Northern Lights
February 13th, 2008
I’m not much for fantasy novels, I enjoyed all the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings trilogy but whenever Tracey has suggested I read some fantasy novel I’ve turned my nose up at it and generally had a bit of a struggle to really get into one of them, despite being quite interested in the overall concept (living ships for example - sounds very cool) I just can’t commit to them.
So when I took the plunge and bought the His Dark Materials trilogy based on everyone saying how wonderful it was I know I was taking a risk.
Within the first chapter I’m whining to Tracey:
“Decanters? What is it with you fantasy people and decanters? Always with the decanters!?”
“You’re not going to finish that book.” Tracey advises me knowingly. I grumble for a little while and then someone mentions the bloody decanter again.
“Again with the decanter!?”
She shakes her head and I suspect she thinks that in order to recoup the money spent on these books that she will have to read them.
I prove her wrong and finish the book finally. It was weird though as I read the book whenever I’d pick it up I was certain that my bookmark had moved backwards. I thought I was halfway through, I’d pick it up and discover the bookmark only a quarter of the way through the novel and wonder if Tracey is not messing with my head.
She wasn’t and I’m really glad that Northern Lights is a feast of a novel rather than a snack. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but I’ve been told that the movie pales in comparison. It did help though knowing who performed the characters - especially the billed actors Kidman and Craig.
The book is very lavish in its descriptions and the detailed world that is created by Pullman, the ideas of daemons and their connection to humans is wonderful and not something I’ve encountered before (remember I read very little fantasy!!).
I’m looking forward to the next book but I am taking a break before the next one. The book I just started is World War Z. It’s a fictional documentary detailing a worldwide outbreak of zombies like those seen in Dawn of the Dead etc. It is shaping up to be pretty bloody cool, pretty bloody creepy and pretty bloody.
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Categories: Books | Tags: craig, daemons, dark materials, decanters, Harry Potter, kidman, lord of the rings, northern lights, pullman, s
See, in fantasy nowadays, I can only stand it if it is funny like Pratchett or Holt or Bibby.
MC’s last blog post..Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
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I need to make a list of books which I need to read…it’s like my tv /film list..it keeps getting longer and longer.
Arjan’s last blog post..The Wire s5.06
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….with all the trouble you had getting through that one I’m just giggling to myself about you still having to read the next two.
Tracey’s last blog post..A Love Letter Inspired by St.Valentine
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MC - a lot of people recommend Pratchett to me and I think I’ve only read one of his books which was an interesting idea about death taking a holiday and an apprentice. I thought it was clever but never really got around to reading more.
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Arjan - I know that feeling!!!
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Tracey - I’m sure I’ll be fine once I get out of this Zombie book - I just need the headspace to enjoy the books - they are quite epic in scope.
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