Hello, dearies! ⚡️
This is just an excuse for me to talk about Harry Potter once more because yes I have a review about Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, both written and spoken.
All of that said, this was quite an experience for me. I loved how Stephen Fry read the book, and many times the episodes and hours passed in a perfect blend and harmony.
Now, there were some things that I didn’t remember and they were not in the movies, of course.
About the Book
Book: Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone
Format: Audiobook
Audio hours: 8h 25m
Genres: Epic Fantasy. School. Magic. Drama.
So, what about The Philosopher’s Stone? It is about the Boy who lived and how he grew up in the muggle world and then has to go the Wizarding World for the first time in ten years and learn everything about it.
Now, assuming you have the books and are here to fangirl with me. I’ll do this review more like an appreciation and recount of events I didn’t remember entirely.
Wandlore: The Potters’ Wands
Lily’s wand was described as good for charms, which fits her perfectly if you think about it. And James’s wand was good for transfiguration. 😍😱 I love that little detail, it says so much about who they were before we ever got to know them.
About Mr Ollivander
So, how old is Mr Ollivander? Never thought of that before, but this wizard was there with a photographic memory because how could he remember every single wand he ever sold? That’s impressive.
Quidditch Feels: The Seeker
Someone who we find out early on has poor eyesight, catching a tiny golden ball moving at top speed? Okay, sure. And the fact that Harry was practicing at night with tiny golf balls made me laugh, the visual alone is hilarious.
Also, small detail I completely forgot: Charlie Weasley was a big deal on the Quidditch pitch. I did not remember that at all.
About the Mirror of Erised
This chapter? It is kind of horribly heartbreaking. Harry seeing all of his family, the way he felt, how he was standing in front of the mirror like that, this time around it hit differently. The whole scene felt so raw.
Curiosity about Flamel
Okay but I need to talk about Nicholas Flamel for a second. How old can this wizard get? And did he give Dumbledore some of the elixir of life? Is that why Dumbledore is so old? 🤔 I have so many questions and not that many answers.
Btw, I do know that they say that Flamel celebrated his 600+ birthday in the book.
Dragons, and a Little Detour Into Myths
Are all the dragons in this book from Romania? As that’s exactly where Charlie ends up working later. This also had me thinking about the Drakon Series, and wondering about dragon myths across Europe in general. There’s clearly a rabbit hole here I want to fall into eventually, alright end of my random thought.
The Forbidden Forest
Not to be that person, but Harry saying “I don’t care if Malfoy has been hurt” felt a little harsh, even accounting for the fact that he’s a teenager going through a lot.
And also, side note, the centaurs knew what was coming the whole time and just… didn’t say anything? Amazing.
That’s it for my little trip down memory lane and going back Diagon Alley, dearies. Listening to this one after so many years of knowing the story by heart and still for it to surprise me, it’s the real deal, real magic of a good re-read (or in this case, a re-listen). ⚡️
If you’ve recently reread, rewatched, or relistened to something you thought you knew by heart, I want to know what you caught this time that you’d forgotten, and if it was Harry Potter, we can rant and gush about it together. Drop it in the comments, I read every single one.
And if you’re craving more Wizarding World content, I’ve got a whole Wizarding World page here on the blog, plus all book reviews ready for you, you can pick your favourite, one of mine is my review of Order of the Phoenix if you want to keep the marathon going.
Until the next chapter. 🦉and happy reading or listening!
