No Summer Sisters

As I expected, I didn't have much time for reading over the weekend. We were busy doing other wonderful things! This means I didn't get Summer Sisters started, and now I've decided to skip it and move onto another book called The Sweet By and By by Todd Johnson. It was recommended on a blog I love and so I'm going to give it a try... I'm even going to buy a copy! Well, mainly because they don't have it at the library, or else I'd get it for free. Fortunately, I have a good coupon for Borders, so I'll be picking it up tomorrow at lunch time.

Awesome.

I finished The Amber Spyglass, which completes the His Dark Materials series. The series as a whole was amazing, though I was a little disappointed with the last bit of the last book. It seemed like after all they had been through that the ending was a bit anticlimactic… but maybe that’s because I already had an idea of what would happen.

I still really enjoyed the story and the characters and the creativity. There were points in the last book where I was practically in tears, others where I was on edge wondering what would happen, and finally a bit disappointed because even though the characters were experiencing a lot of emotion, I wasn’t really "feeling it."

There were a couple things I do wish I had written down while I was reading, but I can’t find them now trying to look back through. Darn it, I should have known better than to think I could go back, but it’s hard to stop reading when the story is so awesome!

Moving forward, I’ve decided to read some stuff I have at the condo instead of getting books out of the library when I bring these last two back. I think I’ll start with something I’ve already read (years ago) - Summer Sisters by Judy Blume - because it will be a fun, easy read for me while I’m in RI camping and hopefully going to the beach this weekend.

The Subtle Knife - Finished

I am glad to hear from Karen- especially about her reading of the His Dark Materials series! I suppose I am not reading the series with the controversy in mind, meaning it's not affecting my enjoyment, but I do see where a controversy could stem from. And although I don't agree with a complete overhaul of creation and of the relationship we have with God verses what we know as Christians, I do find the story and characters extremely fascinating.

I finished The Subtle Knife before I left for VT and started The Amber Spyglass, which is the last book in the series. I have already been introduced to some amazing creatures in one new world, and the story line continues to build up to what I'm sure will be a grand battle and finale.

Do Not Recommend

I finished The Book of Air and Shadows and just to let you know how much I enjoyed it, when I read the last word, I threw it across the kitchen. I realize I could have just stopped reading it at any time, but I have a weird thing with not finishing things and I just had to, so I stuck it out. I was thinking it would be more Dan Brown-esque and it really wasn't. The kind of story was similar, but the way it was told and the actual storyline etc. did not live up to Dan Brown's work at all. It didn't flow that well and it wasn't that interesting and it was a little more pornographic than I thought was necessary. Needless to say, I do not recommend this one. Just steer clear.

Grama sent me the Dune series so I've just started on the first one. I really don't have much time to read nowadays but starting in July I should have a better time of it. I'll try to keep up though, I did so well at the beginning of the year. Anyway, this one seems like it's right up my alley so I'll probably post more about it, at least more positively.

Christie: I have read the whole Dark Materials series and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I also read them without knowing there was such a big controversy surrounding them and I did not catch on to that at all when I read them. But I'm a little dim sometimes, and just don't always think that deeply about things. I just read them as really fascinating, creative and unique fantasy stories, which is just the kind of thing I enjoy. I'm glad you're enjoying them. They are definitely books that I would recommend to anyone.

The Subtle Knife

Oh what a bum I am for not posting to this in forever! I finished The Golden Compass and have moved on to the second book in the series, The Subtle Knife.

I'm having a hard time articulating my thoughts about this series of books. I know that some people think the content is controversial, and although I was a bit uncomfortable at the end of The Golden Compass when he altered scripture to fit his storyline, I have viewed the books as an amazingly creative work of fiction, not something scary or offensive in terms of my faith.

I suppose I just believe what I believe and I'm grounded enough in that to not be swayed or offended by someone else's make-believe. His characters are excellent and so far I've taken the story as adventure, not evil.

We'll see how I feel when I finish book two and book three. I'd like to talk with Karen a bit more at some point, or get her ideas about it in a comment, because I know she's read them (or at least the first one).

I'll probably not post again until I'm done with all three (hopefully I can gather my thoughts better between now and then), but don't hold it against me!