Just in case any of you have been hiding under a rock for the past 17 years, Harry Potter is a book series that centers around a young boy who suddenly finds out he is a wizard and begins training to be awesome at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I mean, come on. It's like every kid's dream - Surprise! You have magic powers, come hang out with these cool kids who have more magic powers.
Fair warning: This review is not written for those unfamiliar with the series. It's just my opinion on Harry Potter, and not necessarily a solid introduction to the full story. Honestly, if you haven't read the book or at least watched the movies, most of this probably won't make much sense.
Also: CONTAINS SPOILERS
The series as a whole has many moral messages (good for kids) and an epic story line (great for EVERYONE). This first book, however, just barely scratches the surface of all of that. Half the story happens before Harry even makes it to Hogwarts, giving us an opportunity to get to know him enough to really celebrate with him when he finds out he's a wizard and can leave the Dursleys for Wizard School. Talk about an upgrade.
But one of the things I love is that as Harry grows, the books grow also (and I'm not talking about their length). The first book is fairly light-hearted: it is about learning and exploration and making friends and loyalty, which is very appropriate for a book where the main character is 11. Each year, Harry gets a little bit older and the story gets a little bit darker. I mean, mastering death and splitting your soul is pretty intense shit when you think about it (plus you lose your nose in the process).
Despite the general light-hearted nature of the first novel, it sets up so much of what is to come in the series. Harry is faced with seemingly simple, everyday choices: who should he be friends with, what house does he belong in, etc. Draco Malfoy is clearly no good, so we're excited when Harry chooses to reject Malfoy and befriend Ron. Harry's upbringing is the reason he's able to make the choices he does. He's been bullied his whole life, and so recognizes Malfoy as a bully. Harry's misfortune allows him to identify with Ron, therefore reaching what we see as an obvious choice. It makes me wonder how different Harry's life would have been had his aunt and uncle not been complete tools. They basically emotionally abused him and turned their own child, Dudley, into a fat, spoiled, bully. Of course, we'll never know, but it's still interesting to think that had Harry's childhood been healthier, he may not have been able to judge his peers as accurately on their character.
Harry's friendships set up some of the major story arcs through the novel. He finds loyalty in Ron and Hermione, who give him the support and family he relies on for the rest of the series. The three teach the reader about morality, about good versus evil, and the importance of love and loyalty. On a separate note, I think we're all glad Harry was able to emerge from the home life he had with what is really still such a positive outlook and emotional stability, considering the circumstances.
Similarly, Harry only ends up in Gyrffindor because of choices he makes. The sorting hat wants to put him in Slytherin, but he wants to be "anywhere but" in that house (I mean I get it, the dude who killed your parents was in Slytherin, it wouldn't be my first choice). Again, they seem like easy choices - almost as soon as Harry finds out he's a wizard, it's insinuated by those he meets that Slytherin is a "bad" house, and Gryffindor is "good", so you want him to go to the good house. But when you think about it, Harry's position in Gryffindor and the friends he meets there are extremely important plot points (*clears throat* Neville Longbottom). How different would Harry's magical education been had he been placed in Slytherin? Harry sneaks out of the dorms so often he would have been expelled in the first novel if he had been in Slytherin. I mean, the head of Slytherin house, Professor Snape, hates Harry before he's even met him. For example, Professor Snape takes points away from Harry in Potions class because one of Harry's classmates makes a potion wrong and he doesn't stop him. Did I mention the student who messed up (Neville again) already had a partner he was working one on one with, and yet it's Harry who's punished.
