Debbie E. (debbieae) reviewed on 9/7/2011 + 18 more book reviews

Third in a series, be sure to read the others first or it will not make much sense.

This is the most blatant anti-religious of the three books. Oddly the argument against religion seems to be against some religion's supression of sexuality. We have a former nun who left the church after her first encounter with desire. (really, seriously? someone devotes their life to God and the Church only because they never felt sexual desire until it was a done deal? I like her as a character, but think the church was well rid of such a weak spiritual leader.)

Oddly for a series that tears down religion on the basis of supressing sexuality, the book simultaneously shows the dangers of sexuality without restraint. Lyra's parents cause havoc with their unrestrained desire that leads to her conception. Lyra herself is forced to choose between the safety of the world and access to the boy she has fallen in love with. Making the unselfish choice is the moment Lyra makes her "Eve" descision. It is a rather flat ending in my opinion, and rather unravels the whole argument against supressing sexual desire that half permeates the book. I guess the author is going for an approach to sex that involves restraint without denial, but truthfully must religions teach that. Only a few preach complete denial, and the largest, the Catholic church only prescribes it for their spiritual leaders. One can be a good Catholic and have a healthy sex life, so I am not sure where the author is going here.

As I put in another review, the only other anti-religious arguments involve buying into the author's fantasy as reality. God is a senile figurehead who proclaimed himself greatest in the distant past. All dead souls are tormented and must be released into nothingness. All purely unsupported fantasy, I beleive in Unicorns a little more.

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