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mark monday's Reviews > The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass
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fantastic. pullman introduces readers to his sophisticated world view slowly, and this first novel in the trilogy has an ideal narrative focal point in the mean little liar who is the protagonist. i have never seen lying in children portrayed so explicitly as a positive thing, and after this novel, i'm all for it! the settings are wonderfully strange and surreal yet rooted in an eventually understandable reality, and the supporting characters are oblique and enigmatic without being tiresome. the old concept of spirit animals is given a refreshing modern face-lift and, happily, no annoyingly new agey concepts bleed through. neither the writing nor the main character herself ever stoop to easy, sloppy sentiments.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
October 15, 2007
– Shelved
May 27, 2012
– Shelved as:
fantasy-modern
January 12, 2019
– Shelved as:
inbetweenworld
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Natalie
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rated it 5 stars
Nov 23, 2009 07:27AM
ooooooooh keep reading!!! the trilogy is so fantastic
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My daughter read this series when she was in H.S. and college, loved it. I have them all, but have never read any of them. I ought to try this first one, no doubt. Thanks for the recommendation (via 5-star) mark.
Ted, I want you to read this! this trilogy is one of my favorite things. brilliant, wonderful, thought-provoking, heart-warming without being sugary, all the good things.I wonder why this review is marked as being written or edited today (and apparently it appeared on my feed). strange. I haven't touched it since 2009. ah well, getting notifications that people liked this review since early this morning did inspire me to read other people's review of this fantastic book, so no complaints. but still strange.
Second mark's comments, Ted. It's one of the more intelligent (if not the most intelligent) of children/young adult series written.
Scribble wrote: "Second mark's comments, Ted. It's one of the more intelligent (if not the most intelligent) of children/young adult series written."I've added it to the spreadsheet! Hey maybe I'll bring it on vacation this summer and get it read. Thanks for the push, both of you. ;}
My daughter will be amused I think.
Scribble wrote: "It's one of the more intelligent (if not the most intelligent) of children/young adult series written."Unquestionably. I read all three to and in parallel with my son when he was about ten. We had so many profound philosophical and theological discussions - as well as plenty of excitement and all-round pleasure. There are few YA books I'd choose to read as a solo adult, but these would qualify (and I may reread them at some point).
Excellent review, Mark. I loved this trilogy. I read the omnibus edition, all at once.
thanks Lisa. I love, love, love this trilogy. can't wait til the follow up book finally arrives!
mark wrote: "thanks Lisa. I love, love, love this trilogy. can't wait til the follow up book finally arrives!"What?! I hadn't known about one.
Lyra is indeed a great main character :) Something different from the overly girly helpless characters often present in fantasy books
I'm always in the lookout for good YA to read with my teens (who are not difficult to please) because we only have a few nights a week via Skype and it's more memorable if the book is outstanding. Thanks for the suggestion.
I'm very curious to the reactions, especially given you & your kids' reactions to another favorite of mine, Hunger Games! but please let me know how it goes during the reading, even if you all hate it.
It'll be a while as we're going thru Sandersons Reckoners and Steelheart trilogies
I liked Lyra when she looked like Dafne Keen.
Googling Dafne Keen now...
