Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling (1999)

I love this series. The book is a delightful read and introduces us to the characters and Hogwarts. The book is well written and there are many magical surprises.

I couldn't ask for anything more from the service provided. esponded quikly to questions that I had and shipped the tapes the following day.

I am a teacher who uses "books on tapes" to help my low readers read better. This is a favorite book in the class. They especially appreciated the wonderful dramatization of the actor. They felt the book "come alive" for them. I appreciate anything which can inspire.

This is a wonderful book to read and to listen to on tapes. I have enjoyed all of J. K. Rowling books and hope she decided to keep writing in the future.I feel that she even could have these made into great movies. Ha Ha

I don't think there is another person alive who could do the voices that good. I especially love the way he does Mcgonnagal, Dobby, and Hermione. I think it is a bit easier to listen to the tapes than to read the books, and they're perfect for listening to on the road, or when you have insomnia, or just when you want to lay down and relax. All in all, perfect!

Thank you so much for making the books unabridged. I have read them all and am slowly getting the set on tape. they are great for throwing in while cleaning house or driving long distances. Jim Dale reads in such a way that you forget that only one person is reading. He can change his voice to cover everyone from Harry to Voldemort and still make it seem scary. The only thing i have a problem with is Voldermorts name. In the movie it is pronounced how it is spelled. But as Jim Dale reads you discover that the T is silent. I think it makes him sound more menacing and evil. You be the judge. this and all the books are terrific and should be listened to, to get the full effect. For those of you who dont have time to read or just dont like to the books on tape are the way to go. If you have seen the movies this is a way to fill in some things or just give you more of a story. Dont get me wrong the movies were and are great but I like having the rotten Dursleys in the begining and/or end of each book and watching them get their comeuppance in each i miss them in the movies. Happy listening.

FINISHING UP MY COLLECTION OF AUDIO TAPES ON HARRY POTTER. ITEM AS DESCRIBED. VERY SATISFIED. TAPES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND PACKAGE WITH SLIGHT SHELF WEAR. VERY SATISFIED.

As are a lot of people, I am a Harry Potter fan. So for an upcoming road trip we thought it would be fun to purchase the first Harry Potter audio book for entertainment on the road. We were very delighted by the reading of the novel. Jim Dale, who is the narrator of the current TV show Pushing Daiseys, has a wonderful voice for this book. His voice is very warm and makes the book come alive. His variety of voices for the various characters is spot on. We can't wait for our next road trip to be able to listen to the next of the Potter books in the series.

i do not have the time to read so I am able to listen in the car and catch up on books I would love to read. The narrator was excellent and brought the characters to life, even for an adult.

I only recently got interested in the Harry Potter series. Now that the last volume has been published I thought I would see what all the fuss is about. And since I really enjoy books on tape I bought this for a very good price on eBay. I was absolutely thrilled. Jim Dale does a remarkable job narrating this thorougly enjoyable book. He gives the characters real personalities and listening to J.K. Rowling's story is a marvelous way to enjoy her work. And I would like to say that the books are profoundly better than the movies... even though the movies are absolutely first rate, the books are even better. The Sorcerer's Stone sets the tone and the background for the Harry Potter series, and I have noticed that JKR does not needlessly embellish any part of her story. The narrative is crisp and concise and is often hillariously funny. I am especially pleased that these books on tape are UNABRIDGED .... I look forward to each book with increasing anticipation.

The story begins with Hagrid bringing the infant Harry to Privit Drive, where he links up with Professors Dumbledore and McGonnagal. Harry's parents were just killed by Voldermort, the most powerful dark wizard in history. Harry not only somehow survived Voldermort's attack, but the magical rebound destroyed Voldermort in the process. Dumbledore gives the orphan child to Petunia Dursley, Harry's aunt, to protect him until Harry becomes old enough to go to school.

In a very Brother's Grimm story line, Harry is treated less than kindly by his guardians and comes out of the experience humble but otherwise well adjusted. On his 11th birthday, Hagrid returns and explains to Harry that he is a wizard and is accepted to Hogwards School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

At Hogwarts, Harry is awed by the wondrous workings of magic and quickly makes friends for life: Ronald and Hermione. Just as quickly, he meets the boy who will be a major nuisance for the rest of the series: Draco.

