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Summary: A Book For Adults That Love Childhood
Review: Phillip Pullman as of this book has become one of my favorite obsessions. The story he tells is one that might scare children, but adults who can handle the seriousness of it will want to drench themselves in the fantasy, the detail, and the exquisite imagination that brought it all together. I know I did this - I found myself completely absorbed by The Golden Compass at five a.m. every morning. Well, for three days at least, since that was all it took for me to eat it up. Of course I bought a copy for my cousin, who became an admirer as well. Since then I've started hounding bookstores for the release dates of the follow-ups of the series. This was one of my favorite books of all time.
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Summary: A Wonderful Fantasy To Lose Youself In
Review: Wondering what magical world to enter into while waiting on the next Harry Potter book? Look no further, Lyra Belacqua has arrived.The heroine of Philip Pullman's intricate and bewitching trilogy that begins with "...Compass", is a young girl living among the scholars at Jordan College in England. Her parents, who had died when she was a baby, had left her in the care of her Uncle, Lord Asriel.Like any great hero or heroine she is a child "who has a great destiny that can only be fulfilled elsewhere-not in this world, but far beyond. Without this child, we shall all die. So the witches say. But she must fulfill this destiny in ignorance of what she is doing, because only in her ignorance will we be saved." So says one character to another. Her destiny begins to be realized with her Uncle's return from the North where he speaks of mysterious things going on. At the same time children begin to disappear, and the rumors of what is happening to them isn't nearly as horrifying as the reality.Accompanied by her trusty daemon,(an animal companion that seems representative of the soul), a colorful cast of characters, and a great warrior Polar Bear named Iorek, Lyra sets off on an unforgettable adventure. Personally, I found the first seventy pages or so a little slow going as the plot is set up, and the reading level is slightly more demanding than the Potter books. However, once the action begins to really motor along, it's a hard book to put down, and one adults and children will love equally.
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Summary: A Classic
Review: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman is one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.Its originality and scope are breathtaking.The world that Pullman creates in this novel is realistic,even though it is full of armoured bears and witches.Pullman's writing style is beautiful,though it may be a bit too grownup for smaller children.He tends to have the adults say things that are over the heads of the children in the story and probably are to the children reading the books also.But that doesn't matter.Children and adults both are sure to love this wonderful book.I've never read of a fantasy world so original.The daemons were a masterful and wonderful creation,Iam completely in awe of Mr.Pullman's genius...his alternative Oxford is one of the best alternative worlds I've read.After reading The Golden Compass you will immediantly want to start The Subtle Knife,also a fantastic book that stretches the boundaries of imagination even farther.I can see His Dark Materials trilogy becoming a classic alongside such books as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings and The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake. If you liked The Golden Compass then you should also read The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake,also fantastic and original flights of imagination and fancy.
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Summary: The Golden Compass left me SPEECHLESS!
Review: In Ms. Belanger's class in 7th grade, we had to do a book report. Everyone kept suggesting The Golden Compass, so I figured I'd try something new. From page one, I could not put it down. I was staying up, reading by moonlight, just so i could finish that last sentence of the chapter. With every paragraph, I was thirsty for more. Philip Pullman has truly created a great piece of literature. His characters are unique, and I especially liked the idea of Dæmons. They are little friends that literally are with you till the day you die. The plot is twisted just so, and each word leaves you with bated breath, wondering what adventures Lyra Belacqua will come into next. For those of you who enjoy science fiction/fantasy books with a touch of reality, I very highly recommend The Golden Compass to you. I believe you are never to old to read fantasy books. Pick up the Golden Compass today, and get lost in the magical world of Philip Pullman.
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Summary: Anyone who can read should read this book
Review: The Golden Compass is an amazing book. Even if you don't enjoy fantasy very much you should try it. You'd be suprised at the vivid scenes and real-life characters that Pullman can create. The plot is fast paced and there is never a dull moment. The characters seem like people I could have met before and Lyra the main character is courageous beyond belief. This is now one of my favorite books and I think everyone can learn valuble lessons by reading this.
