The Subtle Knife: Check!

Well, I guess my Kindle is working in terms of getting me to read more!  We are only seven days into the new year and already I've finished 2 books (and am 11% into The Amber Spyglass). 

I actually didn't like The Subtle Knife at all...it was strange and definitely didn't have the quality of adventure I felt in The Golden Compass.  I'm thinking it may have had something to do with the fact that it mostly took place in this world in present day.  I also wasn't really sure the whole time what Lyra and Will's goal was.  I mean, I realize they were searching for Will's father, but there was not really any sense of why or any urgency or anything that tied the two stories together.  It was as if I was watching a TV show and a character from a COMPLETELY different show showed up and they continued the story by trying to fit their worlds together, with a strange result.  I'm thinking something like a vampire shows up during How I Met Your Mother or something equally as strange.  The whole thing was disjointed and kind of forced.  I don't know...I guess it just wasn't my favorite. 

The good news is that I'm now reading the Amber Spyglass, and am liking that better, as it is starting to make sense again.  So far Will is searching for Lyra, which seems a plausible storyline, and definitely presents some urgency.  I'll report on this when I finish, which will be in 8 hours, as my kindle has so kindly let me know.  After that, I'll have to see if Return of the King is available at the ebook library, and if not I'll have to find something else from my list.

The Golden Compass: Check!

I just finished read The Golden Compass, book 1 of the His Dark Materials series (#9)  I enjoyed it up until the last section of the book, where it got a little tedious and boring.  I now have two other books in that series to finish (which puts me midway through two different trilogies: this one and LOTR)

I read this book when I was 13 or 14 and didn't remember too much about it.  I remember it took me a long time to get through and that I didn't particularly enjoy it.  This time, though I was much more interested and for most of the book couldn't put it down.  I hope the other books are as good.

It was interesting to read about a universe that was almost like ours, but had very distinct differences (daemons, for example). The next book supposedly takes place in a world like ours, but Lyra somehow is part of that as well.  The Subtle Knife is definitely my next read, as I try to power through this series.

I will leave you with some of my favorite quotes:

"That is the duty of the old," said the Librarian, "to be anxious on behalf of the young.  And the duty of the young is to scorn the anxiety of the old."   (p. 32)

"Yes, I could teach.  Give me the right pupil, and I will light a fire in his mind!"   (p. 330)

"The stars are alive, child.  Did you know that?  Everything out there is alive, and there are grand purposes abroad.  The universe is full of intentions you know.  Everything happens for a purpose.   (p. 330)

"In the same moment, one future would close forever as the other began to unfold"   (p. 349)