Philip Pullman

[Colyngbourne]

Not sure where to put this interesting essay of his -

UEA lecture (http://www.philip-pullman.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=113)

I've just read the next essay there, the Isis one (http://www.philip-pullman.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=66) and it's breathtaking - makes you want to punch the air and weep at the same time.

[John Self]

Just read the Isis lecture. Yes, good stuff, but I do sometimes think Pullman gets a little bit over-precious about this magickal stuff he termeth 'storytelling,' which he seems to view as the great panacea. Yes, it's the root and source of great literature, but on its own it's not enough. Jeffrey Archer is (or has been) a pretty good storyteller, so has Stephen King - but they can't write (ie string a pleasing sentence together) to save their lives and as a result they're an embarrassment. This is why there's a place for the things that Pullman derides as 'worthless' like finding synonyms and antonyms - basic vocabulary-building, in other words (pun intended).

He also has this to say:

One of the things the children have to do in this unit of work is to make a class list of "the features of a good story opening.” This is where it stops being merely tedious, and starts being mendacious as well.

Well now! Is the author of a best-selling trilogy which cunningly and curiosity-piquingly opens with the words

Lyra and her daemon...

really denying the worth of teaching children that it's good to get the reader gripped at the start of a story?

And what's wrong with asking them to

List the words and phrases used to create an atmosphere

or

Write a fifty word summary of a whole plot

Isn't this about discovering the essence of a book? Honestly, for all his greatness, sometimes Philip needs to get out of his garden shed more often.

[Colyngbourne]

I don't think he writes in his shed these days. I did hear a programme on Radio 3 about a year ago when Pullman talked about what faith meant to him, and he opined that (to paraphrase, probably hopelessly) the most important/powerful human force is the power of story-telling (not including things like love of course) - that it is crucial to who we are. I think he feels about story in that way. On another level, once you're within the framework of writing and style and everything else wordy, you can then start analysing what makes a story work, what part language has to play (or not).

I agree you have to somehow learn the building blocks of how language works/narrative works but children seem to learn it devoid of any opportunities for innate creativity. It is squashed out of them.

[gil]

I have to say that I quite like Pullman's books, but I have a feeling I wouldn't like the man. This is not based on anything more substantial than

o his preachiness, which has become quite noticeable
o his voice, which sets my teeth on edge

But if you're reading this, Mr Pullman, pay no attention to my ill-founded prejudices, and please keep writing the books.

[amner]

I don't think he writes in his shed these days.

he was writing in it...but interviewed in his study...in the South Bank Show I saw at the tail end of last year. Don't know if that was a repeat, admittedly.

[Digger]

Iwhen Pullman talked about what faith meant to him, and he opined that (to paraphrase, probably hopelessly) the most important/powerful human force is the power of story-telling (not including things like love of course) - that it is crucial to who we are. I think he feels about story in that way...

I recently heard Mr P on Radio 4 discussing his love of Neighbours, and the fact that it was "pure story" being the reason he loved it so...

Personally I feel it needs a few more merits, although I'd be the first to admit that a good story is absolutely diverting in the short term.