The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Rather underwhelming...
Review: After hearing so much about this work of fiction, I was rather underwhelmed by the predictable narrative. It conveys neither passion, nor thought; it is neither inspiring, nor thought provoking. It is anti-religious, but offers nothing to the reader in terms of finding value, meaning or faith in the non-religious world.

Other than that :) the wording is precise; the reading is smooth, although somewhat boring and utterly forgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Some Books Degrade with the Age of the Reader
Review: [...] It was an OK/average book if you are under 11 years old (Lyra's age) or have an I.Q. under 100. This book is completely predictable and consequently anti-climactic to anyone with decent maturity and reasoning skills. The writing style starts out OK (1st 20 pages) and then I think Mr. Pullman got bored said "heck with it. Let's put some product out there and make some money." I won't be buying the 2 sequels. Don't even compare it to Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is a far better writer than Mr. Pullman. However, that is not to say that Rowling is as good as Tolkien or Susanna Clarke. Buy it for your kid, but don't insult your own intelligence by deigning to read it. Pullman is still however, much better than Tim LaHaye of LEFT BEHIND series fame. LaHaye and R.A. Salvatore are the absolute bottom of the barrel. They should be arrested for putting pen to paper as far as I am concerned.

Rating:
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: Rohan 11/24/04


Book Report


Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: Fantasy


Lyra Belacqua lives a happy life with the scholars, In Jordan College never going to school. She rarely gets to see her uncle, the famous Lord Asriel. When he comes to visit from the north she spies on his presentation to the scholars about a sort of chemical called Dust which effects the human adult, but doesn't effect children. He also says that the Gobblers (creatures that kidnap kids) have been taking kids to the north to experiment with them. When he is ready to leave back to the north Lyra asks him if she can come with him. He refuses to take her, but he gives her a golden object that looks like a compass. He calls it an "Alethiometer."
Once he leaves Lyra meets a very nice woman named Mrs. Coulter in a party at Jordan. Mrs. Coulter takes Lyra to her residence to live and help her with her mapping. After time Mrs. Coulter gets mean and starts shouting at her, so during a cocktail party at Mrs. Coulter's place Lyra runs away. While she is out alone in the city she finds some Gyptians (people who she didn't like when she was in Jordan College.) They take her to their water boat/house, and take care of her. She meets their leader, an intelligent tall man, who tells her what the Alethiometer is for. He says that it answers the questions that it asks you by pointing to three of the many symbols on it. He also arranges for an attempt to get the kids back from the Gobblers in the north. She is denied again to go to the north, but she sneaks into one of the boats and goes to the north to save the kids with the Gyptians.
This book has a lot of good writing and descriptions. It isn't too easy and not too hard. It was very easy to follow the story, and I really enjoyed it. The author didn't put so much description that it was boring, and not so little that I didn't know what was going on. I could imagine the story happening.
This book is the first of a series of three books. I really liked this story's theme and conflict, which is mainly saving all of the kids that have been captured by the Gobblers. I will definitely read the rest of the series. Out of five I give this book a four because of such a good story line.


Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK ROCKS!
Review: This book was an hidden gem to me. I didn't know much about this book and its story line. I was completely captivated by the story and Lyra. I really enjoyed the mixing of magic, theology, and science, as well as the daemons.

Pullman's imagination develops a great world, that the young and old will enjoy to read. The story introduces us to Lyra and an Oxford that differs from our own. The people of this world all have a daemon that is connected to the individual's soul. The mystery unfolds as we find that children are disappearing. When Lyra's friend disappears then Lyra starts the search for him and why the children are being taken. The search take the reader to the North Pole and we meet a number of different people and characters along the way.

I haven't read the remaining two books in the trilogy, but they won't be far behind. Enjoy this book and world that is created. Younger children will also be captivated by the story.

Rating:
Summary: An adventure that leaves you waiting for more...
Review: I bought "The Golden Compass" while waiting in the San Francisco Airport during a 9 hour layover. I love reading children's books and the cover looked interesting. However, I was unable to keep my eyes open and fell asleep until the announcer kindly woke me up to tell me I had to get on my plane. Somehow the book ended up in the trunk of my car and remained there for about 2 years. One cold night when I was stuck waiting to pick someone up, I went rummaging around in there and found it. So I started reading. I didn't stop reading until the next morning (well, despite the half hour when I hurriedly dropped my friend off and flew back to my house to keep reading). I scoured the local bookstores for the two sequels the next day.

The Golden Compass begins a trilogy that takes you through the mind and spirit of one brave and amazing little girl. It explores spirituality, theology, "magic" (if you can call it that), and just the trauma and joy of growing up. It's a beautiful beginning. Overall, it is a story about growing up, about finding out what innocence really is, and about finding yourself.

You will, however, need to buy all three books at one time. You'll be left with more questions than answers after this one. And, I'd have to say, this is a book for mature children. I'm not saying a kid couldn't handle this, I'm saying it has to be a mature individual, one able to understand abstract concepts and ideas. And one who is open to new ideas and ways of looking at things. This trilogy could really scare some kids. It reminded me a lot of when I read The Last Battle
by C. S. Lewis. I was in 5th grade. Didn't quite scare me, I'd have to say, but shook me, deeply. This book has the same quality.

