As I've mentioned before, I just recently got into the wonderful world of Harry Potter. Now I can't get enough of it. I latch onto pretty much anything I can and anytime something new comes out, I get super excited. When I started reading that there was going to be an illustrated edition of the Sorcerer's Stone coming out, I was really excited about it but didn't think it would going to be nearly any level of spectacular that it actually is.
Jon preordered this for me a couple weeks ago and they mailed it to me on the day that it was released. The waiting was killing me! I got it on Thursday and couldn't even believe what I was looking at. This entire book is illustrated. I just thought there were going to be a few pages here and there, but there are more illustrated pages than there are non-illustrated. Lucky for me, I have two friends at work that were just as excited about this as I was!
I wanted to share some of my favorite pages with you. I really tried to limit myself because I truthfully love every single page and I'm really hoping that they're doing this for every book. I can't wait to re-read this one so that I can enjoy all of the illustrations along with the storytelling perfection that is Harry Potter.
This book is big. It's not going to nicely fit in alongside your current Harry Potter collection. I mean, it will, but it'll tower over them. For now, this will be proudly displayed as a coffee table book because I can't bear to not have it be the center of attention.
I loved some of the early illustrations the best. When Harry is at the zoo, when Vernon is trying to patch up the mail slot in the door, when he's rowing them out to the shack in the middle of the ocean, the first appearance of Hagrid. There is something about this picture, however, that I'm totally in love with. I don't know if it's Hagrid's tiny umbrella or Harry being free, but I just love this. The water looks so real and beautiful and I love how this (along with many of the illustrations) bleed over onto the text page.
If you're wondering to yourself "is this a two-page spread of Diagon Alley?", the answer is yes. And it is so beyond beautiful and detailed. I can't even begin to imagine how long this must have taken to create. Every store is different and has character. This, I think I can safely say, is my favorite illustration in the entire book.
One of the most surprising things to me is that the illustrations look nothing like anyone who played these characters in the movies. To me, that would be so hard to not see the actors when trying to create these illustrations.
How amazing is this?! It's a totally flat image but it looks so alive and holographic. There is another page with some of the other house ghosts but this just really is so stunning I had to share it.
Snape! True book Snape. His hair is gross and he looks absolutely terrifying. I love Alan Rickman too much to be scared of him, but this Snape would do it. But let's be honest, I would love him anyway.
My favorite of the main three, Ron, in all his awkward glory.
Again, totally flat illustration but doesn't that unicorn look glowing? The Forbidden Forest looks so beautiful.
Ugh, Gryffindor. But how beautiful does the Great Hall look?
You can pick up a copy of this book at any of your local bookstores, I'm sure, as it was released this past Tuesday. If you've been on the fence about this, let me just settle it for you: you need it. And you need it now.
Have you gotten a copy of this for your collection? If so, what is your favorite illustration(s)?
Follow
No comments:
Post a Comment