It takes a little while to get into, but be patient. The second book may well be my favorite of the series. I don't remember the third real well.
I gave mine to a friend for his birthday several years back - I was unemployed that year and it was the only thing he would let me give him.
I may get them again - for my neice to read when she gets older. Her parents are athesist/agnostics - so they may approve of it. She's tough to buy for b/c her parents are against anything that is commericial or branded. They don't let her watch tv for example and their television is high up and out of her line of vision.