欧宝娱乐

鈥淗e鈥檒l be famous, a legend, there will be books written about Harry, every child in our world will know his name!鈥�

This line was written 1997, in the very 1st chapter of the very 1st book of a series that been rejected by many publishers. But I've talked about that before.
So let's see here, with this beautiful Illustrated Edition,

chapter by chapter, Reviewing & Analyzing -from my simple reader perspective- of the first Harry Potter book, why this line isn't exaggerating. Why this line came true..

Chapter One : THE BOY WHO LIVED

A two sides chapter..
First, It starts 鈥淧erfectly Normal,Thank You Very Much鈥�. What's supposed to be a normal day for a very normal man, Mr. Dursley..

Mind his encounter with a peculiar Cat that won't be 鈥渟hoo鈥�-ed.
( -Fun Trivia ; that's the only encounter between the 2 stern characters, Mr. Dursley & Professor McGonagall.-)

Mind the Owls鈥� hyperactivity during the day, Mind those weird men in weirdest costumes.
(-okay, in case you didn't read it before, it's October 31, 1981, he may didn't mind much because of, you know, it's Halloween day.)

Stranger things started as we move to The Other Side, with the arrival of an old Wizard to this Normal street at night.
And the Cat is a professor, a huge man in flying motorcycle, and a little boy became an orphan by an evil man's last curse.

How and why, we don't know.. But this Boy who lived that Strange thing, must now lives with his last family, at this very Normal man's.
Good luck Harry, Doorbells Dumbledore!!

A very interesting Epic beginning. A fine example of how to grab attention without confusing readers with too much strangeness and complicated peculiar, invented names as most YA novels does.
-for example the 鈥淧ut-Outer鈥� that put out the light off street lamps, has a more complicated name but it used way later in the books-

Also it's very well paced, perfectly split between Normal life and Magical one, which is the essence of the series..
..in this Breaking Dawn of URBAN FANTASY as we know it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2 : THE VANISHING GLASS
Chapter 3 : LETTERS FROM NO ONE
Chapter 4 : THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS

These chapters (First Episode) are like normal, miserable drama.
The boring -with minor strange events- life of the "seems normal / yet Special" orphan boy who lives in the cupboard under the stairs at his mean relatives'. Teased by his greedy, selfish, spoiled by parents, cousin 鈥淒uddly鈥�.


( -Fun Trivia ; these chapters full with HUGE Easter Eggs of later books, Mrs Figg of book five/ Snakes talk of book Two 鈥渘o Snakes winking though鈥�, & did you notice the motorcycle's owner name in the 1st chapter?-)

But this drama still very funny written in a way, Aunt Petunia stern acts and expressions for Harry, Harry鈥檚 wet responses, Uncle Vernon鈥檚 spoilings for Dudley.. It's really full of wet, funny unforgettable lines.

And these letters that came to Harry when he turns 11, well, changed everything.

(-Fun Trivia; Urban Myth that Uncle Vernon believed in; Witches & Wizards can't cross the water.. well, how wrong that can be!-)

And this episode ends with the big Revelation;

And the pretty Normal life is going to change forever for Harry, Thank you..very much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5 : DIAGON ALLEY
Chapter 6 : THE JOURNEY FROM PLATFORM NINE AND THREE-QUARTERS

Now you know pretty enough of the Harry Potter back story, the dark vanquished wizard. and why everyone in this community were celebrating 10 years ago 鈥榯he 1st chapter鈥�, and why Harry Potter is famous.

So Here, bit by bit you step into this Magical, Unique world.
Cleverly, interestingly, this world is revealed to you, slowly as if told to 11 years old boy who has no clue of it.
This WIZARDING WORLD , is no Normal at all, thank you very much. It's huge realm and community, yet cleverly hidden in our own Normal world.

It'll give you Wonder and Fascination from how to reach it, till being part of it.

And as Harry learns about it, he will also meet these diversity of characters, specifically this amazing family, The Weasley鈥檚.

