Jul
17
I’m up to page 72 of The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, and the thing I like most about it is the negative portrayal of the Catholic church. I’ll see you in Hell, you bastards!
Just kidding. We haven’t gotten to any of that business yet, which I fully expect to be blown out of proportion. There are so many stories that are anti-establishment, and they can be representative of so many historical institutions or events, I expect this to be no different.
The thing I really like most about it is the imperfect portrayal of both the kids and adults. The main character Lyra can be a bit of a brat. I’m not talking about the way Harry Potter was in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Just more of a natural immaturity that surrounds her character and her actions. We all know I love the Chronicles of Narnia books, but even I can get a bit tired of their “Good day to you fine sir! Yes, the weather is lovely. Don’t you just love that I am perfect in every way? Isn’t that Eustace such a terrible little boy?” act. Kids don’t behave that way.
Even the adults are a bit nasty at times. The good ones like Lord Azriel (the character portrayed by Daniel Craig in the movie) talk about smacking Lyra upside the head and telling her what a punk she is. But even through this, the characters are all likeable. I think they come across more real. Now you know I hate when people equate being an “asshole” with being “real” like the way everyone kept going on about how “real” the movie Crash was. But these characters aren’t assholes, they’re just not perfect and sometimes they can come across like assholes. But I like it.
I like assholes. Wait, what?
July 17th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Hey Craig – isn’t the first book called Northern Lights. I’m actually jealous of you that you’re only on the first book. Those books are amazing!
(The film, of course, inevitably, fell very, very short of the mark.)
July 17th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Nope, it’s The Golden Compass. Maybe they have different titles? Kinda like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:13 am
They do have different names, The Northern Lights is the UK name. I just started The Subtle Knife and so far (which isn’t very) it isn’t a disappointment.
I completely agree about Lyra. She is precocious and a bit defiant, but not so much that she becomes unlikable.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Oh hey, my avatar showed up for the first time?!?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Yeah, the avatar plugin I’m using in this layout is a lot better than the one I was using in my previous one. I expect we’re going to see a lot more avatars this time around.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Oh, we know you do.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Nope, still no avatar. Need help here, folks.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I really need to read this series, especially given the fact that I’m so into all the religious stuff. I’ve heard that it’s a bit Catholic-bashing, but since I’m not Catholic, I’m sure I can take it.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Yeah, my avatar works!!
And since I didn’t read these books yet (though I want to), I’ll talk about what made me think of Puntabulous the other day…
I was at a pool party and every time someone was about to be thrown in the pool, they yelled “MY CELL PHONE!!”
July 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Nicky: So *that’s* what you look like. I’ve heard the plight of the black & white people in our multi-colored society, but have never actually met one. Being chromatically challenged must be difficult for you…
Because I know we all look exactly like our avatars. I really *am* a cartoon, John really is a multiple-personality bunny, and Heather is rumored to look a lot like a plastic radiation-infused giant lizard.
Or so I’m led to believe…
July 17th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I hope you continue to read it. It’s a great series and personally have read it twice. Of course, knowing so much about it led to a huge disappointment in the movie, but those things happen.
Yes, even to me.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the series when you’re done. And do check out the movie. I liked it a lot.
So how is work coming on your own book? (There’s no longer a reminder in the sidebar to get on your ass about it but I lovingly remembered. You’re welcome.)
July 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I guess only Howard and I are not ashamed of our real faces. haha.
Which is understandable in Howard’s case since he’s pretty cute…
Oh, and Dave S: That’s one of my favorite pics of myself, and my friend put it in B&W and saved it. So I lost the original, color version.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I saw the movie and enjoyed it. It wasn’t as good as it could have been, but I really liked the world they created and knew that the book would be even better.
And my stress free attitude towards blogging will help me work on my book more. I’ll certainly keep everyone updated!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:18 am
The book was originally titled the Northern Lights, but was changed when it was published in America because Pullman didn’t think people would be it up.