Then in the end, it is indeed love that conquers all. The love of Harry's mother from her self-sacrifice, which saved Harry as a baby, is the protection he needs to survive his first encounter with the Dark Lord (thank goodness 'cause the series would have been much shorter). According to Dumbledore it is a deep old magic - and because Harry's mother sacrificed herself to save Harry, not only can he not be touched by the Dark Lord (because of the pure evil thing), but Harry now has a lasting protection by living with his Aunt and Uncle. As long as he considers that to be his home, he is safe. The ultimate sacrifice gives Harry the best protection. It seems a bit cheesy when you're reading it, but its also kinda cool to think about the sacrifices people make for the ones they love. The theme that love is the most powerful magic is a recurring one through the series, and you should prepare yourself to board the feelbus for the feeltrip.
The whole Harry Potter series should give you warm fuzzies. It's an awesome series and everyone should read it, but sometimes wizards do crazy things that don't really make much sense and make me question the general education wizards get.
Can we just take a second to point out how dumb the set-up to the third corridor is? Okay, yes, lets hide magical things where they are the safest. I'm with that, got it. Turns out the safest place is at a school ... hmm endangering children a little bit, but still okay with that, I mean they do have the most powerful wizard of all time there, with a full staff of powerful wizards to help. Yeah, still sounding like a logical idea. But why is the savage, giant killer dog locked in one room, with no exercise, in a school with small children, hidden behind a door that can be unlocked by a spell found in a first year's book, 'alohomora'? Come on Dumbledore, get your shit together, at least make it a challenge for Hermione. I mean this is the man known as the most powerful wizard of all time and he can't come up with a better spell to keep students out? Props to J. K. Rowling though for the use of a three headed dog aka Cerberus aka the Guardian of the Gates to the Underworld. Pretty appropriate when you consider Harry and friends are going downwards to face what turns out to be the reincarnation of evil.
All in all, though, we better give the first novel its due.
And here's a shout out to the awesome characters that don't get enough recognition in Sorcerer's Stone:
Professor McGonagall: Later in the series, she starts to really get recognition she deserves for the bad ass she is. But lets take a moment to appreciate her in this book as well. She finds Harry flying a broom before first-years are allowed, catches him in the act. What does she do? Put him on the Quidditch team.
Fred and George Weasley: Again, later become badass, but in this first novel are limited to providing us with genius humor and make us wish we could have thought of their pranks, like when they bewitched snowballs to hit Professor Quirrel in the back of the head (funny when you read it, even funnier when you remember what's on the back of Quirrel's head). None of us will ever be as cool as the Weasley twins.
Peeves: First of all, why is he not in the movies? It's Peeves who sends our main characters down the forbidden corridor, which helps them learn about Fluffy (major plot point). Also, he pisses off Filch, which makes me happy.
Lee Jordan: Best known for being the twins' best friend/ side kick. He's also awesome. I mean, he has a tarantula. Plus, his commentary on the Quidditch games is hilarious.
"Slytherin in possession - Flint with the Quaffle - passes Spinnet-passes Bell-hit hard in the face by a bludger, hope it broke his nose" (pg 189)
He only ever has small parts in the books, but he makes you wish you could be his friend.
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Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet: These three awesome ladies are the chasers on the Gryffindor team. In my opinion, the chasers have a hard job and they don't get the credit they deserve. I mean, they have to play hard the entire game, and the whole time they know that they have to score 160 points just to keep up with the seeker. 16 goals just in case the other team catches the snitch. That's a tough job. Not to mention Quidditch is a co-ed sport, and these ladies are competing and winning against boys who are often times stronger than them. They must compensate with intelligence, teamwork and strategy. So here's to them being bad ass quidditch players.
Molly Weasley: Right off the bat, she's awesome. She refuses to treat Harry differently just because he's famous, she helps him get on the train to Hogwarts, and then she sends him a sweater she knit and fudge she made for Christmas. She knew Harry wasn't expecting many gifts, but it goes beyond that. Mrs. Weasley gives Harry the unconditional love he has never received and she does it without even thinking. She meets him once and accepts him as family the way she does her own sons. The way a mother would.
Let me know your favorite part or character from the first Harry Potter novel in the comments section. My next book is supposed to be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
I'm just gonna leave this here ...
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