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Book Review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Bk 1)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Bk 1)
bran-flakes14 avatar reviewed on + 72 more book reviews


Everyone, regardless of if they've read the series or not, has heard of the global phenomenon that is "Harry Potter". This mythos has entered into our lexicon and is here to stay. The reasons for the popularity are clear if one takes a stab at reading the books, as is evident with this first installment, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". Set in Britain in the early 1990s, the tale of Harry Potter, a misunderstood and rather abused young orphan boy who is despised by aunt, uncle, and cousin, begins with a series of mysterious events which culminate with Harry learning he is a wizard. After this initial shock, a whole hidden world of witches, wizards, and magic flow from the pages as Harry leaves behind his cruel relatives and meets eccentric and loveable new characters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and also learns about his unknown past concerning an evil, rival wizard. Apart from the amazingly original and inventive world the author, J. K. Rowling, has created, this book explores themes of the power of love and finding one's identity and place in the world, all wrapped up in an instantly engaging, often quite funny, yet ominously dark and thrilling, new world.