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nytephoenyx's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I have read The Golden Compass so many times, I know its beats as well as I know the rhythm of my own heart.
This book is an old favorite - I've listened to the audiobook three times, including once with my husband; my old box set paperback copy has seen better days. I have distinct memories of reading this book on my lap in high school French and hoping le professeur did not notice (I'm pretty sure she did). And as I come back to The Golden Compass and His Dark Materials time and time again... it's still good.
There's a few different things to look at and admire here, but one that has always struck me is Pullman's depiction of Lyra. Unlike more and more books I read these days, I've always felt Lyra acted her age and felt very much a child. She's brimming with curiosity, often fails to think her actions through to their consequences, and responds... purely, I guess, to the things around her. I can't say Pullman has consistently been adept at writing children (La Belle Sauvage is not as well done) but Lyra is fantastic.
And she's not the only character who shines in this novel. Mrs. Coulter is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and I've always enjoyed the beauty and sadness behind the Serafina Pekkala/Farder Coram relationship. Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison are also fantastic characters.... particularly as the series goes on (no spoilers here!).
The urgency of the plot momentum and the adventurous storyline are also gripping and wonderful. I'm always struck by a story that moves into cold climates, because it's as though nature itself becomes a minor villain due to the extreme weather. Even though I've read it so many times, The Golden Compass never feels tired or predictable. I know what's going to happen overall from experience, but I completely enjoy the journey. If you haven't read it before, I don't think it's predictable at all. I love the alethiometer. I love the twists. I really love the daemons. As I've gotten older, I've grown to enjoy the fantasy philosophy and the conversation about Dust and other worlds as well.
While I can't necessary put Pullman on a "best authors" list (he's made some poor Twitter decisions, and his depiction of the "gyptians" is very stereotypical, although they are characters to be respected), it would be foolish to deny the brilliance of this trilogy. His Dark Materials, and The Golden Compass are filled with memorable characters, adventure, meaningful conversation, and wonder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Kidnapping
beccasbookcase's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
lgski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My children will read this! I genuinely loved this novel so much. The golden compass brought me back to the feeling I used to get when I read as a child. It is full of mystery, magic, and adventure. The point of view is a third-person omniscient narrator. This novel is very well developed and the characters, from the main character to side characters, are fleshed out. I categorize this book in the fantasy genre for children/young adults because of the setting taking place in an alternate London, magic, mythical creatures, and supernatural phenomena that are revealed within these pages. There are witches of the north, armored polar bears, daemons, and a mysterious thing called dust. This book explores religion and souls. I feel like every person in the novel was needed to make the story happen. The writing style of this novel is easy enough for a child to read yet complicated enough for an adult to analyze the story and its themes. The story is filled with complexity and deeper meanings that can be pulled from every page. The main themes that are seen within this story are childhood, innocence, and maturing. Pullman is fantastic at using a child's vocabulary to express deep meanings and complex ideas/teachings, for example, what the daemons are to each character, what the dust represents, and why certain events in the story take place. He expects the reader to make comparisons to their lives and the real world. Pullman uses religion as the political system within this story. There are some content warnings, such as child abuse, child death, and gore. I listened to the audiobook, which was full-cast, and felt like a movie playing in my head. I recommend this to anyone and everyone who is open-minded. I think that anyone that is looking to get lost in a story, will enjoy this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Feb 2021: I left this at two stars for a long time, because I wasn't sure how to represent my feelings about it and I didn't want to change my rating until I reread it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexual violence