In the summer of 1999, I was introduced to Harry Potter. A close friend gave me a set of the first three books while I was staying with her family in Norfolk, England. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve eagerly awaited each new book, always re-reading the previous ones in preparation. Over the past 18 years, I’ve read these books countless times.
This year, two decades after the first book’s release, I had the pleasure of sharing “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” with my son, who is now rapidly making his way through the series. He enjoys it immensely, although he occasionally wonders why Harry never seems to get a quiet year at Hogwarts.
Harry Potter is an orphan living with his unfriendly relatives, the Dursleys, who spoil their own son Dudley while treating Harry terribly. Harry doesn’t remember his parents and carries a mysterious lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Unusual things often happen around him, much to the annoyance of his guardians. As Harry approaches his eleventh birthday, he receives a letter that changes his life.
Harry learns that he is a wizard and a famous one at that. He is known throughout the wizarding world for defeating the dark sorcerer Lord Voldemort as a baby, although he has no memory of the event. This revelation opens up a magical world to Harry, hidden from the non-magical (Muggle) world. He is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will learn magic, make friends, and have many adventures.
Harry quickly befriends Ron Weasley, who comes from a large family and often feels overshadowed, and Hermione Granger, a bright but somewhat bossy girl whose parents are non-magical. Together, the trio faces numerous challenges, including a quest to protect the Philosopher’s Stone, an object that grants immortality, from dark forces.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” is a modern classic and with good reason. The story is gripping, relatable, and full of humor. J.K. Rowling’s writing is vivid and imaginative, filled with memorable characters and evocative descriptions. Many readers compare her style in this book to Roald Dahl’s, which is quite the compliment.
The book remains an engaging read even twenty years after its release and will likely continue to enchant new generations of readers. So here’s to Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling for bringing magic into our lives for two decades and counting!
The book includes some intense scenes, but nothing overly disturbing, making it suitable for readers of all ages.
The film adaptations of the series were hugely successful. The first movie was released in 2001, and the series concluded with the eighth film in 2011. The young cast members, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione), grew up with their characters and have since moved on to other projects. The magical world continues with the spin-off prequel series “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by J.K. Rowling, which started in 2016 and is set to be a five-film series.
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” is available at local bookstores and online retailers like Amazon, including special 20th-anniversary editions.
