You won't catch me knocking somebody for having standards. I admit that I've been somewhat curious about the book given the impending movie (which looks eyecandyriffic), but apparently I should give it a pass. The items you mention, especially the one-dimensional nature of the so-called heroine and the "just gets it" alethiometer thing, would combine to instill a deep loathing in me for the work. And that'd be a shame, given the impending eyecandy.
I can forgive a number of flaws for a book that delivers some kind of solid entertainment experience (*cough*Eddings*cough*), but if the characterization ain't there then I ain't goin'.
I'm wholly "meh" on Harry Potter. What I judge new books against is the original Riftwar series by Raymond E Feist. The first book, Magician, is thick with the sort of fantasy-setting cliche material that makes me wince in any number of other genre titles, but Feist treats the setting with what I can best describe as an appropriate level of dignity and the right dose of humor, and after a while you just settle in for a ripping good yarn.
But anyway. It sounds like I should just watch, not read, Golden Compass. Fair enough, it's not like I have a lot of spare time lately...
I can forgive a number of flaws for a book that delivers some kind of solid entertainment experience (*cough*Eddings*cough*), but if the characterization ain't there then I ain't goin'.
I'm wholly "meh" on Harry Potter. What I judge new books against is the original Riftwar series by Raymond E Feist. The first book, Magician, is thick with the sort of fantasy-setting cliche material that makes me wince in any number of other genre titles, but Feist treats the setting with what I can best describe as an appropriate level of dignity and the right dose of humor, and after a while you just settle in for a ripping good yarn.
But anyway. It sounds like I should just watch, not read, Golden Compass. Fair enough, it's not like I have a lot of spare time lately...
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