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The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
3 journalers for this copy...
It's hard to categorize this series. They are reminescent of the Chronicles of Narnia to me. This one is the best, but the others have their own merits. I cannot recommend this series highly enough!
from Amazon.com:
Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal dæmon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:
As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had dæmons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.
Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey dæmon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.
In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer.
from Amazon.com:
Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal dæmon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:
As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had dæmons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.
Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey dæmon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.
In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer.
BOOKRING RELEASE
RULES:
I'd appreciate it if you make a journal entry as soon as you receive the book(s), just so I can track them. Please contact the next person on the list for their address, I don't have them.
There's no set time limit, since there are 3 books in the series, and each book is registered with its own BCID. If, for some reason, it takes you more than a month between journal entries, drop me a line so I don't think they're lost!
Because the books are registered individually, you can send each book along as you finish it or wait until you can send all 3 on to the next person - totally up to you, and you needn't ask "permission", since I can track through the journal entries.
RING MEMBERS:
wareagle78 - hoover, al
maatkare - easthampton, ma
sunshinedreamr - n/a, ct
lilygirl - jefferson, or
nancyluvsbooks - olive branch, ms
tenneh - verdon, ne
librarymousie - gonic, nh
WickedWordz - miami, fl
indygo88 - lafayette, in
tempestsans - canton, ga
RULES:
I'd appreciate it if you make a journal entry as soon as you receive the book(s), just so I can track them. Please contact the next person on the list for their address, I don't have them.
There's no set time limit, since there are 3 books in the series, and each book is registered with its own BCID. If, for some reason, it takes you more than a month between journal entries, drop me a line so I don't think they're lost!
Because the books are registered individually, you can send each book along as you finish it or wait until you can send all 3 on to the next person - totally up to you, and you needn't ask "permission", since I can track through the journal entries.
RING MEMBERS:
wareagle78 - hoover, al
maatkare - easthampton, ma
sunshinedreamr - n/a, ct
lilygirl - jefferson, or
nancyluvsbooks - olive branch, ms
tenneh - verdon, ne
librarymousie - gonic, nh
WickedWordz - miami, fl
indygo88 - lafayette, in
tempestsans - canton, ga
Released 19 yrs ago (12/13/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
BOOKRING RELEASE - I'm starting the ring - sending to WarEagle78
BOOKRING RELEASE - I'm starting the ring - sending to WarEagle78
The series arrived safely with me yesterday, along with a wonderfully scented Flutterbye gift - thanks! I can't wait to get started on the books AND use the soap!
Will journal again when read.
Will journal again when read.
I started this book several times and just could not get interested. However, I kept remembering mpmarus's enthusiasm and just couldn't let the trilogy go. Finally, I picked it up again yesterday and, bam! It clicked! I zoomed through The Golden Compass last night and today, and am in to the second book now.
A wild little girl, a truth-telling compass, an armored bear, dust and the aurorea borealis form the framework for a tale of adventure, loyalty and friendship. Pullman's characterizations and rich description carry the book. I'm now quite a fan.
Thanks, mpmarus, for sharing! I should be through with the series by the weekend, and will get your bookring back in motion.
A wild little girl, a truth-telling compass, an armored bear, dust and the aurorea borealis form the framework for a tale of adventure, loyalty and friendship. Pullman's characterizations and rich description carry the book. I'm now quite a fan.
Thanks, mpmarus, for sharing! I should be through with the series by the weekend, and will get your bookring back in motion.
This series ring has headed off to maatkare in MA. Yes, I know, FINALLY! I apologize for the time it took for me to turn this group of books around, but appreciate your including me in the ring.
Arrived safely. I started reading today.
I just wanted to let everyone know that these DID finally get mailed out. My apologies for being a slacker.
