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The Golden Compass'The Golden Compass' (or 'Northern Lights' as the version I read was titled) is the first book of Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy. It's the story of Lyra Belacqua, who spends most of her time playing around the Oxford college where she lives. But her playmates are being kidnapped, and her decision to rescue them draws her into much wider conflicts. Pullman shows such inventiveness in creating a new world for his story that it's sometimes hard to put the book down. But Pullman's books haven't had the same kind of bestselling success as some other books of a similar genre. I think part of the reason for this is that Pullman isn't really sure who he is writing for. Lyra is around twelve years old, and the action in the book suggests that this is sort of age it is aimed at. But Pullman seems to have a negative take on a lot of things - religion, science, parenting, and I think this would make me wary of giving it as a gift to someone of that age. There's also a lot of nostalgia for a bygone age, implying an older audience. I think if I had read it when I was twelve then I would have found it very confusing. But if you are an older reader who has realised that some children's books don't seem so childish after all then you should give Pullman's work a try.
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Mass Market Paperback
368 pages
ISBN: 0440238137
Salesrank: 290577
Weight:0.35 lbs | | Published: 2003 Laurel Leaf | | Amazon price $7.50 | | Marketplace:New from $0.01:Used from $0.01 |
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| Amazon.ca info
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Mass Market Paperback
368 pages
ISBN: 0440238137
Salesrank: 144240
Weight:0.35 lbs | | Published: 2003 Laurel Leaf | | Amazon price CDN$ 9.99 | | Marketplace:New from CDN$ 0.36:Used from CDN$ 0.01 |
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| Buy from Amazon.ca |
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| Product Description
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| Lyra Belaqua is content to run wild among the scholars of Jordan College, with her daemon familiar Pantalaimon always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle—a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold, far North, young Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: She alone is destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle. |
| Intriguing Fantasy (with some flaws) *** |
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***spoilers ahead***
You could view this story on many, many levels. On one level, it's a charming little fairy tale about a child who gets sucked into events bigger than herself and finds herself fighting for people she loves only to run into tragedy in the end.
On another level, it's a negative commentary about the pervasiveness of religious views.
Some Flaws:
Don't know what to do? Ask the little compass, it'll have all your answers.
Need to face off against an evil armored bear? Call in your own as backup, just make sure his armor is truly his soul because it's flawed if not.
Find out your best friend's been kidnapped? Vow to save him. Then you'll get sucked into one event after another, oh, don't forget your customary hero training courtesy of a picture-perfect woman of culture, who happens to be your evil mother.
Find out your father's being held captive way up north? Run until you get rescued by gyptians who also are missing a few kids and are preparing an expedition north. Hitch ride.
Etc. etc. etc.
In short, the whole story is one convenient event after another sucking our young heroine along for the ride. She doesn't really do much besides ask the darn compass for directions. |
| A Top Quality Adventure of Epic Proportions! ***** |
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"The Golden Compass" is an outstanding read and one of the most thought provoking book's I have ever read. The story takes place in an alternate universe where people's souls are external from their bodies in the form of animal companions called daemons. Lyra an orphan under the care of Jordan College in an alternate Oxford, England is thrust into the adventure of her life in order to save her world and countless others, as well as fulfill her destiny among the very fabric of time and space. Of course this is unknown to her at the time.