It's a fantastic adventure and any young person could identify themselves with Lyra or the other main characters. A definate read for the mature young adult.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite book- Meghan
Review: The alethiometer, the golden compas, is a device that can answer any question...If you have the means to read it. Unless you're Lyra. She can read the alethiometer just by watching it.
Lyra starts out on her adventure in the Retiring room in Jordan College, in Oxford with her Dæmon. Even though they're not supposed to be there. She prevents her uncle from being poisoned, and starts an exciting adventure, just waiting to happen, involving Dust, armored bears, aeronauts, witches, parallel universes, and a curch, full of beliefs, that leads to the North.
"The Golden Compass" is a great book full of exciting adventures with Lyra, and her Dæmon, Pantalaimon. I personally liked it because it is a wonderful bit of writing, full of fun and adventures. If you like fantasy or Sci-Fi books, this is a good book for you then!

Rating:
Summary: Dark and Manipulative
Review: Mr. Pullman, while gifted as a writer, seems to see himself as a prophet of atheism. Do I have a problem with this? No! Mr. Pullman can preach whatever he believes. Do I have a problem with this trilogy? Yes, and emphatically so. These books are NOT PRO-athiest. They are ANTI-Christian/Judaism/Muslim. They don't attack the idea of God, they attack these faiths specific views of God; a very important distinction.

These books were written for children--and written in such a way as to try to guide children into agreeing with Pullmans beliefs. He does not come out and say what he thinks until the end of the trilogy, by which point the children have come to identify with his characters. Mr. Pullman is taking the only audience he can find that are impressionable enough to do damage to, and trying to influence their thinking. He compares himself to CS Lewis--an anti-CS lewis if you will--this is fine (if incorrect, as Lewis is promoting a belief, not attacking one). However, the subtle nature of his work and the fact that his books are not advertised as anti-Christian is where the problem comes in. If he wants to write to influence people, he is welcome to do so (and even should do so if he has strong beliefs), however, he shouldn't try to sneak his ideas past the guiding influence of parents. Mr. Pullman is an ethical coward--one who will not try to sell his ideals to completely rational beings, for fear of rejection and low sales.

To conclude, Mr. Pullman should either write books without his moral slant, or declare their moral slant early (on the cover!)so that parents can more easily understand what the book is about and what the author is trying to convince their children of.


Rating:
Summary: A change from the norm....
Review: Philip Pullman writes a story that can be read by children and enjoyed as great adventure. It can also be read by adults and be enjoyed for its underlying themes on man and his existence, and theology and the church. These books (there are two others in the series) are classified as fantasy, but they are not the normal wizards, dragons, elves, magic type of fantasy. They're more regular works of fiction with a few fantastical elements to them.

The story revolves around the central character Lyra and her daemon Pan. Her life gets turned upside-down when children start disappearing and her best friend is one of them. She has also learned of a substance called 'Dust' and something in her wants to find out more. The adventure proceeds from there. Along the way, she meets very original and fascinating characters...including gypsies, bears, and witches.

I recommend this book to children and adults alike. Both will enjoy the book, with adults taking away a deeper understanding of the author's writing.

Rating:
Summary: Trandcendent. Beautiful piece of literature.
Review: Right, where to begin? First off, sorry to all those fundamentalist Christian parents and kids who were so outraged by the anti-religion themes in this book that they couldn't enjoy this terrific story,its magnificent plot, and its well-drawn characters. Luckily, if you weren't outraged by the anti-religiosity there's a 99.9999 percent chance that you will devour this book as furiously as a starving man stuffs himself at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Other common review "summer-uppers":

"I really liked this book, but I thought it was a bit too long. ****"

" This book was enjoyable, I liked most plot elements, but hated that whole 'Dust 'n Daemons' idea. ***"

" Excellent plot, but, poorly done execution. **"

"Do not let your children read this! It will make them evil! I wish I could give it -1,000,000,000 stars! *"

I am proud to subscribe to the "Awesome! I want to read this again and again!*****" point of view. But people are entitled to their own opinions, and who am I to judge their choices? Anyway, the review goes marching on.

Lyra lives at an alternate reality of Oxford, where there is no difference between Church and State and the Profesors and students at the College are commonly reffered as "Masters" and "Scholars". As well as those differences, every single person there has a "Daemon", which is a living represantation of it's master's soul.

Lyra enjoys playing with Roger, a kitchen boy, and generally causing havoc around Jordan College. There are tales going aroun Oxford, of a mysterious band of people known as Gobblers, who spirit away children. One day they come to Oxford and abduct Roger. Now Lyra, along with her Daemon Pantalaimon and a golden compass called an Aletheometer. Along the journey she meets witches, armored bears, and learns some unsettling facts about the mysterious matter known as Dust.

Inthe same league as Tolkien, Phillip Pullman takes on an immensely complicated plot and manages to make an astounding book.

Final grade- "A+"

Adieu!