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I heard a lot about these books, so I finally decided to give them a read, to see what all the fuss was about.
I started the first one (Harry Potter and the Philosopher´s Stone) yesterday, and found I had a hard time putting it down again. I love the character Hagrid...
Is it really true what everyone says, do these books just keep getting better and better??? Can it really be true???
One thing is for sure, I´m a fan. I already picked up the second book so that I have it ready for when I finish this one... 
Hmmm. So I'm told.
Being a cynic I will remain silent on the similarity between the wretched Potter and Neil Gaiman's Timothy Hunter.
Yes, they get better. Book three is widely regarded to be the best... four's good too  Two isn't so good as one, IMO, but it's still well worth reading. And you'll just love the start of book four, but I won't say any more...
To whett my appetite, I was told someone died in No.4 - obviously i'm not going to tell you who .... made me read the books quicker and with a sense of anxiety. i couldn't relax till i'd read no 4, to make sure it wasn't my favourite character - No i'm not telling you!
i re-reading them just now, familiarise myself with them before the film comes out
The film???
I haven´t heard anything about a film... Do tell...
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", the first book. It stars various famous names as teachers and so forth (including Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid ), plus some reportedly highly talented kids in the leading roles - but then they always say that. Although I must say, the few photos, and the trailer, which are available, do seem to support this. It certainly seems to be a quality production.
It's coming out later this year.
I´ll be on the lookout for that then Sounds good...
why did they change the name from philospher to sorcerer (not that i can spell either. loved them all, and have recommended them to many people. my sisters university lecturer has even borroewed them so there not just for children
Yeah, why did they? I´ve never read the books but from what I know the philosophers stones are those that turn things into gold. Also been in Donald Duck.
In the first book, the philosopher's stone wasn't the key to turning base metals into gold, it was something else instead (I won't reveal it in case of spoilage as it's not revealed until quite late in the book). I guess they changed the name to avoid confusion, and so that people wouldn't take plot changes so seriously - I know of at least one thing that's been "tweaked", but then when is it possible to make a film 100% true to the book? Changing the title slightly helps them reinforce that they don't have to be 100% accurate to the book, and that they aren't going to be - with any luck, they'll make a better film that way.
Of course, it does appear that Joanna Rowling is in on it, so the plot should still be proper Harry Potter even if it does clash with the books in places. It'll just be like the multiple versions of Hitchhiker's if it's changed too much... which somehow I doubt.
The reason why the film's got a different name is that it hasn't: in the UK and Europe the book's called 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' and in America it's 'Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone'. The film will also have localized names, with the local prints of the movie having been dubbed/edited to reflect the difference.
Why is there a difference? I don't know, but I suspect it's based on the same sorts of assumptions about Americans that gave us 'The Madness of King George' from 'The Madness of George III'.
thats a point they quite often change movie titles depending on which side of the atlantic it's playing. we occassionally get both versions down here (NZ) and some of the names are drastically changed soyou hink there different movies, until you watch them.
Another Example
Miss Congeaneality = Undercover
Oh?
Well I thought my explanation was far more sensible!
The books are brilliant. I found them even better when I listened to Hubby reading out loud.
Try to get hold of whatsisname's reading of them. Sorry - dyslexia has struck again and the name's gone temporarily - tall, gentle-faced, softly spoken, gay, played Oscar Wilde recently, used to be part of a comic duo with Hugh Laurie...
Radio 4 broadcast it in an 8 hour chunk on boxing day. The kids were riveted.
All of us, from the 8yo, through the 20yo, all the way to the 49yo, have read them at least twice. Can't wait for the film. 
It's Stephen Fry. Having re-read your post you seem to imply he's your husband  .
The books do get better. Opinion is divided on whether 3 or 4 is the best. 4 is the longest, so kids like it best (they can never get enough), while 3 has a better plot so many adults prefer it.
There is a very good website associated with the film, which has a Sorting Hat. You answer a few simple questions and the hat decides which of the four houses of the school you should belong to.
I'm the head of Slytherin at a Harry Potter roleplaying site that hasn't quite managed to get off the ground yet.
Roleplaying game, that sounds exciting. Could you put a link to that on you page so I can find it???
I am still reading away and I find the book absolutely riviting. I wish I could just spend all my time reading, but unfortunatly I have to work sometimes, so I can actually pay for the books... 
I found the page with the sorting hat. I am now a student in the house of Slytherin
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