His Dark Materials Trilogy

[CraftyCath]

I'm struggling a bit with this book as it's a bit slow for me.

I'm hoping it speeds up a bit as it goes along, I'm about half way through. Lyra is on the ship heading North. She's an interesting girl and I'm looking forward to seeing her character develop.

I'm not sure about her parents. Mum is obviously not a nice person but I'm not sure about Dad. Why would the Master, who seems genuinely fond of Lyra, try to poison Asriel if he was a good guy?

 

[CraftyCath]

I'm on the second book now.

The plot is really taking off and things are coming together. Lyra is an amazing girl, strong, impetuous and brave. I really like her.

I love how Will looked after and protected his mother. It will be interesting to find out how she became the way she is.

The 'cutting' they did to the children was like all other kinds of abuse but in some ways worse. To have your very soul ripped out of you. Terrible.

I like the witches and they obviously know more about Lyra than anyone else. I truly hate Lyra's mother. How could such terrible parents have such a great kid? They don't deserve her. Mind you, she can lie with ease but it seems she is only doing it for good. Like the story in the Bible of Rahab sheltering the Israelite spies. When the Jericho guards came looking for the spies she hid them and then lied to the guards saying she hadn't seen them; then she let them down the wall using some sheets. Sometimes lies can be a good and necessary thing. (Joshua chapter 2).

I had read that these books were anti Christianity but I don't think that is the case. They are anti religion. The oblation board reeks of the Spanish Inquisition; subduing, controlling and worse. There has not been a dig at God as far as I can see.

I just hope it doesn't encourage kids to do it all the time!

A great read.

 

[anthony]

Ohhhhhh... I'll stop reading my current book, put it on hold, and read this second book with you.

 

[CraftyCath]

Aw! That's great Anthony!

The plot is hotting up!

 

[anthony]

Just finished up the chapter I was reading in Andy McNab... and pulled book two from the cupboard. Jobs on!

 

[CraftyCath]

Yay! It's good to be reading with someone else. :tup:

 

[anthony]

This second book is pretty exciting... better than the first book I think.

Will discovering his way, fumbling along with no idea what is really go on, other than he has documents of his mothers, has discovered a tear in time that allows him to cross into another world. Where he found Lyra and they've now become partners. Will teaching Lyra about his world, being what I interpret as the here and now.

Taking a guess, from Lyra standing in the museum and looking at things she is familiar with... a time space shift versus different worlds. Possibly! Will be interesting.

Yer, if people talk about this as something against religion, I don't really see it. I'm reading nothing different from modern day views. Some believe, some don't. Some practice, some don't. And today, there are religious people doing evil things in the name of religion, calling it justly or such. Seems about the same to me.

Ok... back to more reading. Starting chapter 5.

 

[anthony]

Ok... read.

I have to say I'm now a little confused from earlier thoughts, having read the entire story. I see a point about religion now, in that the knife is able to kill God. What I don't understand though, is that all the angels are flocking to Asriels side, not the Majasterians. Very strange.

So dust is dark matter. Dark matter is consciousness. Consciousness is alive. It is angels. Angels are matter. Everything that holds the worlds together is conscious matter that can be communicated with.

Interesting. Obviously the last book is the battle. Looking forward to that one.

 

[amethist]

Fingers crossed I will be able to start reading these books today.

 

[CraftyCath]

Ok... read.

Flippin' 'eck man, how'd you read so fast?!? :eek:

I read chapter 4 in the hair dressers today. Who is the scary man in the museum? He's a bit freaky. I really want to know what Will's Mothers letters say, I can't understand why he hasn't read them yet - I would have!

Boy is Lyra learning fast. The Althiomiter is like her computer and she just Google's a question and up pops the answer (except she doesn't get hundreds of pages to look through).

Very interesting so far but I wish I hadn't read Anthony's post because now I kind of know what happens. I'm quite a fast reader but only usually pick a book up at bedtime.

 

[anthony]

That's ok Cath... I have time on my hands to read. Tell me when at next book.

That dude in the museum is a scary fellow. I was not impressed when he ripped off Lyra. Stole her althiometer from her. Then up pops her mother, coming to collect it. They had destroyed them all, except the one she and her daughter have. Interesting how Lyra learns about the dark matter though and that I'm guessing, she won't need the althiometer eventually... just any device that can translate thoughts to words, which the scientists achieved and then destroyed.

 

[amethist]

I managed to start reading the first book yesterday, and hope to read some more later this afternoon.

I will have caught up with you guys in a few days, hopefully.