To listen or not to listen? That was my dilemma at the weekend (yes, that same weekend that was packed with non-violence and non-nuclear weapons) when the BBC broadcast in its entirety Philip Pullman’s prequel to His Dark Materials, another three volumes collectively entitled The Book of Dust. I was so torn: on the one hand I really wanted to read the text first; on the other hand it might be Christmas before I could get my hands on a copy and even then, that particular item on my Christmas list might not materialise. Add to that the inducement of Simon Russell Beale’s hypnotic voice – and reader, I caved.
I was glad of my caving: it made the space between nuclear weapons and Casualty (not long usually but in this case about four hours) – enchanting. I forgot I was in the kitchen making bread; instead I was at an inn on the riverside in Lyra’s Oxford where Lyra, a baby, is being looked after by some nuns. But others are taking an unnatural interest in this baby…
I shall not post spoilers because as I said before, when a book is so new it’s unfair. But here’s the link to the programme:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b099tf53
I might even listen again – again.
Kirk out
Sarada Gray 