The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

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Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: This book is amzingly exciting! It is now one of my top ten! I think anyone who likes exciting mysterious books will love the Golden Comppass!

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Summary: The His Dark Materials Trilogy is Unmatched Any Any Other
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read, and probably ever will read. After the first page, I was drawn in with amazment at the perfection of the writing, and the storyline is unmatched by any other author. I can suggest this book to nearly anybody who likes good books of any catagory. In this book, and the rest in the series, the author, Philip Pullman describes the characters, the places, thoughts, and feelings, with enough detail to go from Oxford to Svalbard. This book and the rest in the series will always stay as some of--if not--my favorate books.

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Summary: HOW OFTEN DOES A NOVEL CHANGE YOUR LIFE?!? READ THIS NOW!
Review: Forget about comparing Pullman's 'The Golden Compass' to anything remotely to do with Harry Potter. That attempt can only deceive, for it's like comparing apples & oranges: can't be done. As other reviewers here have pointed out, they're both genius but quite differently so. However, 'The Golden Compass' treads utterly farther, deeper, & upon ineffably more existential terrain than Potter ever has - or even can. Advanced kids can read this, but it is essentially an adult book. [The only other book of this genre which is in the same class is John Crowley's 'Little, Big': read THAT!]. Once you slowly ingest the first few chapters, you are suddenly snagged into a story rich in complex characters; astonishing plot; & masterful writing. Where else have you read in 1 book of humans, daemons, the soul, witches, the Magisterium (!), armoured polar bears, & the eternal & most serious questions surrounding the existence of sin, God(s), multiple dimensions & realities; betrayal, courage & love? NOWHERE. One national critic points out that this is one of those rare books that actually changes your life. IT IS.

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Summary: A classic to be
Review: ‘The Golden Compass’ is a book with many different worlds and views. With twists, turns, and adventures here and there, this book is page after page, going on and on, on a long and suspending ride, and when it stops, you wish you could keep going. However, they do stretch some parts in the book and that makes me a little irritated. I find it would be vague for children under the age of 11. It would be a perfect for a young teen though.

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Summary: Just the begining of a wonderfully gripping fantasy!
Review: Pullman writes about fantastic worlds with mysterious connections. His main characters are pre teens that seem brilliantly imaginary yet utterly believable. The journey through this book, the first of three, is spell binding and complicated enought to keep me, an adult, captivated as well as my eleven year old son. It is a blend science fiction, fantasy and mystery that we have found unique in all our readings.

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Summary: The Golden Compass is a the BEST BOOK EVER
Review: Exceeding even the famous Harry Potter, the Golden Compass and its sequels join together to make an astounding Trilogy! The creativity and thought put into this makes it more of a six star than a five star. Kids of a younger age may have difficulty reading this but it is a great book for older children and adults! When you finish the book you want to re-read it and then go out and get the next book. Lyra Belacqua and the other characters make a strong impression on the reader and Iorek Byrnison is awesome! This book should be on every shelf!

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Summary: The Golden Compass is a Golden Book!!
Review: From the very beginning Philip Pullman pulls you right into the story. Though this book can be confusing for younger readers it is a great one for older children. How he thinks of all this is unimaginable, it seems that so much time and effort and creativity went into it! A must read book and should be on every child's shelf!

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Summary: Who needs a yellowbrick road when you have a golden compass?
Review: When I first read this book, I was truly amazed at the challenging stance that Pullman assumes. His prose is so elegant in telling the story of Lyra Belacqua, who is such a talented liar that she is renamed Lyra Silvertongue. In Lyra's world-- an alternate dimension of the world as we know it-- people's souls manifest themselves as animals called daemons, the Church rules over the State, Gypsies are called Gyptians, electric lights are anbaric lights, amber is electrum.... Pullman's world is complete to the very last detail; its differences and similarities are subtly hinted at at first, then developed more fully as the novel progresses. This novel is worthy of being the first of the His Dark Materials trilogy, which is revolutionary in its themes and plot. A must-read series, to say the least.

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Summary: On The Edge Of Your Seat
Review: This book is kind of scary and you won't be able to put it down. Lyra ventures into new worlds when she tries to escape from the evil and save the good. With help from her daemon, she makes new friends and competes with life-threatening obstacles. Read the book to find out what happens to Lyra! --MSJ

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Summary: An addictive series
Review: Don't start this book unless you intend to run out and buy the other two. A story written between three books that is gripping and full of interesting plot twists. A happy ending is not guaranteed, and I love that in a novel. Talking polar bears, humans with the animalistic side of them visible, witches and other sorts of great fun await you. Just don't forget to bring your Kleenex to the last one.