I decided I should read Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising fantasy series on the recc of Lazy Cow. I picked up the actual second book, also called The Dark Is Rising, at work on Saturday. (The first, Over Sea, Under Stone is really more of a prequel.) I started it this morning. I just finished it. I GOBBLED it down. And I gobbled all my fingernails in the process. The dog barking at passing cars nearly gave me a heart attack. And I have to go buy the next book Green Witch because our library doesn't have it, and I. can't. wait.
A mysterious stranger hasn't given me the heebie-jeebies like the Walker did, since, well, Stephen King's Walkin' Dude traversed the land in The Stand.
Dudes, it's so creepy and atmospheric, thank GOD I wasn't reading it with a winter snowstorm blustering outside. And Will is perfect, just perfect. There's no arguing or protesting, no simple naivete - he accepts his role, learns his magic, and is wise beyond his years as an Old One should be. I loved it. I adored it. It was better than Cats - or at least, better than - dare I say it? - Harry Potter.
You know, Harry et al. gave it a good whirl but let's face the truth, I am only buying the seventh book and reading it to see how the saga wraps up - I don't really care anymore. I stopped caring pretty much after the fourth one. I am not knocking Ms. Rowling - she is a fine writer and has an amazing imagination, but Harry stopped being magical for me after Goblet.
Maybe that's tied up in the movies, and the fact that Harry, for me, has become Daniel Radcliffe, which isn't a good thing. The movies stripped some of the magic away for me; they put the brakes on my imagination, peopled my brain with the characters as Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuaron (brilliant though he may be) saw them.
My fault for seeing the movies, I suppose.
I won't make that mistake with The Dark Is Rising.
12 comments:
...well, as one who cares very much about whether Harry lives or dies, I'm lost for words, but you know that's only temporary...
and it's good that you've recognized that watching the movie can be problematic for you.
I like my fingernails a lot, so I think I'll pass on TDIR at the moment...maybe I'll wait for the movie.
Aren't friends maddening? :)
you know what's funny? I care more about what happens to Hermione, and Neville, and Snape. But Harry - not really. I think it's because he's become almost a caricature, for me.
and apparently they changed a ton of stuff for the Dark movie....so beware! : )
I'm off to check Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation. I am always on the lookout for more fantasy type books.
How I love my local library!
I have all three of the first ones on hold.
I'll let you know what I think.
I'm not up enough on your archives to know if you've read the His Dark Materials series? If so, will you see The Golden Compass?
I adore the Dark is Rising sequence. I'm really due for a reread. For me, Over Sea and Greenwitch don't hold the same magic as The Dark is Rising and The Grey King (it's been too long since I've read the last one to remember its effect) but are more like entertaining little breaks between the heavy hitters. Glad you've finally picked them up - where have you BEEN? Apparently the movie cut out 'all that Arthurian stuff' which will effectively prevent them from ever making movies of books 4 & 5.
I absolutely adored the Dark is Rising series when I was a kid and still go back and revisit it at least every few years. In fact, even before I learned about the (hiss) movie, it's been on my mind lately, so I think it's about time . . . although, at this point, I'm waiting until HP#7 comes out. I'm looking forward to it and don't want to comparing it to anything else on the 21st!
I read The Dark is Rising as an adult and absolutely ADORED it. Need to go back and re-read.
Funnily enough I never got into Harry Potter, as books anyway. I find her writing style pedantic, even if the characters and situations are interesting. I have a theory tho that Harry Potter put the danger back in children's writing, which it has been sorely missing the past few decades.
I think I have the boxed set of the Dark is Rising series hidden somewhere in the bookcase full of books I want to read. I'll move them towards the top of the pile. thanks for the rec.
Right now, I'm reading The Girls by Lori Lansens. I'm really enjoying it.
for ssheers: The Girls started well--I will be interested to hear your opinion when you finished it--I couldn't do it.
my vw is omyojd: oh my oh Jelly Donut!
and then I failed the vw...
this one is gthdotu: goth do too!
I bought the first two a little while ago - also based on Lazy Cow mentioning them (I think I may have said recently damn The Book Depository but I may have to add LC to that list too ha ha!)
I am glad to read how much you and LC liked them as they sit quietly crying out in my TBR pile. I really have no excuse anymore...
And thank you for the link to The Falling Man review you sent through - I have decided I am going to get it from/request it from my library and if I get to 50 pages and like it a lot I may buy it then. Nutmeg's try before I buy scheme.
You should care MORE about Harry Potter now that you've seen him naked.
Have you read Promise Not to Tell? I finished it around midnight and then couldn't sleep because I could hear soft chanting of Potato Girl! Potato Girl! in the dark of the bedroom.
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