"...Some of them are discharged lepers," said Lady Norton by way of making the position sound more attractive.
As much as one might long to be one o:
"...Some of them are discharged lepers," said Lady Norton by way of making the position sound more attractive.
As much as one might long to be one of Thirkell's vrry pretty, rich, young widows, she clearly has greatest sympathy for those who must work for a living, and for the unappealing nature of most opportunities.
Thirkell's heroine's aren't always clever, but they are always pretty and charming and devoted mothers, albeit, rather distant by 21st century US standards. The ones who are married are less mischievously flirtatious. Lavinia never listens to people, but she is mostly well intentioned: visiting grmpy aged relations or buying all the worst stuff from the stalls at the fete, looking after the poor but genteel companion, etc. All the chaps moon over her a bit then end up with appropriate and loving wives.
There's nothing but gooseberry fool for a month in any of the homes in the county, which seems off-putting. Delia is constantly eating all the ripe peaches she can get her hands on. I have rather forgotten a world where foods were only available in one short season.
Taylor's universe is peopled with gods and monsters and provides pretty nearly infinite opportunity. There is a strong grounding in the adventure tradTaylor's universe is peopled with gods and monsters and provides pretty nearly infinite opportunity. There is a strong grounding in the adventure tradition with plenty of fights and treasure and discovery. There is, as well, a grounding in all the really horrible things people do to one another, and what those traumas can do to a psyche. And then there is a sense of whimsy, too, just a smattering of pure wish-fulfillment delights like flying, and cake, and true love. It's a tasty formula. I'm frankly surprised that Disney hasn't bought the rights and planned a vast new series of lavish films and theme parks. It's refreshingly devoid of the sex/race/gender/religion/beauty prejudices of our own world, so ships for everyone and casting options are wide-open.
1990 June 8 1997 Jun 01 1998 Jan 30 1999 Jun 17 2002 Jan 31 2012 May 15 2014 Aug 1 2017 Oct 7 It's my favorite book. I picked up a copy at the first and only 1990 June 8 1997 Jun 01 1998 Jan 30 1999 Jun 17 2002 Jan 31 2012 May 15 2014 Aug 1 2017 Oct 7 It's my favorite book. I picked up a copy at the first and only BEA I ever attended. I didn't know either of the author's names. Because it's my favorite book, I made it a point to read it aloud to both of the Offspring during their first weeks of life. They've always liked me reading to them.
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I've never dropped a copy in the bath, but I imagine mine does look well-loved. There aren't any surprises in a sixth read, but the delight remains. Now that I've read most of Gaiman's published work and most of Pratchett's, it is fun to see things that show up in other places and other forms. What I noticed most this time is that their notion of eleven-year-olds is rather more childlike than mine, not to mention much smaller. (I'm short, which means eleven-year-olds are as tall as me, if not actually towering over me.)...more
I like Will, and his very pressing day-to-day concerns, his practicality. This is where the sThe Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman 21 Jul 1997
11 Nov 2000
I like Will, and his very pressing day-to-day concerns, his practicality. This is where the series really engaged me, because I could relate to Will better than to Lyra.
2 Oct 2016 I really hate this cover. While it isn't clear what Will's ethnic heritage might be, the text is clear that he has black eyebrows. Straight black brows.That is, however, the only thing about it I dislike. We've changed from the steampunk fantasy world (armored talking bears!) that Lyra is from, to our own world in the present. There is something wrong with Will's mother, and his father has been missing his whole life. Suddenly there are strange men harassing his mother and searching for something, and it all goes pear-shaped very quickly. Fortunately Will knows how to blend, and he knows enough to take advantage of a fortuitous window into another world. Lead by a cat, of course.And then we're off on a constantly moving adventure that covers a tremendous amount of ground in multiple worlds, brings back characters from the first book and introduces many more, and a really astounding number of incidents occur, and so many plotlines. It never is entirely clear how long the whole story takes, but I love every minute of it.
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9 January 2020
I remembered so little: Will, his mother, Lyra, the knife. I'd forgotten everything that wasn't about them, and a surprising amount that was.
I am amused that Pullman is considered an atheist. Perhaps he self-identifies as such, I don't recall. But if he doesn't believe, it isn't because he hasn't heard. This story is steeped in the folklore of the Judeo-Christian God. It seems clear to me that he is only interested in this one particular god out of myriad pantheons and faiths. I find Pratchett's indiscriminate but amused disbelief more compelling.
10/6/1997 I dearly loved the alternate London, but I'm afraid I don't remember much. Definitely time for a re-read.*** Chap helps out an injured girl 10/6/1997 I dearly loved the alternate London, but I'm afraid I don't remember much. Definitely time for a re-read.*** Chap helps out an injured girl on the street and loses everything: apartment, job, fiancee. Goes on an adventure, reluctantly, and proves to be all right.
Mister Croup and Mister Vandermar are the most amazingly creepy bad guys. It ws good to read something so unreal and distant this weekend.
There is another universe and another world closely connected to our own. The beings there look like angels - beautiful, winged human-like- or like chThere is another universe and another world closely connected to our own. The beings there look like angels - beautiful, winged human-like- or like chimera - sphinxes, among a vast array of human-animal hybrids such as minotaurs, snake-people, you name it. They are at war with one another. Wouldn't it be cool if someone told the angels how best to arrive in our world to fulfill our mythologies? Orderly ranks of angels flying out of nowhere into our world to crash at the home of the Pope.
Meanwhile, chimera are trying to thwart the angels' plan to acquire weapons-of-mass-destruction. Clever plans, daring bravado, dangerous missions, love and the privations of war...it's all here.
And then, there's even more...
Count this among the best novels in YA as well as in fantasy. A great read.
Ehrman is brilliant and clear and thoughtful and everyone should read this book. I especially enjoyed his chapter on Ecclesiastes, which resonated witEhrman is brilliant and clear and thoughtful and everyone should read this book. I especially enjoyed his chapter on Ecclesiastes, which resonated with me.
My original review, which I've been working on for two days, was less coherent, more my emotional response to reading the book. Then when I went to save, it vanished. Suffering is, I believe, due to random chance. Heh.
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