A few minutes ago I turned the last page of 'The Amber Spyglass', the third and final book in Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy.
When copies of these 'The Adjective Object' books with big cartoony pictures on the covers started turning up in the hands of people on public transport, I made the error of slipping into the inexcusable assumption that they were magic-related kid's fiction targetted at surfing the wave of Pottermania.
Mr. Pullman, pardon me. Oh, and while I've accidentally fallen into this direct-to-Philip-Pullman paragraph, I'd like to take advantage of the fact before I adjust the tense and my own sense of propriety and say, cheers for that Mr. Pullman, sir. Nicely done. I doff my cap in your general direction.
For anyone who is still in the dark, as it were, 'His Dark Materials' is exquisitely constructed and poetically executed fiction, and, if you haven't heard anything about the books, they neither deserve nor merit any prejudice that you would be able to bring to bear on them.
Krissa read them years ago, and persuaded me that we should buy the trilogy in paperback with a gift voucher we got for Christmas. Being in my finest reading fettle for many years, having just bested 'The Count of Monte Cristo' for the first time and throwing a few challenging glances toward the weightier Russians, I wasn't too keen to start a trilogy of children's books, but I'm glad I did.
'The Golden Compass' may have been closer to what I was expecting than the other two of the trilogy in terms of familiar storytelling ground (unusual child, odd goings on, leading to unusual and exciting adventure), but as ever, it is not what is done, but how it is carried out, and the continuing trend for incorporating such supposably adult themes as death and trauma into children's books is something I can only applaud. Some of the most vicious and merciless individuals I have ever known have been children.
I digress.
In the second book, 'The Subtle Knife', everything which traditional children's literature may have led us to expect is torn asunder, and this is only exacerbated and finished with a flourish in the final volume.
This is as good as a review as I can give without revealing plot...so. If you get the chance, I urge you to read them. They certainly opened my eyes, anyway.
I hope everyone is having a good weekend?
I've got the first one onmy stack, waiting to be read.
How odd. In english, the first book is called Northern Lights. You're absolutely right; this a fantastic trilogy, wasted on children.
I would question weather any good book is really wasted on children. There were many books I read as a kid that I was too young for, but enjoyed non the less. When I reread them when I was older, I enjoyed them in a different way and got something else out of them.
Reading is good. Kids should always be encouraged to read, no matter what the book. (and sigh that even includes harry potter)
Tsk, Adrian, I didn't mean it so literally. I mean that it is a book that should not be solely marketed at children. In fact I think it would be the perfect book for parents to read to their children.
Oh right got you. Agree entirely. Neil Gaimen's got some 'childrens books' that are fantastic, and should not be limited to children either.
I've been meaning to read these, having heard such good things about them. Thanks for the recommendation.
I loved the series, but I must say, by the third one, it was a bit too riddled in Christian ideology for my taste....
I finished The Amber Spyglass late one night, a few minutes before the parents of the kids I was babysitting came home. It was a bit tricky to explain why I was bawling so. They're really wonderful books.
Ditto. Bought them on a recommendation. Wasn't sure. Tried the first one and had all three finished in a week (at the expense of several household chores and suchlike).
And caps off Sir. The Count of Monte Cristo still sits on my bookshelf, mockingly unopened.
>the continuing trend for incorporating such supposably adult themes as death and trauma into children's books
the Brothers Grimm would be horrified
Sal - I never said that it had never happened before, just that it had been lacking and that the trend to include them was continuing.
Touche.
I'm a big fan of the trilogy (I have signed copies - how cool is that?) and I've just seen the theatre adaptation for the second time. I was just as spell-bound as I was first time round.
Astonishing stuff.