[HPFGU-OTChatter] Harpers and Queen: Philip Pullman on Tolkien and Winterson on JKR

[kemper mentor]

I thought Golden Compass was a good read.  Sure the first chapter was hard, but to me, so was "The Boy Who Lived."  The other two books were enjoyable, but unfortunately, Pullman took the strong female character he developed in GC and deconstructed her in the other books.  Lyra was a strong, fierce girl, but then in Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass she goes ga-ga for a boy, Will, and loses herself, following Will's will instead of her own.  Lyra is the one who changes (or stays the same depending on how you read it) by the intimate touch of Will (non sexual).  Will is unaffected by the kick-ass girl that Lyra once was.  Will is a man-child unto himself.  Will is a man (archetype).  Eff Will.
 
As far as Tolkien, he really could have used a red pen for LotR.  Did he have no editor at all?  The Hobbit, or there and back again, was an excellent read.  Don't get me wrong, LotR is an excellent story, but it is a below-average read.
 
I would like to read the entire interview in Harpers.  It seems the interviewer is obviously anti-HP based on Dumbledad's post.  So maybe he shaped or twisted Pullman's responses to the questions and Pullman is actually quite fond of JKR.  


 

		
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