I barely ever took a break while reading this novel and loved every bit of it, the characters were very believable, the plot well thought up and interesting enough to cause you to not want to go to bed (I had this problem a lot), and the ability for the material within the story (alternate universes, souls, religion, etc) to force you to continuously reeducate yourself to matters you may think you already know. Out of the many books, and novels I have read so far in my lifetime this one definitely comes out among the top ten. I strongly recommend this book. |
| title ***** |
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| I fell in love with this whole series. Every pain Lyra felt, every smile she smiled, I felt with her. If I have ever read a better series, I would be surprised. amd trust me, I have read a lot of books. |
| Refreshing departure from the "Harry Potter" vein ***** |
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| This book blew me away. I found it remarkably and refreshingly different from Harry Potter and the Giant Book Business, which seemingly took me 17 years to complete. Not that HP wasn't grand and marvelous and earth-shattering in its magnitude, but I found "The Golden Compass" so rich in detail and so brimming with provocative themes that I'm shocked that it's sometimes marketed as juvenile fiction. Superb! |
| A Poorly-written Disappointment * |
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The controversy about this book should have been why the publishers gave the manuscript a second glance, and why, oh why? do so many people love it. It is imaginative. That is the only positive thing I can say about it. The problems are numerous, but I want to focus on just a few, and only addressing the first book of the series:
The 'Golden Compass' itself: This is a deux ex machina that saved the author from really having to think through intriguing resolutions. Don't know what to do? Let's look at my Magic 8-ball and I'll get the right answer. Good grief; could we have added a bit of tension to that particular plot line?
The subtle racism and sexism: I would guess that Philip Pullman deliberately chose a female main character to avoid the charge of sexism. She is, however, female in word only, and is very much portrayed as a tomboy. Great. I love tomboys. I was a tomboy. But... the only other major female character is a power-hungry sadist. All the rest are portrayed as cooks or nurses. We even have a scene where the women request to be taken along on the war expedition and the men say no, we don't need you. And at the end... the power-hungry female is left crying over her lover while he marches on to his great destiny, promising to forget her if she doesn't come with him. Good grief, again.
I would also guess that Philip Pullman made the `gyptian' people an integral part of the story to convince himself that he is not racist. However, while the `gyptian' people are portrayed positively, all the other foreigners come with a tinge of inferiority. Asiatics, Tartars, Africs- nothing directly stated, just always implied.
And, finally, and most importantly, the utter lack of depth. To anything. The story is shallow. (Please? More alternate universe stuff? That was great and original... 50 years ago.) The characters are not gripping. The conversations are often painful to read. And the adventures? Yawn. |
| Find out what all the fuss is about... ***** |
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| The first of the Dark Materials trilogy is a beautiful read - indescribably stronger (for me) than the first of the Harry Potty novels. Pullman has the literary skills to describe scenes with language worthy of Thomas Hardy while also providing a pulsing dialogue and story for children. Given this is a 'children's' novel, it is noteworthy that I found it easier to read than my bookwork daughters, probably indicating that this is not a novel that will secure the attention of the younger generation as quickly as some its main competitors. However, the returns on that effort are much greater (particularly if all books in the trilogy are read). This novel doesn't just engage interest, and the sense, it engages the intellect. |
| An excellent, enthralling read that leaves you wanting more!! ***** |
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| I previously read Pullman's trilogy 'His Dark Msterials' a couple of years ago over the summer and back then I was captivated by the genius that is Philip Pullman. I recently decided to read them again and was hooked to the story all over again. The world he creates seems so far away but you can't help but want to be part of it, I find myself wondering now what my own daemon would look like!! Pullman incorporates vivid description, lovable characters and the much believed idea of the human soul into a wonderfully constructed narrative that draws you in instantly. Northern Lights is a must read for both kids and sdults alike!! |
| A beautifully crafted story ***** |
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| This book is a classic the dual elements of chilhood and the church vs the state and science is well crafted and not uncomplicated for children and i would like to remind people who seem to be confused that this book has always been called Northern Lights and only In america like with harry potter was the title changed to the golden compass. |
| Dive into Lyra's world (you'll love it) ***** |
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| This book dives into a spectacular fantasy land, not so different from our world but much better. It is mesmerising and difficult to put down with its capturing story line and characters. Lyra is feisty and likeable and her world is adventurous and at times dangerous. As soon as i begun i was transported into the book, i journeyed with Lyra and the gyptians and of course Pan. A great fantasy novel, certaintly up there with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as far as i'm concerned. |
| Wonderful ***** |
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| Philip Pullman reads as the narrator in this full cast, unabridged recording of the first of the three books from his amazing trilogy. beautiful in every way .....the authors voice is filled with emotion and the production is delightful in every way. |
| Not Impressed *** |
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Lower class children are disappearing and when Lyra finds that her friend is missing she wants to find him and get him back. Lyra becomes caught up in her new life but eventually realizes that all is not as it seems and those she trusts are involved with the disappearance of the children. Lyra goes on a quest which ultimately results in her following her destiny. I wanted to like this book much more than I did. Honestly, I wasn't even close to blown away. The story was slow to start. Lyra was the only fleshed-out main character and I wasn't fond of her at all. Boring is the word that comes to mind. The book also ends with a cliff-hanger which is a technique I really do not appreciate.
