Rating: 
Summary: I Love this Book
Review: I think this is the best book I have ever read aside from first two in this seires. I think the whole seires is the best books ever written. I really enjoyed them all. I think The Amber Spyglass did a wonderful job in tieing up all the lose ends. I am a mildly religous person and this book didn't bother me at all. So of the things in that book really make you think I finnished this book about a week ago and once in a while I sitll think about it and sonme of the lessons learned. I am really sorry for all of you didn't enjoy this book for religous reasons or because nothing went the way you wanted. I think it deals with religon fine and the endin was perfect. It points out the biggest fact of life. Which is:"Life is not Fair." Please read this book it is one of the best. You must read The Gloden Compass and The Stuble Knife before this one to understand it though.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Finish for the Trilogy
Review: Too often people criticicize a book because its views differ with their own, rather than rating it on its literary merits. This is no exception. While the critiques of religion may trouble some, they are presented in such a compelling manner that their literary value shouldn't be overlooked. The characters are given tremendous depth, as we learn how they think and act. We are also introduced to some exciting new characters as those covered in previous books take a back seat. The conclusion of the trilogy is fabulous, and the lessons it teaches about the evolution of a person from child to adult are stunning in its insights, and timeless in its implications.
Rating:
Summary: How can you NOT read this?
Review: Okay, I take my title back. I *would* like to point out the obvious to all of those people who only gave this book one star: Nobody's forcing you to read this! If you read the Golden Compass, and you hated it, and you read the Subtle Knife, and you hated it, then WHY read the Amber Spyglass? Aha - because although you people claim that it's heretical and propoganda - I would be willing to be that you're just as hooked as the rest of us are. There you have it. This book is so interesting that even people like this can't resist it. How does he do it? I would honestly like to know how Pullman thinks up these kinds of plots. I mean daemons, dust, all of those dust-detecting instruments: WOW. I felt like I was gazing at a masterpiece while I read this. And I cried. Can I tell you how uncommon it is for me to cry when I read a book? Especially at the end (no spoilers). Pullman revealed TOTALLY different sides of our favorite characters, I mean, whod'a thought that Mary Malone had been such a complex person? Or that Mrs. Coulter maybe *was* on the "good guy's side"? The gyptians, who I missed terribly from the first book, are brought back as well as the King of the Bears, whom I missed even more. And I watched Will and Lyra inevitably fall in love, and cried, because I knew it wouldn't work, and yelled aloud "Don't do it! You're just gonna get hurt!" And as far as all that heresy crap goes, well, to every man his own, I guess, (which would, aHEM, include the author, for all of you who are gonna say that this "did not help" you.) Read it and find out for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books of the Year
Review: Phillip Pullman's third book from his Dark Materials is stunning. Lyra Sylvertongue, a teenage girl and her brave friend Will are on their way to the world of the dead, accompanied by two tiny people who ride briskly through the air on colorful dragonflies. Together they complete what was once thought impossible using teamwork and strength. For instance when they cross a huge ravine. You will constantly be wondering what will happen to these two children. It switches on and off with different people, and you will be amazed at how everything is in an interlocking web, and how each person puts influence on another. I think that the author does a fantastic job with the writing. He has not just some sentences which are very descriptive, and some sentences which are action packed, but he blends the two together to create a perfect sentence structure. Some people might think that the book is too long and drawn out, and there is far too much detail, but I think that this is one reason why the book is so good. Some people might start to get bored sometimes, because some of the authors writing gets tedious, but do not get put off by the book. Just keep on reading, and you will glad you did when the book is done. Warning. If you like books that move quickly are filled with science fiction and have nothing dramatic, then this is not the book for you. But if you like a good long read with great description then I would highly recommend this. If you have not read the first two books of this series, then it would be worth reading them to get to this book. It would almost be a crime not to rate this with five stars. It is truly not a book to miss.
Rating:
Summary: Everything a Book Should Be
Review: Being an avid reader, I will read almost anything. Several years ago mt sister receivd The Golden Compass as a gift, and later gave it to me to read. After finishing it, I immediately read The Subtle Knife, and have been waiting fo about two years for The Amber Spyglass. After I finished the book, it was confirmed in my mind that Pullman is certainly one of the greatest writers in our generation. In TAS, his description is wonderful, and things seem to come alive of the page. His ability to make absolutely everything except for a few inevitaable details the same at the end as it was at the beginning is truly fascinating. However, this book is extremely heretical. God wasn't even the creator, and the rebel angels (not Satan) are the good guys. I wouldn't recommend letting younger children read it, but being only thirteen years old, I can't really judge. There were parts during the book where I laughted, I cried, and there were event times when I didn't know what to feel. At the end, even though at first I felt that the separation was extremely unjust, it was just as it should be. This book is absolutely everything a book should be, and should be considered one of this [century's] literary masterpieces.
