Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Paperback – Abridged, September 1, 2014

This is, of course, the book that launched the multi-billion dollar franchise about the orphaned boy named Harry Potter that finds out he is a Wizard when he turns 10 years old, and has been accepted to Hogwart's School for Witches and Wizards. It would eventually spawn seven books, eight movies, a spin-off series, and a play. For the few who do not know the story, this book basically establishes Harry learning that his parents were Wizards and killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort, who also tried to kill Harry as an infant. The attempt to kill Harry failed, and Harry was sent by Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts to live with his aunt and uncle and then chronicles his first year at Hogwarts where he meets two schoolmates who would become his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger.For those who have seen the movie but have not yet read the book, this is the shortest of the novels so it has the least amount of material removed in the movie adaptation. That said, the movie did change some things and did shorten some sequences. For example, the opening sequence with the Dursleys is more extended in the novel and things like the trip to the zoo play out a bit differently than was shown in the movie. But, all the main plot points from the book ended up in the movie, especially once Harry gets to Hogwarts, so that will not be much different.The book is age-appropriate for kids about 10-11 years old and up. Rowling intended that the kids reading it would be about the same age as the characters in the book, so for the first novel around 10-11 years old. The books get increasingly darker and more adult with each new book, but really for this book a kid only really needs to understand the concept of death and "good guys" versus "bad guys". Otherwise, the novel is pretty tame. It has a good blend of humor, action, and suspense, and touches on themes of family, friends, right vs. wrong, and the like. Even though it is technically a "kids book" it is enjoyable enough for an adult, and even though it was written in the mid to late 1990s, it holds up well enough to be enjoyable even years later. It can easily be enjoyed by people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, etc., whether your first experience with the Harry Potter universe was as a young kid, as a teenager, or (as in my case) as an adult because of watching the movies. And, because it is only a few hundred pages and meant for young kids to be able to read it, adults who are fairly quick readers can probably get through it in a couple of days without a problemUltimately, by now anyone reading this likely knows enough about Harry Potter to know the overall story and knows whether they like it or not. But, if you are just getting introduced to the series and are looking at the reviews if you are into fantasy novels or themes like magic, this is definitely worth reading. While it is nowhere near the best book of the series, it does a good job establishing the main characters, telling the stand-alone portion of the story, inviting the Sorcerer's Stone, and setting up what is to come down the line.

I have always been a fan of the Harry Potter movies, and finally reading the first book was amazing. I absolutely loved it. Thank you J.K Rowling for making this book.

Embarking on a nostalgic journey, I recently re-read “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” this time sharing the experience with my children. Over two decades ago, as a young adult unfamiliar with fantasy literature, I was captivated by J.K. Rowling’s enchanting world. Today, with numerous fantasy novels behind me, the magic remains undiminished.The intricate world-building, from the bustling Diagon Alley to the majestic halls of Hogwarts, is as vivid as ever. Rowling’s ability to craft a universe that feels both fantastical and familiar is truly remarkable. The story, though starring barely teen characters, has more depth and maturity than most of the current YA novels (I know, I wrote a total “grandma” phrase, but as an early millennial, I’m basically ancient to my Gen Alpha kids).Experiencing the story in its original English form, after previously reading translations, has been a revelation. The nuances and subtleties of Rowling’s language enhance the narrative immensely, and I’m so happy I waited for my kids to be proficient enough in English to appreciate it. Sharing the fantasy journey with them is heartwarming. Their wonder mirrors my own from years past and together we delight in the humour, suspense, and the timeless battle between good and evil.For those considering a return to this series, or introducing it to a new generation, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The magic endures, proving that truly great stories are ageless.

Loved every second. 10/10 read cant wait to rewatch movie tonight! Easy to read and read super fast. Would recommend

it's absolutely fun and great read , but everyone knows that it's a fun book about friendship, adventures, hard work, and destiny.There's nothing.I can say that everyone else has said before me

Fantastic. Love it! It reminds me of when I was younger and I used to read this book many times. It gets better every single time.