or Sorcerer's Stone. WHATEVER, don't yell at me. lol.
THIS IS A HP VIRGINS AND VETERANS THREAD. Vets, please include any thoughts that reveal spoilers or any foreshadowing whatsoever in SPOILER TAGS. This is done by typing [ spoiler ] whatever you're spoiling [ / spoiler ], without the spaces. If you want to gush about it openly, please feel free to create a separate post to do so - just be clear in the title that it will include series spoilers.
I found some interesting discussion questions online. Feel free to answer some/all of them if you don't know where to start! Otherwise, feel free to spill whatever is on your mind!
1. Are you reading the series for the first time? Are you rereading? a. If you are reading for the first time, what did you think? Do you have any predictions about what will happen in the upcoming books? b. If you are rereading, did anything stick out to you this time that you may not have noticed the first time?
2. What was your favorite part of the book?
3. Why do you think J.K. Rowling depicts the Dursleys as being so terrible?
4. What are the advantages to Harry not having known he is special before he starts school? Disadvantages?
5. What is your first impression of Hogwarts School? What about it makes it seem special and different?
6. Sometimes, the very qualities that seem to make a person disagreeable to you, as Hermione was to Harry and his friends at first, become assets to you once that person becomes you friend. What qualities did Hermione bring to the group? What does her integration into the group tell you about the nature of friendship? Why did defeating the troll turn Harry, Ron, and Hermione into best friends?
7. The Mirror of Erised (Desire) plays an important role in the Harry’s growing understanding of his internal conflict. The inscription around the top of the mirror translates: “I show not your face but your heart’s desire.” When Harry gazes into the mirror he sees his parents and other members of his family. Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school, cautions Harry, saying that the mirror “will give neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible,” and he concludes by saying, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”. Harry longs for the connection to his family, something missing from his miserable childhood. How does he eventually make that connection to the past without losing sight of what is important in the present and essential to the future?
8. Quirrell tells Harry that “There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.” Do you agree with this? Is this the reality of the world? Or if good and evil do exist, what makes them so? Which is more important in the world - power, or good and evil?
9. Besides Harry Potter himself, who was your favorite character in the book? Which character did you find most interesting? Why? What details did Rowling provide that made that character come alive in your mind in all his or her complexity? Did your first impressions of the character remain unaltered, or did you change your opinion of the character as the story went on? Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know?
10. If the Sorting Hat were placed on your head, which house would you be?
11. If you had to hang any quote from this book on your wall, which one would you choose?
I am finishing up the book tonight, so I will hop into the discussion sometime tomorrow afternoon. Until then, I hope this starts everything off on the right foot!
Also, I'm excited to say that we have 91 people participating in this group! YAY! Please continue to invite others. If you aren't included in our participant list yet and would like to be, please tag me so I can add you! Whether your a reg or a lurker, we would love to have you!
I'm a vet (this is probably my 7th or 8th re-read of HP1) and I'm not going to answer all the discussion questions now, but I am going to answer 1b, because I did notice some foreshadowing in book 1 for book 5 this time around. (I suppose I noticed it before, but if I did I don't remember.)
There is one line thrown in there where Harry is thinking to himself that he could swear Snape could read minds sometimes.
Snape can read minds! Legilimency is probably really easy for an experienced wizard like Snape against a bunch of first year kids who are wearing their naughtiness and disdain for him on their sleeves.
I am going to come back to everything else when I get to a computer tomorrow, but my favorite quote has to be "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." -Dumbledore
I'm rereading, but I can't remember the last time I reread the whole series. I think I usually backtracked a book or two before each one came out, and then reread the most recent book a couple of times afterward.
I loved the little ironic hints at later books, like the spoiler that Nonny posted. I really squealed when I read that. /overinvested
Re: #9, I *loved* reading Dumbledore from the start again. In later books, his role is so heavy; it was refreshing to "see" him without such a weight on his shoulders. Although I'm sure he knows that the fight isn't over, I suppose it wasn't such a pressing concern - a freakin 11 year old just whipped out some superpowers, so he's probably feeling pretty good about his chances.
