The Subtle Knife – Philip Pullman

Ah the middle book of a trilogy, a tricky place. You’ve introduced your characters, but the resolution is far away, and it’s time to set the pieces in place for the finale. Pullman does a good job here, broadening the universe further by literally adding countless alternative universes, all the while giving us a literal war with God. So uh, that religion thing, not subtle about that one was he, no wonder he copped flak (and I haven’t even seen what he’ll do next).

Northern Lights (AKA The Golden Compass) by Philip Pullman

I watched The Golden Compass movie starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman a number of years ago, I don’t remember it too well, but I don’t think I was that impressed. So when I saw the book later, I wasn’t interested. There was also the associated ‘religious’ controversy which also made me stay away – not because I am religious, but because I thought the book was overly religious and was less interested (got that the wrong way round didn’t I). I then saw it a few times over the years, and thought yeah, maybe I should read it. It was only when a group of friends kept going on about it, that we decided to read (or reread) the series together at the start of 2016. And I’m disappointed that it has taken me so long to read them.