Comments on: The Golden Compass – Review

By: Arukiyomi » Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Arukiyomi » Northern Lights - Philip Pullman — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:09:50 +0000

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By: Christian

Christian — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:39:41 +0000

Will ended up being my favorite character! Like you, I was thrown a bit by the beginning of book two starting off with a whole new character and world, but Will grew on me and ended up being just as compelling as Lyra.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:59:20 +0000

Michael X: Very interesting point about the role of women! I haven’t gotten to Mary Malone yet. Is she in book 2 or 3?

Dustin: You have to read them! The Golden Compass was so so so good.

By: Dustin

Dustin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:29:11 +0000

I bought all three books after seeing the movie in April. I have yet to start reading them. They sit on my shelf next to me and I need to start them, especially since there are no more Harry Potter.

By: Meee

Meee — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:20:03 +0000

Holy Hell Michael, ya lost me after “my boyfriend and I were having a discussion”. I try not to think that much when I read. That’s what work is for.

By: Meee

Meee — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:18:25 +0000

Okay, I’m with Polt, didn’t see the movie or read the book but I’ll contibute to that little counter thingy on the bottom. I find often with books in a series the first one is not always amazing because most of the time is spent setting up the whole background, then book 2 gets into the meat. Whether books 3 and beyond can hold it is another story. Glad you enjoyed it.

By: john

john — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:51:34 +0000

Thems sound like thinkin words to me Craig….

By: Michael X.

Michael X. — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:16:49 +0000

My boyfriend and I were having a discussion about the Gay Man’s attraction to “Alpha Females,” and as soon as the conversation got to the Catholic Church (lots of gays + Virgin birth = one heckuva cult), I brought up Lyra. My boyfriend is a Children’s Librarian, and had never read His Dark Materials. I gave him my boxed set, and after he was done with it, we picked up the conversation again.
One of the most interesting themes of the book is the role of Women in the whole story. With Lyra as an anti-Eve, Mrs. Coulter as an anti-Madonna and Mary (wink and nod) Malone as the anti-Disciple, the whole saga presents an interesting alternative to the andro-centric mythos of the Big Three religious traditions in our world by giving these women the power to defy existing conventions all in the name of Love.
Of course, this is the message that got so many Evangelicals upset about the movie when it came out.

By: Polt

Polt — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:13:38 +0000

I didn’t read the books, I didn’t see the movie, so I got nothing.

Still found a reason to comment though.

HUGS…

By: Sven

Sven — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:08:21 +0000

I’m still disappointed that it’s more famous as ‘The Golden Compass’ and not as ‘Northern Lights’, as though people wouldn’t get the metaphor. The Subtle Knife is awesome (Mrs. Coulter is especially wicked) but then the middle ones are always the best: just look at ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.