A review by kimbobo
The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman
4.0
At some points in The Amber Spyglass -- as with the books that came before it -- I was very tempted to put the book down. Subtlety and beauty are often sacrificed to emphasize points that would be prettier left alone, and especially when it comes to theological criticism, it feels kind of petty.
But I'm very glad I kept on reading. I'm not especially fond of Lyra or Will, but all of the other characters! My god. I almost cried when My adoration of Mrs. Coulter was definitely my first immediate incentive for finishing the book, and my fondness for Mary second.
Even though I know it would be extremely generous to call this a thinly veiled criticism of religion, I don't think of this book as a book about religion at all; instead, I read it as a book about growing up. Looking past some of the shoddier and less subtle symbols, there is so much rich symbolism; when I thought I wanted to be a folklorist, the books I read deconstructed folklore in the way I deconstructed this book, and it enthralls me. (Even if my readings aren't quite as attuned as a folklorist's or a literary scholar's, I still enjoyed imagining, for example, Ruta Skadi and Mrs. Coulter as the two halves of the maternal figure, divided to better help the child.) As theological criticism, I have my doubts about this book -- but as a book like a folktale or fairytale? I could write an entire paper about that book, and that's the book my rating is for.
But I'm very glad I kept on reading. I'm not especially fond of Lyra or Will, but all of the other characters! My god. I almost cried when
Spoiler
Mrs. Coulter dragged the angel down into the abyss.Even though I know it would be extremely generous to call this a thinly veiled criticism of religion, I don't think of this book as a book about religion at all; instead, I read it as a book about growing up. Looking past some of the shoddier and less subtle symbols, there is so much rich symbolism; when I thought I wanted to be a folklorist, the books I read deconstructed folklore in the way I deconstructed this book, and it enthralls me. (Even if my readings aren't quite as attuned as a folklorist's or a literary scholar's, I still enjoyed imagining, for example, Ruta Skadi and Mrs. Coulter as the two halves of the maternal figure, divided to better help the child.) As theological criticism, I have my doubts about this book -- but as a book like a folktale or fairytale? I could write an entire paper about that book, and that's the book my rating is for.