Rating: Summary: Not bad Review: I just finished this book a few minutes ago, so it's fresh in mind. I liked it, but am surprised at the ebullient reception it has apparently garnered. There are so many ideas here that a hundred more pages seem in order. The ending seemed rushed, as though the author was just glad to end it.Cool: The armored bears. Iorek Byrnison was just a real gem of a character, as placid and stolid as the arctic wastes of his home. Check out the last paragraph of chapter 10. Uncool: Lyra totally pulls the wool over the bear king, a character who throughout the book is described as clever and capable. The explanation that "a bear who wants to be a human can be easily fooled" is a little thin. I could go on with pros and cons, but the bottom line is: All in all, a good read.
Rating: Summary: This book is better than any book now or ever written Review: This book is better than Harry Potter or any other book, and is complicated, but really the most simple thing. It shows the tight grip of a church, and the cruel intentions of a mother, while dealing with dust, dark materials, or whatever you would like to call them. People aren't sure exactly what it is, but the church is sure of one thing--to destroy it. This book is the best book I ever read and will always be. I challenge you to read it, and see how friendship is on of the most important things.
Rating: Summary: My 6th graders thought it was better than Harry Potter! Review: I teach an advanced group of 6th grade readers and we had just completed an intense unit on Anne Frank's Diary, so I decided for our next reading unit to read something fun along the lines of the Harry Potter series (all my students had already read all the HP stories). I discovered Philip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy on Amazon and decided to give the first book, The Golden Compass, a try. I felt if the kids just "liked" GC, I'd be happy. Well, they LOVED Golden Compass! They agreed as a group that it was the best story they had ever read and begged me to expand the unit to include the other two DARK MATERIALS books. I didn't but not because I didn't think the sequels were worthy. I intentionally wanted (and hoped) GC to be a springboard for more outside, recreational reading and it was just that. 90% of the group has read the final two books since we completed GC in March. GC is now a permanent part of the 6th grade curriculum. We're into Shakespeare now....
Rating: Summary: The Down Sides of This Book Review: As everyone says that this book is wonderful, a work of art or more, I say that this book was alright. It was, I must say, better than Harry Potter and very well written. I happened to have bought this on a whim, dragged it along with me on a ... and found it so hard to read, I gave up on it half way through the plane ride and then during the bus ride. Point being, even in my room I couldn't sit down and read through what I was .... It was alright and unless you are an avid reader and very loyal to either the series or reading something until it is done, steer away from this one.
Rating: Summary: Does the truth matter? Review: This book is about a magical world with many dangers. Its full of strange people weird creatures and full of adventure. If you like adventure this books for you!!
Rating: Summary: This was a great fantasy for all ages. Review: I really enjoyed this book. It had a exciting plot line and lots of action. I also liked The Golden Compass because Philip Pullman showed Lyra's (the main character), Pan's (Lyra's daemon) and Iorek's (another main character) personalities. This pulled me into the book because I felt just what Lyra felt. The daemons added an interesting factor to the book. I thought that how they were a human's best friend who followed the human around was a thoughtful concept on Philip Pullman's part. They added a little bit of self conscience to the person. The daemons were also characters who were pleasant but know-it-alls. The one thing I did not like about the book was the ending. I thought it was unnecessary. Philip Pullman could have chose another ending which would have the same effect on Lyra and her journey. Overall I thought this book was a wonderful fantasy.
Rating: Summary: Adventure Into A World Unlike One I Have Ever Know About: Review: I consider myself to be an avid reader. If I would rate the Golden Compass among all of the books that I have ever read, it would most definitely score highly. It would be among the top twenty. From my point of view, this book is good for long car rides, for it is lengthy and as soon as you get into it, you won't be able to put it down. The book is one that is filled with adventure, excitement, and most importantly, suspense. It also takes place in a wold like ours, only different in a few crucial ways. Philip Pullman, the author of the Golden Compass, has an excellent way of describing scenes, the plot, and the characters. His ability is wonderful, he describes something and I can picture it instantly. The book has a good and steady plot throughout the beginning, but it DRASTICALLY picks up towards the end. I can't wait to pick up the sequel! The Golden Compass will leave you hanging so as you want to read on. Lyra, the main character, turns out to be surprisingly lovable. You will grow up and mature along with her. All in all, the Golden Compass is certainly a book to read if you are looking for something far out and fantasy like. I highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: aLL iN aLL* Review: ThE GoLdEn CoMpAss~ I think the Golden Compass was an exceptional book. For English class, I chose this novel out of four others. After talking to my classmates about their books, I know I chose the right book to read. Often times at night I have read more than the assigned amount-- I just couldn't put it down. Every page is packed with adventure, and the descriptions of the setting are fabulous. The Golden Compass is a great book not only for kids, but for adults too. The novel is great for every reader: adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, it has everything. The other reviews refere to this book as having the same thrill as the Harry Potter series. I don't think The Golden Compass had nearly as much imagination and creativity as J.K. Rowling's books. I was only dissapointed at the end of the book. You don't know what happens, you would have to read the sequels to find out. However, I already ordered The Subtle Knife, the sequel of the Golden Compass. It's a fantastic book, and I defenitly want to find out what happens to Lyra and the other characters.
Rating: Summary: A Review of the Golden Compass Review: I have recently read Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass. For myself I found it was a very good book. I enjoy reading Fiction or Science Fiction books, but if you are not interested in these types I wouldn't recommend this book. Phillip Pullman used his imagination very well to create this book and it is part of what makes this book so interesting. I hate reading books that have parts where there is no action going on and it gets really boring. The Golden Compass is packed with exiting events and you are never just reading stuff, there is always external or internal conflict going on. Parts of the book are really suspenseful and you want to read on, and you can never tell what is going to happen next because Phillip Pullman writes things that you would never expect to happen, or even think of. This is a great book, and I really recommend you read it, I am sure you will enjoy it thoroughly.
Rating: Summary: A THILLER FOR ALL AGES Review: This is a must read for anyone. The amazing plot takes so many unexpected twists and turns that you just dont know what Lyra will do next. Pullman so vividly explains the characters with such imagination. I mean who would think of having everyone in the world have an animal thats like thier soul. Only one with such vivid imagination could think like that. Everyone knows those storys where the good guy always wins? Well this story is so far off of that, and with so many traitors and cover ups you just dont know what will happen. I'm telling you this is up there with Tolkien and Rowling, a must read for anyone!!
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