[speaking_of_faith]

I read "The Golden Compass" after seeing news articles highlighting controversy over the recently released film. I loved the book and have the second book in the trilogy, "The Subtle Knife" "on hold" at my local library. I should be able to begin reading it in a few weeks.<br><br>
Has anyone read through this trilogy ? What were your impressions ?<br><br>
I thought TGC was a thriller and enjoyed following the adventures of the heroine Lyra. I did not find anything controversial about it.<br><br>
With regards to other trilogy / fantasy books for children .... I found TGC more enjoyable than Tolkien's LOTR and C.S. Lewis' Narnia books. On the other hand, I enjoy Rowling's Harry Potter books most of all for this genre.

 

[annettemarie]

Moving on out to books.

 

[Ruthla]

I have the trilogy in one volume from the library right now. I finished TGC but I haven't started the next one yet.<br><br>
I was so dissapointed in Lyra's father in the end. How could he kill her friend? We'd already established that her mother was an evil woman- is her father just as bad? To kill an innocent boy for the sake of scientific exploration?<br><br>
Imagine being 11 years old and finding out that both of your parents are murdurers, and one of them tortures children as well?

 

[Arduinna]

I tried reading book one but I couldn't get more than about 1/3 to 1/2 way through. I don't know, books about kids just aren't that interesting to me I guess. I couldn't get into the Harry Potter books either. Although I loved loved loved The Hobbit and LOTR and enjoy fantasy as a genre.

 

[queenjulie]

Keep reading--they only get better and better! The second book is better then the first, and the third is life-changing. I was so thrilled when I saw they were making a movie of the Golden Compass, because I know DH will never read it, but I really wanted him to know what I was raving about. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> They were written as a response to the ultra-Christian Narnia series, and despite being anti-religion, they are an amazing exploration of the nature of the soul and spirituality--plus they're just really good reads. I LOVE them.

 

[karen ann]

I read all three books right in a row (I bought a single volume with the whole trilogy). To me, the books work best as a single unit. No one standing alone is quite as good as the whole story together.<br><br>
I did thoroughly enjoy the books, though with all the recent controversy I expected a stronger anti-religious theme. They seemed to have a deistic slant in the third book.

 

[Ruthla]

I'm now about halfway through the 3rd book. Whoever's reading them individually- I have to warn you, the 2nd book ends with a cliffhanger. You may want to reserve the 3rd book before starting the 2nd one!

 

[Petronella]

Didn't like it. Not because of the anti-Christian content (although it didn't make me like it more) but because the writing style was monotonous and Lyra was just annoying.

 

[speaking_of_faith]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Ruthla</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10293124"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I'm now about halfway through the 3rd book. Whoever's reading them individually- I have to warn you, the 2nd book ends with a cliffhanger. You may want to reserve the 3rd book before starting the 2nd one!</div>
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Thanks for the tip ! I checked my account at the library and discovered that "The Subtle Knife" is ready for pick-up .... I just placed "The Amber Spyglass" on hold.

 

[Imogen]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Ruthla</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10282389"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I have the trilogy in one volume from the library right now. I finished TGC but I haven't started the next one yet.<br><br>
I was so dissapointed in Lyra's father in the end. How could he kill her friend? We'd already established that her mother was an evil woman- is her father just as bad? To kill an innocent boy for the sake of scientific exploration?<br><br>
Imagine being 11 years old and finding out that both of your parents are murdurers, and one of them tortures children as well?</div>
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I bought all three of the books recently, I have started to read the 1st but have been distracted by other books on my reading list.<br><br>
Can I ask, as you've read more than myself... is there a reasonable explaination for his behavior that is explained in more detail further in?<br><br>
Peace

 

[journeymom]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Imogen</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10299432"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Can I ask, as you've read more than myself... is there a reasonable explaination for his behavior that is explained in more detail further in?<br><br>
Peace</div>
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I'm curious to know what other think about this, too. If I remember correctly, there is no <i>explicit</i> explanation that makes what Lord Azriel did 'OK'. We simply learn that he is ruthlessly ambitious. I guess either you agree that his ends justified his means or you don't. But his methods were never personal or creepy like Mrs. Coulter's.

