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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: J.k. Rowling
Creator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Listening Library
Category: Book
New (37) Used (15) from $27.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  5434 reviews
Sales Rank: 20171
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged CD
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 7
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 5.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 0807281956
EAN: 9780807281956
ASIN: 0807281956
Publication Date: December 1, 1999
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Amazon.com Review
Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the nonmagic human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley. A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, continues to win major awards in England. So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave kids clamoring for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (Ages 8 to 13) --Karin Snelson
Product Description
Read by Jim Dale
8 hours 17 minutes, 7 CDs
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable muggle aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's a wizard, just as his parents were.
But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright.
From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4990 more reviews...
A book that's packed with magic. An amazing beginning to an amazing series. December 26, 2008
A short, skinny boy with untidy hair and broken glasses and a scar on his forehead. A tall, gangly red-head with various hand-me-downs from his five older brothers. A bushy-haired girl who is absolutely book-smart, but also sometimes bossy and rash. It amazes me to this day that such a hugely popular book series could star a main cast such as the one I just described. Even more amazingly, we actually care about these characters and all of their adventures.
Harry Potter owes a debt to the great fantasy that came before it, but it never falls into the trap of copying everything that preceded it. Sure, there are the fairly cliched plot devices of a young boy with dead parents who goes on an incredible journey to kill the male antagonist, but others like Hagrid the half-giant, Diagon Alley, Platform 9 3/4, Quidditch, the Invisibility Cloak, and the incredibly touching Mirror of Erised all came straight from Rowling's incredible imagination. There is something marvelous in every chapter of Harry Potter.
The writing in Sorcerer's Stone isn't perfect, and one could argue that it's not even good, but Rowling's sense of humor, and again, her imagination really shine through. Her writing is very accessible but never patronizing, making Harry Potter a perfect choice for young readers, not only to give them a perfect reading choice, but also to spur a possible life-long interest in reading.
One thing I like about the series is that it's not a clear-cut tale about good vs. evil (this is made clear by the last few books in the series). Plenty of important themes are tackled, and all of them with grace--another argument for why young readers should read Harry Potter.
All in all, there is just so much to love about the series. The first book will have you hooked; by the time you reach the third book, you will desperately want to finish up the whole series, even though you know that means about 3,000 more pages of reading. I think that Harry Potter will go down in history as one of the best fantasy series of all time--you can think about that what you will, as not everybody would agree with me on this one. But I can give this whole series a heartfelt recommendation.
 Unlike Anything Available In The Fantasy Market December 12, 2008
Sadly I had seen the first Harry Potter movie before I read the book. For all of those who declared the first book superior I would have to disagree. Granted it is the begining source for all that we come to love about Harry and his friends, Hogwarts and the long driven drama against Voldemort but the story itself pales in comparison to such a brilliantly done movie. However, for those who have somehow avoided the tidal wave of media buzz concerning these books I would recommend that you start from the begining and enjoy this wonderful world one page at a time. Between the prose and film productions you are about to take a grand journey unlike anything available in the fantasy market.
 OVERRATED November 27, 2008
1 out of 14 found this review helpful
If you like card board characters, tired old plot, bad writing, this book is for you. Kids, please, there are so many better books out there. And we wonder why the aliens don't want to meet us.
Super! November 27, 2008
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Apparently, I am the 5434th person to leave a review. I will try to keep it short.
I am a retired older person and, ten years ago, I bought a copy of the previous edition for myself and my wife and a second copy for my, then, eight-year-old step granddaughter and her eleven-year-old brother. We, each, enjoyed the story tremendously. We have followed the Harry Potter stories through to finishing the seventh book, last year.
This is the easiest and the shortest book of the series. However, the author, J.K. Rowling, introduces the reader to many new sorts of things. The ending of this book is very good and this novel is a complete story.
I have read this story several times and am still happy with it, from beginning to end.
You may hear or see criticisms of the Harry Potter books. You may, also, hear or see many folks who praise the books. Please form your own opinions by reading this book for yourself. At first, Harry will be the character that you get to know the best. As the series continues, you will get to know several characters, very well. None of the characters are perfect people. However, Harry and his friends are people whom you would like as your friends. Finally, Harry and his friends do good things throughout the series of books. That is an important point that some folks have a hard time seeing, but it is there in every book.
I recommend this book, highly.
Brand New -So perfect! November 23, 2008
I got this book on the exact date it said I would and it's exactly what I wanted. Hard cover, brand new. Perfect. :)
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