Comment Re:YATB (Score 1) 140
Read the book, please.
As other people have said in this thread, it's not just another teenage book. Pullman writes commentaries into his book and makes slight allusions throughout the work that, frankly, very few teenagers would pick up. Calvinism, religion, the relation to body and soul. Those are the subjects of the books. If Pullman hadn't artistically wrapped them up within a frame that above all other things is entertaining, you wouldn't think of calling this a teen book.
Yes, the language is simple. So are newspapers. Yes, the plot isn't terribly complicted. At least it doesn't interfere with the theme. Yes, the ending it a bit contrived, and reeks (rather ironicly) of deus ex machina. But at least the message remains the same.
Pullman created a complex world in these books. Don't throw it out simply because he created an accessable, fun trilogy. These books have been called an anti-Narnia for a reason. Like Lewis' books, they're easy to read. Like Lewis' books, they're entertaining. Like Lewis' books, they have an underlying theme. Unlike Lewis' books, the theme doesn't bludgeon you over the head.
It never ceases to amaze me that people throw away some real gems just because they're easy to read. You don't need to write like Joseph Conrad to write something that says something big. Addditudes like this pigeon-holed Bradbury for a long, long time. Looks like Pullman gets the same treatment for the same reason: He's fun.
As other people have said in this thread, it's not just another teenage book. Pullman writes commentaries into his book and makes slight allusions throughout the work that, frankly, very few teenagers would pick up. Calvinism, religion, the relation to body and soul. Those are the subjects of the books. If Pullman hadn't artistically wrapped them up within a frame that above all other things is entertaining, you wouldn't think of calling this a teen book.
Yes, the language is simple. So are newspapers. Yes, the plot isn't terribly complicted. At least it doesn't interfere with the theme. Yes, the ending it a bit contrived, and reeks (rather ironicly) of deus ex machina. But at least the message remains the same.
Pullman created a complex world in these books. Don't throw it out simply because he created an accessable, fun trilogy. These books have been called an anti-Narnia for a reason. Like Lewis' books, they're easy to read. Like Lewis' books, they're entertaining. Like Lewis' books, they have an underlying theme. Unlike Lewis' books, the theme doesn't bludgeon you over the head.
It never ceases to amaze me that people throw away some real gems just because they're easy to read. You don't need to write like Joseph Conrad to write something that says something big. Addditudes like this pigeon-holed Bradbury for a long, long time. Looks like Pullman gets the same treatment for the same reason: He's fun.
