Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a fantasy classic that children and grownups can enjoy. I decided to re-read all Harry Potter, and the first volume came with delight: Snape. I can’t say anything about Harry because I don’t like him very much. But Hermione, Snape, and Luna are perfect for me.

This first volume is fun, super quick to read, and an excellent way to get hooked in the Harry Potter series. I had already forgotten how much fun I had with it years ago. This time, I’m reading the UK version of the books. Even so, Hagrid comes as a complicated character. His way of speaking kills me. But he’s such a soft giant!

I bet most of you are familiar with the story, but for those who are not, here come the SPOILERS. Harry survived Voldemort, and he got famous because of it. The problem is that he has no idea because he lives with his uncles. They’re the least magical and most annoying characters ever. Because I’m living in the UK, now I can understand what type of English family Rowling is referring herself in creating such annoying and nasty characters. [Yes, people like that do exist.]

I also get to understand Hagrid very well: uneducated, but a soft guy nonetheless. Most characters and environment get more vivid than before when you happen to read Harry Potter in a very Brittish coffee shop. Pubs like the one Harry needs to cross to go to Diagon Alley with Hagrid are all too common. Sometimes I ask myself if I can pass one of the dirty and piggy walls and end up there myself. (I won’t try it, don’t worry.)

We get to approach our heroes in their most innocent hour: childhood. The whole book is sweet and very fast to read. Hermione is a horror, Ron is too funny, we’ve all met a Longbottom as a friend and Harry is just savoring fame far too much. As for Malfoy, well, who hasn’t met one of these?

I must say that it’s ingenious to make us believe Snape is evil when in fact, the evil one was walking around making a fool of himself. This teaches us that evil is in the details. But it can also be found in the most unexpected places and the best people. Images can lie, and so our perceptions of reality.

Will you join me in my quest to re-read all the books during this year? Also, who is your favorite character?

I’ll give you a clue for mine: Always.

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