Let's Revisit: HIS DARK MATERIALS! [CC]

[@mattellis7906]

Your account reminds me of when I first discovered Booktube about five or six years ago... booktube was low key more fun back then so keep putting out the good content

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@disenchanter]

agreed.

[@penelopegough6050]

They are fantastic books and now I’m totally invested in the Book of Dust trilogy - third one coming soon. Yippeeeee. Love your enthusiasm.

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! I'm a bit hesitant to read the new trilogy but I am intrigued...

[@Lilley-writes]

@penelopegough6050 Yess, I love The Book of Dust trilogy!! Unfortunately Philip Pullman still hasn't announced a release date for the final book even though he said he would this year 😭 He left it on such a big cliff hanger and I am so desperate to discover what happens next! @somebenfen you should definitely read them - they're incredible! Now is probably a good time not too far before the release of the final book (if you haven't already been persuaded to read them of course!)

[@kmwwrench]

I read these for the first time after I retired, so I was in my 60's. I absolutely loved them. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to decide what my daemon would be. I don't think I ever landed on one. After hearing about the comparisons between these and the Narnia books, I read those, also. I didn't find them nearly as interesting. Now you've made me want to go back and read about Lyra and Will again. And those fabulous polar bears. And the witches! Happy reading!

[@somebenfen]

That's awesome! I've no idea what my daemon would be, probably an awkward penguin or something 😄. I was drawn to the narnia books recently, the interview I link in the description, Phillip Pullman talks about the narnia books and Tolkien as a counterpoint to his series which I thought was interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@kmwwrench]

@@somebenfen Yes, I believe I see the penguin slightly behind your right shoulder. I think his name Prendergast. Or Pete. Say Hi! for me. Happy reading!

[@danecobain]

These are the books that made me fall in love with reading! I have a tattoo of Iorek Byrnison :)

[@somebenfen]

Oh wow! That's awesome 😃

[@filmozer9690]

I’d love to hear your opinion on the TV series once you get around to it! ;)

[@somebenfen]

I'm definitely intrigued!

[@axsdfildhixjk]

I just reread the whole series (or, perhaps, read, as I never made it through The Amber Spyglass) for the first time since I was 7 years old. God (lol) they're complex! Reading TAS as an adult English student and understanding all of (some of) the Milton/Blake/Dickinson/etc. is mind blowing. Not that I even really understood it lol. Many thoughts are being thunked! The Subtle Knife was definitely my favourite -- I am the only person in the world it seems who didn't care for the Panserbjørn and the other TNL world building stuff all too much, so TSN for me was more interesting, especially as that's when you start question what side you/the characters are on, what side is 'right' (considering Paradise Lost, this is an obviously nebulous and even inadequate question!), and other such thematic concerns lol. You're right about Lyra's character shifting though -- tbh I think Pullman was looking for an easy way to contain the Alethiometer. Considering that Lyra using it more would cut the series in half, I think her losing it/getting it back was quite an apparent device -- it just helpfully coincides with her 'maturity' character arc lol! Also -- I LOVED the Mulefa. They are just so ridiculous. I imagined them as like beetles in boxes on wheels (like, office chair wheels), I was not expecting that picture lmaooo. The Mulefa are the second best characters, after Balthamos and Baruch -- 4lifers right there. Loved them.

[@BobTheBookerer]

Auditioning for the part of Mrs Coulter... Doomantidote. 😂 I love these books so much, and your video really captures the magic of it all for me. Plus, a big YES to the ‘buff gay angels’- it was so lovely re-reading the books a couple of years ago and remembering them! This video also made me realise that my mental image of the Mulefa was so off- I always imagined them as diamond-shaped elephants on wheels. Have you read any of the newer books from The Book of Dust- anyone? Dust! 😂- trilogy (La Belle Sauvage / The Secret Commonwealth)?