I love the sorting hat question because I can never decide. Probably not Gryffindor. But I'm smart, lazy, AND a good liar with loose morals. So any of the other three. Lol.
These are great questions everyjuan! I'm finishing the book up tonight and will be back! Of course, I'll be stalking the discussions all day today too!
Post by Booze Raccoon on Feb 16, 2015 8:00:31 GMT -5
I'm rereading but I've only gotten as far as book 5 so I haven't read to the end. (I read this one for the second time 3 weeks ago so I'll do my best here). I'll be staying out of all spoilers! One thing that jumped out at me was in the beginning Hagrid rides in on Sirius Black's motorcycle.
My favorite part is when he leaves with Hagrid. There is so much hope for him for a better life, even if only for a school year.
I think the advantage of Harry not knowing the extent of his abilities benefits the reader as we learn along with him.
Hogwarts is magical (duh). It's fun to read about the sky of the great room, and I WISH I could sit down to a feast like that!
LOL that I didn't catch Erised was desire.
My favorite characters are Fred and George Weasley because they are funny.
Post by ginandjucie24 on Feb 16, 2015 8:45:40 GMT -5
I am so glad we can discuss now. I felt this book was so short.
1. I am rereading for the third time. b. What stuck out to me, was that I noticed that everyone or maybe just Ron expects him/himself to do well in school. There was a bit in the book about all his brothers accomplishments in school, such as being head boy and doing well with school work and in sports and how Fred and George were popular, and Ron feels like he has big shoes to fill. I feel Ron did great things with Harry and Hermoine on their tasks/missions (not sure what to call them) in all the books and he was special in that way.
2. My favorite part is when Harry finds out he is going to go to Hogwarts. He is just so happy to have the chance to be away from the Dursleys.
3. I think the reason the Dursleys are depicted to be terrible is because they are meant to be the bad guys in Harry's muggle world.
4 I think the advantages to Harry not knowing he is special is that he is, Harry, just Harry going into the wizarding world and can experience it the reader. The disadvantage is that he really knows nothing about nothing.
I have to stop here I will come back and finish my reply later in the day. Can't wait to see what everyone else thought of the book.
Post by lightbulbsun on Feb 16, 2015 9:11:49 GMT -5
I have read all of the books multiple times (at least 5 times all the way through, but sometimes I just pick them up and re-read my favorite parts).
My favorite character has always been Hermione. I did like Harry in the first 3 books. I also love McGonagall.
I've always wanted to be in Ravenclaw.
SS random: I always wished that they had a picture of the poison/wine/fire-walking bottles in the first book, because I wanted to see if I could figure it out for myself. Now they have it on Pottermore!
One ... complaint? It seems ridiculous (riddikulus?) that three first years can get past a series of obstacles set by professors of magic. This was really their best work? I guess a lot of the security was tied up in how hard it would be to break into Hogwarts and then to get past Fluffy, but still!
Yes, though Quirrell had taken care of a few of the obstacles for them. Still, I always found it funny that the rest were thing tailored exactly to their skills. Giant chess game which Ron just happens to excel at? Check. Logic riddle for Hermione? You betcha. Catching a fast moving object on a broom? Of course
I was surprised again at how little Harry knows. How weird must it be to show up and everyone has heard of you and you barely even know why. And no one knows HOW you survived!
One ... complaint? It seems ridiculous (riddikulus?) that three first years can get past a series of obstacles set by professors of magic. This was really their best work? I guess a lot of the security was tied up in how hard it would be to break into Hogwarts and then to get past Fluffy, but still!
On this line, I always wondered about the chess scene. It took Harry, Ron and Hermoine to get past it, but with Quirrell, it was just himself (well, with Voldermort). i never understood how Quirrell got past it.
I was surprised again at how little Harry knows. How weird must it be to show up and everyone has heard of you and you barely even know why. And no one knows HOW you survived!
