Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Inhoud

Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt and Uncle's house, which he thinks is normal for someone whose parents have been killed in a "car crash". He is rescued into a world where magic lessons are the order of the day. This is the first in the series.

Bespreking

Once you start to read Harry Potter, you are hooked!

Harry Potter, a seemingly ordinary boy, leads a very unhappy life with the heartless Dursleys: Uncle Vermon, Aunt Petunia and their terribly spoiled brad Dudley. His real parents supposedly died in a weird car accident. Harry's room is a dark cupboard under the stairs, and that is okay for him, because that's at least one spot where the Dursleys won't bother him. When one plain day a mysterious letter arrives -addressed to Mr H. Potter, The Cupboard under the Stairs- Uncle Vermon refuses to let Harry read the letter and immediately throws it in the fire. Next day another letter arrives, and another. Although the Dursleys try everything to escape the flow of letters, Harry is finally rescued by Hagrid on his flying motorbike and taken to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry enrols at this mysterious school his adventures have only just started.

No-one is capable of ignoring the recent hype around the character of Harry Potter. This is clearly a showcase of how far merchandising can get and gives rise to the question if this circus is really necessary or even justified. One quickly tends to forget that behind this commercial vehicle is one of the most refreshing and inspired stories told in years. Rowling has created with the Harry Potter saga a world filled with a set of unforgettable characters. It is not without reason that Rowling is often compared with Roald Dahl. The strength of these characters becomes even clearer when you look at the high quality of the sequels. The Philosopher's Stone (american edition: Sorcerer's Stone) is so well plotted that it can stand the comparison with a first-class whodunit. It is amazing how all those little details fall together at the end and bring the reader a denouement that is both fair and utterly surprising.

But above all Harry Potter is a fun read, and to my knowledge it is one of the few children's novels that can be read on the train by adults without them having to blush with shame. Something one can only applaud: there is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting you're still young at heart!