Released: October 1st, 1997
Publisher: Scholastic
Age: Middle-Grade
Pages: 309
Overall:
Recommend Level: High
Summary: "Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son. Dudley--a great big swollen spoiled bully. 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 an incredible place that Harry--and anyone who reads about him--will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter." - From book jacket.
Review: Sadly, this is the first time I've read a Harry Potter book. And you would think that since I'm now twenty-one the middle-grade narrative and plot would irritate me. But this book was so much more entertaining then a lot of the books I've been reading lately that I didn't want to put it down unless I had to.
Because I've seen the movie(s) (and even watched part of it today) I knew what to expect. I didn't expect the book to be so spot on with the movie. Every person's voice and face was in my head as I read, there was not one person I felt was wrong for the character. I did, however imagine the second Dumbledore (Michael Gambon instead of Richard Harris--RIP). And yes, I did read aloud in an English accent. Sue me.
One complaint is that the book is in third person, but then again I liked it and after the first chapter it didn't bother my any. (OMG I still have an accent in my mind as I'm typing this. Darn you J.K. Rowling.) Because of the third person narrative we got to explore the minds of many of the other main characters aside from Harry. Such as Snape, Professor Quirrel, Ron, Hermione...etc.
The book moves very quickly along and it feels like such a shorter time than a full term at Hogwarts. I do wish we got to actually see inside the classrooms more. I felt it was off balanced and there was maybe a little too much bouncing around that it didn't seem to completely flow from one happening to the other. But of course this could be my basing it on the movie. There were a few distinct differences between the two.
Because I've seen the movie the "plot twist" at the end wasn't surprising at all as it was quite expected. But in the movie I didn't expect it completely, so I'm going to assume I wouldn't have completely expected it in the book. But come on a stuttering teacher you happen to meet before school with a stinky turban on his head. *WARNING*WARNING*!
I do wish there was more Neville, the bloak(dammit) just puts a smile on my face!
I honestly don't know how else to review this book without the line between the movie and book becoming blurry.
Plot:
Characters:
Ending:
Writing:
Cover:
(I know it's for MG's...but I'm not a fan of the cartoon drawing.)
I'll have to read it sometime. Since I hardly even remember the movie, I don't think that'd get in the way for me.
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