One ... complaint? It seems ridiculous (riddikulus?) that three first years can get past a series of obstacles set by professors of magic. This was really their best work? I guess a lot of the security was tied up in how hard it would be to break into Hogwarts and then to get past Fluffy, but still!
On this line, I always wondered about the chess scene. It took Harry, Ron and Hermoine to get past it, but with Quirrell, it was just himself (well, with Voldermort). i never understood how Quirrell got past it.
It only took all three of them because there were three of them. Quirrell would have just taken the place on one of the pieces as opposed to H/R/H taking three.
Post by TrudyCampbell on Feb 16, 2015 9:31:47 GMT -5
This is my first full reread, I read all the books again before the 7th book came out but I haven't reread since I finished the series. Just wanted to say thanks for setting this up! I really needed the push to read them again and it feels great.
Whenever I'm reading, I walk through the streets and ride the subway and imagine that some people are secret wizards. I also daydream about getting my letter any day now. ...no? Just me?
I agree that it seems unbelievable that first years would be able to solve all those tasks to get to the sorcerers stone, that part always bugs me.
My favorite part is when Harry finds out he's going to hogwarts. It gives me goosebumps.
One ... complaint? It seems ridiculous (riddikulus?) that three first years can get past a series of obstacles set by professors of magic. This was really their best work? I guess a lot of the security was tied up in how hard it would be to break into Hogwarts and then to get past Fluffy, but still!
Yes, though Quirrell had taken care of a few of the obstacles for them. Still, I always found it funny that the rest were thing tailored exactly to their skills. Giant chess game which Ron just happens to excel at? Check. Logic riddle for Hermione? You betcha. Catching a fast moving object on a broom? Of course
Lol, you forgot the plant studied in first year herbology.
... - a freakin 11 year old just whipped out some superpowers,...
Do you really see Harry as having superpowers (in book 1)? Interesting. I always thought one of the most interesting points is that he's really a pretty average person, albeit with very good instincts and a very well-developed sense of right and wrong. I mean, in book 1 he wouldn't have gotten through without his friends, and with the stone he wouldn't have defeated Quirrell if his main goal wasn't to thwart evil (rather than seek personal gain).
I mean, obviously he's a wizard so he can do magic. Maybe that's what you meant and I'm reading too deeply.
... - a freakin 11 year old just whipped out some superpowers,...
Do you really see Harry as having superpowers (in book 1)? Interesting. I always thought one of the most interesting points is that he's really a pretty average person, albeit with very good instincts and a very well-developed sense of right and wrong. I mean, in book 1 he wouldn't have gotten through without his friends, and with the stone he wouldn't have defeated Quirrell if his main goal wasn't to thwart evil (rather than seek personal gain).
I mean, obviously he's a wizard so he can do magic. Maybe that's what you meant and I'm reading too deeply.
Yeah, DaDA was really the only thing Harry absolutely excelled at. He was a pretty average student in all other respects.
Do you really see Harry as having superpowers (in book 1)? Interesting. I always thought one of the most interesting points is that he's really a pretty average person, albeit with very good instincts and a very well-developed sense of right and wrong. I mean, in book 1 he wouldn't have gotten through without his friends, and with the stone he wouldn't have defeated Quirrell if his main goal wasn't to thwart evil (rather than seek personal gain).
I mean, obviously he's a wizard so he can do magic. Maybe that's what you meant and I'm reading too deeply.
Yeah, DaDA was really the only thing Harry absolutely excelled at. He was a pretty average student in all other respects.
I don't have a ton to say right now about this book - I love it because it is THE beginning, and I'm always excited to read it, but not much other than that. So I answered some of the questions from the OP.
-Are you reading the series for the first time? Are you rereading? Doing my yearly re-read! Nothing stuck out to me this time that I hadn't noticed before.
-What was your favorite part of the book? I love the entire scene in the sea shack when Harry is counting the minutes to his birthday by Dudley's watch, then Hagrid shows up and tells Harry he's a wizard/is going to Hogwarts. Probably my favorite part of the book. My second favorite is when he sees his family in the Mirror of Erised, though it chokes me up.
