2011 Reading #112: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.
Books 71-80.
Books 81-90.
Books 91-100.
Books 101-110.
111. The Name of the Game by Will Eisner.
112. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Re-read). I could put a link there, but really, if you're interested in this one you've read it by now, I think. I've often said that I think the first book of this series is the best, because it doesn't suffer from the kitchen-sink overkill of the later books. I still think that's more or less true. This time around I was interested in the bits of foreshadowing--in the first chapter/prologue Hagrid mentions borrowing his magical motorcycle from "young Sirius Black," for instance. And Neville, who was always my favorite. Some other bits are more confusing, like Scabbers, who despite being Wormtail (obligatory aside about how creepy it is that Ron sleeps with a middle-aged shapechanger dude for two books of the series) makes his only significant action that of biting Goyle's finger. Also confusing: Nicholas Flamel is vaguely described as Dumbledore's "partner" on the latter's Chocolate Frog trading card, but also turns out to be married, making the Dumbledore-is-gay backstory even more ambiguous. I'm quibbling, I know. There just isn't a lot more to say about this book. It has its weak points, but it's obvious why it succeeds: it's the narrative equivalent of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, with all the joyous overkill and emotional ups-and-downs that implies. Not to mention that everyone wishes they had gone to Hogwarts.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.
Books 71-80.
Books 81-90.
Books 91-100.
Books 101-110.
111. The Name of the Game by Will Eisner.
112. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Re-read). I could put a link there, but really, if you're interested in this one you've read it by now, I think. I've often said that I think the first book of this series is the best, because it doesn't suffer from the kitchen-sink overkill of the later books. I still think that's more or less true. This time around I was interested in the bits of foreshadowing--in the first chapter/prologue Hagrid mentions borrowing his magical motorcycle from "young Sirius Black," for instance. And Neville, who was always my favorite. Some other bits are more confusing, like Scabbers, who despite being Wormtail (obligatory aside about how creepy it is that Ron sleeps with a middle-aged shapechanger dude for two books of the series) makes his only significant action that of biting Goyle's finger. Also confusing: Nicholas Flamel is vaguely described as Dumbledore's "partner" on the latter's Chocolate Frog trading card, but also turns out to be married, making the Dumbledore-is-gay backstory even more ambiguous. I'm quibbling, I know. There just isn't a lot more to say about this book. It has its weak points, but it's obvious why it succeeds: it's the narrative equivalent of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, with all the joyous overkill and emotional ups-and-downs that implies. Not to mention that everyone wishes they had gone to Hogwarts.