Harry has mixed success academically, but has especial trouble with Professor Snape. Snape has a loathing for Harry that goes back to when Harry's father was in school. To balance out his so-so book smarts and the irrational hatred of a professor, Harry learns that he is a natural at broom flying and makes school history by becoming a member of the Quidich team as a fist year student.

The real plot, however, centers around the Sorcerer's Stone, which is an enchanted chemical that can prolong life indefinitely or even raise the dead. Harry is certain that Voldermort, is after it. Harry and co race to discover its secret hiding place before Voldermort's minion does.

Rowling has created a rich world of magic that is believable. She blends an exciting mystery with fantastic fantasy. She was able to create a book that appeals to adults while still appropriate for younger children- no small feat at all.

Rowling fills her world with ghosts, animated paintings, moving stairs, shape changers, mythical beasts, interesting people and amazing spells. So much detail is given that she can easily hide important clues in plain sight. As a reader, it is easy to miss a clue because the mind is distracted with what the ghosts or paintings are doing.

Rowling provides many unique and interesting characters. No two are even close to being alike (excpet for the Weasly twins, but they are effectively one mind sharing two bodies). Only with the three main characters can the reader really identify with: Harry, Ron and Hermione. We get to see what is in Harry's mind because the story is told from his perspective. He is so close to the other two that we practically know what they are thinking.

I think what really sets this book apart from others of this genre is that she was able to bring traditional mythology to the modern world without being a revisionist. It is a pleasure to recognize the creatures from Bulfinch, Brothers's Grimm and other historical sources by how they look and act. Too many times when I read modern fantasy, if the writer did not give me the name of the monster, then I would never have reconginzed its origins.

John Holland-author of Necklace of Terrersylvanous

I'm a big Harry Potter fan and the first set of tapes I bought was missing one so I decided to replace the set. This set was displayed at an affordable price. So I bid and won. I'm completely satisfied with the condition and quality of the tape set.

I have been a Harry Potter fan for a while and decided to buy the books on tape so I could listen to the books while doing other things! Jim Dale who reads the books is excellent! His preformance is superb! He uses different voices for all the characters! Which makes listening to the book very entertaining!! The only problem I had was with the tapes. It can be confusing making sure the tape is on the right side before starting. It is also important to make sure the tape was all the way at the begining before starting and played all the way to the end before flipping it over to play the other side. So I would recommend you buy the book on CD. That would eliminate any confusion. Over all I was very pleased with the book on tape and would like to eventually have the complete Harry Potter series audio books. This is truly a wonderful book. Great for kids and adults. A story that is sure to stand the test of time. I highly recommend any of the Harry Potter books to everyone. It is not just a story of magic. It is a story that anyone who has ever been a kid/teen can relate too and enjoy! So read/listen to the Sorcerer's Stone and find out how Harry's story begins and be prepared to want to read/listen to them all so you can learn how his story ends!

So what's a childless middle aged woman doing listening to a children's book?
I just didn't want to be the only person in America who didn't know who Harry Potter was. So I got the first series of tapes from the Library. And I was hooked! I had to keep going to the next book. Excellent writing. It's good for kids (not little ones though) but has enough humor and complexity to appeal to adults too. And Mr. Dale is amazing with his multitude of voices making each character come alive. Warning: You have to do the books in order, or you ruin the plot. Start with this one (which is, in my opinion, one of the best of the series and the one most suited for young readers. They get a bit bloody later on.)

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter is a wonderful character. Almost every page is filled with a new adventure. I loved it so much because when it starts off because it does not tell you what Harry is. I love books like that. They make you want to keep reading it. And J.K. Rowling is like that. I also like it because it is not too detailed. It is just right. Sometimes writers give to much details and it gets boring. Or when writers have to many main characters. I love Harry sooooooooooooo much,that I have a poster of him, artical, and even cards. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is my favorite Harry Potter book. When I read it, I get lost in the world of witches and wizards. My favorite character is Hermione. I like her because she is smart and beautiful to. Harry Potter Rules!!!!!!

I bought the book because I wanted to read the series but never had the time--it came with a free paperback book too which was nice-I'll probably never have time to read it - I haven't listened to the book yet to give an opinion on it as yet. But it is in good shape.

I received the tapes in good condition and as ordered. I wanted CD's not cassettes; but I failed to read down far enough and did not see it was cassettes.

It is a wonderful story. I needed something to take me away from every day life for awhile and this story made a wonderful escape.