The Dark is Rising

[Guest]

[jedipencil]

Any fans? I read the books many years ago, now own the series and am reading them again. Haven't seen the movie yet, but will when I've the time. I did get a box of the Inkworks cards - I think it's a gorgeous set - and only miss a few cards...apart from the autos. I have an Ian McShane and Gregory Smith (she said proudly). Who else is collecting them? 

[canny19]

watched the yesterday.... predictable but a nice ending movie
not got any cards yet..... maybe later

[Nienna]

*waves hand in the air* ME!! 
The 5-book series is one of my of my all-time favourite reads which I re-read them every so often. 
I was looking forward to seeing the film too, but I've since read a number of reviews around the time it was released and I don't think I'll bother ... apparently the film people have chopped the characters about - Will is now 14 rather than just turning 11 ... it is no longer set in the UK but in urban USA ... Will has less siblings than in the books [the whole thing of being the seventh son of a seventh son has been totally ignored!! ] and I was just so disheartened by reading all this stuff I thought 'why bother going to see it, they've ruined the whole thing!?' Some people have also questioned casting Ian McShane as Merriman and I'll admit he wasn't my first choice for the part either. And why is it now called 'The Seeker' ... what the heck was wrong with the title of the book? Talk about dumbing down ... 

I'd definitely read the reviews before going to see it Ingrid - I'd hate your enjoyment of Susan Cooper's fine books to be spoilt! 

I'm not buying the cards although I've seen some for sale on ebay - looks a nice set from what I've seen so far.
Congrats on pulling such good autos too!!

[Kelly]

Jordan and I saw the movie this afternoon.  We're just now reading Over Sea, Under Stone, so we didn't know too much about the movie.  It's actually set in England with a transplanted American family, and he does have 6 brothers and one sister.  I thought it was good and scarier than OOTP.  Jordan had her eyes covered in a few scenes, but she said she wants the DVD when it comes out, so I guess she liked it ok.  We definately need to read the book to get more background on the family, old ones and the dark rider.  The movie left too much background unanswered, but it's geared toward kids, so the action was the main thing.
Oh, and they should have kept it as The Dark Is Rising.  That's so much more interesting then The Seeker.  Maybe they renamed it The Seeker because Harry Potter was a seeker and it's a familiar word to kids?

[jedipencil]

Oh the books are definitely worth reading! Over Sea Under Stone is a bit slower paced...I enjoyed the book, but had to keep at it until the middle, when it starts moving a bit. The second book - The Dark is Rising - is VERY good, you should have no problem there. I am reading the third now - Greenwitch - which is very good so far... the 4th - The Grey King - is the book I remember from my teenage years, the one that marked me for life!  Looking forward to reading that one! The last book - Silver on the Tree - I don't believe I've read before, so that will be good...

Without a doubt, I will see the movie (I'd like to see it in English, but I'd have to travel a little bit for that), but won't expect anything from it.

Happy reading! 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

My copy of the Dark is Rising is falling apart - it was one of my most read books a kid. My favourite book I reckon has to the be the Grey King. Awesome

[tialessa]

As many of you who frequent other boards know, this series is probably my favorite.  I've read it at LEAST once a year for the past 20+ years (I can't remember when I first read it & I've read it once a year since then). 

I went searching for links before the movie was released - once I found this site ( http://community.livejournal.com/authorblog/5880.html ) I lost ALL interest in seeing the movie...

[jedipencil]

Nothing can ever take away what a book has given you...   I'll go see the movie, just to see the movie, nothing more. I don't think the real atmosphere of these books can be replicated, even if they tried... the whole feeling, the fact that things really go over such great periods of time....the ways humans invent ways to understand things.....oh well I shouldn't go on...supposed to be working! 

[PepperD]

Dear Jedi,

Thanks for introducing this subject..   I have never heard of this series of books and everyone who posted made it sound like these were books I should read    

I totally agree with you about books and movies.  Books that we like are whole and live inside us.  Movies are one person's, or a small group of people's, view of a book and then they adapt that view to make it appeal to the widest possible audience.  Author's don't do that, they hope you will hop aboard their story and enjoy.  It is up to you.  I rarely enjoy movie adaptation's but recently I have tried to view them as a separate entity.

Anyhow I am lucky enough to be next door to a Library so I now have a copy of the four books in one volume and look forward to be delighted. 

Thanks for the recommendation everyone   

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Hi Pepper - I hope you have 5 books and not four! I hope you enjoy the series, I found it thoroughly enjoyable!

[tialessa]

Over Sea, Over Stone (the Drews)
The Dark is Rising (Will)
Greenwitch (Will & the Drews)
The Grey King (Will & Bran)
Silver on the Tree (Will, Bran, & the Drews)

All have Merriman

[PepperD]

Ooooh 5 books!!   I will have to look when I go home. 

I started it this morning and she lets you know from the first page that Merri is someone special but other than that I definately haven't read enough.   

I love re-reading my favourite books but there is nothing like the first time when you don't know what the next paragraph, page or chapter will hold.  That is one of the reasons I am very very pleased when I discover an author who can make me believe in the world/s they create.  I consider reading the ultimate escapism, although a really good RP game can come pretty close.

[PepperD]

I have finished the Dark is Rising.  I enjoyed it mostly.  It started to flag a little in the middle but then she introduced Bran and it picked up again.  I really liked him.  But something about the last book left me not quite satisfied.  I can't put my finger on it ..  I think perhaps because as an adult the ending seemed pretty transparent although I am not sure.  On the whole tho' I think it was beaut and thank you for bringing it to my attention.