well as his future. He has an adventerous year at Hogwarts learning so many wizardry tricks as well about quiditch, which is the real world's soccer. Harry Potter is a wonderful book that helps with building the young child's imagination as well as just a good read. I love this book!

this would be a good book for people who like to never know what comes ext .it is a page turner i think jk rowling is a very good autor. this is the first harry potter book and here you learn about hogwarts draco malfoy hermine and ( )

It was a book full of adventure and exitement on every page. Leaving you want to read more. ( )

Harry Potter is just good fun reading. This story let's the imagination run free, it has everything a good fantasy should have. A great book for any young reader that is interested in fiction, and a great adventure.

What can I say about this book, and the series as a whole, that hasn't already been said? I have found this a comfort for me, an easy yet fascinating and mesmerizing read that draws you in from page one to the end of book seven. The characters and plot evolve beautifully, the are no contradictions that other stories often suffer, and although a story about children, adults will fall in love with this- undoubtedly. I have transformed a handful of skeptics into Potter fans, and I will continue to do so. There is a reason that this is such a popular series- and that is because not only is the writing well-done and easily understandable, but because the story itself is actually believable. Often times when I finish a book I have to remind myself that there isn't a Diagon Alley hidden in the depths of London, that under the streets isn't a vast structure housing the Ministry of Magic and it's employees, and that witches and wizards aren't real and among us at any given point in time. J.K. Rowling has done her fair share of 'magic' in creating a universe that challenges the real world to simply imagine. I love this book, this series, and hope for much more from Rowling in the future.

My nephew got me hooked on these. I'm glad he did. ( )

This was a great book. The story caught my attention in the first chapter. I am looking forward to reading the rest. ( )

Read it. Not interested.

J.K. Rowling's first attempt at the Harry Potter series. although it isnt my favorite, the fact that it sets the stage for the entire chronicling of Harry's adventures makes it just wonderful. I especially love the way in which Harry, who at the beginning is a pitiful after thought in the Dursley's house hold, changes into a self confindent, learning wizard. This makes him a dynamic character in the scheme of things. Lord voldemort play the antagonist. ( )

I read this with my son. I really enjoyed it. I think I liked it better than he did. ( )

The first installment in J.K. Rowling's smash hit Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone introduces us to all the key players and locales that will take part in the series: we meet Harry Potter himself, the boy who lived; Harry's remaining living family, the Dursleys (the worse king of Muggles); Hagrid, Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts; all the other instructors and staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts; Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione; Malfoy, Harry's immediate enemy at Hogwarts; even Voldemort, Harry's archenemy, the dark wizard who tried to kill Harry when Harry was an infant and failed. I could go on about the story and what happens, but I'm sure that most everybody already has an idea of what goes on in the story, either from having read the book or seen the movie. If the only experience that you have with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is from the movie, do yourself and favor and read the book; while the movie is fun and gives you all the basic story, it does leave out some key points and some of the funnier moments from the book. This will be a theme that plays out in all of the movies, and it gets worse as the books become more and more involved.

Having the read the book several times already before, and having finished the series now, I can see the inconsistencies in Rowling's storytelling and structure, but at the same time, knowing what's coming, it's interesting to see where she had been dropping clues to the rest of the story from the very beginning. I also like seeing how she progresses as a writer throughout the series, cleaning up her writing style as the books go on. Also, again still going on the knowledge of what's to come, I had forgotten how refreshing and lighthearted these earlier books are, before the story starts to take on its more darker tones. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the series as a whole, and may even enjoy the later books more than the earlier volumes, but that doesn't change the fact that this was still just a plain fun book.

On a side note, I listened to the audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this time around, as I have never listened to any of the books, and I have to say that I really enjoyed Jim Dale's take on the characters and his telling of the story. It took me awhile to get used to his version of the voices (I'll be honest, I kept waiting to hear the voices more like they were in the movies, but the only one that seemed to match was Hagrid), but once I got into the story and his version of everything, I found it easier and easier to enjoy the audiobook. If you haven't had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook versions of the Harry Potter books before, take a couple of hours and give them a listen. It's worth it. ( )

I mean...it's alright. It's a kids book. It's not amazing, and certainly not worth all the hype from the lovers or the haters. The characters, except for Snape really, are pretty one dimensional. Meh. I liked it, but..that's it. I didn't love it, and it's not evil. ( )

this is a very good book

Great book - I love her imagination and the amount of detail in each character. I listened to this book on CD with Jim Dale as the narrator - he does an excellent job and really assists with visualization! ( )

HP and the PS is such a great read. Rowling hit the nail on the head with this series and I only wish I could write something so fantastic. ( )

Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone is about a young boy named Harry Potter. Harry lives with his aunt and uncle's. Then he discovers he's a wizard. Then after the summer Harry goes to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Along the journey Harry meets two friends Ron,and Hermione. Along the way they have to figure out who's going to steel the sorcerers stone. ( )

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is a book about a young boy coming of age. Harry was left with his aunt and uncle when he was a baby after his parents were murdered. In this book Harry learns of his magical inheritance and spends his first year at Hogwarts, a magic school. Also he learns more about how his parents were killed and who killed them. Harry's first year is filled with obstacles that he must overcome along with doing his schoolwork.
I loved this first book of the series. Harry ties a make believe world with a real world. The author leaves you wanting more. I couldn't put this book down until I was done, and then I was in a hurry to get the next installment.
It would be a good book for middle school to junior high students. I would use this book in class to show how some things are not as they appear. This book could also be used to do some science projects.

My 10 year old son was not a reader but every Christmas I bought him a book hoping to spark his interest. One year I bought Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, at the time 2 other books in the series had already been published. He read it in two days, and begged for the next one, we bought him 2 and 3, he read them before he went back to school after Christmas break. Then he told the rest of the family we had to read them. One day I finally picked it up and was hooked, as was the whole family. These books span all ages, J.K. Rowling actually did something few authors could ever do. People, especially children put down video games, turned off the T.V., and picked up a book. We were the nerds who stood in line at midnight just to get the first copy. We were not alone, hundreds stood along side us. We never left the store with less than 3 copies, so we could pass them to each other faster. I think these books are a magical fantasy that works on everyone's imagination. I wish she would do another series of books like this, but then maybe nothing could top Harry Potter. ( )

The story is not bad but the lack of proper character development left me unsatisfied. A good YA book, for sure, but I wonder why so many adults seem to love the Harry Potter books. ( )

The story is not bad but the lack of proper character development left me unsatisfied. A good YA book, for sure, but I wonder why so many adults seem to love the Harry Potter books. ( )

A great start to the series. In retrospective, this book tells a far more innocent story and yet is shot through with this sense of foreboding. A great start to a series that only improved. ( )

This book is great! (Currently reading) I like J.K. Rowling's inspiring imagination. KUTOS to J.K. Rowling! ( )