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d_ran86's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful book. Can't believe I've only just read this now!
A great fantasy for children and adults alike, maybe even more so for adults. Some heavy political/religious themes and questions around existence may prove a little heavy for younger audiences. But they'll fall in love with the daring and mischevious (not to mention heroic!) Lyra. The characters are all well written and have fanatastic journeys in this first book of 'His Dark Materials' and although the chapters are lengthy, the story itself is paced incredibly well!
Can't wait to read the next book...
A great fantasy for children and adults alike, maybe even more so for adults. Some heavy political/religious themes and questions around existence may prove a little heavy for younger audiences. But they'll fall in love with the daring and mischevious (not to mention heroic!) Lyra. The characters are all well written and have fanatastic journeys in this first book of 'His Dark Materials' and although the chapters are lengthy, the story itself is paced incredibly well!
Can't wait to read the next book...
mudder17's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I didn't hate it. But I didn't love it either. While I seem to be in the minority, I just didn't find the story all that interesting and the characters were so-so. For me, characters are all important and in this story, many of the main characters just felt very one-dimensional. Some of the fantasy/religious/magic/sci-fi whatever you want to call it was interesting--I liked the Daemons and that they represented the soul and reflected the personality of the person. And having them cut off like one would castrate someone definitely made me cringe, but it made that part of the story more awful. But although I liked certain characters like Farder Coram, Pantalaimon, John Faa, Lorek Byrnison, and Dr. Lanselius, I really didn't like most of the characters. Lyra was tolerable, but she wasn't my favorite person--she was kind of annoying at times. I'm sure I am in the minority, but this book was just meh for me. I am not sure if I will continue in the series. Maybe when I'm bored one day, lol.
ejans's review against another edition
3.0
My fiance is full blown obsessed with this book. He's been talking about it and asking me to listen to the full cast audiobook for YEARS.
I finally did and enjoyed myself. While I don't normally enjoy fantasy, I was in for a talking bear.
I finally did and enjoyed myself. While I don't normally enjoy fantasy, I was in for a talking bear.
dividedsky555's review against another edition
5.0
Even better on my second go-round with this series!
tri_sara_topps's review against another edition
4.0
These books are just incredibly intelligent. Taking a youth format and discussing humanity, corruption, religion, power, and governments and making a clear view on the feelings. Really opens up your eyes to new perspectives, especially reading it again as an adult.
feklhr's review against another edition
5.0
Genre: Fantasy Fiction Reading level: Age 10+
Lira thinks she is an orphan being raised by scholars. Her escapades are famous among the collegiate. Once such adventure allows her to overhear a plot to kill the man she believes to be her uncle. His refusal to take her with him on his travels leaves her frustrated. When she is offered a unique opportunity to escape her mundane existence, she jumps at the chance only to find that she may have leaped from the pan to the flames. The beautiful, mysterious woman who takes her away from the college may, in fact, lead to her doom. One of the challenges of any readers advisory is to come up with titles to challenge those who are bored by the material at their level. The older child may want to move up to young adult books but would be put off by teen topics. Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy provides a good plot for the advanced juvenile without bringing the unwanted topics such as dating and relationships.
Other titles with heroic females:
The gingerbread girl, Lisa Campbell Ernst (picture book for ages 4-8)
Fa Mulan: the story of a woman warrior, Robert D. San Souci
Molly Moon series, Georgia Byng
Lira thinks she is an orphan being raised by scholars. Her escapades are famous among the collegiate. Once such adventure allows her to overhear a plot to kill the man she believes to be her uncle. His refusal to take her with him on his travels leaves her frustrated. When she is offered a unique opportunity to escape her mundane existence, she jumps at the chance only to find that she may have leaped from the pan to the flames. The beautiful, mysterious woman who takes her away from the college may, in fact, lead to her doom. One of the challenges of any readers advisory is to come up with titles to challenge those who are bored by the material at their level. The older child may want to move up to young adult books but would be put off by teen topics. Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy provides a good plot for the advanced juvenile without bringing the unwanted topics such as dating and relationships.
Other titles with heroic females:
The gingerbread girl, Lisa Campbell Ernst (picture book for ages 4-8)
Fa Mulan: the story of a woman warrior, Robert D. San Souci
Molly Moon series, Georgia Byng
krikabee's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read this childhood favorite recently in an attempt to set myself up to read the next in the series. I barely remembered it, and was happily taken back to this world. Highly recommended.
shamsiruhe's review against another edition
2.0
no likey. really disappointed. just decided to read name of the wind again. how could anyone recommend this. blech.