His Dark Materials

Pullman writes allegorically about real life whereas Rowling writes magical escapism from real life.

Although I loved the idea of people having daemons and always wonder what a persons daemon would be I found that His Dark Materials was too scientific for me.

I suspect that the Potter series is easier to read, more exciting and filmic.
The Pullman books are more literature than story telling. I absolutely loved the Pullman trilogy. Especially the armoured bear

It's been a mystery to me... that Harry Potter and not His Dark Materials is the great iconic book series of our time.
...me too Honoria

Whilst my youngest did really enjoy the Potter books, and three of my five children did read them, I can honestly say I dreaded having to read the first one aloud! It was (to my mind) repetative, derivative and dull. Thank goodness my youngest's reading skills had grown in that period so he could read the next ones by himself!

Pullman, on the other hand, writes with such intensity and deep meaning that his work is utterly compelling, complex and nuanced.
All my family love Pullman.
❤️

One of my children was a big fan of His Dark Materials he was maybe 12 or 13 when he read the trilogy and preferred those to HP' he appreciated the allegorical nature of them, but he was then, and still is an avid reader.

My other son, didn't read that much when he got to a certain age, but stuck with the whole Potter series, I'll always be grateful to JK for inspiring and capturing the imagination of the not so enthusiastic reader like my son. My grandchildren are now getting into HP and love the stories.

Iam64 I think the Potter is quite dull to be honest. The Dark Materials trilogy is altogether richer.

Maybe you are right TerriBull - the Potter books are perhaps easier to read if you aren't a "reader".

Some people prefer Irn Bru. Personally I don’t like fizzy drinks. and I have never liked champagne.

I have read and enjoyed the Harry Potter books and His Dark Materials.

I don’t expect everyone else to conform to my tastes, that would make life much less interesting.

Well I wasn’t taken with either.

But JKR tapped into the child psyche in a way that Pullman just didn’t. Children who were virtually non-readers hacked t?heir way word by word through her books only because they could live her world.

He’s more of a writer for adults and older children, I think. Dark was the right word.

"I'll always be grateful to JK for inspiring and capturing the imagination of the not so enthusiastic reader like my son"

(Terribull)

That's a good point. Less important literature does help with scanning. However some children used to become fluent readers with the aid of nasty or misleading stories. A diet of romantic comedy, porn, or Little Black Sambo is misleading

Caleo

"I'll always be grateful to JK for inspiring and capturing the imagination of the not so enthusiastic reader like my son"

(Terribull)

That's a good point. Less important literature does help with scanning. However some children used to become fluent readers with the aid of nasty or misleading stories. A diet of romantic comedy, porn, or Little Black Sambo is misleading

Are Kipling's Just So Stories misleading? Me and my 'satiable curtiosity loved those! Even as a tiresome old lefty I'll stand up for Kipling to the bitter end!

I once missed a night out because I needed to get to the end of The Amber Spyglass. I read it all in one day.

And now this: youtu.be/WdqNQSZqnnc.

Super excited. 😃

LadyHonoriaDedlock

Caleo

"I'll always be grateful to JK for inspiring and capturing the imagination of the not so enthusiastic reader like my son"

(Terribull)

That's a good point. Less important literature does help with scanning. However some children used to become fluent readers with the aid of nasty or misleading stories. A diet of romantic comedy, porn, or Little Black Sambo is misleading

Are Kipling's Just So Stories misleading? Me and my 'satiable curtiosity loved those! Even as a tiresome old lefty I'll stand up for Kipling to the bitter end!

I love Kipling. I saw a programme about him on Sky Arts the other week and they read out a passage from The Jungle Book: the bit where they realised that Mowgli was no longer one of them and it was so poignant and beautiful.

Maybee and Lady Honoria, it's ages since I read the Just So Stories. I wonder if any child who actually enjoys them is also sophisticated enough to cope with suspended disbelief in political mores.

I have to believe we need a degree of censorship.

My favourite childhood book, which I still have complete with dust jacket, is ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill’ by Rudyard Kipling. It is a fantasy.

Harry Potter was the book that started one of the boys in my class on his reading journey. Before Rowling he never enjoyed reading but one day brought the book to school and told me he loved it. I was delighted.
As for His Dark Materials, I loved the TV series, and especially a YouTube video explaining the significance of the opening titles. They were so well done and compelling.

Haven’t read his dark material but didn’t like the tv series one bit never read H potter but didn’t like the one film i took the grandkids too purposely closed my eyes and went to sleep
I know I m a terrible person

I love the Dark Materials trilogy books. Not very keen on the TV adaptation.

Imo Potter books are lighter, easier reading, but they were aimed at getting 10 year olds boys reading. I like the cinema adaptations. DD was the perfect age for Potter, but although enjoying the films, was critical that a few things that were missed out, lost the flow of the story.

Caleo

Maybee and Lady Honoria, it's ages since I read the Just So Stories. I wonder if any child who actually enjoys them is also sophisticated enough to cope with suspended disbelief in political mores.

I have to believe we need a degree of censorship.

My grandchildren like them! They know they are stories, not fact.
We are a "storytelling" sort of family though and all like to make things up in a friendly way.

I have always loved the Just So Stories. I remember hearing them read on Children's Hour in the 50s and I read them all to my children. I could still recite most of The Cat Who Walked By Himself by heart.

I read all of His Dark Materials before I realised that I actually hated the books and thoroughly disliked all the characters (except the American with the hare for a daemon - I hated it when they died) Harry Potter, on the other hand, I found full of likeable characters and some strong ethical messages if you read the later ones.

I read these because I bought them for my girls and they weren’t interested and I didn’t want to “waste them”.
I loved The Northern lights, enjoy The subtle Knife and thought the Amber spyglass was ok. I felt it ran out of steam and became a bit contrived.
I’ve never been tempted by Harry Potter but the Philip
Pullman novels are superbly written and rattling good stories. Incidentally, whit’s rang wi’ Irn Bru!

Pullman is a master stroy teller. His ability to create alternative worlds with just a slight tweak to our reality is brilliant. I love his work, also Alan Garner.

Mogsmaw I agree, the first two books of the trilogy were enjoyable, but the Amber Spyglass started well but felt unfinished.

Love the Just so stories-and so do the children I teach, even now. Although in KS1 they enjoy hearing them read rather than reading them. Enjoyed HP, but found Pullman dull. DH, DD’s and DGD1 like both series.
Luckily we’re all different.
I’m just glad we’ve moved on from the idea that some books aren’t proper books. I was sad to hear my MiL saying she didn’t read proper books only romances.