Rating: 
Summary: found it on the "kids" shelf where it didn't belong....
Review: Classed as teen fiction I am glad that the book was recommended to me or I would never have found it.Its a brilliant story, with subtle changes in plots. And easy, fun and thought provoking read...
Rating: 
Summary: one of the more original fantasy series out there
Review: I just finished "The Golden Compass", and I am already ready to start the 2nd book. The book portrays an intriuging universe much like our own, except in this world everyone has "daemons" (animal infestations of the person's soul). Aside from that and an army of talking, armor-clad polar bears (interested yet?), it could almost be Earth. I found it to be original and compelling, and the reason I only give it a four-out-of-five is because of two reasons:
1)Phillip Pullman is a gifted writer to be sure, but the book felt very uneven in its portrayal of the characters and events. Major characters come and go with little explanation, and as for the events; well, sometimes you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next, and Pullman cops out and brings you to an uninteresting, unbelievable resolution. These are minor flaws compared to the good stuff (and there's a lot of good stuff), but I'm just nagging.
2) As the book ended, I still had plenty of questions. Sure, there's still two books left to read, but I wish there could have been more explanation behind the existance and properties of Dust (I would go into it, but all I'll I say is that it's a mysterious particle found in the North Pole that has the power to unite worlds.) I also was interested in the witches that inhabit this world, and not nearly enough was revealed about them in this book.
All in all, I would recomemend "The Golden Compass" to anyone looking for orginal, escapist entertainment. It's no masterpiece, but it's still one of the better books I've read in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden meaning to this story
Review: The four stars are for the quality of the writing, but they come with the following caution: Pullman's Dark Materials triology, of which this is the first book, is a well-written and gripping story, but it also has some dark themes that parents should know about before they decide to hand it to their kids. In this series containing parallel universes, one universe has people whose souls live outside their bodies. These souls are called "daemons" (an archaic spelling of the word "demon".) The "Dark Materials" terminology refers to dark particles. These dark particles do not affect children until they reach adolescence, at which point they experience an "awakening" similar to that experienced by Adam and Eve in the Bible upon eating the forbidden fruit, although this awakening is a positive one and somewhat sexualized (though not explicitly; the most that happens is a first kiss). The Church in Lyra's universe is populated with controlling and evil people and the God-like figure found in still another universe is portrayed as weak and/or a usurper; he is a fallen angel. Part of the "happy ending" in the third book is the release of human souls from the world of the dead, where they are imprisoned, at which time they disappear into happy, unconscious nothingness. Adults will easily see the anti-(Judeo-Christian)God stance of the books, but children will likely innocently enjoy the exciting storyline and memorable characters without realizing its underlying, darker themes.
Rating: 
Summary: book of potential... destroyed
Review: I bought this book as a gift for someone. Naturally, I read it before I gave it away. The bottom line is that I didn't like it so very much that I gave this person something else instead, thinking they should have a good gift. Don't get me wrong, the story had a lot of potential, but as you get closer to the end you begin to notice that things are drawn out and entirely unfinished for the sake of a sequel. No discernable climax in the book. It's sad really, but there it is. At the end of the book it felt like all of the characters had just wasted their time not really ultimately doing anything. What a gip.
Rating:
Summary: Mysteries of the Aurora Borealis...
