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A review by katyab
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
3.0
Felt like a different beast from Northern Lights — steadier pace, more mature themes, and so much darker. When people said “dark”, I’d assumed they meant “dark for a child reader”, but there was a lot here that really shook me. I’ve read some dark books before but they’ve always involved a) adult protagonists and b) me as an adult reader, so that way, we both understand why the horrible things happen because of that grown-up perspective. Not that that justifies the horrors, only that we know the patterns and choices that lead to them.
When you’re a child, you don’t know. And the dark things are so much crueller and more confusing. It’s like Pullman asks: “Why the hell do we do this to each other?” But only adults can explain it, or begin to answer it, and feel ashamed while they do it.
Innocence and Experience, guys.
There were some parts of the book that felt a bit contrived, not sure I care about that so much. It also felt like Lyra had less involvement in the story — felt like she was sliding into the background to accommodate Will (though if I take Will as the protagonist in this book it doesn’t seem as bad). But I really like the concept of the Knife itself and the rules in which it’s contained, really unique and scary and cool.
I’m hesitating to say I enjoyed it, but I think that’s because I’m enjoying the series in a way that’s different to any other story I’ve read. I’m really intrigued. The kind of book you can pick apart with a scalpel. Essay-material. (Wow this is a long review, better go read the next book...)
When you’re a child, you don’t know. And the dark things are so much crueller and more confusing. It’s like Pullman asks: “Why the hell do we do this to each other?” But only adults can explain it, or begin to answer it, and feel ashamed while they do it.
Innocence and Experience, guys.
There were some parts of the book that felt a bit contrived, not sure I care about that so much. It also felt like Lyra had less involvement in the story — felt like she was sliding into the background to accommodate Will (though if I take Will as the protagonist in this book it doesn’t seem as bad). But I really like the concept of the Knife itself and the rules in which it’s contained, really unique and scary and cool.
I’m hesitating to say I enjoyed it, but I think that’s because I’m enjoying the series in a way that’s different to any other story I’ve read. I’m really intrigued. The kind of book you can pick apart with a scalpel. Essay-material. (Wow this is a long review, better go read the next book...)