I declared 2016 my "read of rereads," and after the sudden passing of Alan Rickman (our beloved Professor Snape) I thought it would be fitting to revisit my favorite series of all-time, Harry Potter. We will see how far I get! 
 I obviously started with this first installment in the series, which I estimate I've now read about 6 times, but I wouldn't be surprised if it has been more. The fervor with which my little self repeatedly devoured J.K. Rowling's books was a true sign of how much the story and characters within the amazing wizarding world she created meant to me, and many in my generation. As Harry grew, we grew too, which was such a unique and exciting experience. 
 It was so fun experiencing The Sorcerer's Stone again. Enough time had passed that reading the familiar words brought me to a very nostalgic place. From those first few lines ("Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."), to Hagrid telling Harry he's a wizard & taking him to Diagon Alley, to Ron's first appearance on Platform 9 3/4 and Hermione's on the Hogwarts Express, to Harry's first Quidditch match, to the trio's jump through the trapdoor and all the enchantments they faced, to Harry's first encounter with Voldemort (and the shocking reveal of You-Know-Who's accomplice), I was transported back to the moments when Harry Potter first captured me in its spell. 
 I must say, every time I read the Sorcerer's Stone, I tear up when Dumbledore announces points to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and then I cry like a baby when he awards ten points to Neville Longbottom. This was readers' first taste of the courage and goodness of Harry and many of the characters in the series. It's hard to believe how intricately perfect Rowling's wizarding world is, and the stage was beautifully set for the coming adventures and battles that Harry and his friends will have to face.