[@somebenfen]

Thanks so much Bob! I haven't read the new ones, heard differing things about them... and yeah, thank goodness for Google image search. Thank you J Lo and her vivace dress 😄😄

[@BobTheBookerer]

@@somebenfen Yeah, they’re not as fully magical as the first trilogy, in my opinion, but really powerful in their own way. They feel slightly more mature and grown-up (as Lyra is too). The audiobooks are great, if you can find them on BorrowBox- Michael Sheen does the second one and is incredible!

[@AJ_Dunn]

I love your Mrs. Coulter. Nice Cujo reference! LOL I've not read these books, or anything by this author.

[@somebenfen]

Thank you! 💁‍♀️ I'd obvs recommend them!

[@tesspulido]

Hiya! I appreciate your review as you didn't give (much) spoilers... Usually I see review videos with 90% summary and 5-10% actual review ☺

[@MrMikkyn]

I love stories about defeating evil witches.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Maybe I should revisit my 14 year old reading or even read His Dark materials, a lot of people really love the series....

[@somebenfen]

Yes! Give them a go! The first in particular is fab :D

[@NasserShamseldeen]

Hi, I've read the first book translated to Arabic but unfortunately they didn't translate the other books. My English level is C1 which suppose to be advanced but I don't know if that I'll be able to enjoy it in English, like I faced some little trouble with Narnia so what do you advise?

[@Throbbing_Gimp]

I am 32. These books were literally my childhood. I have two kids one boy and one girl. My son is called William, and my daughter is called Lyra. ❤

[@lazyacademic]

Hey! I really enjoyed watching your video on these books. I’ve also somehow only read the first book like three times but never finished the second or third. I’m at the point where I just want to know what happens without reading on…

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@kitkat_5425]

You should watch the series!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

been years since i read it, i remember liking it but not loving it, maybe i should reread it at some point

[@somebenfen]

I was surprised by them, they're good fun reads when you need something enjoyable but still with a bit of depth to them :)

[@CharlotSazarin]

My daemon is a pig. But that’s lockdown for you. 🤔

[@somebenfen]

😂😂😂

[@bingbongtoysKY]

Bravo! my favorite BOOK!!!🎉❤

[@daniyaiqbal1855]

You need to watch the HBO series, it's really really good! Also a very Nice video!!!

[@somebenfen]

Thank you!

[@sandra7319.]

I have NEVER thought of you as a petty snob....haha..but Im adopting that phrase...I'm glad you have given an overview of the these books as I've been curious but never planned to read due to Pullman's views which always come across,via booktubers, as so anti- God.

[@somebenfen]

Yes he's definitely anti religion (at least against a hierarchical type of religion), there might be a way of enjoying the books as just a fantasy adventure but his message is laid on quite thick near the end so maybe not...

[@thomaswardale9929]

OMG I did not expect to find a Tik Tok lip-syncing genius when i searched this topic 😮😍

[@somebenfen]

😄

[@bookwormreflections]

I can’t hear the word dust without thinking “anyone? No?” 😂😂

[@somebenfen]

😄😄

[@phillipj1135]

You were a theater kid weren't you.

[@elf8658]

You pretty much got it right except you got one thing wrong guy. Mrs quarter and Lord estriel are Lyra's parents but you got everything else right just want to let you know because I'm a fan of your KZbin channel bye

[@Sthemingway]

I've only read His Dark Materials once (when they were first available on paperback many moons ago) and remember liking the first and second books more than the third. When it becomes apparent what the Daemons are and what happens to the kids, I kinda lost interest. I also really wanted a Daemon.

[@somebenfen]

Yeah, I think I like the first one the best, but I did enjoy going through the whole trilogy again.

[@theemptyatom]

"A trilogy of three books" lol indeed!

[@somebenfen]

😄

[@katel19]

‘I don’t know what 8 year olds read these days.’ : Stephen King 😂😂

[@somebenfen]

😁😁

[@LouveAsterion]

"two gay angels" wait, balthamos is a dude???

[@pjakpjak7000]

The amber spyglass is fucking terrible. So incredibly disappointing. It leaves so many things unfinished and nothing makes any sense. The ending is an absolute clusterfuck. By far the worst litterature let-down I've ever wasted time on. Just read the first book and leave the rest to your imagination.