Losing Things

I lost my copy of The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, and it’s all my fault.

Back in March 2024, I decided to re-read His Dark Materials. I was near the end of the first book when I told Josh I was doing this, and he commented that he had never read the books but maybe would now because he knew how much I loved the story.

I wasn’t ready to go on to the next book, so I took my copy of The Subtle Knife off the bookshelf and put it… somewhere.

Over a year later, Philip Pullman announced the final book in the series — The Rose Field — would be published in October. Amazing news and what great timing — I needed something that would make me feel good, and I decided I’d start again, go in chronological order, and finish up The Secret Commonwealth right before the publication of the final book.

Except I couldn’t remember where I put The Subtle Knife. I’ve checked all bookcases, drawers, and book stacks in the house. I think everyone is a little gleeful because I hid the book to hoard it for myself. And now I don’t have it.

Joke is on them: We’ll have to purchase a new copy. In the meantime, I started with The Collectors, skipping Once Upon a Time in the North, continued with The Book of Dust, and then restarted The Golden Compass again.