Rick 28/03/2020
It would usually take 2 days for me to read a book this small, but very busy I have been, studying like a madlad.
It's hard to write about pieces like this one. One of my look-up-to writers is definitely Tolkien, and it's not because of his refined writing, famous books, or his ability to write epic worlds as if they had, in fact, existed. It's the rush that you get from reading a character so down-to-earth doing something so extraordinary, it's how his epic world created by none other than himself can be as important and history-changing as mythologies, the Greek, the Nordic, the Celtic. What Tolkien was able to do with words is nothing to what he was able to do with his mind. He was a genius. I have always - in a way or another, mainly because of fandom wars - belittled Rowling's work because they couldn't live up to Tolkien's. The truth is harsh and I'm sure she knows. But the thing about Harry Potter is that it's the closest to a mythology we had since Lord Of The Rings. Game of Thrones showing up as the latest mythology cannot and will not shine away Harry Potter's brilliance.
There are obviously look-alike patterns in Harry Potter you could easily find here and there, but that's nothing compared to what Rowling did on her own. Her writing is outstanding, filled with cute words, and the plot as clean as the Mirror of Erised, filled up with plot twists and adventures carried out by well-developed characters, each one with something to offer. If I had to guess, Rowling finished this book and kept it for a few months looking for mistakes and missteps so she could correct them. It's a children's book alright, but there's no age limit to this fun. The longevity of Harry Potter will definitely live up Tolkien's LotR.
What else can I say that won't be a spoiler?
Character Charisma? 9/10 I think Malfoy could have been more mischievous, and Fred and George should've helped Hermione, Harry, and Ron in some of their adventures, given that they are the most playful lot known in Hogwarts, but that's alright, I guess. It's just that the connection could've formed a closer bond between them all. I guess that will happen in the next books, dunno.
Plot Accuracy? 10/10 There are, indeed, some things that are rather emotionally explained, like the end, but they will all come together in the following books, I'm sure. There are 7 of them, after all. I know the story already, so I'm biased, but the plot of the first book is just so good it is directly (it just doesn't happen in most franchises) related to the last ones, the consistency of Rowling goes as far as plot twists growing in the first book and blossoming close to the end.
Writing? 10/10 It's simple and refined. If you lose interest while reading it, it's no way the writing's fault, that I can tell you. And I won't even talk about the plot, because that definitely is NOT what's not keeping you engaged, thanks to the stories that keep flooding before you. Every paragraph Rowling writes is a cannon; you cannot get easily distracted, because every line feels important.
This is a 5. Not a 5+ yet, because well, it's the first book after all, the villain is usually too weak at this stage, which means there's no real thriller, suspense, and/or heart-clutching moments, but there will be in the next books, and I'm looking forward to them (Ok, maybe not so much, but, some heart-clutching moments will really hurt, but aghhr).