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Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is one of very few books that I have read that is actually difficult to put down. It is thrilling and suspicious and enchanting. The book tells the story of a young girl named Lyra living in a semi-fantasy version of Oxford. She is eventually sent on a great journey to the north for the rescue of kidnapped children who are being cruelly used for an incredible experiment. It is full of surprises and jokes and all sorts of events that will continually push you off the edge of your seat. Many say that this book is anti-Christian, which I suppose is true. However, I honestly think that no parent should worry about their children reading the book because of this. I didn't even notice it until after I had read it. It really doesn't have any effect toward the reader simply because it is just a fiction book.
I would certainly recommend this book for readers in junior high school and above. - Kevin Connery, 14
Rating: 
Summary: Lame Lame Lame....
Review: I'm not against this because of it's anti-christain bais (which is very much is) but mainly because it's poorly written. The charachters are flat. Lyra especally. She is the last person I would want to have an adventure with. She is a brat and her motivation is poorly realized. I think she was supposed to come across as "spunky" or something but she's just a brat most of the times and then cute at the wrong. I found it rediculous when she fools the bear king. (I thought that they couldn't be fooled. Oh well, just more poor writing) It holds no wonder between it's lifeless pages. Only a group of sterotypical, flat, heartless charichters with a rambling plot. This book is entirely over-rated. Don't waste your money. Go pick up Lewis, Tolkin or even Rowlings before you pick up anything in "His Dark Materials"
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Summary: You Havn't Lived Unless You Have Read This Book
Review: This book far exceeds any other book that I have ever read. I read many books but not one as captivating and exciting as this one. In my eyes this book is even better than the Harry Potter series. I found myself unable to put the book down. I am a thirteen year-old boy who postponed watching TV just to read this book! The book's plot is constantly changing and throwing new things at you, you cant put it down. The skilled auther Philip Pullman writes this book woth so many secrets being revealed, you just can't wait to find out more. His creativity of making an entirely different world somewhat like ours with such imaginative things as people have their souls on the outside of their body that they can talk to, in animal forms called daemons. You await the explanation of dust throughout the whole book. lyra makes freinds with such enchanting people as Iorek the armored bear and witches. All the time she has a magical device that will tell the truth called the alethmometer. Children are being kidnapped, among them is her best freind. She seeks out her freind, only to find the fate of the missing children is something she can not bear. The twists and turns and unexpected things happening in this book make it worthwhile for children and adults.
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Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is one of the very best books.Ever. I started reading it when I was 10 and I'm 12 now. This is kind of like a prelude to the rest of the stories, but you have to read this book to understand the rest. This is even better than Harry Potter! And that's saying something. I definatly recommend the "His Dark Matirials" seris to anyone over 11. When I read it I thought it was a little scary. Overall, Phillip Pullman is my favorite author because he is so decriptive. The story takes place in England (I won't say were)and the main character's name is Lyra Belequa. That is all I will say so as not to spoil anything. I hope you will all enjoy this seris.
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Summary: It's no Harry Potter
Review: I bought this based on some of the reviews I read which compared it to the Harry Potter series. That's pretty misleading as far as I'm concerned. The problem here is not really with this first book of the series. It's actually pretty enjoyable and well written. The real problems start to develope in book two and then become full blown in book three. If I were interested in blasting these from a religous standpoint, I'd say that portraying god as a senile, drooling idiot incapable of even walking on his own may be in poor taste for younger, impressionable readers. But I will leave that to others to debate. My complaint is that the first book draws you into what appears to be an interesting story and then steadly becomes increasingly boring, confusing, poorly written and just plain stupid through the next two books in the series. Unfortunately, you can't just read the first book on it's own.
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Summary: Most Imaginative of Its Kind
Review: 'The Golden Compass' is one of this century's most acclaimed and imaginative books of its kind. Philip Pullman's intelligent fusion of science, drama, and fervor bound together creates an interesting read for readers of all ages. His alternate universe of England is anything but bland and it appeals to all. The intricate descriptions of Oxford University as well as Svalbard and Bolvangar are convincing and create vivid images of the settings. The genuine characters and their cryptic pasts give heartbreak, betrayal and loss to the plot. The twists in the plot build up the suspense and charm of it at the most appropriate parts. It's an absorbing novel with a heroine you can realte to and antagonists you love to hate. The developed characters, their unique daemons, suspenseful concepts and detail weave together to create a tapestry of literature that is loved by people of all ages.
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Summary: Great Start to a Great Trilogy
Review: I got this book for my birthday and... annnnd I just got around to reading it. If I'd have known how good it was going to be, I certainly would have read it sooner!! It's a children's fantasy book and somewhat reminded me of Harry Potter, though it's not about the same thing. I would definitely recommend this series (there are two other books in the 'His Dark Materials' series that I haven't read yet, but will soon) for the Harry Potter lover in your life. It's a bit darker than Harry Potter, but draws you in just the same. It's a magical world of daemons and armored bears, of gyptians and witches. I'd describe it to you, but I really can't do it justice. Just trust me and read it. Five out of five stars. Oh. And anyone that tells you that children's books are only for children is out of their mind. :)
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: This is a very good book. It takes place in Oxford, England, and shows the life of a half-wild little girl growing up there. everything suddenly changes when The Gobblers turn up. They are people who snatch children away. A very suspensful book, I could hardly wait to get the next one. The books are like chapters. Where one ends, you think, Thats not an ending! but you can't wait to rerad the next one.
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Summary: Amazing Imagery
Review: Philip Pullman has an amazing way of painting pictures with words. He has a unique talent, I think, for creating characters and scenes that are just familiar enough to be believealbe and able to be related to, and at the same time just unfamiliar and exotic enough to kindle the imagination and keep the pages turning. Animator Hayao Miyazaki needs to see this movie. The heroine and her daemon reminded me a lot of the heroine and her cat in his film "Kiki's Delivery Service". I think Miyazaki could have done a splendid job making this book into an animated film.
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Summary: Different...
Review: This is the weirdest book I have ever read. It wasn't bad, but if you aren't a big fan of science fiction you probably won't like it as much.
The first few chapters are good, and so are the last. I didn't understand half of what the characters were talking about, though. And SO MUCH of it was sci fi, I couldn't read large amounts of it at once.
But this book does have some GREAT things about it. The deamons are great! So is the concept that they can't be very far away from you, and that they change shape until they get to be a certain age. One of the charcters in the series' deamon stayed a dolphin, so he must always be on a boat or near his daemon.
The Golden Compass was cool, too.
There were a lot of parts I didn't like. A lot of things are mixed in together, and at least I didn't understand them. First of all, Lyra's uncle is fighting some religous war. He's also searching for this mysterious thing called " dust", which humans have never heard of. Then there's the Texan aeronaut. Plus, there's those witches, one of whom has a goose for a daemon. At the end there's a place with all of those kids, who are having their daemons tkaen away, which I still don't get. And the whole thing ties in with the Northern lights. Most of it takes place in the snow, but some of it takes place at Oxford and Jordan colleges. Then there's those talking bears. And then those Angels. Plus ther'e the bad guy ( girl) who isn't very nice. I read this book when I was eleven, but I can't wait to read it again. I think if they did a good job, a movie would be cool.
So I do reccomend this book. Older people might like it more.
Truthfully, I loved and hated this book.
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