knittyBlog: i weep for pullman.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

i weep for pullman.

i am finished the trilogy. i am so sad. i cried just a wee bit on the king streetcar. it's hard to cry in rush hour, let me tell you.

a few links: Heat and Dust, an interview with Pullman which contains my favorite quote from the book, and his reason behind it.

Bridge to the stars, a big reference site. I stumbled across this a few times before I finished the trilogy. If you haven't finished, don't go there. Spoilers up the wazoo.

the BBC4 dramatization. Try the quizzes!

I'm sure there's more. I'm too sad to look now. I have to go download "Lyra's Oxford" from Audible so I don't get the shakes on the way to work tomorrow [i do the audiobook thing on the iPod on the way to and from work every day].

Oh. Pan. Lyra. Will. I miss you all already. [i am so sorry, but this is not a kid's book. wanna discuss? use the comments.]

Comments:

It's been a while since I finished listening to the trilogy...maybe time to start them again, eh? But I'm off to check out the links--thanks!
Such an intense book. I love Lyra.

# posted by

Katy : 9:23 PM, January 31, 2006

I just finished listening to The Golden Compass and I found that I was just enthralled and couldn't believe it was a children's book! I went to my library website and ordered the next two and Lyra's Oxford to be reserved for me. I can't tell you how skeining many pounds of yarn is so much easier when you have Lyra and Pan by your side! Thanks for letting me know NOT to go to that particular website since I've not finished the trilogy. I did go to Pullman's website and he has some fantastic things to say, I am so intrigued and pleased to have found him! Check out this article: http://www.philip-pullman.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=66 on education and literature. Here is the main website http://www.philip-pullman.com/index.asp

# posted by

Curious Creek Kristine : 10:07 PM, January 31, 2006

I read those books a while back. Devoured them really, couldn't stop reading. I never thought to get the audio versions! I'll have to do that...

Just thinking about it I miss that world, Pantalaimon and Iorek...

# posted by

cecily : 12:21 AM, February 01, 2006

I loved those books as well, though I was surprised to find them considered children's literature. I'd lvoe to re-read them, the problem is I lent them to someone and I don't know where they are! {sob}

# posted by

Alynda : 2:26 AM, February 01, 2006

i remember how i wept like a BABY at book 3. uncontrollable sobs on the london underground.

# posted by

anna : 6:03 AM, February 01, 2006

If you download Lyra's Oxford, do you get the stuff that was in the book in graphic format, or do you miss out?

# posted by

j. : 8:15 AM, February 01, 2006

for those who haven't listened to the audiobook, you must. i am dying to get a sample of Iorek saying "zeppelins." seriously. the casting is exquisite. pullman is the best at reading his own stuff...which surprised me [i thought it'd been vanity casting.]

and j, i'll have to buy lyra's oxford to see the extras, i guess. halfway through and it's just stories. i don't know how he'd read maps to us. (or what else is in the book. it's hinted at in the introduction.)

btw, there is a sequel in the works, for those who don't know already -- "the book of dust". according to his website, work continues on it. he's decided not to fly ever again, because of what it does to the environment, and says that will give him more time to finish the book.

i want to ask you guys what you think of pan's final form, but kristine isn't there yet. kristine, don't come back! we don't want to spoil it for you!

[wait till she says she'll stay clear before you write anything. i hate being the spoiler.]

# posted by

amy [Knitty] : 8:48 AM, February 01, 2006

oh, man! i just read through the whole interview in the first link. i love pullman.

kristine, don't read it until you're done the trilogy. spoilers!

but for the rest of us, some really satisfying answers to questions i had about the book and pullman's motivation. i have to agree with most of what he said about religion, atheism and "what happens next".

amazing.

# posted by

amy [Knitty] : 9:28 AM, February 01, 2006

Aren't the books great? I didn't get into the first one that much, but really got hooked by the story in the third. I'm excited that there'll be a sequel!

# posted by

jenn : 9:34 AM, February 01, 2006

Amy--I listened to all three this summer and you're right, the casting was so good. I was just thinking about them the other day--because they stayed with me and pop back into my head often... I think I'll re-listen again soon. Thanks for the great links! -amyo

# posted by

Amy O'Neill Houck : 12:45 PM, February 01, 2006

I have to wait until tomorrow to pick them up from the Library, so I'll say that I am signing out from this conversation for now so you can all discuss this most fantastic trilogy!

Amy, thanks for not spoiling it for me!

# posted by

Curious Creek Kristine : 1:05 PM, February 01, 2006

Thanks for the links. I've never heard of these books, but I'm so intrigued now that I'm off to my library to check them out.

# posted by

Kim : 2:32 PM, February 01, 2006

I just finished reading them for the second time, and I have to say they were even better this time around. I'd forgotten how completely involving they are, how easy it is to get swept right along with Lyra and Pan and all the rest.

I'd never thought to listen to the audiobooks though...I'd probably cry even harder than I already did at the end of the third book. Wrenching, I say. So wrenching.

# posted by

Melissa : 12:14 PM, February 02, 2006

I don't think Philip Pullman considers them children's books either- certainly all the interviews I've read have indicated that it was his publishers that pushed them in that direction r.e. publicity. Maybe 'young (and not so young) adult'?

# posted by

Skitten : 6:49 AM, February 03, 2006

Well, I hope I haven't entirely missed this conversation, so busy I've not checked your blog all week Amy--oh, and I've never written a comment before, so I'm also 'delurking'--LOVE your blog. I'm ripped through the books 1 & 2 about 2 years ago and then waited on the 3rd because I couldn't stand to loose that world, Lyra and Will (!oh how I LOVE Will). Pan's final form: I was surprised. She's such an amazing character, so larger-than-life,yet real-- I expected a more spectaular choice, more exotic perhaps. But I also think that we see Lyra's soul choice played out so front and center, with heartbreak and courage that that includes Pan's final form. Anyway, it is a stunning acheivement and I want Pullman given permanent amazing human being/writer status on this planet.

Further rec: if you've never read Madeline L'Engle's time trilogy, it's worth a read: A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet--this last one is really a stunner. Now, they are children's/YA books, but still like Pulman's, this women pulled together some *amazing* concepts together in the 60s-70s that were so unexpected and put it together with characters you love. BYW: I can't recommend all of L'Engles books, b/c the rest of them are very uneven, some are great and some are less than great. But the Time Triology is worth it. When I read Pullman I thought 'thank god SOMEONE is able to carry on this tradition of exploring theology, science, cosmology through a human, moving story. Ultimatly Pullman's is the better, but if you are hunger for something like this trilogy, this is your next, best stop. Happy reading my knitting friends.

# posted by

MaryMR : 1:22 PM, February 03, 2006

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

i weep for pullman.

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