[HPFGU-OTChatter] Dark Is Rising, Philip Pullman, Warriors Don't Cry

[Amber ?]

>From: "Neil Ward" <neilward at dircon.co.uk>
>
>I loved the whole set, but I did
>find the first and last books less enjoyable than the middle three, for
>reasons that I can't go into, for lack of time.   The second and fourth
>books - The Dark Is Rising and The Grey King - are superb.

The second book is absolutely brilliant in my humble opinion; I can't count 
the number of times I've read it with bated breath. IMO, it's the best of 
the series. And, although people usually say they don't like it as much, I 
liked Silver On The Tree. I didn't like Grey King much though; maybe that's 
because I didn't like Bran?

I've always found TDIR rather...dreamy. The writing as a whole feels more 
abstract and "not here" while JKR's writing is definitely in the here and 
now. As Neil said, there is definitely a more poetry feel to TDIR as opposed 
to HP.

I think it's hard to compare the series' because they are so different. 
Plus, we mustn't forget that the HP books aren't done while TDIR has been 
finished for awhile now. There's still an excitement of "What will happen?!" 
with HP that TDIR can't have anymore.

While we're talking books, I've got a question for you lovely people. 
Recently, I read "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman (different title in 
the UK, can't remember what). I read it because of several recommendations 
from both people online and in Real Life. However, I just couldn't really 
get into it. I mean the book was okay, but nothing horribly wonderful IMO.

Hence, I'm hesitant to get the second book "The Subtle Knife". I don't feel 
much pull to find out "what happens next". But if people say, "Ooo, it's 
wonderful, even better than the first book", I'll go on faith and get it.

So what do people say? Go ahead and read it? Or should I not if I didn't 
find the first one very spectacular?

Also, I recently read "Warriors Don't Cry" by Melba Patillo Beals. It's 
about the 9 students who part of the integration program at Central High 
School in Little Rock, Arkansas, written by one of the "Little Rock Nine". 
It's a fabulous read, especially if your high school history teacher was 
very lax in teaching American history from the 1930's onward.

~Amber

********
http://www.the-tabula-rasa.com

"I want never to have to stay in one place and never to have to move. I want 
total freedom and total irresponsibility and total dedication. I want 
everything and nothing, all at the same time. I know it doesn't make any 
sense, but this isn't sense, this is desire."
- Piers Anthony, "Virtual Mode"

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