Rating: 
Summary: Can I give 10 stars?
Review: Wow...what a book!! As a reader, it is absolutely phenomenal!! As a mother, I have to say that I am happy that there are books out there that get our children to think and question as well as entertain. My daughter and I had numerous conversations about this book (and the other two) when we finished them. I had read postings on other boards from bible-thumpers who felt that these books went against God. It's not true. I'm glad my mind is capable of comprehending that this is a fabulous story that will in no way make me go out and commit a mortal sin. I also suggested these books to a coworker(my boss, actually). I lent him the first book and he ended up buying the trilogy. He loved Iorek as much as i did. Having said that.....where can I find an armored bear with a kingly nature?
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: The Golden Compass in an amazing and thought-provoking first installment to an amazing and thought-provoking trilogy. I have read The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife(which is equally as great) and I am a few chapters away from fininshing The Amber Spyglass(which so far is incredible) I am looking forward to Lyra's Oxford and The Book Of Dust.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing short of brilliant
Review: This book is nothing short of brilliant. The writing is spectacular, and the ideas are wonderfully original. The characters of Lyra and her friends are fascinating, well-developed, and full of interest. Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are delightfully and believably horrible. The only problem with this book is that it had to end. But that is remedied by the next book, The Subtle Knife.
RECOMMENDED!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: Lyra lives among the scholars at Jordan collage. She is always looking for adventures. But her greatest adventure starts when she listens to a secret conversation between some scholars and, her uncle, Lord Asriel about Dust, a microscopic particle with amazing power and only exists in the north. Soon after that children start to disappear all over the country. Once Lyra's friend Roger disappears she sets off to find him. To do so she enlists the help of gyptians, armored bears, and witches so she can get north. But will it be enough to free the missing kids.
Soon after starting this book I was completely immersed in this world and could not stop reading. The story is so well put together that this world becomes real and me a part of it.
As the plot thickens Lyra is moving towards her destiny and me with her. Every landscape and character is perfectly woven in to the story. This world equals its self to the greatness of the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien. This is a must read for anyone. This book will be a classic forever.
Rating: 
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: The book The Golden Compass is about a wonderful epic journey across the world and beyond. I thought this book was very well written and had a lot of interesting details. The plot of the story is very intriguing in Lyra discovering the source and effects of Dust. Pullman did a great job blending the information that the reader needed to know, with the story. Pullman also captured the personality of Iorek as a big, fearless creature with a kind and loving side, which is shown throughout out his time spent with Lyra. Along Lyra's captivating journey she encounters useful information that helps her solve the mystery and find the Gobblers that threat her friends and family.
Rating: 
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: I thought Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass was very well written. Pullman has a way of writing that puts a very realistic image in my head. His imagination is tremendous to create such a complex plot and add suspense along with it. I thought it was a very good book overall, but at some points it got very confusing to keep up with what was happening. You really need to read it carefully to get the most out of it. Overall, I enjoyed this book and reccomend it to anyone who would like a challenge.
Rating:
Summary: For children and adults...
Review: Though I have not yet read the sequel, it is on my "to read" list. The Golden Compass can be read on two levels. For a younger child, it is a fast-paced adventure, with a likable heroine, amazing places, and a nice plot. For adults or older readers, or those of us who look for something deeper, it's there. Pulman subtly questions the way society works, and explores differences between greed, properity that holds us back, and that first impressions are almost never right. Lyra is perhaps ten at the start of this novel, free to run about Jordan College and the surrounding areas, and she leads every child's ideal life. Until one day she listens in on a conversation, and her world is forever changed. From place to place, Lyra and her daemon, (a creature who always travels and co-exists with their person) are always moving North, to try and free the children who are being taken by the Gobblers for an unknown purpose. Filled with amazing characters, stunning setting, thousands of questions, and a very dark background, this is a page turner that won't leave the reader's mind, and is certain to become a treasured book never to leave your shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: I just didn't get it.
Review: The be perfectly honest, this book gave me a headache. There were seemignly endless pages waiting for the story to begin, and rapid fire introduction of new characters that my sleep deprived brain couldn't handle. I didn't like the main charecter, I couln't relate to her, and a lot of the time I wanted to smack her around. Nothing happened in the first three chapters of the book the get things rolling in a coherent fashion. You don't spend enough time with alot of the charecters to get to like them. The only reason that I read the book at all is because a friend pestered me into it. Now of course the other two are sitting on her shelf waiting for me. I'm not looking forward to it.
Rating:
Summary: Pullman doesn't like women very much
Review: I was struck with the misogyny throughout the entire book. If anyone heard a loud explosion in the New York city area last week, it was the sound of this feminist's heart breaking. It pained me because it's a very good book otherwise. First of all, Lyra is just a boy in a skirt. Why did Pullman feel the need to do this? I understand being a tomboy -- but even the most beloved literary tomboys were still believable girls. Lyra is not a believable girl. There's very little girlish about her. When she is asked to choose a toy in the later parts of the book, she chooses a doll grudgingly. I think Pullman did this to get away with his treatment of women throughout the book. There's a little girl at an all-male college (nothing wrong there) -- and this is never fully explained. However, the few female professors there are considered "dowdyish" and uninteresting and not given any time. It's this little girl around all these men. Then comes the only other female lead in the story -- and of course she's Lyra's mother and of course she's evil. When a scholar asks Lyra if she would like some other little girls to play with, she wrinkles her nose and says, "No." When stuck in the camp, she seems especially dismayed that she's stuck in the all-girls dorm. This would be fine, if she were to come to some later realization that girls are not only useful but great -- but this realization never comes. Girls and women are always on the periphery of this book. There's a witch -- who just happens to send her male daemon to speak for her for most of the time. So, once again -- another male voice. The witches are immortal. In one breath, a witch says, "Flying is the most important thing to witches" and also, "I would have given anything to follow him to his world where I could cook and clean for him and have his babies." Gag me. Normally, I wouldn't give a hoot if an author hated women or not, but this is marketed as a children's book. It's not unlike having an adventure story where the black guy always gets killed in the second act. Let's get with the 21st century.
Rating:
Summary: Beginning To Fantastic Trilogy
Review: Lyra was an ordinary girl, living at Jordan College. She's always running wild with the kitchen boy, Roger. But when children- including Roger - begin disappearing due to a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers, Lyra sets out to find out what's going on. On her journey, Lyra discovers that the association is doing horrible things to the children and all because they feared the substance called Dust. This book is full of science fiction/ fantasy wonder. As you're lead through Lyra's eyes, you find yourself drawn into her magical world. All of the characters, major and minor, are dynamic and richly written which leaves you thirsting for more. This book is the first in His Dark Materials, which is a trilogy about Lyra and her quest for the meaning of Dust.
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