lccstutterheim's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
whirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
margali87's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lkarakitsaki's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
theredpanda17's review against another edition
4.0
The characters and their relationships as well as the skill of the author are what make this book great. Pullman is talented, and even the "slow" parts are charming and brimming with imagination. The only thing that pulled this down from being a 5/5 is the overwhelmingly obvious hatred of all things Christian possessed by the author.
A book is free to promote whatever beliefs the author chooses, but it must do so with tact. This story falls into the same trap many overly-Christian books do: it comes off as a bit preachy and makes the other side look pitiless and irredeemable.
Nonetheless, I was still fully invested in the characters; especially Will, who is second only to Samwise Gamgee in my list of favorite characters.
It was a fitting, melancholy end to a well-crafted book series. I'm glad I read it, and I would still recommend it to anyone.
A book is free to promote whatever beliefs the author chooses, but it must do so with tact. This story falls into the same trap many overly-Christian books do: it comes off as a bit preachy and makes the other side look pitiless and irredeemable.
Nonetheless, I was still fully invested in the characters; especially Will, who is second only to Samwise Gamgee in my list of favorite characters.
It was a fitting, melancholy end to a well-crafted book series. I'm glad I read it, and I would still recommend it to anyone.
mads_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
yayakusheva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
niamhums's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
kimbobo's review against another edition
4.0
At some points in The Amber Spyglass -- as with the books that came before it -- I was very tempted to put the book down. Subtlety and beauty are often sacrificed to emphasize points that would be prettier left alone, and especially when it comes to theological criticism, it feels kind of petty.
But I'm very glad I kept on reading. I'm not especially fond of Lyra or Will, but all of the other characters! My god. I almost cried when My adoration of Mrs. Coulter was definitely my first immediate incentive for finishing the book, and my fondness for Mary second.
Even though I know it would be extremely generous to call this a thinly veiled criticism of religion, I don't think of this book as a book about religion at all; instead, I read it as a book about growing up. Looking past some of the shoddier and less subtle symbols, there is so much rich symbolism; when I thought I wanted to be a folklorist, the books I read deconstructed folklore in the way I deconstructed this book, and it enthralls me. (Even if my readings aren't quite as attuned as a folklorist's or a literary scholar's, I still enjoyed imagining, for example, Ruta Skadi and Mrs. Coulter as the two halves of the maternal figure, divided to better help the child.) As theological criticism, I have my doubts about this book -- but as a book like a folktale or fairytale? I could write an entire paper about that book, and that's the book my rating is for.
But I'm very glad I kept on reading. I'm not especially fond of Lyra or Will, but all of the other characters! My god. I almost cried when
Spoiler
Mrs. Coulter dragged the angel down into the abyss.Even though I know it would be extremely generous to call this a thinly veiled criticism of religion, I don't think of this book as a book about religion at all; instead, I read it as a book about growing up. Looking past some of the shoddier and less subtle symbols, there is so much rich symbolism; when I thought I wanted to be a folklorist, the books I read deconstructed folklore in the way I deconstructed this book, and it enthralls me. (Even if my readings aren't quite as attuned as a folklorist's or a literary scholar's, I still enjoyed imagining, for example, Ruta Skadi and Mrs. Coulter as the two halves of the maternal figure, divided to better help the child.) As theological criticism, I have my doubts about this book -- but as a book like a folktale or fairytale? I could write an entire paper about that book, and that's the book my rating is for.