Philip Pullman

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., dfrankiswork at n... wrote:
> Amber wrote:
> 
> > 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?


Amber, I totally agree with you on TDIR:  My favourite is the second 
book, and for some reason, although I understand his motivations and 
the reason for his arrogance, I do not like Bran either.

On The Dark Materials Trilogy.  The Golden Compass (called Northern 
Lights) was probably my least favourite of the trilogy.  I have to 
say though, I am a huge Philip Pullman fan (I also love his Victorian 
England series).  Not in the same way as I'm a JKR fan - Harry Potter 
grips me totally to the point of obsession.  I love the characters, 
the plot enthralls me, as does the world, and it manipulates my 
emotions more than anything I have read in a long time.  Philip 
Pullman has a different effect on me.  The writing, although action 
packed, is very contemplative, and there are themes abounding which 
are very difficult to get to grips with on a first reading.  In fact, 
I'm not sure if it's me being dim, but there are parts I feel as 
though I need to go back and read because I didn't understand them 
properly the first time.  

I don't know if this is any help, but I would say try the second.  It 
is as bleak as the first, but the character development is 
interesting, and some of the things it introduces are quite horrific.

Catherine