Oh dear...

[fajrdrako]

I just learned that Daniel Craig is going to be in the movie The Golden Compass. I wasn't going to go to the movie because I hated the book. But how can I resist Daniel Craig?

Comments

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

I didn't like the book - a couple of neat concepts that interested me but over all - no, thanks.
Daniel Craig? I'm following.

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

which character is he playing?

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I know, right? That, and I just watched the trailer (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/thegoldencompass.html) and it's sooooo pretty. I didn't like the book either, but sometimes books I didn't enjoy reading turn into enjoyable movies, so I'm thinking I'll give it a shot.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

... HOW ON EARTH DID YOU HATE THAT BOOK?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wish I knew how much he would actually be in it!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Lord Asriel

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I still haven't decided whether to give it a shot or not. I gave "Narnia" a shot, and was bored, and regretted it. But... it is Daniel Craig.

Decisions, decisions.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Er... um... I take it you liked it? I found all the characters (especially Lyra) sort of distasteful and I didn't much like the writing style. The setting was sort of fun, but I really can't think of anything else I liked about it. The plot was pretty dull and kind of predictable.

I'm sorry if I'm insulting your favourite book or something!

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

I thought it and the other two in the trilogy were among the most amazing works of YA literature ever. They're total genius. Lyra was a bit whiny at first, but she really evolved by the third book.

I guess they're not for everyone, but I definitely recommend reading the entire trilogy, and not basing is solely on "The Golden Compass", because "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass" (especially the last one) are just brilliant young adult novels. They're dark and well written and the references to other works of literature are subtle and perfect and ack.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm just so in love with these books. I rank them higher than Harry Potter, and right on the same level as Lord of the Rings.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've had other friends say much the same as you have here - I know many people that totally loved them. Which was why I read "The Golden Compass" right through to the end, figuring I had to give it a chance. You're not the only person who has told me I should persevere to the end of the trilogy, but it's difficult to get up the heart to read more of something you didn't like in the first place!

Yes, I thought Lyra was dreadfully whiny, and rather full of herself.

There are numerous YA novels I think are brilliant; some of Diana Wynne Jones' books (which I like much better than Harry Potter), and Megan Whalen Turner's trilogy about Eugenides, and Annette Kurtis Krause's vampire novel.

And of course "Lord of the Rings" is high on a pedestal!

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

The thing most people don't realize, I think, is that Lyra is, like, a twelve year old girl or whatever. She's supposed to be whiny and full of herself. Because she matures so much in the following two books, as she realizes what her destiny is.

I think Diana Wynne Jones is good and fun, but I don't see it as being brilliant, not the way the His Dark Materials trilogy is. There are other YA books that are really fantastic, but there are few that manage to do what Phillip Pullman did, in creating this rich series of parallel worlds, of Dust and sexual awakening and moving from childhood to adult and from innocence to sin.

Lord of the Rings is definitely high up there.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

She matures so much in the following two books, as she realizes what her destiny is.

So I might like her more in the later books?

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

How much of DWJ have you read? Some of her books are much more serious and aimed at an older audience, which some are deliberately for 7-9 year olds, and some for 10-15. Many of her more famous books, including the Chrestomanci, are not her most serious books.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I agree that there is a wide range in both style and content of the DWJ novels. There are even a few I didn't like. But mostly I absolutely love her writing style - content is almost irrelevant.

Which is probably true with any author: I am more concerned in general with how books are written than what they are written about. Some genres excepted.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

It's possible. I guess it's a "to each their own" type thing. I personally really enjoyed it, but I know not everyone will. It's just a progressive thing. The first book sets it up, the second book introduces the rest of the characters, and the third book just hits you HARD with some amazing plot. It's really the third book that I like the most... the second book is a typical middle book, like The Two Towers: a good read, but it's just the middle stuff, not the climatic ending that you really want to read.

[limmenel.livejournal.com]

I've read a handful of her stuff. I read Howl's Moving Castle, and some of her Wizard stuff. Maybe some other stuff that I can't remember off the top of my head. It's good and fun, but it's not, like, ground-breaking and awe-inspiring for me. I enjoyed it, though, don't get me wrong!

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Interesting comments. I thought I was the only who couldn't get into His Dark Materials. I tried reading this book TWICE and couldn't get past the writing.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, trilogies are often like that. The really good stuff in the third one.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, that's it. I couldn't get past the writing either. I did manage to get through the first book, but didn't even want to try the second.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I loved 'his Dark Materials' as well. But then again I also am very fond of Robin Hobb tripple triology (the Farseers, the Liveshiptraders and the Fools books). I think I am a sucker for impressive and original world building. I do like abstract concepts. And maybe in the 'his Dark Materials' the concept thing takes the upper hand a bit to often (It is meant to be a retelling of Milton's Lost paradise, Pullman's favourite book). (As for concept in Hobb, you would see in the middle triology, the Liveshiptraders).

Are there more books I know of that one of us likes and the other doesn't?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I also am very fond of Robin Hobb tripple triology

Yes - again, I read the first of that and didn't like it, for very similar reasons that I didn't like Pullman - didn't like the characters, didn't like the writing style. And world building per se doesn't interest me particularly, though of course it depends on the world.

I do like Milton, though I haven't read Paradise Lost right through.

I'm not sure if there are more examples of things one of us likes and the other doesn't - name a few more books that you do or don't like and we'll see!

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I think I might have gotten a few chapters in, but that was it. And I gave it a second try too!

PS, thanks for Rose of Versailles! It looks so neat.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

thanks for Rose of Versailles! It looks so neat.

I hope you enjoy! I certainly did - it was one of the first manga I ever read and I fell in love with it. Wish I could find more.

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed The Golden Compass becuase (I think) I had just been in Oxford and liked finding out the clever tricks Pullman played using the real city.

But I hated the other books -- I didn't even finish the third.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, that doesn't encourage me to continue! Thanks for the comment. It's interesting how opinions about these books cover the whole gamut.

[litalex.livejournal.com]

oh? may I ask what's wrong with the books?

and yeah, the trailer for the movie looks pretty exciting.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

may I ask what's wrong with the books?

I only read the first one. I didn't like the style of writing or the characters, particularly Lyra. Didn't particularly like the plot either, though probably if I'd liked the style that wouldn't have mattered. I could be more specific, but what's the point? Some writers' styles just put me off and this was one of those cases.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I would have seen Christopher Eccleston as a more natural fit for Lord Asriel, who is a very ambiguous character. But Daniel Craig is an excellent actor, so we shall see.

I loved the first book, found the second rather harrowing to read although I thought it quite good, and have never finished the third (I just got busy and never got back to it). I do plan to finish it sooner or later. I particularly loved the world-building and the daemons (as a class and as individuals).

I had also really loved the Sally Lockhart novels (which as I have said before, I think you would actually like because they're not nearly as didactic), and so was prejudiced in favour of liking Pullman's other books.