Iris

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Iris is Currently Reading

Iris is currently reading

Lessons in Chemistry

by Bonnie Garmus (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 19, 2023 06:40AM

Iris is currently reading

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1)

by Philip Pullman

bookshelves: 2017, fantasy, young-adult, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in November, 2017

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Iris said: " Some of my thoughts on the book, this was part of a written conversation with a friend, not specifically written as a review.

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Overall, I enjoyed the book. If I didn't know it was by Philip Pullman I'd have thought it a nice story, a nice bit of en Some of my thoughts on the book, this was part of a written conversation with a friend, not specifically written as a review.

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Overall, I enjoyed the book. If I didn't know it was by Philip Pullman I'd have thought it a nice story, a nice bit of entertainment.

But seeing as His Dark Materials are my favourite books... I felt really disappointed with this book. I thought it was really quite lacking.

It felt very.. gratuitous and poorly thought through. In HDM everything has a purpose, everything fits together and moves the story along, but there is also plenty of character development AND a huge amount of description and world building. Like remember in how much detail he described creatures such as the Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia? That type of imagination and attention to detail was lacking.

I did enjoy the relationship between Malcolm and Hannah, the way she takes an interest in developing his intellect and encouraging him.

But then once Malcolm and Alice get into the water, it felt like a story written by a child. Where lots of stuff just happens, but isn't actually relevant at all (like the fae type woman and the house & grounds with the party).

Also in HDM there are some very complex scenes (like battle scenes, or strange world scenes) but they are very clearly written, so you can imagine what happens and you're not confused. Whereas in this book I felt there were things that happened that were very muddled, and afterwards I was kinda like.. I have no idea what just happened.

I really expected another book that delved into philosophy and existential questions the way HDM did. But it just didn't deliver. I DO think Pullman has some good insights into human nature and feelings. But that doesn't make a book.

The writing style is more like his books for younger children, but the subject matter is heavy and totally inappropriate for kids.

I always imagined that HDM was a great book to discuss with my kids when they get older, or the type of book you could read with teenagers and have discussions about. Fantasy things, but also philosophy, morals, those type of themes. La Belle Sauvage almost doesn't seem worthy of discussion. I don't know. Obviously I cannot read it separately from what I know my feelings are around HDM. I realise I sound suuuuper negative about this book haha. ...more "

Dec 13, 2017 03:55AM · see review