The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) in Read the Movie

Oct 16, 2016 Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-or-fantasy

Once upon a time, God took earth, molded it, blew His breath into it, and man was formed. Out of that man came more men. I'm also going to assume women happened too because - you know - it takes two. One of those men eventually born was named Philip Pullman. According to the history/universe of The Golden Compass by good ol' Philip P, God then completely peaced out of the picture (probably due to breathlessness). Now God-less, man still had all this creative "God air," so man became sub-creators Once upon a time, God took earth, molded it, blew His breath into it, and man was formed. Out of that man came more men. I'm also going to assume women happened too because - you know - it takes two. One of those men eventually born was named Philip Pullman. According to the history/universe of The Golden Compass by good ol' Philip P, God then completely peaced out of the picture (probably due to breathlessness). Now God-less, man still had all this creative "God air," so man became sub-creators and developed an outward projection of his very own Jiminy Cricket (fine - animal spirit guide) called daemons, which could change into any animal they want until puberty or that magical "sexual awakening" that comes when a girl suddenly realizes that a boy might want to stick his Subtle Knife in her Golden Compass. (I couldn't resist). Anyway, man went nutsy and formed all sorts of institutions - mostly religious- bent on stopping science, killing diversity, and metaphorically castrating children by tearing or cutting away their daemons. Side bar number one: On killing diversity - this fantasy journey I'm on has me realizing that diversity is seriously lacking in the genre. C'mon you male European Anglo-saxtons authors, get a little imagination into your characterization! (I say this having only read Tolkien and Lewis so far). Moving on, this "castration" is done in hopes that children can stay away from Dust a.k.a original sin a.k.a sexual healing or whatevs. All this madness has got to stop and that's where a eleven-year old girl named Lyra comes into the picture. In memoriam of William Blake and Pullman's deep abiding love for the bloke, Lyra must progress from innocence to experience. Girl has got to get dusty.
There are also some gypsies, witches, and armored polar bears.
I dig that. So you might too.
Side bar number two: I never read this as a kid. I was too wrapped up in romantic fairy tales, Harry Potter, and Josephina the American Girl Doll stories to be bothered. I will say that the beginning is a bit slow. It was a bit of a trudge until mid-book. I also didn't overly look for anti-Christian themes. I tried to read it through my kid eyes again. As you can see from the review above, my English graduate student eyes won. C'est la vie.
Overall- 3 to 3.5 stars! ...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Bellatuscana Bellatuscana rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, scifi, childrens

Such intellectual curiosity within a book woven together with spectacular magic is what makes this book really grand. More books like this could change the human race. I am so thankful to be dazzled by this amazing author. It amazes me how brash Lyra is,even as a child. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. It could bring her downfall. Then the relationship between Mrs.Coutler and Lord Asriel is so intense. The three may never be together and Lyra admitted to admiring Lord Asriel, for example, bu ...more

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