Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone [Harry Potter, book 1]

Title:     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone [Harry Potter, book 1]
Author:   J.K. Rowling
Rating:   ★★★★★
Availability:   National Bookstore | Powerbooks | Fully Booked Online | Amazon

I have a lot going on this January, and I'm taking my sweet time reading books this year, so finishing a book is taking longer than it did the past two years. But I finally reread Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone after so many years, and let me tell you, I actually hugged the book afterwards. I hesitated in writing this review because what could I say that hasn't already been said? But my mind's been stuck on Harry Potter, and I just had to let it out. So here we are.

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 cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten 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.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is not my favorite book in the series, but it definitely holds a place in my heart because it's the book that introduced us to the amazing, fantastic world of everything-Harry Potter. Even Voldemort because, as Mr. Ollivanders said, "terrible, but great". Although in this context, when I say great, I meant that he was able to acquire so much knowledge and Voldy was, undeniably, highly skilled, and that is, more often than not, the basis for the usage of the word 'great'.

I first read this book in 2001, and this copy is so special to me for so many reasons. When the whole Harry Potter franchise first became popular in the Philippines around the year 2000, a lot of schools banned the books, and the book was highly controversial. I was approaching high school by then, and I wasn't aware of the whole hype. You know how I got a copy? My parents surprised me with the book for my birthday. How cool were they?! I mean, they're pretty conventional and strict Catholics, but they didn't buy into the whole 'magic is evil' argument that was spouted by some back then. All they thought about was that I might enjoy the book, and so they gave it to me. Gosh, I love them. Funnily enough, I remember my mom giving this to me while I was in my school when she came to fetch me. Hahaha. Are they cool or what?

Another reason why I like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is that aside from the loss of Professor Quirrell, whom I first pitied but is now one of my most disliked characters in the HP world, all our beloved characters are happy here. If you've read the series, then you must know that the books progressively get darker and darker, and this is one of the books that still has a happy tone to it.

I love the different values espoused in the book even though they are not 'in your face'. There's strong family ties, great friendship, support system, discipline, and knowing when to give a person space and a little slack to get his act together. I also love that even at a young age, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took it upon themselves to do what must be done even though they're scared, or they might get hurt.

Now that I'm older and have read more books, I am even more impressed by J.K. Rowling. While reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I really wondered at her imagination and how she was able to create this whole world, all these characters with different personalities, the various structures (hello, Gringotts and 9 3/4 quarters?), and the character progression. She put all these fantastical creatures in a single world and made it, and nay, even logical that they are just there (goblins + centaurs + unicorns?). Plus, she made you just want to be in that book, or even wish that the whole wizarding world is not just a figment of her imagination, even though there's 'real' evil lurking everywhere. I know she's into adult/mystery books now but I'm really waiting for another fantasy series from her. I hope I'm not the only one.

How's your 2014 so far? :)