Golden Compass
Mar 26th, 2009 by Best Deals
Golden Compass
Customer Reviews & Opinions
Always late…
The title above doesn’t concern the book as much as myself. It is intended to be some kind of lamentation on my behalf, showing regret in my always coming late to a texts of great importance or influence. It says as much of me as anything, but I guess that popularity, in-fiction and all sorts of praises never really interested me. So it came to pass that I have read Pullman, for the first time, only a week ago. I’m seriously doubting that I would do it any time soon if it weren’t for the fact that I got my copies directly from the publisher - for review in my own country. Having watched the film first (yes, you can scorn me for that), I knew what to expect and that proved as a great disadvantage in my trying to be a part of the world inside the text. Much of it’s magic is lost, once you know the basic plot and it’s ending, so I seriously recommend skipping the movie part, and go straight for the book. Also, it should be said that these thought refer only to the first volume of trilogy. What is coming next is yet to be seen.As I recall movie got awful reviews, reason for which I couldn’t really fathom. In my opinion it was relatively solid child flick, with unpretentious casting, with interesting setting and atmosphere just magical enough to pull you in. People complained of it as not being something more, something that, apparently, only book had. Upon reading the book, I honestly can’t say what’s with all the fuss. Sure, there are obvious differences (not to mention just ending part), and pace of storytelling differs as much in both mediums, but when boiled down to it’s basics, one has to admit that first part of trilogy is relatively simple and straightforward - almost as much as movie itself.
So what’s with the five stars? Northern light offers much potential. It’s world is a living one, even if not as much detailed as some would like. Its narration is concise and doesn’t stray about too often. It’s characters are likeable and multi-layered, there is a sense of epic proportions but it’s lacking the black and white juxtaposition which is a trait fairly uncommon to many of the contemporary fantasy novels, and it leaves you with wanting for more. Upon reading the first one, one just has to know what happens next. Maybe an adult reader will find this book somewhat oversimplified or maybe not important enough since in it Pullman holds of his big guns (though there are some dark and gritty scenes) but I believe that any child out there, who enjoys books, will find Norther Lights quite fascinating read. This is not to say that NL is book for children. As many great things are so is this one - multilayered and thought-provoking, demanding from its reader an active role, not just the one of a passerby who hasn’t something better to do. Reading the Norther Lights means traveling with Lyra, sharing her feelings and suffering the impact of choices that she takes. As Pullman himself has written - this is a world strangely familiar and one cannot fail to see that.
In it’s simplicity, Northern Lights are strangely compelling and deep, and laying all the trilogy stuff beside, that should all the justification one needs. You’ll not become better person upon reading this book (or maybe you will, one could never tell these things) but you’ll be influenced, challenged and involved. What else is there that you should be looking for?
Very nice edition of this amazing book
The quality of this edition of this book is the best I’ve seen. The book it’s self is amazing. This is a seriously important piece of literature. Just look at the number of books available on amazon about this book. There can be no doubt that it’s impact is significant. Children will enjoy a well written and exciting adventure story with wonderful characters. Adults will enjoy this book on a totally different level. What a great way to introduce a child to really complex story telling. Pullman has much more in common with Lewis Carrol and Tolkien than Oxford.
Language Arts Validation
This is an unbelievable book. I picked it up in the library with pretty low expectations, but I was astounded as I started to get into it! Pullman weaves an incredible fantasy tale of a whole different world complete with witches, armored bears, scholars, daemons, and altheiometers. The biggest difference by far between this world and our own is that every person has a daemon. Daemons are pretty much your conscious in the form of an animal that can talk to you. Your daemon can change animal forms at will until you become an adult, around 13 or 14, and then it will set to a certain animal depending on your personality. For instance, if you are a very quiet person, your daemon will probably set as a mouse. This is an amazing concept, and really gives the story a unique factor. Along with this Pullman included the perfect balance of exciting events, enough to make me never want to put the book down but not making the book seemed crammed. Lyra is an orphan and a likable main character, and her quest to save the children from the Gobblers is wildly entertaining. The plot includes many interesting twists and turns, and I spent many hours wondering what was going to happen next. Religion does play a big role in the story, but at no point was I uncomfortable and I really don’t think you should let that influence whether you read the book or not. At the end of the book the author really leaves you hanging off a cliff, and encourages you to read the next book in the series, which is called “The Subtle Knife”. I look forward to reading the next two installments in the series, and hold the highest of expectations.