-If the Sorting Hat were placed on your head, which house would you be? I like to think Ravenclaw, but probably Hufflepuff. lol
-If you had to hang any quote from this book on your wall, which one would you choose? "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live", probably, but if I had to hang any quote from the series on my wall, it would be from Deathly Hallows: "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."
... - a freakin 11 year old just whipped out some superpowers,...
Do you really see Harry as having superpowers (in book 1)? Interesting. I always thought one of the most interesting points is that he's really a pretty average person, albeit with very good instincts and a very well-developed sense of right and wrong. I mean, in book 1 he wouldn't have gotten through without his friends, and with the stone he wouldn't have defeated Quirrell if his main goal wasn't to thwart evil (rather than seek personal gain).
I mean, obviously he's a wizard so he can do magic. Maybe that's what you meant and I'm reading too deeply.
I just meant magic beyond what anyone (including himself) expected, specifically referring to using his hands to burn Quirrell during their battle at the end of the book. He only has that "power" because of his mother (I can't remember how much is explained in this book vs later ones so I'll leave it vague) but it seems fairly super to me, lol. Not superpowers in the superman sense, but kind of an unexpected bonus. I don't think that just any 11 y.o. wizard could have pulled that out of his hat
He only has that "power" because of his mother (I can't remember how much is explained in this book vs later ones so I'll leave it vague) ... I don't think that just any 11 y.o. wizard could have pulled that out of his hat
Well no because it was a power specific to Lily's sacrifice to save Harry from Voldemort so it only worked against Voldemort. Her sacrifice made it so Voldy couldn't touch him. Quirrell would have been able to kill him had Voldemort not been inhabiting his body.
i am going to skim the first book again and come back and answer all the questions.
for now i wanted to say that i somehow managed to know NOTHING about hp before reading it this year, and so reading the first book was kind of...magical lol i kept thinking "oooh, so that's what diagon alley is?" and "oh, he didn't just live at hogwarts?" those questions seem stupid but i literally knew nothing, and i am glad because it was a good experience! i am on book 4 and have managed to stay away from all spoilers so far.
also, harry, ron, and hermoine's ability to get out of incredibly difficult situations as such young kids is kind of ridiculous but i am trying to keep an open mind. fantasy is my least favorite genre, so this is a challenge for me!
i am going to take the quiz to see what house i belong in
I'm rereading (I don't even know how many times) and read it aloud to my six year old this time. Reading as a mom, I felt like the Dursleys seemed so much more awful than any other time I read it. It made it even more amazing how Harry was so normal and well adjusted. I wonder if they were nicer when he was smaller. I realize it's fiction and all, but if a kid was unloved from about age 1 on, he'd have some serious issues. Maybe it's his mother's protection.
He only has that "power" because of his mother (I can't remember how much is explained in this book vs later ones so I'll leave it vague) ... I don't think that just any 11 y.o. wizard could have pulled that out of his hat
Well no because it was a power specific to Lily's sacrifice to save Harry from Voldemort so it only worked against Voldemort. Her sacrifice made it so Voldy couldn't touch him. Quirrell would have been able to kill him had Voldemort not been inhabiting his body.
Yes, exactly. I was just saying, originally, that the physical manifestation of her love/sacrifice would have most likely been a surprise to everyone involved, and a confidence booster when it came to keeping Voldemort at bay. Calling it a "superpower" was kind of tongue-in-cheek, considering he's a wizard, lol. I do realize that the power came from his mother's actions.
What I was trying to convey in my first post (sorry, I was in a tired/silly mood and didn't get my point across) was that this was the first time anyone has openly fought Voldemort since he disappeared, and Harry did phenomenally for a brand spankin' new wizard. Just figuring out about the stone and the plot for *someone* to steal it was pretty crafty, then getting through the puzzles, and finally, using this surprise power when he otherwise would have been a goner. IMO, at this point in the game, Dumbledore would have felt optimistic.