I was told by someone that they're really good books, but I wanted to get some other opinions...anyone else read them and thought they were a good read? Or are they just really crappy books that don't provoke any thought at all? I could be wrong about the name of the books, I was half asleep when I was talking to the person on the phone...
Yup that's the name, their by Philip Pullman. I've got all three, have only read the first thus far (got distracted by all my other books) but it was really good. My mum read the whole trilogy and loved them. They're those technically kids books that are good for all ages.
I just finished reading 'The Golden Compass', which was the first of 'The Dark Materials' trio. At first I thought it was a total rip-off of 'Harry Potter'. For example, it's at a huge English College with many twists and turns that the main character explores. And everyone has their own special animal that hangs-out with them 24/7. There's plenty of witches, and professors, ext. ext. ext. Then I noticed the copyright date. 'The Golden Compass' came out in England a year BEFORE Rawlin's, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' came out in England. So 'Harry Potter' was a rip-off of Philip Pulman's work!!! More over, Philip Pulman writes better than Rawlins, and 'The Golden Compass' is a better story than 'Harry Potter'!! I couldn't help but like the story, and that, dispite the fact that I think real life is soooo much more interesting than silly-ass phantasies. Still, Pulman is a very good writer, who brings it all to vivid life. You feel like your right there. I only wish good writers like him would write about real life instead of escapist phantasies.
Ok...I'm going to go on a bit of a ramble, so sorry in advance. - In England the first of the trilogy was called Northern Lights. (I just read up and apparently they have different titles depending on the place, so ignore that if you're in America.) - They're not special animals; they're daemons - visible versions of the children's souls. - J.K Rowling wrote Harry Potter. - Fantasies allow writers to express political/social issues without being too personal/heavy handed, by using metaphor and symbolism. In my opinion, fantasies are a million times more enjoyable than realistic novels because there are so many more levels to enjoy them on. Anyway, now I'm done with that bit - The His Dark Materials series is definitely worth a read. The following short story, Lyra's Oxford, isn't as great, but it's a lovely little book to have because it has a map in it and a little background to it all. The books weren't taken very well by the Church of England because it really does give it a bashing - there's a lot of allegory in there regarding the Church's treatment of young people and the quest to keep their innocence etc. Even if you read it as just a story, it's so enjoyable. The characters are wonderful - I fell in love with Will, and Lyra's so strong. Fantastic. Seriously, read them. They're brilliant.
Girls as lovely as you, possess that undefinable freedom to ramble all they want. That's a brilliant defence of phantasy, and I totally agree with you, but only if there actually is a creative use of metaphor, symbolism and allegory. For example, 'Alice in Wonderland' is, in my opinion, a great work. But Panzer Bears and Witches on sticks put me to sleep. Also, i've little patience with the stuffy British love of class and blood-lines. The neo-Calvinist idea that you inherit a pre-destiny from your parents is a disgusting Anglo-Saxon subservience that I found in both Rowlings and Pulman. Lyra and Harry would both have been more interesting if, like Joan of Arc, their parents had been farm workers, or drunks like Huckleberry Finn's father. I didn't want to give away too much about these little pets, but they are rather special and they do manifest as animals. Also, they do represent a very important aspect of the plot. I promise I won't mispell her name again; J.K.Rowling, J.K.Rowling, J.K.Rowling
Why thank you, m6m Toooooo right, good on you! Ditto, unless it's got an interesting Marxist twist to it. But isn't that the point of the books? HDM at least - to criticise that idea? I thing HP is a pile of wank, so I'm not going to stick up for it at all. Is it just Anglo-Saxon though? There's a lot of that in other areas, don't you think? Deny it all you want, it's impossible to shake your heritage when it comes to the idea of the American Dream. They're still fab. I like 'em. Not pets! Not pets! But you did up there
There was a conflict about that destiny, but I didn't detect out-right criticism of the idea of inherited destiny. Quite the contrary, I felt it was a central element in the plot; as usual. It permeates the entire Old-World mind-set, and is found through-out our Hierarchical Civilization. I can't deny it; I see it all around me, even in the mirror.
Hmm, not that you two aren't as interesting as reading a dictionary, but to get back on topic... I started the trilogy as an elementary schooler and finished it just recently when i became aware that the thrid book was out. At first you're probably going to think that the trilogy is just for little kids, because the first and a bit of the second are really just fantastic situations. Don't get me wrong, it's really entertaining and engrossing, but there aren't many "bigger things at play." That changes most obviously in the third book. But yes, read them if you've got time to spare for about a thousand pages
I was going to take offence to the first sentence of your post, but after reading this one, I can now happily discredit anything else you said. Not many bigger things at play, hah.
Well. the person I wa supposed to borrow the first book from said that she couldn't find it, and I don't have enough money to go buy a copy, and I have a very large fine in the library...I have a tendency to not return books, I know it's horrible, but I finish reading them and then forget that I checked them out. So for now I just have to wait until I find someone else who has it to read it
I'll keep that in mind. When I can will myself to get off of my lazy ass I'll go to some thrift stores around here...
These books are great, ive personally read them like 3 times each(got way too much time on my hands) but they make you think about how our world compares with the fantasy one, and if certain things like the ones in the books could really possiblly exsist in some form in our own world....i thought they were very cool and totally worth reading!