Yeah,this last line makes you feel that the author joining you the fun herself. It's hard to miss the fun sarcastic tone.

And, Now you see, Harry first lesson before getting to this Strange School is this ;
Wizards and Witches are pretty Normal.. the same as you and me, everyone has the good and bad.. just what you choose to be is what define who you are.


(-Fun Trivia; there's many Easter Eggs in the small details 鈥渓ike Dumbledore鈥檚 Chocolate Frog information, which is vital this book, last book and even the next series鈥� also for later books 鈥渓ike the silly Rat spell that won't work on The Rat鈥�-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 7 : THE SORTING HAT
Chapter 8 : THE POTIONS MASTER
Chapter 9 : THE MIDNIGHT DUEL

Now, amidst the Strangeness of the Wizarding World.. the humans there are so true and real. Hence all the situations are true and realistic..

These first 3 chapters at Hogwarts gave me a strong Nostalgia to my first days of almost every school, the college even workplaces.

Harry is 11 and his past Normal life didn鈥檛 prepare him to Hogwarts, this magnificent Fantastic Magical School. So the author's lingering on how Harry feels, even how every first year students acts in totally perfect way, and funny too.

No matter how was your experience, you will re-live it but in this Magical atmosphere..
Even you might feel you have acquaintances, colleagues or friends like one of those Harry Potter's characters in one point or another,

There's always this simple true friendly type 鈥凌辞苍鈥�,


eager ambitious knows-it-all 鈥淗别谤尘颈辞苍别鈥�,


smug bully Peacock 鈥凄谤补肠辞鈥�,


always lost and confused 鈥淣别惫颈濒濒别鈥�,

funny troublemakers 鈥淕eorge and Fred鈥�,

authority lover 鈥淧别谤肠测鈥�,

this older "pet lover" who knew one of your relatives and being so kind to you as an uncle 鈥淗补驳谤颈诲鈥�,


this older guy you feel he hates you for no reason at all 鈥沦苍补辫别鈥�,


this stern, all powerful yet super kind older woman 鈥淢肠骋辞苍补驳补濒濒鈥�,


and you don't meet the Headmaster 鈥榦r the Boss鈥� pretty often when it's your first year..but he may be like a Godfather to you later 鈥凄耻尘产濒别诲辞谤别鈥�.


These chapters of the first weeks, first encounters with different so real, so human characters, first lessons, all are pretty remarkable and nostalgic.
Unforgettable lines; The Potion Master greeting Harry.

And very funny; Harry confusion about Midnight Duel with Malfoy.

And Hermione classic that the Movie Trailer made it even cinematic classic that many has been copying since.

(-Fun Trivia; Argus Filch.. his first name in Greek myth is to a guard with hundreds of eyes all over his body to see everywhere. Well, Argus alone-with a cat- watches the whole vast buildings and hallways of Hogwarts..and you really can't escape him.
There's also this theory about Snape鈥檚 first 3 questions to Harry is all related to the love of his life!!.-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 10 : HALLOWEEN
Chapter 11 : QUIDDITCH
Chapter 12 : THE MIRROR OF ERISED

Now, first half of the book is over -that fast?!!-, the second half has been brewing slowly since early first half..
Remember there's some small package in Ch.5, you read something about a failed stealing attempt in Ch.8, then suspecting it might be the school's heavily guarded item in ch.9.
With pure chances our Harry Potter witnessed it all so far.
Now, also by chances, Harry start to suspect someone trying to steal it, from the school.

It all start with a sequence of events that may some of it give you Nostalgia, like having annoying knows-it-all colleague.

Well, then, one thing after another,

And we have a Trio ;

I want to be back in school already.Told you, it's perfect blending Between Normal, and Magic.


And with this Troll accident, this Trio start suspecting the safety of whatever in the package at the third floor.
In a Agatha Christie Mystery style, Investigations starts in Magic School,

While playing Magical Sport that once you read its rules -twice-, you'll wish to play it,

even if against the worst team ever, Slytherin.