I'm not saying this was a bad book though. Once the the pace picked up, I did find the story interesting and parts did read quickly. I'm finding it difficult to write this review as nothing really stood out to me as being great. It was ok; but I doubt I'll read the other books. |
| what's to rave about? *** |
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There are many people who liked this book, but I for one am not that impressed. I'm not saying it's horrible because it's not. It's a good read with an interesting concept, but compared to so many great children's literature out there, it's really not well written. Lyra isn't very likable as a character and Pullman's fantasy world is not very original let alone captivating.
I admit I didn't read this book by choice (it was for my Chilren's Lit class) and that might have something to do with it. But I stand by my words. |
| A clumsy introduction to a great trilogy *** |
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While I am just wrapping up book two, I have to say that The Golden Compass was, in itself, the more diluted book. I understand he's setting up the world(s) and characters, but some parts were dull and dry. In this, the book loses focus of some of its subtler elements, but the series jumps back into the fray and focus of them in its sequel, The Subtle Knife.
The characters, however, are all quite unique and don't fall to cliché as often as other books. I like that he doesn't child-proof this for a generation intent on keeping their children bubble-wrapped "for their own good." |
| This is the first book in the Dark Materials story. ***** |
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It is not worth reviewing or reading the reviews of "The Golden Compass" (British title "The Northern Lights") until one has finished the complete story of "Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman.
As with any genre the author is trying to express a concept or make a point. By using the genre, whether it is westerns sci-fi or historic peace, the author envelops the concept in a palatable story. Sometimes the envelope completely masks the purpose of the story; at other times the purpose is so blatant that one doesn't even know why anything was being enveloped. This is one of those rare stories that polarize readers from one extreme to the other.
We recognize and other phenomena about this story. In many stories the reader rule look at the antagonists are protagonist and once in awhile can sympathize but never recognizes themselves as the protagonist. In Philip Pullman's his "Dark Materials" it seems that everybody recognizes themselves with an "if the shoe fits attitude" whether it is really them or not.
Now dark materials, book one "The Golden Compass." Lyra who ran wild around Jordan Collage at Oxford is now hiding in a closet in the Retiring Room. There she sees that the Master is about to poison her uncle Lord Asriel. Now Lyra must figure out who are the good guys from the bad, if there are good and bad guys. In the process she fund find and fulfill her destiny without fully realizing what that destiny is. The people and creatures around her know more of her destiny than she does. Soon she must leave Jordon College and is given a beautiful golden instrument with pictures and arms that resemble a compass. What she is supposed to do with it is not clear at first.
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| I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book **** |
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I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book, even though it's supposed to be part of a children's series.
The story moves at a fast pace and there are quite a few darker element to this story, so I would probably recommend it for grades 6 and up. The Golden Compass which is the first of 3 books known as Phillip Pullmans "his dark Materials" is also supposed to be released as a movie this year. Can't wait to see how they capture it on screen.
The story revolves around Lyra Belacqua who ends up on a dark adventure trying to find her friend Roger who was kidnapped by The Gobblers. She meets many interesting people on her journey, including witches and armoured bears. The story takes part in a world very similar to ours, except in Lyra's world every human being has a daemon, which is essentially their soul in animal form.
I can't wait to see where the journey leads us in "The Subtle Knife". |
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