I read the books when I was in high school are they are very good. The Amber Spyglass was the best one and that golden monkey was crazy!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Pullman was against changing the American title and it came to be out of some weird misunderstanding, he says on his website.
I love the books and I’m looking forward to the short story collection.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
You know, if people hadn’t told me the Pullman books were anti-Catholic, I doubt I would have picked up on it (well, okay, the nun in later parts of the story becomes a bit more obvious).
And if we’ve learned nothing else from the phenomenon of reality television, it doesn’t matter if it’s “real” or not, we just enjoy watching assholes. Especially if they’re also cute.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I’m with Jere on this one, I didn’t really think the book was specifically bashing Catholics. True, the Magisterium seemed to be modeled on the Catholic Church, but it didn’t make a difference to me (and I went through 12 years of Catholic school).
Joe G.: The monkey gets worse?!? I found a similarity between Jadis from The Chronicles of Narnia and Mrs. Coulter; more the performances of them in the film than the books. The scene in Golden Compass when Kidman smacks the monkey (please note, I did *not* resort to spanking the monkey) and then goes and picks it up and pets it reminded me of when Swinton bitch slapped Edmund and was right back in with the tender attention. Evil I say, E-V-I-L!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
*pfft* The church made a big deal outta nothin. It was a great work of fiction, just like the bible.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ha! You slay me with your refined good humours, sir.
Dude, what happened to your web site? Wow. I think I like it.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
“I like assholes. Wait, what?”
Wait, could I be more perverted than Polt? Nah!
He obviously hasn’t read this post.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I haven’t read it yet (nor seen the movie) but I’m afraid that symbolism stuff goes right over my head. I didn’ realize the whole Narnia thing was religious until someone pointed it out. Maybe being a heathen non-believer makes me more oblivious. If the stories good it works for me, symbolize all you like.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
The religious tones become more apparent in the last book, The Amber Spyglass. It didn’t bother me as much when I read it, but I also don’t consider religion to that big to me, meh.
John: Yes! That monkey goes ape sh*! in the next books. The monkey is pretty much a golden homocidal psychotic ass.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The Amber Spyglass, the final book, is a big disappointment to me. Just…blah at the end and the weird wheel birds just weren’t interesting. the only interesting things were the gay angels and most gay guys that read the book only read it because someone told them there were gay angels in the book.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Gay Angels? I’m so there!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
John: I loved Nicole Kidman in the movie. She was so badass, definitely on the same level as Tilda Swinton in Narnia. The slapping the monkey scene (LOL) was classic! I loved it.
Joe G: I’m excited for the monkey to become a golden homocidal psychotic ass!
July 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I literally just finished Golden Compass last night and woke up to find you’ve written a post about it. I think we have reading esp because every time you mention a book i’m either reading it or want to read it.
That being said, I totally enjoyed the Golden Compass a lot more than I expected to. Sometimes the language feels a bit unimaginative but the world Lyra lives in is really well thought out and put together. I’m excited to hear how you like the rest of the novel.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Those books were awesome. I only learned about the whole anti-catholic church thing after reading them. i was like “Huh?” I mean i’m not saying i’m like a genius but i’m a pretty intuitive reader (i like to think) and i never really noticed much. i’ve since read some interviews with phillip pullman and he is pretty candid about his hatred of organized religion so maybe thats primarily where the outrage came from?
July 19th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I finished the series about a 1 1/2 ago, and still think about how mind-blowing it was. I liked book one, but it was book 2 & 3 that made me love it (some of my favorite characters are introduced and Will be just as kick-ass as Lyra). Each book is progressively more dark and engaging. Don’t want to ruin it, so I won’t say anymore.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I LOVED The Golden Compass!!! I enjoyed the second book as well, but still need to get on the last one. Love the new layout on your site.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
I listened to the first two books in the series last week. I enjoy the dark tone that surrounds the story, nothing is dulled down or glanced over. Pan, Serafina Pekkala, and Lee are my favs. Oh, and Iorek–who better return in the third book.