One of the key moments of each book is the “Dumbledore Denouement” - the final conversation, after the story’s climax, in which Dumbledore and Harry have a little chat about what happened.  
Here’s a little assignment for Day 5 of Sorcerer’s Stone Week.  With the knowledge of Dumbledore’s backstory in mind, go back and re-read [...]

Continue reading → Sorcerer’s Stone Week, Day 5: The Dumbledore Denouement

It seemed pretty evident in the first book that Severus Snape was going to be an intriguing character.  This is a post dedicated to the greasy potions master.  Several questions for consideration and comment:

In what clever ways did Rowling set up the Snape plot in book one?  
Any Snape foreshadowing that you missed in the [...]

Continue reading → Sorcerer’s Stone Week, Day 4: The Snape Story

Today is the “official” 10th anniversary of the U.S. release of the first Harry Potter book. Scholastic is celebrating with a cover-to-cover day. The book is being read cover to cover from the seat in New York City from which J.K. Rowling read last year.
Keep up with the whole day here!
Also, today [...]

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• Anniversary Dolls Barbie Dolls Barbie Contemporary 1973-Now Dolls Dolls Bears
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Continue reading → Socerer’s Stone Week, Day 3: Cover to Cover Day

Foreshadowing is when an author drops subtle hints or clues about something coming later in the story.  Rowling did a lot of this, and she’s brilliant at it.  And of course, there’s plenty of foreshadowing in Sorcerer’s Stone.  Day 2 discussion focuses on Rowling’s use of foreshadowing in the first novel, and it’s a simple discussion starter:
Now [...]

Continue reading → Sorcerer’s Stone Week, Day 2: Foreshadowing

Today, we begin our celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S.  The book was unfortunately renamed for publication in the U.S. (originally titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - sadly, this eliminated one of the first concrete alchemical references, at least in the [...]

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• Halloween We had some really cute costumes here. Even at lunch the wait staff was dressed up, from pirates to speak easy. It made it fun to eat out. At night, the little boys especially were adorable. One little fellow said he was Jack Sparrow. He was just the cutest thing.......
• Harry Potter spoilers here in comment section, not in main post For those of us who would like to discuss the book without spoiling it for those who haven't read it, use the comment section to this post. It can only be read by clicking on the comments, so if you haven't read the book, come back to this section later!......

Continue reading → Sorcerer’s Stone Week, Day 1

Leaky is reporting that the 10th anniversary edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has (accidentally?) been shipped to some who have pre-ordered it.  
Any Hog’s Head patrons have their copy yet? 
Kind of frustrating that some will be able to examine the new material before others.  Either way, we’ll still be having Sorcerer’s Stone Week, [...]

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Continue reading → Sorcerer’s Stone Shipping?

Great giveaway this month - Sorcerer’s Stone 10th Anniversary Edition!  We had so much fun with the caption contest last time, let’s do it again.  Once all entries are in, we’ll have everyone vote on the winner (and this time, we’ll do an in-post poll to vote.)  The winner will have their very own copy [...]

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Continue reading → September Giveaway: Sorcerer’s Stone 10th Anniversary Edition!

by Johnny
From the Scholastic press release:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally best-selling series, will be released in a special anniversary edition on September 23, 2008. The book, published by Scholastic, will feature exclusive bonus material from J.K. Rowling as well as new cover art and a four-color [...]

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• High School Romance Books

• Halloween We had some really cute costumes here. Even at lunch the wait staff was dressed up, from pirates to speak easy. It made it fun to eat out. At night, the little boys especially were adorable. One little fellow said he was Jack Sparrow. He was just the cutest thing.......
• Harry Potter high spirits Well, my College Girl who loves HP in all its forms, has been thinking of getting ready for the movie and next book for at least a year now. College Girl has gone dressed in a different costume that she has pulled together for each new book for the book......

Continue reading → 10th Anniversary Edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Back to the beginning; the beginning of the artistic process; new beginning for the website
This is a short episode crammed into a really heavy schedule for me. More, better episodes coming soon.
You can subscribe to the Hog’s Head PubCast through iTunes, and VOTE for The Hog’s Head for the month of February at Podcast [...]

Continue reading → Hog’s Head PubCast #45: Beginnings