#90 - Northern Lights: His Dark Materials - Philip Pulman (No meeting)

Date: November, 13, 1024

Apologies: All

In what became the tradition for this year, we failed to meet.  So, we finally discussed this book during the annual Booker Voting (the results will be with you soon, courtesy of Mark) at our Christmas meeting and it was good to have this in reserve as we couldn't really discuss Shantaram because we hadn't finished it or, in some cases, remembered to start it.  (But we never name and shame here, do we Jen?!).  Or, in some cases, bothered to try it. (Ahem, I hate to criticise someone who travels 5,500 miles to come to an LGAG meeting!)

In consensus, Northern Lights was a bit of a romp, a classic "goodies versus baddies" but with some subtlety that many adult books can miss - Lord Asriel's good / bad status, for example, being a bit of an enigma for a long time.  We felt the characters were vibrant and well-drawn - which will be backed up by the voting results - and sometimes cartoon like.  We likened Mrs Coulter to Cruella de Vil, for example.

Generally, well enjoyed.  We'll let Clem come back next year!