Rating:
Summary: A Book To Make You Think
Review: This is a worthy conclusion to Pullman's series. It is unlike any fantasy novel in print. Pullman-as any good writer will do- keeps readers guessing until the very end. Everything is resolved, though often not as some readers would like it to be. Like it or not, this book is about growing up, a harsh and painful experience for the characters going through it, and Pullman makes you cry every painful tear right along with the characters themselves. And when the characters reach their full maturity and come into their inheritances they realize the truth which is the theme of the book itself-that you have to sacrifice things you truly want to save things you truly believe in. And so everyone who read this book grew and developed. I wholeheartedly believe that reading this book-indeed, all the books in the series-is an experiance you shouldn't miss. P.S.-A note to close-minded people I would like to remind people who write reviews that this book is a work of fiction. Whether or not the beliefs expressed by this book are the ones in truth held by the author is not any business of the people who are reading the book. To berate this book for its decidedly "un-Christian" viewpoint only brings to the surface your own intolerance for other people's opinions. Again, this book is a story, and a rather phenomenal one. People who buy this book should do so for the excellent storyline, character development, description, plot development, and last of all, the ideas expressed by the book that make our minds think and develop.
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling, the best one yet!
Review: I started reading the series,"His Dark Materials", this summer. I was hooked after the first chapter. I read the first book in two days, "The Golden Compass", and the second book, "The Subte Knife", also in two days. I was very anxious for the third book to come out, so to take my mind off it I tried to read Anna Karinin, I didn't get too far before "The Amber Spyglass" was out. I didn't put it down until I finished it. I don't recommend reading this book if you are a very religious person, dedicated to God. Also you really need to read the first two before reading this one, or you'll be totally lost!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but the weakest of the series
Review: I eagerly read The Golden Compass when I saw all my friends reading The Amber Spyglass. I loved TGC, and eagerly bought The Subtle Knife, excited to find out the contining adventures of Lyra and her friends who were now becoming endeared to me. The Subtle Knife was wonderful, although it ended too quickly and on a huge cliff. Because of this, I was more than eager to get The Amber Spyglass. While it was good, and I was not offended by the things that may be considered anti-religious, it was just not as good as the others. Of course, at the same time, I can see how hard it would be to end such a series. Parts of it I liked, but other parts seemed to jump out of nowhere. For example, all of a sudden, Mrs. Coulter starts acting motherly and kind toward Lyra. This dramtic change in character happens right at the beginning of the book, with very little explaination. One would expect an author such as Pullman to at least give a reason for this change in character. Also, toward the very end of the book, Lyra and Will fall in love. Now, I expected this to happen, and have no objection, but they just all of a sudden...realize it. No foreshadowing, no hints of romantic thoughts before, it just sort of appears. There are other weaknesses to the plot. In my opinion, this is a very hard story to end, and I doubt I could do very much better, but considering I'm not a published author (yet) I feel that Pullman probably could have done better. I would definately suggest reading this. It's a good read, interesting, and if you've read the other two, I'm sure you're dying to know what happens, but please don't expect it to be as wonderful as the others. This one was good, but the others were great. Simple as that.
Rating:
Summary: Please read my humble TRUTH about the Amber Spyglass
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was a relief after waiting ayear after the Subtle Knife knowing the wee bit of knowledge you getat the end. .... Knowing this about Lyra keeps you thinking forever. .... The meaning, I think was supposed to be that God is unknown and shall always be unknown. Whether there is life after death or not we don't know and won't know until we get there. .... I loved the book, I loved the whole series, and I hope these reviews have not made you not want to read the book, but has intrigued you even more. Happy Reading.
Rating:
Summary: This book will blow away your mind
Review: If you enjoyed The Golden Compass' and The Subtle Knife's surprising plots and if you are not afraid of new and different ideias then you're going to like this book. Read it with an open mind. You won't be able to predict what is going to happen, you won't know what is in the coming pages, you won't get bored. You don't need to take the author's ideas seriously, if you don't want to, but keep in mind that this is a universe full of mystery and that no one knows all the answers, though we sometimes act as if we knew. There are many possibilities, and Mr. Pullman presents a fascinating one with extraodinary skill. PS: Will is my favorite character. He's so strong, so brave!
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