Book Binge

The cold damp weather makes me want to do one thing -- lay in bed with the blankets piled on and read.

Just before Christmas, I treated myself to the His Dark Materials Trilogy -- The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass -- by Philip Pullman.  I am so glad that I did!  At first I decided to read the books because of all the controversy.  In case you haven't heard about it -- some people are outraged because Pullman's Dark Materials world appears to be anti-god and truly can be called anti-organized religion.  What do I say about this?  Hurrah!  Finally an opposing view.  So much literature is overtly or covertly religious, what is wrong with voicing a different view.  (If you want to read his views on religion -- which I wholeheartedly concur with -- you can read more at his website.)

But religious themes aside -- I *loved* these books and devoured them greedily!  When I read the last word on the last page, I was sad that it was over.  This is when I know that I've read something amazing.  At its roots, it's a story of growing up and of good vs. evil -- wisdom vs. blind faith.  I can't wait to read them again and I can't wait for Maddie to be old enough to read them. 

I do want to say that these are not books for young children -- in fact, I think they are more than substantial enough for any adult.  And some of the themes are appropriate only for older kids -- on the cusp of adulthood -- teens perhaps.

After this I read something very different -- Forgetfulness by Ward Just.  This is a book set mostly in France and concerns the death of a French woman married to an American ex-pat.  It was interesting, as it concerns terrorism, 9-11 and anti-American feelings.  I'm not sure what to make of it.  The main character -- the American living in France -- seemed to dislike himself.  The French wife who died at the beginning was unsympathetic.  This lent realism to the story, but left me a bit cold.

My mom bought I Am Legend by Richard Matheson for Pete for Christmas, but as he has about 20 books on his "to read" pile -- I snagged it.  The book is actually a collection of stories -- I am Legend is more of a novella.  Right now there is a movie out starring Will Smith based on this book, but it sounds like they fleshed out the story and moved it to New York City.

This book is set in a suburban area and the main character is the last man on the planet  -- a planet that has now been populated with a kind of vampire.  It's certainly scary and fits right in to the apocalyptic genre.  If you like horror then you have to read some Matheson and I am Legend is a good place to start.  It's very old school horror -- akin to old school sci-fi which probably explains why I liked it.   I have to admit that I didn't read all of the other stories in the book.  After reading I am Legend and a few other stories, I had a nightmare and decided that I don't read horror for a reason  :)

Up next is Fire in the Blood by Irene Nemirovsky who wrote Suite Francaise which I read and enjoyed last year.  So far I love the book and read more than half of it yesterday.

Comments

[christie]

Thanks for reminding me about the trilogy! I wanted to read it [the movie wasn't so bad]. Thanks for the review too...

[Tami]

I'm currently reading the second book in the trilogy, 'The Subtle Knife'. So far I'm really enjoying the series and probably should go and see the movie before it leaves the theaters.

My husband also ordered 'I Am Legend' after we saw the Will Smith movie. I never realized before reading this collection of short stories how much Richard Matheson has an impact on Hollywood. I recognized several of the stories as being the same ones told on the silver screen (or the tv). I can't quite decide whether he wrote the short stories just for themselves or if he always had a script in mind. Nonetheless very interesting history behind him and his work.

[Katy]

I love the Pullman trilogy--and the audio version of it is just amazing! Definitely worth a listen while you are crafting. I did go to see the movie a few weeks ago, just to see--and I thought the casting, costumes, sets, and special effects were great, but the script adaptation left a lot to be desired. Sigh.

[Kristen]

Philip Pullman is one of my all time favorite authors. His first series is very, very good too; he has very strong female characters, which is somewhat rate! (A Ruby in the Smoke, A Shadow in the North and A Tiger in the Well)

[Hanh]

You will love "Fire in the Blood". It's a little gem. Watch for all the wine metaphors.
Regarding "Forgetfulness", "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Moshin Hamid does a better job of analyzing the anti-American and anti-Arab-like-people shift that occurs after 9-11, although as a whole I dislike the long monologue as a novel form

[Christy]

I experienced the books while commuting, and enjoyed them immensely. The version I listened to was the one read by the author, and it was lovely. Philip Pullman has a nice voice, and there was no doubt he was pronouncing things correctly. (grumble at Woken Furies)

The tale of Lyra (and Will) crosses so many worlds, and introduces interesting ideas about the nature of the universe, that it's hard not to enjoy one's self reading these books (or having them read to you).

[rebecca]

wish i would have known you wanted these - i bought them a few years back (used, but great condition) for my son to read later.... then i found out what they are (you know the whole controversy thing) so now they are not allowed. although i'd love them to go to a home that would want them.
i'm in the middle of a quick read "ellen foster" by kaye gibbons. written very well. i think you'd like it.