Harry Potter and the Socerer’s Stone — 10th Anniversary edition

Today was the release by Scholastic of a new paperback edition of J.K. Rowling’s first in the Harry Potter series. When I read that in the business section, I was surprised to see that this is the 10th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Socerer’s Stone.

Even though Harry, Hermione and Ron have grown up before our movie-going eyes, it’s still difficult to believe that Harry Potter has been part of our lives for that long.

I wasn’t in the bookstore the first day that the book went on sale. In fact, I think the second book — Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets — was about to be published,  and I said to myself, “What’s all this talk about Harry Potter? I’d better find out.”

I wound up reading the Socerer’s Stone on my Palm handheld computer, which convinced me of the potential for reading on the Palm — and now the iPhone. One advantage is that you can read in a dark room with the screen’s backlighting.

Reading on the Palm meant I had about 3-4 little pages for every page in the book version. Thousands of little pages. But the story was engaging, and reading on the Palm was both convenient and easy. I could tuck Harry Potter in my briefcase or purse and not have to carry around the 300+ page book.

So I really had a double magical experience.

The magic of Harry Potter and the magic of reading on the Palm.

I’d be interested in your sharing your magical experience of reading/seeing Harry Potter.