I finally got around to reading The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman and was SO disappointed I had already seen the movie. I didn't think the movie was terrible and, in fact, it didn't leave much of an impression on me at all. However, I did remember the main plot points and the setting which basically took all of the fun out of discovering those things anew in the book. I kept thinking about what it would have been like to come across the book for the first time and to discover a world that was like ours, but not. When I wrote about Tandem recently, I noted the dearth of "parallel worlds" stories for young readers, and here was one staring me in the face that I'd never read. It's a beautifully written book with unforgettable characters and settings and a very different feel to a lot of MG and YA stories coming out now in the fantasy genres. It's not pure fantasy but it's not urban fantasy either. It's kind of a hybrid because it's a world that's so similar to ours that it really feels like urban fantasy even though there are constant reminders that we're in another place entirely. Pullman's attention to detail in manipulating settings to make them familiar, yet different, is a wonderful achievement in writing, particularly for younger audiences. I did find the ending a little heavy-handed with references to religion and spiritualism, but could see that the whole book was leading to this point so I had to take it as it came. I'm sure it's necessary for the next books in the series. The clever manipulation of religion and religious doctrine to be familiar, but also to suit the alternate world was well done. If you have never seen the movie and are considering whether to read the book first, all I can say is do it. The movie isn't bad, but takes all the excitement and mystery out of the book.
RSS Feed