Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I have done it - I have finally done it.

After somehow avoiding anything associated with the wizarding world -avoiding the books, the movies, having my only exposure being the iconography and the retconning controversy - I decided to read the books for the very first time, and faster than I usually read a book: I laughed, I re-read passages because I was so impressed with the prose, I was amazed with the detail of the world, I loved the characters, and I am one of the few in the world that can honestly say that I cried at the end.

Suffice to say, I loved Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. From the very first chapter, where Rowling hones in her inner Dahl and writes in such a bizarre and playful way, introducing us to the world through the eyes of a bigoted muggle - she gives the story a sense of wonder. She leaves details out, and that is due to the hurrying way she wrote this chapter, but it is with the ellipses of detail that makes the reader so intrigued with what is happening; it works so much better than starting off with the second chapter. Knowing that somehow Harry's life will change and he is destined to get out of his miserable home life is an excellent use of dramatic irony - it continues to make the reader want to know “what's next?”

That makes the reveal and Harry's adventures at Hogwarts that much more satisfying. Hogwarts itself is such an amazing setting so full of vibrancy and life that it becomes a character in the story; I wanted to know every detail of the place. It makes the general lack of plot for the first half more excusable, because you are so invested in the world that Rowling builds - you WANT the general lack of plot to keep going, to see what else Hogwarts has in store. But Rowling doesn't skimp out on characters in service for worldbuilding; it is as if she doesn't know how to make a boring character. Even from the briefest of cameos, there is always a sense of charm for each of each and every one of them - each distinct in their role in the story. The main trio themselves are likable - but become amazing in their selfless acts in the second half of the book. Even in the giant cast of unique characters and magic, they manage to be distinct in spite of that and I cannot wait to continue along their adventure.

So, in the span of five days (could have even been less if I wasn't so lazy) I became a fan of Harry Potter. I want to get every book in the series, don the scarlet robes and declare myself a part of team Gryffindor and hop onto a broomstick and play Quidditch. The book is just so full of imagination and wonder that I can't possibly see how can she top this - but knowing the reputation of the subsequent books in the series, I can't wait to see her do just that.