Reviews

I thought of 'The Philosopher's Stone' as being like a pilot TV episode. There was an introduction to the wizarding world and its key inhabitants, and a gentle introduction to the main plot, but nothing too complex or racy. It was, essentially, a teaser 'episode' just to see if the water was warm enough for readers to wade into.

This is why I preferred 'The Chamber of Secrets'. Not only was I more familiar with the wizarding world and the key characters, but Rowling had dedicated page time to the individual plot of this novel. It felt more focused and plot driven, and less about setting up the world.
There was a development of the relationships between the leading figures, and we begun to delve into the history of the school, Harry and his fellow characters.

Rowling has perfected the talent of developing this world and feeding us information through the students. As they learn, we learn. So taking in the odd words, the copious amount of names, the rules of Quidditch and the spells doesn't feel like a chore.
This makes the books very easy to read, and I can see why they are so popular to both children and adults alike. Complexity and intrigue wrapped up in very simple writing.

I enjoyed this book as I read, but I wouldn't say that my world was set ablaze with wonder. Onwards to 'The Prisoner of Azkaban' to see if my fancy is more tickled.

bluelight333's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

whatmarloesreads's review against another edition

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4.0

Definitely enjoyed the book more than I did reading it for the first time a few years ago. The story was exciting and I kind of craved reading a few chapters every night. I can see some patterns also happening in the first book (dreading summer holidays, slow buildup) and it starts to feel familiar. Can’t wait to read about Harry’s next adventure.

leah_fanshaw's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

kjfantasia's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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