Review: At its heart, The Golden Compass is the delightful story of one girl's childhood. But, unlike most tots who must content themselves with idle daydreams, Lyra, the story's protagonist, has her already strange orphan existence spun on its head when, in the months following the arrival of her mysterious and powerful uncle, she is treated to an extensive realization of most youngsters' wildest imaginings. Written with a degree of sophistication well beyond the publisher's target audience, Compass embodies all the potential of its genre and is a brilliant achievement suitable for all ages. Philip Pullman successfully merges a broad spectrum of fantastical elements into a surprisingly cohesive whole. Religion is blended with cosmology, magic and even science to further a strange but captivating plot that hinges on the existence of an unexplained material (or materiel) known as Dust. Questions of government, academic and religious integrity arise and are treated with a refreshingly Unitarian outlook. Witches sortie with armored bears and where this world's turn-of-the-century technology leaves off, the supernatural begins. Though slow to start, the veritable cornucopia of strange characters are masterfully developed and as the book approaches its rousing climax you find yourself, quite to your own surprise, caring about even the most lackluster of personalities (when one particularly dim boy loses his daemon (every human has a magical animal alter-ego) you find yourself pitying him only to remember that you had sneered dismissively at his tedium only pages before). If the book has a weakness, and it doesn't have many, it is that it leaves you in the lurch with an entire additional book's worth of questions to ask and a very large and unexplained cliff-hangar. Fortunately, second and third books have been written and having gleefully absorbed the first, I will promptly be heading out to the library in search of both The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
Rating:
Summary: Everything here WORKS!
Review: Pullman is simply a phenomenal writer/storyteller and he proves it over and over with this "His Dark Materials Trilogy" - that I own. Now, this is definitely not for younger readers. My wife and I decided our kids are gonna have to be much older and more mature to have access to all the darkness and controversy here. But it's superb, well written, gripping, touching, thrilling, chilling, and absolutely way better than your average fantasy book. I too am Christian and I say: read this outstanding series for what it is. So what that Pullman is not Christian? He is allowed to display his questions and doubts, his blunt criticism upon religion. If you just go down that road, you'll hate it, because you will be reading it for the wrong reasons. He makes you wonder, questions your own level of faith, but he is not "preaching". If your faith is strong, you will be able to add this to your knowledge without being "offended". Open up, think outside of the box and ENJOY the ride. If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. It's worth every word.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!
Review: I abosolutely LOVED this book!! At first it was a little hard to get into, but that only lasted a little while, I have read all 3 books in the triology and I loved them all! Now that they are over, I'm really sad!! I think you should try reading the first one, and I am willing to bet that you will read the second one after that and then the third. I looove Harry Potter, but this book isn't anything like Harry Potter at all, so I don't know why people compare it. I can't decide if I like Harry Potter better, or these books, but either way they are both my favorites! One thing I loved about this book was how every person has a daemon. A daemon is the soul of a person with an animal form. There is tons of adventure in this book and it is a great fantasy. The main character is a girl named Lyra, throughout His Dark Materials, Lyra experiences dangerous situations, different worlds, love, mischief, fun, and just about everything else! The only thing I have to say about this book is that I think it is for older kids to read. There are a lot of big words and graphic moments, and I don't know if someone very young could follow the plot very well, especially if they continue with the books that follow this one. I would probably say its for ages 12+ Alot of people complain that His Dark Materials make it seem like there is no God. Well at times I would have to say it does, but if you believe in and have faith in God like myself, you should be able to put that aside and just have appreciation for the FANTASTIC story! READ IT!! :)
Rating:
Summary: This book Rules!
Review: I'm usually the sort-of type that just reads cause I fell obligated to and the sort that has a diffrent sort of prepective for books but When I see this book I grab it and start reading for hours. If you like books that are a tinny bit complicated and questionning then this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, moving, beautiful.
Review: Some reviews have been very harsh of this book. It is easily one of the best books that I have ever read. Never have I read a book that makes you feel as if the world around you was mystical and magic. The story doesn't distinctly draw lines between good and evil, which is nice to see. It is an uncommon tale, told with exquisite beauty. I don't think it's required for all tales to extol the wonders of being "for" or "against" anything. I think, rather, that this book is a tribute to the grey areas in everything, and how mistakes can be made, and remade and not be wrong or right, simply mistakes. This book will grip you, move you, and make you cry for more.
Rating:
Summary: Comparable to The Lord of the Rings & Harry Potter
Review: Wonderfully mastered world. Exceptionally fantastic concept of the daemons, and encorporating a balance between definition of fantasty and reality. Never have I wanted to BE someplace and felt I was experiencing it through the characters' eyes. A MUST READ for all who love Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings!! You will be pleasantly surprised!
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