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The Golden Compass (Northern Lights)

178 Ratings: 2.9
The first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" fantasy novel trilogy.

 Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.

Author: Philip Pullman
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, Del Rey
Date Published: April 16, 1996
19 reviews about The Golden Compass (Northern Lights)
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review by . March 28, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
It is difficult to find enough superlatives to describe Philip Pullman's masterwork fantasy "The Golden Compass". Heart stopping adventure pitting good against insidious evil and weak against strong, a cast of magnificently crafted characters, compelling dialogue, a child's sense of awestruck wonder and insatiable curiosity, the heart wrenching sadness of unexpected death, a healthy serving of ultra-modern science and cosmology cleverly juxtaposed against a soupçon of old-fashioned …
review by . June 16, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
I first read this book at age 12, and I continue to read it and its sequels (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) every few years.  I do this because every time I read them, I pick up on new and ever-more-complicated thematic issues through my changing worldview.      The Golden Compass sets the stage for the course of the whole trilogy, but it could stand alone as well.  It introduces themes of power and oppression, and abuse of religious doctrine and authority. …
Quick Tip by . February 23, 2011
It's a great adventure story in a parallel universe where people's spirits (or souls, but that becomes problematic) exist as animals outside the body. Read it as an adventure tale and it will hold the attention. If you want to read it and the series because of its take on religion, then you are likely going to be disappointed. The book also contains the single ... meanest ... act ... of ... all ... time.
Quick Tip by . January 17, 2011
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Heart stopping adventure pitting good against insidious evil and weak against strong, a cast of magnificently crafted characters, compelling dialogue and a child's sense of awestruck wonder and insatiable curiosity, Unfairly characterized as being anti-Christian (in my opinion), this is a book that should be in the classics section of libraries for many, many years to come.
review by . July 04, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
      I picked up this book by browsing through the library and randomly choosing a book that I thought looked interesting, yet knew nothing about.  I had never even heard about the author Phillip Pullman.  This book took me on a literal ride and really made me think and even conduct some research after reading!  The author takes you through a thrilling magical adventure, from polar bears who can talk to a parrallel world city in the sky.  He develops the …
Quick Tip by . July 13, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
A great fantasy book. It is a good read and moves quickly.
Quick Tip by . July 05, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
This book is fantastic. It was great when I was younger, and it's still great now. It's a wonderfully exciting story.
Quick Tip by . June 25, 2010
Masterpiece literature. The concepts and dimensions of this book reach far beyond young adult reading. I am an adult and I am still drawn to the concepts of this book. Once you get past the Demon (daemon) aspect of this book you will love it. If you are willing to put aside old concepts of what a demon is, you will be more inclined to enjoy the book..since the official definition does not apply here.
Quick Tip by . June 24, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
One of the longest and most intriguing books from my youth. Couldn't put it down, powered through the trilogy within the space of a few months.
Quick Tip by . June 22, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Great characters and a truly intriguing world. The (anti)religious polemic seemed heavy-handed and unfortunate.
Quick Tip by . June 18, 2010
This book has a clever premise, and the plot is fabulously fleshed out!
Quick Tip by . June 17, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Foolish material
review by . June 17, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
My daughter introduced me to this trilogy when she was in junior high school.  The Golden Compass is a fantastic adventurous tale with a strong female heroine.  The rich allegorical layers of the book make it a literary work that can be enjoyed by adults as well. Do not be dissuaded from reading this trilogy by the unpopularity of the children's  movie based on this book.
Quick Tip by . June 16, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Wish so bad I had read this as a kid
Quick Tip by . June 15, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
first book of a great trilogy for young adults
Quick Tip by . June 04, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
Very controversial. Is it an attack on religion?
Quick Tip by . May 21, 2010
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
good book Easy to read great for young readers!
review by . September 12, 2009
 It's a rare book  that engrosses a book lover. What with seeing every plot twist, story line and character type, it's hard to find a so-good-you-can't-put-it-down book. Phillip Pullman comes through though with his book The Golden Compass . It's a story about a spirited young girl, Lyra,  who becomes involved in a complicated conflict between Lord Asriel and the Church about a mysterious substance called Dust.      Pullman keeps the pace brisk throughout the book …
Quick Tip by . January 09, 2010
Great fantasy sci-fi; about a precocious girl and her daemon, as they uncover a plot to invade our universe, with her uncle implicated!
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