After years of avoiding this series, I was finally tempted by the completion of the series and my daughter’s sudden desire for “big kid” books. I also thought it would be wise to wait until the series was over, just in case it wound up being as addictive as I’ve heard! I’m glad that I did wait until I knew more about the series, particularly that it would get more substantial and explore darker territory, because this first volume is actually a bit disappointing.
Nearly everyone knows the plot from the book or the film (I think I was the last person to read/watch either one), so rehashing that information is unnecessary. The fact that the film was basically a scene-to-scene translation of the book is not hard to imagine, because the film actually brings more to the table than the prose.
I can see how this would be a good book for younger readers, because while there are some difficult ideas, the story moves so quickly that it can be understood without too much afterthought. It introduces the world quickly and efficiently, and the tone is appropriate for the age of the characters. There is a definitive innocence and lightness to the book, which many will find charming, and there’s enough of a hint of darkness to keep things interesting.
But the book itself lacks true depth. While tons of interesting concepts are introduced, tons of references are tossed out for the sole purpose of adding to the absurdity of it all. It’s a bit silly, and while that’s what one would expect from a children’s novel, it doesn’t quite equate when taken from an adult point of view (which is why the film works better).
I read this book in the space of about 14 hours, which is not a record but should reflect the rushed and shallow nature of the material. It doesn’t demand much consideration after the fact. If the series hadn’t been finished, and if I had no information about the direction of the story, I’m not sure that I would have continued. Instead, it’s easier to think of this story as a prologue. It reflects the wonder, innocence, and whimsy inherent to Harry’s perspective at this part of the story.
Rating: 6/10
you know, i’m glad someone else has said this. Like you, I had not read any of the books until recently, having already seen the first 5 movies before I started on the first book. I had heard from so many people how good the books were – my wife, friends, even my dad.
But as I was reading The Sorcerer’s Stone, there was so many times when i was like “really? is that is?” I thought the storytelling was pretty bland and most of it was expressionless. It’s been years since I’ve seen the first movie, but surprisingly I still recognized nearly every scene in the book, but like you said, the book left a lot to be desired compared to the movie as far as depth and descriptions of events and locations and such.
I have enjoyed all the movies, especially the later ones because of the darkness and good action, and i’ve been looking forward to seeing how that comes across on the page. Also, it is obvious that as each book gets longer than the previous, but the movies are still roughly the same length, that the books will begin to contain more information than was in the movies. However, I’ve started the 2nd book and am stuck about 1/4 of the way in. Even though I know what’s coming up, the story hasn’t grabbed me and I’m having a hard time just getting through this book….
Things pick up a bit in Book III, and keep getting better with Book IV.
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