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Summary: A storm of ideas
Review: They say Pullman is fit for all ages, but I can't help thinking 22 might be a little too late to start reading this trilogy. The ideas in this book are really brilliant: almost no other fantasy author of these days can dream up this kind of a world, where magic of Tolkien is subtly wowen into our own world. I could speak of Holdstock, of course, but even his vision seems somewhat narrow compared to this. Pullman is philosophical, original and he has great ideas of religion and metaphysics. The same can't be said of Jordan, Goodkind or even Hobb. The only problem is that The Golden Compass is written like a fairytale. The plot has the makings of a great thriller - the book is a page-turner, I admit it - but the destinies of the characters can't get a real hold on an adult reader. Death doesn't feel quite like death, love doesn't feel quite like love. I understand this book can be a wrenching experience for a 12- years old, but for me it's mainly just interesting. Still, I'll be reading the rest of the series. Can't stop at this point, you know.
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Summary: Escapes the bounds of fantasy genre - fantastic book
Review: Pullman has written a vastly entertaining and well-paced book in "The Golden Compass." It's fantasy heavy on characterization. Its prose is tight, cutting, descriptive. The main character, Lyra, is wonderfully refreshing as a bold child prone to action, quick to use her wits in an intuitive way-she's a girl Ulysses. Set in an alternative universe where everything resembles our own Earth but is very different, the Church rules the Western world, people travel by zeppelin, and all humans have their personal "daemons"-familiars who take animal shape and serve as a lifelong companion. Generally Pullman fills the book with hair-raising twists and well-thought-out escapes, but is occasionally prone to using divine intervention to pluck his heroine from trouble. That's about the only criticism I can think of, because this book is great and a must for any reader who likes to travel beyond the here and now.
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Summary: Fantastic Book
Review: This is a fantastic book!! Philip Pullman's tale of the young girl Lyra sets your imagination free. It has anything you could ever want in a book! I coudn't put it down!!
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Summary: Tolkien, with a dash of Neal Stephenson - as good as both
Review: This is a superb book - I compare it to Neal Stephenson, because its central character is a tough, endearing little girl, and the people she meets on her adventures. It is like Tolkien, because of the magical world it creates, with religious overtones. Pullman's England is recognisably England, just one which took a completely different historical turn, about five hundred years ago. His world is like the real world, just moved a little to one side. I came across this book, as it was listed as a good book to read while waiting for the next Harry Potter to come out. It has more depth than Harry Potter, and is less of a romp, but anyone who likes Harry Potter, will find something to like here. Let's just say that the magic in "His Dark Materials" is as much internal as external, and you have to work a little harder to understand the mystery. Sometimes in my loopier moments, I think that Pullman might have hit upon some kind of religious truth. My office in Moscow is just round the corner from the lab where Kurchatov discovered the particles that are important in this book. This is probably off the mark, though, and doesn't make any difference to whether or not you enjoy the book. I am seriously thinking about giving this series to my father (who likes Tolkien), my mother, (who likes thrillers), and my sisters and brother in law, who all love a good story. It will certainly make my Christmas present-buying easier this year.
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Summary: Written with Eloquence and Beauty this book also has Omph.
Review: I have read many a book in my lifetime, this is in my top ten EVER. I have read all four HARRY POTTER books, Roald Dahl is amazing too, but the Golden Compass is totally different, yet the same genre (Fiction/Fantasy) it adds a realness that I have searched for in many books. Though the beginning is a bit slow, when you sit down to read it and get through chapter 1, you can't stop. When reading, I like to be connected with the characters, or be able to relate with their emotions, I felt just as much a part of Lyra (the main character) as her Daemon "PAN". My excitment and wonder as she finds out what is in store for her, what has happened to her and what is happening at the moment is as strong as hers. I suggest this book for anyone who is 8 or above, the words can be difficult, but as long as you can stay with the plot, that doesn't matter.
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