Rating: 
Summary: Fun and well-written, but caveat to Christian parents
Review: Pullman writes a page-turner, and like the best of its genre, it can be read by teens or adults. The world of "Golden Compass" is vividly imagined, and Pullman's devices (daemons, anbaric energy, zeppelins, etc.) all work to firmly place the reader in a specific setting. The plotting and diction are tight everywhere, and the second part of the trilogy has even better pacing. Pullman is obsessed with a Manichaean/gnostic view of the world and of spirit, and with every successive book in the series, he advocates it more firmly and explicitly. In fact, his obsession distinctly weakens his craftsmanship in the third book.
Rating: 
Summary: A must read! Destined to become a classic!
Review: I picked up this book at a book store, pulled by the bear on the cover (i'm an official bear freak). I bought it, and read it. By the third page I was hooked. It was a wonderful experiance, and I felt as if I was with Lyra, Pan, and Iorek Byrnison fighting in Bolvanger and Svalbard, and flying in a balloon. Any book lover (kid or adult) should read this book.Read the second and third one as well!
Rating:
Summary: Right Up There With Rowling and Tolkien, Truly Amazing!
Review: I have just finished the Golden Compass, and I want to tell you all to read it right now! This is an astounding book. I loved every part of it. It's a challenge for young readers, and the fantasy is just right. If you're 11-14 and are just a mediocre reader, the Golden Compass will inspire you to read and read! You literally can't stop reading this book, and if you do, you'll want to get back as soon as possible! Come on, please try it! This book is totally deserving of all the attention it is getting! ;)
Rating:
Summary: One Heck of a Fantasy Novel!
Review: This is my absolute favorite book! I definently reccomend this book for anyone. It's easy to understand, easy to read, and it will have you captivated in an illustrious fantasy world. A MUST HAVE for a teen who is somewhat interested in reading. Phillip Pullman wrote a masterpiece and all i have for it are praises! Even though the book is long, it will have you flipping page after page to find out more until you have a headache! Pullman takes you alongside Lyra and her daemon as she goes from Jordan College to helping a polar bear and caged daemons in an Artic area in the North. Learn more about her magical compass and fall in love with this novel!
Rating:
Summary: Still one of the best books ever, even the third time around
Review: This book is a truly original classic. I read it for the first time when I was about twelve, and while some parts of it were a bit much for me then, I loved it! I read it twice after that, and now that I'm fifteen a lot that I didn't get before has come much clearer to me. The book lost none of it's suspensfullnes or generally exciting theme, so that at some points I was litterally sitting on the edge of my seat wondering if maybe this time would turn out differently. Also, I've been an avid reader of fantasy for as long as I could read, (and even before that) so I have read all the old cleshaes, but this book would have none of it. Completely in a league of it's own! Anyway, this book is set in an alternative universe, where everyone has their own daemon, (basically a physical embodiment of the person's soul in the form of whatever animal they themselves are most like) and through the Aurora flows the magical Dust, which is the subject of much contraversy. Young Lyra Belaqua, abandoned by her parents at a young age lives at Jordon College in Oxford, and accidentally hears her uncle and the college masters talking about Dust, and before she knows it, she is launched into the adventure of a lifetime. Traveling to the North with the help of Gyptions, armored bears, witches and the like, Lyra comes to realize some pretty startling things about herself and Dust, and how it all ties into the Gobblers, who steal children to cut their Daemons away from them. By the end of the first chapter of this book I was thouroghly engrossed, and by the end of the book I was longing for my own Daemon! Anyway, I would recommend this book not just to children but to adults as well, since I doubt any child under twelve would be able to read it anyway. This book is gory at some points, and some of the things this book hints at can be pretty disturbing, another reason why I recommend this book mostly to adults and teenagers. I garentee though, once you read this book you will be hooked for the trilogy. I've been waiting for The Amber Spyglass (the final book in the trilogy) to come out for two years, and I finally have it (one reason why I read this book once again) and intend to read it as soon as I finish The Subtle Knife for the second time.
Rating:
Summary: Simply phenomenal!
Review: I bought this book about five years ago and it got lost when I moved so I bought it again. If you are a lover of adventure and magical creatures this book is definitely for you. I have read it over and over again and can't seem to get enough of it. Pullman is an intriguing writer who folds his words into the most intricate origami for the imagination. Buy this book, it is simply phenomenal!
Rating:
Summary: A Girl and a Book
Review: My friend and I love this book so much we are costently talking about Lyra and her adventures! It is a very exciting story and I would permit ANYONE to read this cool story. I think it is cool because of the world, surroundings, and Lrya herslef.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for All the Wrong Reasons
Review: This is a powerful and interesting page turner that should appeal to all fans of fantasy. Be forewarned though that Pullman isn't just writing a great tale he's deconstructing the "childrens fantasy" genre by turning all the old Narnian assumptions around. This trilogy is as much about being against older Tolkien and Lewis style fantasy as about a great story. If you like fantasy you'll like this but its not really for children as much as young adults, in that sense its far better than the "Harry Potter" books but a bit less than "Lord Of The Rings".
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!
Review: My favorite character was by far Lyra.I've always loved the Artic and together with this gripping novels mystery and destinies to be found it makes a book that you can't put down!!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: I agree with most reviewers who say that this is an exceptional book. One of the most remarkable things for me as a reader was to read and have the world of Lyra's Oxford be familiar and then suddenly to realize that this world is slightly out of kilter with our own world. I also thought that the concept of daemons as the manifestation of the soul was wonderful--especially since virtually all daemons are the opposite gender than their humans. That's a nice Jungian touch, I think. As for the story, it is quite often heart-rending. This is a children's book but not for really young children. It reminds me a bit of Susan Cooper's books, in terms of age appropriateness. I think they are children's books that grow with you into adulthood.
|
