Rating: 
Summary: Superb...Wonder-Filled
Review: This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read, but only one of the trilogy, which is amazing altogether. Philip Pullman captures our language in a way that makes you able to see the entire story played like a movie inside your head, it's very easy to imagine the characters actions and adventures. The main charater, Lyra is one of the most influential heroines I have ever known, her amazing personality and extremely well-rounded character is superb. In this world, ours, but not ours, everyone has a creature called a Daemon, which are sort-of like a soul, but take the shape of an animal. Their amazing description and feeling makes me long for a daemon of my own. This is a must for any home library, one of the most exquisitely crafted books of our time. Philip Pullman is one author that deserves extreme recognition! It deserves Ten stars, at the least, and don't miss Book 2, The Subtle Knife, and Book 3, The Amber Spyglass, and his other Trilogy, The Sally Lockhart books!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Fantasy Series Ever
Review: I have read Lord of the Rings, and yes, I believe this series is better. Mr. Pullman takes a story of the most original quality and weaves it into a complex, imaginative world parallel to our own. Each part contributes to the plot's development and his diction is of the highest quality. Another positive attribute, is that Mr. Pullman does not "take up space." His story lacks fillers, rhetoric, and wordiness. In short this is a must read for any Fantasy lover. I assure you, it will not be a disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: In the book The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman writes about the hardships and rewards of being a witch. He goes through the life of a little girl named Maria, and how hard it is for her to cope with her uncle, the head sourcer of Tourlox the town they live in. All of the people in Tourlox have these little "shape shifters" who are alot alike a servant, they do what they are told but whatever you tell them to do they cant get hurt. Maria and her shape shifter named Pentalomen go through the town causing troubble and finding out what the real scoop is and uncovering the dirt in the town. Many people don't like Maria but everyone knows her and know that they are in for a treat when she is around.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy and Religion?
Review: This book needs to be read and relished and understood from the outset or it probably will offend some Christian folks. If you take the time to understand that this book is not really even about our world, but a world like ours, the offense should be put to bed. I thought the story to be so well crafted that I have recommended it to many adults. The great thing is that many of my students have read and enjoyed all of the books in the trilogy. They often tell me that they enjoyed Golden Compass the most of the three. Once I began to read I could not put the book down. It is not for the constant action, but for the story. The characters are dynamic and demand the attention of the reader. You will like Lyra and Pantalaimon, not because they have special powers, but because they are charming and clever. Golden Compass has a lot going for it. A unique and powerful storyline, well developed characters, a wonderful setting and although it is a little slow at times it has a magnetism that will draw you back to it each time you put it down. This is quite possibly the most interesting young adult fantasy novel I have encountered.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Harry Potter!
Review: This was definetly one of the best books I have ever read! It was full of adventure and thrill. At times your heart could stop beating. The story was filled with evil gobblers, armoured bears, witch clans, Gyptians, and mystical creatures. I was verry impressed in how much creativity went into this book it was amazing all the different made up worlds there were!!! On a scale from 1-5 I would rate it a 6!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: If you're into fantasy, this is a really good book to read. Pullman combines a lot of really neat ideas into his trilogy, and he keeps the books intense. I couldn't put it down! About the whole anti-Christian aspect, yes, Pullman's "different" way of thinking about religion, etc., is reflected in his writing, and I would not reccommend this for any parents who don't want their children exposed to this. On a lighter note, this book (in fact, trilogy) really made me think about a lot of issues and is a favorite of mine, and so I wish you happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: Captivating, Exciting, WONDERFUL!
Review: Being that I am an avid Harry Potter fan, I thouroughly enjoyed this book. If you're interested in reading fantasies, this book is for you. It's a nail biter you won't want to put down. I would include more in this review, but I don't want to give any part of the book away.
Rating:
Summary: For Lover's of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter...
Review: Seldom has any novel been able to capture your heart, and take you on the ride of your life like Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Those of us who are in love with Harry Potter and his world of magic, as well as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings, will quickly identify with the child protagonstic of this book, Lyra Belaqua. Set in a world somewhat different from our own, the story follows Lyra as she goes in search of her missing friend (and other missing children) and encounters all sorts of adventures. Pullman does a tremendous job with this book, taking lovable characters and piting them against the forces of evil in a story that will leave you breathless. Don't consult your Alethiometer, just read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Epic Tale - Nothing Short of Amazing!
Review: I stared reading The Golden Compass on the recommendation of my thirteen-year-old daughter, and I must say, the book is absolutely wonderful!! The ending of book one just has you grabbing for book two right away!! I was a big fan of Tolkein and CS Lewis growing up, and to this day, I still enjoy those books, and this series will be taking their place alongside those classics. I find that this book will not only appeal to the young adults, but more so to adults, who still have room in their lives for the mystery, magic and fantasy of life. I do believe that adults will far more appreciate the subtle contrasts to mythology and theology. As far as the negative reviews I have read, my opinion is to disregard them and read this book for what it is - pure imagination, creativity and fantasy as an absolutely wonderful tale, which just pulls you in deeper with each chapter. Lyra, the protagonist, is an all-encompassing character, which has the reader cheering for her bravery, her ingenuity, her courage, and her love. Pullman portrays a very strong female heroine, which will appeal to all of the young female readers. Just when you think Lyra cannot do it, she pulls it off with all of her strength mustered to do it. The aspect of everyone having their own "daemon" is fascinating and makes me think of the Native American shamans with their "power animals", along with shape shifting as well. The shamans and their power animals together heal and bring healing to those who seek his or her counsel. Pullman's world in The Golden Compass can be compared to Milton's Paradise Lost or even to themes in Christianity, but to go and tear apart this book, based on the Christianity premise, is to miss the beauty and genius of this book. The themes of good vs. evil, can be seen throughout the book in numerous instances - the witches, the armored bears, Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel. Pullman's theme is older than time, and just relevant today as it was in Lyra's world. It has been a long time in which I have read an "epic" novel, which transported me to another world, which was so believable. Pullman's characters are believable, as are the personalities of their daemons and the world in which they all live. I highly recommend this book for those adults who still believe in fantasy and of course the young teens will find this book highly charged, adventurous and an amazing adventure which will have them reading the other books in the series! As for my daughter, she is now reading all of Pullman's books, which has now lead her to Tolkein. I am onto book two! Bravo Pullman!!!
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Series
Review: After having read all 3 books of the series, I would rate the Golden Compass as the best, not necessarily that it is better written or more exciting than the others. But the story line is clearest here at the beginning.
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