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Post by charliebrown on Jan 12, 2014 18:36:53 GMT
I just finished reading Northern Lights (Golden Compass). I am disappointed by the way it ends (Mrs. Coulter's decision at the end is not convincing to me) and it leaves me with the feeling of much ado about nothing. I wonder if I should venture further. Franek is going to finish the 3rd book and he likes them.
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Post by Kye on Jan 12, 2014 19:30:04 GMT
Personally, I liked the first one, but lost interest for the other two.
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Post by charliebrown on Jan 12, 2014 20:06:02 GMT
It's an interesting read. However, Lord Asriel's lecture on the 'Biblical verses' to explain the Dust is too simplistic and lack of imagination. Thus the whole plot just plopped for me. And the brief sexual insinuation between the two adults (or rather their daemons) is rather out of its place in a children's fantasy book. The ending is too lame to keep me wanting to know what happens next. I think I need a break.
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Post by Alvamiga on Jan 13, 2014 0:12:10 GMT
...the brief sexual insinuation between the two adults (or rather their daemons) is rather out of its place in a children's fantasy book. The ending is too lame... Thought these two sentences were connected for a moment!
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jan 13, 2014 1:03:38 GMT
I love the books, they are probably my favourites after Tolkien. I find the second and third one better than the first. Though I love the first, but the story develops a lot more, you get a far better understanding of Dust in the other stories. Plus you get to meet Will and he's wonderful. And you get such a beautfiul explanation of death and what happens after that I find so uplifting.
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Post by charliebrown on Jan 13, 2014 7:25:33 GMT
...the brief sexual insinuation between the two adults (or rather their daemons) is rather out of its place in a children's fantasy book. The ending is too lame... Thought these two sentences were connected for a moment! There's a lot of graphic violence and tons of description of the magnificent aurora, it gets a bit tiring near the end. If the author spends more pages on developing the characters, I'd be more attached to the story. I guess Pullman's style isn't my kind of fantasy. I will find time to read on. Maybe I will like the other 2 better, who knows
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jan 13, 2014 21:29:24 GMT
Do, do, do read the second book, please.
It is a marvellous interplay between Will ( a boy who will not lie ) and Lyra ( a girl who hates telling the truth ).
I have often speculated, as Pullman does, about what we would see if we were able to have a visible soul.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jan 13, 2014 22:51:31 GMT
I've never even thought about it because I have never believed in souls. Genie, I particularly loved the description of the Aurora. After I saw the Aurora for the first time I was too excited to go to sleep right away, so I picked up the book and happened to be exactly at the point where Lyra sees it for the first time and it was so nice to read that description after having just seen exactly that for myself. It just topped off what had been a perfect day/night for me. Regarding the sexual insinuation - considering the book is about growing up and hitting puberty, maybe it's not that out of place.
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Post by charliebrown on Jan 14, 2014 18:28:58 GMT
I think Pullman's style doesn't work for me. It's dry and rather humorless. Anyway I am reading the Subtle Knife
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Post by juju on Jan 15, 2014 16:27:45 GMT
I've said it before and I'll say it again - READ THESE BOOKS, JO! I'd be so interested in what you make of them. I'll send you copies.
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Post by JoeP on Jan 15, 2014 16:55:09 GMT
I don't think she's listening ...
JO ...
READ THESE BOOKS!!
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Post by charliebrown on Jan 19, 2014 18:41:21 GMT
I finished the Subtle Knife and honestly I think it is worse than the Golden Compass. Isn't Lord Arisel the one who 'cut' Roger in the 1 first book? And now he is the one who is supposed to save the world(s) from the 'cruelty' of it all. And where does the Shaman get his daemon from? The characters aren't unconvincing (they seem more like puppets who follow orders), the plot contrived and the violence (sometimes rather unnecessary) make it a depressing reading experience.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jan 19, 2014 21:39:45 GMT
Lyra and Will don't follow Lord Asriel - they do what they think is right. To me atleast, it was quite clear that Lord Asriel was ruthless and what he did was wrong, the end didn't justify the means. But I think that is one of those talking points where people can make their own meaning, it gives you a chance to think about it. How the Shaman get his daemon is explained more in book 3. Are you going to continue?
I just read the little short stories - Lyra's Oxford and Once upon a time in the north - the first about Lyra obviously and the second about how Lee Scorsby and Iorek Byrnison met. I really enjoyed them. It is interesting what a different perspective we have. I find the writing wonderful, the sense of humour fantastic and the whole series just a delight to read. I find them to be full of questions about morality and what is right and wrong.
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Post by charliebrown on Jan 20, 2014 6:43:27 GMT
Yes, I am going to read the 3rd book. But not immediately. I need a break
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