Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Unabridged 7 Audio CD Set)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Better than the book
Comment: The story is well known and you would think that nothing compares to the magic of Harry Potter. Then you discover the wonder of Steven Fry. His unique voice is adapted for every charater perfectly, you always know who is speaking. Steven Fry and Harry Potter really is a magical combination!!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Stephen Fry is a genious
Comment: Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The book I fell in love with.
Comment: I’ll never forget the day I first began Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. I believe I can say, with out hesitation, that it changed my life. My friend had received it for her birthday, and she suggested we give it a try. I admit I was curious, but I was not expecting anything spectacular. After all, I was an adult, and these books were for children, right? I’ve never been so wrong in my life. From the start, I was entranced. I had no idea where the story was going, but JK Rowling had me hooked. I lapped it up. I kept wanting more, and by the end, I knew I’d stumbled on to something wondrous. A series that was quite literally addictive. I adored this eleven year old boy, who had captured my heart from the time he was left wrapped in a blanket on his aunt and uncle’s doorstep. My imagination was caught from the moment the tall wizard appeared on a normal suburban street, put out the street lamps, and began sucking on a Sherbet Lemon. This book has seen me through good times and bad. It’s been my friend in unfamiliar places, and comforted me when I was sick. What could’ve been such a simplistic idea (a boy discovering he’s a wizard and being spirited off to magic school) turned out to have so much more to it. Humour, originality, mystery, and above all, plenty of magic. It helped me rediscover books from my childhood that I’d loved, and has lead to what I suspect will be a life long love of fantasy literature. I am now a firm Quidditch fan, and I think Harry’s sighting of his dead parents in a magic mirror is one of the most moving and poignant scenes I’ve ever read. And let’s not forget of course, the truly wonderful narration of Stephen Fry. He really should get an Oscar for all his character portrayals. I’ve never known anyone put so much heart in to what they read. A magical beginning to a magical series.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter rulz!
Comment: Harry Potter is an 11 year old bot who goes through lots of challenging things in his live. Firstly he has to stay with the Dursleys (his aunt and uncle) who locks him up in a cupboard and never treat him well. Then one day when he is sleeping on the floor someone bursts in trough the door and explains to Harry that he is a wizard. Harry is startled at first but understands that he is a wizard and goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He soon makes friends and joins in.

This book is a great book and I would reccomend it to all of you. I have enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The first of a great series!
Comment: What a fabulous read! The first book in the series, the Philosophers Stone, will grip your imagination and hold onto it untill you have read the entire book!

Harry Potter, an eleven year old boy, has a past that will change his future.
When Harry was one year old, the Dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents. But he couldn't kill Harry. Instead Harry is left with a lightning bolt scar for the rest of his life.

Harry is shocked when he is told that he is a wizard. This means a new school (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry), making new friends and learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle!

I think this book is very imaginative. I mean who would have thought that you could fit a massive castle in the middle of London and teach magic?

If you read this book you will experience J.K. Rowling's exquisite imagination!(Katherine, 11)

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Just when it seems that there cannot possibly be another twist to the Harry Potter tale, Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio.

Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history...

As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison