So here is where it all began. J.K. Rowling first introduced the world to the fabled tale of “The Boy Who Lived” in this marvelous little tome, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Though this first book in the seven-part series is the shortest, and though it is in many ways the most conventional, it still represents a major leap in quality for children’s fantasy. It’s a leap so great that much like a good Pixar film it works even better for adults. With Philosopher’s Stone, Rowling lays claim to the crown previously held by Roald Dahl, and she wears it proudly.
Within its pages readers are greeted by an intricately constructed world that never fails to be wondrous and fun. Rowling carries that delightful Dahl sensibility by infusing her novel with a giddy sort of charm, accentuated by funny sounding names and ceaseless possibilities. The opening chapter sets up the mystery surrounding the magical world and the boy named Harry Potter expertly. It’s an opening that revels in the strange and the bizarre and the comedic, but like the rest of the book—and the rest of the series, too—there is an undercurrent of darkness and the unknown that is engaging on a truly gut level. Click to read more
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