My Philosophizing is Done. I'll Now be Delving into some Secrets.

Sorry for the plethora of quotes, but I wanted to share, and there were so many to share! I tried to cut them down but I couldn't. And, if this was book one I can't imagine how many I'll have for the others. There's not even really that many quotes I love from Philosopher's Stone. Anyway, I'll just aim to be ruthless and selective and pick the best ones in the future. For now, please try and enjoy this avalanche of Harry Potter.

'You haven't got letters on yours,' George observed. 'I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid - we know we're called Gred and Forge.'

I think I read their names normally the first time I read this line, because I remember having a '!' moment a few years ago and finding this line suddenly hilarious. Either way, it's classic Fred and George humour, and who doesn't like that?

Harry suddenly turned to Ron. 'Charlie,' he said. 'You're losing it, too,' said Ron. 'I'm Ron, remember?'

Another bit of humour. Lines like this add that little bit more character to the books which is so appealing.

So now they had something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut. 'Wonder what it's like to lead a peaceful life,' Ron sighed.

Sorry Ron, you won't know what that's like for another six years. I also just love how nonchalantly this line adds the hiding of a dragon to the worries of 11 year old kids. But then again, that's the whole Harry Potter story I guess.

'Oh, I'm so glad we know what it's called, that's a great help,' snarled Ron.....'Have you gone mad?' Ron bellowed. 'ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?'.....'Yeah,' said Ron, 'and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis - "there's no wood," honestly.'

These lines have always been a favourite. Why did they change them in the movie? They are fine as they are in the book. In fact, they're fantastic.

'Alas! Earwax! ... To the well organised mind, death is but the next great adventure.'

Classic Dumbledore. Cliche, but I had to put them in somewhere.

Ron and Hermione were a very good audience; they gasped in all the right places and when Harry told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud.

I don't know why I like this line, but I always have. I guess it's the just the mental image of Harry teling a story to a rapt audience with exaggerated reactions that makes it for me. Either way, thought I'd share.

Also, can't find it now but there's a sneaky little reference to Snape mind reading in this book. 'Harry had the feeling Snape could read minds' or something of the like. Love that foreshadowing.

One little further observation. Has anyone else ever noticed that in book one Hogwarts only makes up half the book? 100-ish pages out of 200-ish. But I guess it takes quite a while to orient the reader to a world where magic is real....