Ok… so in case you have lived under a rock for the last 13 years (can you believe it has only been 13 years since this first book was released?)... anyway here’s the storyline:
So, before the book opens we learn that “he who shall not be named”, from this point forward for time-saving he will be known as HWSNBN, has wiped out Harry’s parents for reasons I can not now reveal and poor little Harry is orphaned and left on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep to be raised until he is 11. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and their spoiled brat of a piggish son (no, I am not opinionated at all – why?) treat Harry like a virus. He is forced to sleep in a closet space under the staircase and wears only Dudley’s very large hand me downs.
But all of this is about to change.
On the day that Harry turns 11 years old a large giant of a man arrives at the Dursley’s and announces to Harry’s surprise that he will be starting at the Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Harry learns in that same amazing moment… that he is a wizard.
From there life is a series of amazing events: shopping for wands and owls, a magical train that is boarded from platform 9 3/4, meetings of the Weasley’s, meeting of Draco Malfoy (cue threatening evil music), Hermione – annoying but she grows on you, Neville who for some reason I really like, Dumbledore is awesome, a hat that sorts which house you will be a part of at Hogwarts, magical food appears on tables, professors that can turn into cats, Snape a name you won’t soon forget, spell classes that suck just a little bit, a troll in the lady’s room and a gross sentence or two on troll buggers, house points WON, house points lost, magical lessons and life lessons, whats up with Snape’s leg, Malfoy prank backfires, flying broomsticks and a game called Quidditch, a broom as a gift, stuttering Proffesor Quirrel and his mighty and also stinky turban, Quidditch practice practice practice, a little broom “almost” disaster, Hermione creates fire, a WIN for Gryffindor, a secret, a three-headed dog, who is Flamel, Hagrid can not keep a secret, a cloak that makes you invisible, a mirror that shows your greatest desire, Haggrid may have a slight drinking problem, baby dragon, baby dra
gon go away, DETENTION!, Snape steals into the Forbidden Forest (uhhh… helllo it’s called Forbidden for a reason!) dead unicorns, blood sucking floaty dude, centaurs (because really what is a good fantasy read without a centaur?), a magic stone (mmm hmmmm you knew that was coming, it’s in the title), sleepy flute music, HWSNBN makes a special guest appearance, life-size chess game, Ron gets a smack down, Harry plays Alice In Wonderland with a row of potions,Hermione uses her brain, mirror mirror who’s got the mirror, old stinky turban returns, what’s in your pocket Harry, whoa – HWSNBN what are you doing there?, well this is awkward, a little hospital tlc, info on the parental units, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored beans and Dumbledore eats the ear wax flavored one, final house points awarded, the school year ends on an up note, High fives and “see ya laters” by the dynamic trio, Harry is hauled back to the Dursleys for summer break.
Yup… I think that sums up book one. 😛
A year would not be complete if I did not dabble in yet another way to get my Potter dosage. Last year I spent time with Jim Dale and enjoyed the audio version of these books. If you have not tried them in audio – you are truly missing out. Jim Dale was an incredible narrator and his voices were FANTASTIC! I enjoyed these very much. Now this time around I have listened to it in to audio again but with another narrator that I have heard was a “do not miss”, Stephen Fry.
Stephen Fry was also an amazing narrator and once again this story opened up to me like it was the first time. There is something truly magical about these books. Every time I read one or listen to one, I pick up on something new… something that links to a later book that makes me shake my head in awe of the incredible mind of J K Rowling.
If you haven’t had your Potter dose in 2011… I suggest you try one of the early books again, or try it on audio for the first time – even if you are not an audio person I think you will enjoy the Harry Potter books and your whole family will too 🙂
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include The Philosopher’s Stone
I borrowed this audio from my lovely library
Book Journey 
I did vow to start this series this year. Can’t promise to complete all the books this year, but a beginning….
My granddaughter has the first one, and has offered to lend it to me.
Just start Laurel – its all I ask 😀 You should listen to them with your grand daughter on audio!
I will have to try it on audio just for a little something different. I enjoyed this review! “Good job, mate” 😉
Thanks Shirley – it was fun to write… 🙂
I know the Harry Potter-books inside and out, but it’s not long ago that I myself listened to them on audio read by Stephen Fry, and lots of times I had to remind myself about the fact that it’s only one person reading the book, and not several:-) Hope you enjoy and listen to all the books, it’s really fantastic:-)
Right Elida – its like you can see it all playing out! He does such a wonderful job!
I listened to the Jim Dale ones over the course of the summer with my children, all seven of them! I loved introducing the world of Harry Potter to them and hope to get them to FL sometime in the near future so we can go to Universal and see all the Harry Potter themed rides and such. Great review!
I really want to go to Florida and do the Theme park too Jill 🙂
I have a confession to make… I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books. I did read the first half of the first book to my son, who then told me it was too scary so I haven’t read the rest. One of these days I will have to at least finish it myself even if he won’t listen to it!
WOW Julie! How old was your son when you were reading it to him?
Try an audio – put it in while you are in the kitchen or dusting or something that keeps you in the area… I bet you will love it 🙂
I love the Jim Dale audiobooks (currently listening to Goblet of Fire in my car) but I haven’t tried Stephen Fry’s version yet. I really need to. Is it available on CD here in the States?
I found it at my library Christina and was thrilled – I have not checked to see if the others are here by him – but I will 🙂
I admit, while I love these books, I can’t listen to the audiobooks. It’s not because I dislike them or anything – I’ve never even TRIED to listen to them – but I know the books so well and they already have a vocal soundtrack in my head that I don’t want broken by listening to someone else speak it.
interesting -I get that… 🙂
I’ve been itching to re-read the Harry Potter series again, but I have a ridiculously huge to-read pile to get through, without adding re-reads into the bargain. My solution: to listen to the audio at idle moments. I’ve found audio books are better for my cd-radio-alarm clock to wake me up in the mornings as I’m less likely to hit the “snooze” button. Stephen Fry has a great voice for that sort of thing, and is perfect for reading the Harry Potter series. I can’t imagine anyone else doing the job.
Perfect! I listen to audio while I get ready in the morning – I have my IPOD set up in the bathroom and while I am prepping for my day I get in a good half hour easy 🙂
I also have audio in my kitchen for when I am cooking and in my car 🙂
I am afraid that i have only seen the movies and read half of the order of the phoenix – i am most definitely going from 1 to the end eventually!
Going on the TBR list!
😀
I hope you do – they are best books and I adore them! 😀
I’m guessing you’re listening to the American edition rather than the British?
I still have the last two books to reread – can’t wait to get to them!
Yes – America 🙂
I want to read the last two again before the movie comes out Aths 😉
I didn’t ever finish my re-read of the series last year, so I’d probably pick up where I left off then. For now, though, I’m enjoying Mystery March! 😀
Oh yeah – I will have to check out what you are reading!
I need to write an in-progress post about it! I was going to yesterday, but I took the day off, which was great! Maybe tomorrow, then.
I will be watching for that! 🙂
Yikes, now the pressure is on! 😀
LOL
I really must figure out a way to get my Potter fix this year. 🙂 Love it Sheila!
Yes Trisha – you must 🙂