“What can a person say about a book which has caused so much controversay?
Well first off, I decided to read this book, mainly based on the face that I was being told NOT to read it. Forbidden fruit always tastes sweeter until of course you actually get around to tasting it. I am reminded of my own experience with "The DaVinci Code" In this case, the fruit was as sweet as I had hoped.
The meat of the plot was fantastically written, IMO. The characters were richly drawn, giving the reader (myself) many different wagons to hitch myself to, although I really did not find myself caring about the main character so much. Lyra was not very likable from my point fo few, but I will continue on with the trilogy just to follow Pan's adventure and see what other theological and social points Philip Pullman can manage to illuminate. As far as the contraversy goes, to me it was a red herring.
IMO, The book is about absolute power corruping and how zealous passion can lead to the ruin of everything you should care about. I tried to see where the Catholic league could be so insulted by this book. I couldn't find a thing. There is NOTHING I could find in this book that insulted or negated the belifs of the Catholic Church; of any Chisitan Church for that matter.The only people who should be upset with what Pullman wrote are those who think his FICTIONAL Majesterium and its FICTIONAL Church of Geneva have the right and responsibility to oppress the people in the name of God. And if that is so... well, I don't have to say anything do I”
