Rating: Summary: Another Must Have From Philip Pullman Review: A tremendous conclusion to the series! Pullman ties all the characters,plots and suspense to a glorious and exciting end. One of the best books I've read in a long, long time!
Rating: Summary: If only there was an happy ending........ Review: Firstly i pay tribute to the series- what a great read they have given me. I must point out this is a very deep meaningful story that left me reeling at the end. I cried and cried, the tears would not stop and i simultaneously loved Pullman and hated him at the same time. The story is well constructed but it does not have that sense of magic and wonder as in the first book, instead chhosing to stroll a different path and creating a new genre of storytelling. This book is always pondering me .... making me think and wish it was only a bit different. Neverthless, when you start page one , you are in for a hell of a ride and this book seems so real so i keep trying to understand.... why..... if i could i would give it zero and full marks at the same time. Pullman spoils it but hey what a brilliant book !!!
Rating: Summary: Please don't pick apart a book on idiotic criticisms Review: This book is great, there's no other word for it. Its not only thrilling and sweeping, but full of grandeur and at times intensely quiet and beautiful. The whole book was one breathtaking revelation. At the deepest level the book tells a tale about humanity throwing away the crutch of spirituality and standing tall ("coming into their full inheritance"). Its repositioning of biblical issues was also intensely interesting.Unfortunately the book's been criticized for its portrayal of christianity, its 'sentimental' end, and many minor details. Although yes, the book is not perfect, and a few things could have been better done (i.e. Metatron's final battle), most of the criticisms are hair-splitting. the same issues can be taken with any book (e.g. with LOTR, I have found many inconsistencies and minor problems. As for Will and Lyra accepting their destiny, well the book is about their growing up after all. Also they accept this out of love for the world(s) and not because someone told them to do it. The book largely transcends these sordid charges and ends up being a masterpiece for our age. The book is at all times level headed, yet imparts a feeling of epic grandeur across multiple universes. This book is definitely worth anyone's time.
Rating: Summary: What a mess! Review: After two previous books of towering imagination, Mr. Pullman finishes off the series with a thinly veiled diatribe against all things Christian. To add injury to insult, his writing grows increasingly sloppy as he beats the reader bloody with his point. OK, we get it. He isn't overly fond of Christianity. But that's no excuse for poor writing. Any character associated with the Church is a cardboard representation of greed, weakness, duplicity, etc. The character of Dr. Mary Malone grows more stale as Mr. Pullman takes ever increasing pains to depict her as saintly and virtuous for renouncing her faith. Will and Lyra become romanticized shadows of the complex characters presented before this third volume. I almost felt as if I had mistakenly picked up a teen romance novel. I do not object to Mr. Pullman opposing my particular world view. I do oppose his sacrificing a great story for the sake of a soapbox. If his sole intention for writing His Dark Materials was to make a case against Christianity, perhaps he should have written a piece of non-fiction. Then again, non-fiction probably wouldn't have sold as well...
Rating: Summary: Great Book! Review: I think that this book is really good, and I would recommend everyone to read it. I am really annoyed about the ending though, and I don't think he should have tried to avoid the happy ending by making up all of that stuff about can't live in different worlds and stupid stuff. Otherwise, I think it was a brilliant book to end a brilliant series.
Rating: Summary: A stunning, magnificent conclusion to an incredible trilogy! Review: After all the build-up, all the set-backs, and all the hype, it seemed inevitable that this book would be astonishing, and snugly written. True to his style, Phillip Pullman created a masterpiece, that I couldn't bear to put down. Through the passion, the heartbreaking love, and the strange conclusion, all questions are answered in a way that is so twisted and wrought with discription and a strange way of interpreting the Bible, that it left me thinking. For at least a day, I pondered the mysteries, revelling in the wonderful insight of Pullman to have created such a masterpiece. Even if you don't like to read, I highly recomend this book. I absolutely loved it!
Rating: Summary: Amazing Review: This was the most amazing book I have ever read. It was emotional, touching and wonderfully descriptive. As sad as I was after the book because the wonderful trilogy was over, I find myself still thinking about it at night. Never in my life have a read such a great mystery book tying in the bible and Adam and Eve along with fantasy and romance. I have also never stayed up until 4:30 in the morning still reading a book because I couldn't put it down! I would recomend this book to anyone wanting a new view of life. I can't wait until another Pullman book comes!!!
Rating: Summary: A Brilliant Book for a Brilliant Series Review: I first starting reading this book series over four years ago, starting with "The Golden Compass." I am thrilled that I can find out what happens to Lyra and what happens with the war. Comparing Harry Potter to these books is like comparing a drop of water to an ocean!
Rating: Summary: Overblown Review: I'm sorry. I know it;s popular to praise Phillip Pullman as if he were the new writing god, but please. The Golden Compass was great. The Subtle Knife devolved into that awful Oxford literary crap, with stupid biblical allegory. This is a complex but overblown book. I am glad the trilogy is over, and pray that he doesn't add to it.
Rating: Summary: Wonder what my daemon would be? Review: Ok, first thing to say would be, if you haven't read the other books, you have to read them before you read this. This is an excellent book. The mystery that leaves you hanging at the end of The Subtle Knife is solved a couple of chapters into The Amber Spyglass, but I won't post any spoilers here. This book follows the adventures of Will and Lyra on the final stretch of their quest, bringing new characters, adventures, and tragedies. Along with all of these though come new discoveries as well. And it is so suspensful, with many surprises that alter some of what readers thought they knew in the first two books. With Lyra's trip to the Land of the Dead, friends gone by are remembered and seen briefly once more. One thing I will say though, is that if you didn't like the religious content of the book's prequels, you may find this one a bit slower, because it focuses much more on religious connections. But it still is interesting and exciting, and will have you wanting to read more. Especially when a new light is shown on certain characters. This is a definite buy, especially if you liked The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. It is an excellent ending to the trilogy.
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