Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #1

Date Started: June 8th 2016

Date Completed: June 15th 2016

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Four Star

Final Rating: Four stars

Review:

I barely remember anything from my first time reading Harry Potter. My mum read them to me every day after school right up to The Deathly Hallows because it just became a tradition (including my mum reading forward, crying at a certain death, and then spoiling me when I got home before reading it to me - I will never forgive that). But the books came out quite a few years ago, and going into The Philosopher’s Stone again I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. It ended up with the opening being just as magical as I could imagine, but as I read on things slowed a lot more after the middle.

When talking about Harry Potter to other people I’ve always kind of had a saying that Rowling is a masterful crafter of worlds, concepts and characters, but her writing just isn’t quite on the same level. Rereading the first book reinforced this for me, but at the same time I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. Harry Potter is a book aimed for children, and so the simplistic reading level makes perfect sense, but one that adults can enjoy as well. I don’t think the lack of overt sophistication in the writing style is a huge drawback from the book, and it’s ridiculous success proves that.

Everything I write about this book is in hindsight: these books came out years ago, the majority of the Western world and a lot of the Eastern know the story. But I actually found knowing the outcome of everything that happens took away from my enjoyment of The Philosopher’s Stone on it’s own. Considering how complex the series becomes things like coincidences dotted everywhere and a seemingly random magical system (it gets worked out eventually, but feels a bit sporadic at first) just felt like a bit of a let down. Of course, every author grows with their works and I think the general experience I take from rereading this book is that you can start with a book aimed at children and can end up with a phenomenon that can be enjoyed by everyone.

One of the biggest things I forgot was how important the Hogwarts community and side characters were to the story as a whole. Yes, they don’t have a huge impact on the plot itself, but the mentions of classmates the golden trio spend time with and their individual personalities is a sense of welcomeness at Hogwarts that I don’t think comes through quite so obviously. In the films definitely, but it wasn’t something I really remembered from my first time reading the series either. But it was really the biggest reason why I still love this series: whatever audience you’re a part of, feeling so welcomed into a fictional world is all a reader can possibly ask for.

Rowling has created some of the most loved characters in my lifetime, and I think part of that comes from the fact that they all have their own personalities and genuine flaws. You feel annoyance with Harry at people sometimes, and you’re jealous of their skills at other points: people feel real and distinguishable from one another so of course it’s easier to fall in love with them, and root for them until the very end.

Harry is actually a lot more plain than I remember. And it’s actually a breath of fresh air in an industry that feels like it’s constantly pushing all the unique and strange protagonists it can to the front of the pile. Harry is, for most intents and purposes, normal past what his parents did. Yes, he’s the chosen one, but he comes from a generation of main characters that don't have to fight to be different: he’s strong both as a person and a character from being just Harry, and not needing to be anything more. I think it’s a really good message to send to kids: being weird in your own way is great, but you don't have to be what some people would call extraordinary to be happy and successful.

Ron is undeniably underrated across all platforms. He may be the lighthearted sidekick that gives the group direction every now and then, but he’s a lot more than that too. His character is a lot more complex than I think most people automatically think because of the films and maybe the brighter shine of other characters in the series. He’s genuinely scared of being overshadowed by his brothers; he worries about the fact his family have a lot less money than his friends; he wants to be a good friend but struggles a little to find his identity around the others. Even in the first book he grows a lot, but comparing where he starts to where he ends is a really uplifting story arc.

Hermione was one of the characters I related most to as a child, and I know I’m not alone in that. I think what’s so different about her portrayal of the diligent student is that she’s genuinely shunned for it, and often feels bad about herself for it. I love a clever heroine, and I think it’s wonderful they’re becoming more and more common in books for all ages, but at the time Harry Potter came out it was near revolutionary to have an intelligent female character that was not, at first, held up for her studiousness and determination to learn but continued being that person anyway. Hermione even gets teased by Harry and Ron about being a ‘know-it-all’ but it’s important enough to her that she doesn’t force herself to change, when I think it’s clear at some point that she wants to. As a role model, Hermione is undeniably one of the most influential ones our there in children’s fiction, and it makes me happy that I felt just as much comfort from her now that I did as a child.

Like I’ve said, up to the middle I was just lost in Harry’s world and was reliving the first time I discovered Diagon Alley and Platform 9 3/4 and Hogwarts. But once we were at Hogwarts, and there weren’t quite as flashy things to show off, I really felt like the pace of the book ground to a halt. Maybe that’s a little unfair - I was still reading and it was still enjoyable. But I didn’t find myself unable to put the book down and I wasn’t racing to get ahead. Admittedly, the book becomes a lot more plot-driven after the midpoint, and knowing what’s going to happen does lessen the effect as a consequence, but even so I would’ve liked to be stuck to the story a little more than I was.

The Philosopher’s Stone is great fun, and the essence of fantasy adventure for kids, but it’s nothing compared to where this series goes. It isn’t really a criticism: it’s wonderful the books grew with their audience and came so developed and complex, but rereading it I have to be honest and say I was a little disappointed.

Image Source - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17372039-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerer-s-stone