 

[Ruthla]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Imogen</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10299432"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I bought all three of the books recently, I have started to read the 1st but have been distracted by other books on my reading list.<br><br>
Can I ask, as you've read more than myself... is there a reasonable explaination for his behavior that is explained in more detail further in?<br><br>
Peace</div>
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No- further on they talk about other consequences of the rift he created, but his reasons remained part of his character flaws.<br><br>
I've finished all the books now- I think I'll open a new thread for furthur book discussions so this one won't get full of spoilers for those who are still waiting to read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

 

[annakiss]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>queenjulie</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10283680"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Keep reading--they only get better and better! The second book is better then the first, and the third is life-changing. I was so thrilled when I saw they were making a movie of the Golden Compass, because I know DH will never read it, but I really wanted him to know what I was raving about. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> They were written as a response to the ultra-Christian Narnia series, and despite being anti-religion, they are an amazing exploration of the nature of the soul and spirituality--plus they're just really good reads. I LOVE them.</div>
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You pretty much hit the nail on the head. The movie sux monkey butt, btw.<br><br>
The Amber Spyglass was sooo beautiful. The end just killed me. I cried and cried. And it was just so perfectly written. Augh! It was seriously as good to me as reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who is a genius. Phillip Pullman seriously pulled off a serious classic piece of literature here.<br><br>
and I just said serious twice in one sentence. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">:

 

[journeymom]

Obviously you were seriously moved. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue">

 

[annakiss]

Seriously.

 

[kittywitty]

I just started reading the first book to ds. I was so into it I read the first 3 chapters aloud before my voice gave out! So putting my fingers in my ears to avoid spoilers but this book is great already!

 

[speaking_of_faith]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kittywitty</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10309863"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I just started reading the first book to ds. I was so into it I read the first 3 chapters aloud before my voice gave out! So putting my fingers in my ears to avoid spoilers but this book is great already!</div>
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K-W,<br><br>
Just curious .. how old is your son ?<br><br>
(I have read some chapter books to my 7yo ... more on the 'light-side' such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I have asked him if he would like me to read him the first Harry Potter book and he says, "No, it is too scary" (he has not seen the movie nor read any of the HP books). It seemed to me after reading TGC, that the series may be 'darker' than HP.)

 

[Ruthla]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>speaking_of_faith</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10332751"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">K-W,<br><br>
Just curious .. how old is your son ?<br><br>
(I have read some chapter books to my 7yo ... more on the 'light-side' such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I have asked him if he would like me to read him the first Harry Potter book and he says, "No, it is too scary" (he has not seen the movie nor read any of the HP books). It seemed to me after reading TGC, that the series may be 'darker' than HP.)</div>
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Yes, I would definitely say that <span style="text-decoration:underline;">His Dark Materials</span> are "darker" than <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Harry Potter</span>. There's a lot more violence in <span style="text-decoration:underline;">His Dark Materials</span>- children abducted and tortured, children trying to survive without grownups, some graphic depictions of violence and torture- things only hinted at in the Harry Potter series (who needs graphic descriptions of real torture or murder techniques when you have the Crucio and Avada Kavadra curses?)

 

[lorijds]

I'm reading this aloud to my 9 and 12 year old. They love it, I love it. We are just finishing the subtle knife.<br><br>
I feel like it is well written--it certainly flows smoothly off the tounge, it isn't choppy and repetitive like some books I've read to them. I really like the characters. They really stand out to me, and have this awesome voice. Lee Scorsby and Hester, oh my, they are two (one?) of my favorite characters. And if I had another child, I'd totally name it Iorek Byrnison (good thing I'm not having any more kids).<br><br>
It is definitely dark-but I like that the kids perserver despite how dark it is. It reminds me of fairy tales in this sense.<br><br>
I loved the movie, too, though I see that some here did not. I thought it got the feel of it right, kwim?

 

[meesa143]

I really liked the book and I want to see the movie now even though it will probably ruin it for me. I was disappointed to find out about Lyra's dad as well. I wasn't sure how much I would get into it, so I don't have the other books yet.