And While staying at school during Christmas, this intimate atmosphere, The Blessing of having wonderful friends who like a new family to you..

even having family however they might be, but they're still your blood.. (as we鈥檒l discuss that in later parts.)


And above all, if we miss someone, the importance of Not 鈥淒welling鈥� in the past,

as Dumbledore said鈥�


(-Fun Trivia;; The Mirror of Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.-)

And back to the plot.. Harry is not only investigate the safety of the parcel, or why Snape -Harry鈥檚 main and only suspect- wants to steal it ; the Trio also investigate the second owner of the parcel; He-who-next-Chapter-is-named-after.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 13 : NICOLAS FLAMEL
Chapter 14 : NORBERT THE NORWEGIAN RIDGEBACK
Chapter 15 : THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

With this Magical Urban Fantasy Novel, comes a minor element of Real Historical figure and real life myth. Nicolas Flamel, and His Philosopher鈥檚 Stone.

(-Fun Trivia; And this is 鈥淭he One when every child in our world knows about the Philosopher's Stone鈥� -expect in America. They insisted that it's just Sorcerer鈥檚 Stone.)

That's may be one great aspect of mixing this Fantastical Fictional World with our Real Not-Normal Life, Flamel is a real life Alchemist, that mix of Chemistry and Magic.
That's what makes Harry Potter a fine example of Urban Fantasy.

And in these 3 Chapters the investigations get more tense, with some events that put it in halt like, bad Quidditch referee.

Or Hagrid鈥檚 Dangerous, forbidden Hobbies.

-well, that's rich-


Which get them- as Flich would say -鈥渋n trouble鈥�, A detention in the forbidden forest, meeting the Centaurs and their mystic creepy speakings of how 鈥淢ars was Bright that night鈥�.


And finally there -which happens again by mere chance-, they will learn the real reason of the whole fuss around the parcel, The Philosopher鈥檚 Stone and who is behind the attempts to steal it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 16 : THROUGH THE TRAPDOOR
Chapter 17 : THE MAN WITH TWO FACES

So now the perfect well structured Mystery and investigations, and the cleverly paced School year comes to an end.
Right after the fast 鈥渘ostalgic too鈥� summing up of the Exams days, which was so realistic,

So Classic,

And then, the plan is On after the exam. For the big Action of this Magical enchanting plot of the first book ; and with all the tension there, the spontaneous, natural, fun lines between the friends never ceased.

Even in the hardest parts can makes you smile.


This amazing ultimate real meaning of friends completing one another.

That鈥檚 what can really help in facing Evil.. and not fearing death.. And choose well,

As Professor Dumbledore鈥檚 wise talk;

And Love, and being Loved is the strongest power of all to face anything.


So it was story of Love, Friendship, Family and Bravery.


A perfect conclusion for a Perfect First Book in Unforgettable Breaking Point in modern Fantasy, Young Adult Novels. And in novels History generally.

A story that touched me personally, and may touched so many.. felt so connected to those amazing realistic characters..

And as the investigations part ends finally, it was moment for Truth.

-that may remind you with Agatha鈥檚 Poirot Quote ; 鈥淭he truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it.鈥�

So, we still won't have the full answers we seek and have in our mind such as;
If this is a great story, Why would a Man even so evil as Voldemort would be that keen to kill baby Harry that much in the first place?
Will he return? Will it be convenience one?

Well, in later books you'll see that everything is connected, mostly -NOT TOTALLY-planned from the beginning.


Well鈥� if you still think this is an overrated Book Series..and doubt the accuracy of this first line, then you're seriously have some Uncle Vernon Dursley blood in you.

But cheers, you are Perfectly Normal,Thank You Very Much.

Mohammed Arabey

First Read : Sep. 2002

Illustrated Ed. Read : from 11 Nov 2015
To 27 Nov 2015

Full review of book one written in Nov. 2016