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[clytemnaestra]

Why, oh why, did I choose to read multiple novels that aren't really novels at all, but rather thinly-veiled treatises on the consequences of Original Sin?!

I'm not Catholic, I don't have that guilt! Lordy.

Comments

[7veilsphaedra]

You got me. Why do you?

[clytemnaestra]

I don't know!

Actually, it was just a coincidence, but a strange one. When I started downloading the audiobook for "The Golden Compass" I honestly didn't know the trilogy was a diatribe against the Church. I saw a girl protagonist and a polar bear and thought it'd be a fun adventure story ...

[7veilsphaedra]

The diatribe doesn't get really obvious until the third book, The Subtle Knife. The structure of the Magesterium is meant to evoke some of the arcane societies of the Church. The business of separating people from their souls is a direct reference to the Theology and Divinity schools.

It can be read as just a rollicking adventure story, but so can The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

[clytemnaestra]

I'm almost done with The Amber Spyglass. I was hoping to finish it on my 4 hour drive home, but no luck! Man, it's long.

I've enjoyed the series, but also have mixed feelings about it. I don't mind the overt references to Christianity, really, and I think the Demon/Spirit/Body idea as a literal representation of the Spirit/Soul/Body trinity is really interesting. Plus, critters that are connected to you and follow you around? Sounds awesome! Actually, I think I have one of those, except she stays in Cat form...

I just happened to listen to this trilogy at the same time that I picked up where I left off in The Vampire Chronicles. I know, Anne Rice = crazy lady, but I really enjoyed The Vampire Lestat back in the day, and wanted to get to The Vampire Armand. So I knew what I was getting into when I started Memnoch the Devil. Yeesh.

So yeah, two religion-themed novels that I didn't expect to be quite so heavy on the religion :)