R. S. reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on
Helpful Score: 6
These are well written adventure fantasies that young adults and adults who like their imaginations tickled can enjoy. There are a number of passages that have spine tingling suspense and take your breath away conflict. By the end you'll be sorry to let these characters go.
If you don't have an open mind or think a book has supernatural powers don't bother because there are attitudes about authoritarian religion that are unmistakable. But if you can understand the boundaries between reality and fiction fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a visceral thrill and a philosophical challenge.
If you don't have an open mind or think a book has supernatural powers don't bother because there are attitudes about authoritarian religion that are unmistakable. But if you can understand the boundaries between reality and fiction fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a visceral thrill and a philosophical challenge.
Michelle G. (michelleg) reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on
Helpful Score: 5
Great series. Enjoyable read. NOT ABOUT KILLING GOD AT ALL. Not to post spoilers, but if anyone actually read from front to back, they'll know the truth.
Melva S. (TropicAtHeart) reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Ok, I am not a Christian, but I definitely can see the whole "killing God" story line. By the end of the Amber Spyglass, I was about ready for the author to get OFF HIS SOAPBOX already. If I wanted to be preached at about someone else's God philosophy, I would actually GO to church.
If you are religious, these books will probably offend you deeply, especially the third book in the series. If you're not religious, you probably won't have a problem with them.
If you are religious, these books will probably offend you deeply, especially the third book in the series. If you're not religious, you probably won't have a problem with them.
Olga J. (bolgai) reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on + 109 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
When 12-year-old Lyra Belaqua leaves her home in Oxford to pursue the elusive and dangerous gobblers and rescue her friend from their dangerous experiments she doesn't know that her adventures will take her to another world, that she'll meet creatures she's never even suspected existed, that she'll make friends and enemies and that she has a destiny more remarkable than anything she has ever imagined.
When I sat down to write this review I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I've already chucked everything a couple of times and here's why: I can't help but feel ambivalent about these books. As far as the writing goes they are brilliant. I wish there were more books with this level of writing and that children were strongly encouraged to read them. The language is beautiful and combined with the extremely accessible style it creates an effect of easygoing elegance. The plot, the characters, the universe as a whole and every scene in particular are expertly crafted and the elaborate machine of multiple character arcs and multiple worlds never misses a beat. I admire Pullman's world building, attention to detail and creativity and would love to find out more about how he actually came up with all the pieces of the puzzle that's never really straightforward.
If you've been following the blog you know that I'm very fond of books that show people and the world we live in as realistically as possible even if the genre is fantasy. After all human nature is the same regardless of the time and place. Pullman definitely delivers as far as that goes. I kept catching myself thinking that every single character cannot be categorized definitively as good or evil. They all perform feats worthy of heroes and they all lie and kill to defend themselves, their friends and what they believe in. They all grow and change and discover something about themselves and each other. And it's like that in the real world too - things are hardly ever just black and white, pretty much everything is a shade of gray.
My reservations with these books stem from the theme, which is the struggle between science and religion where on one side there's knowledge, self-awareness, acceptance of maturation and understanding of the world around us and on the other side there's faith, church, innocence, reverence for mystery of creation. This conflict is nothing new, but here's the twist: here on the side of science are the good guys, young, honest and brave and on the side of religion are the bad guys, at best decrepit and senile and at worst underhanded, cruel and deceitful. As a Christian I found it difficult to read books like these, especially since as an adult I know what I believe, but young minds are still forming and while I don't think teens and pre-teens are so unperceptive that this radical, uncompromising view would elude them I do wonder whether they would regard it as perfectly acceptable or whether they would question it for its onesidedness. For this reason I would suggest that parents read the books before their children and decide whether they are appropriate for them.
I would definitely recommend these books to those who are looking for a beautifully-written, well-crafted story but I would speak about my apprehensions as well.
You can find more of my reviews at bibliophilescorner.blogspot.com
When I sat down to write this review I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I've already chucked everything a couple of times and here's why: I can't help but feel ambivalent about these books. As far as the writing goes they are brilliant. I wish there were more books with this level of writing and that children were strongly encouraged to read them. The language is beautiful and combined with the extremely accessible style it creates an effect of easygoing elegance. The plot, the characters, the universe as a whole and every scene in particular are expertly crafted and the elaborate machine of multiple character arcs and multiple worlds never misses a beat. I admire Pullman's world building, attention to detail and creativity and would love to find out more about how he actually came up with all the pieces of the puzzle that's never really straightforward.
If you've been following the blog you know that I'm very fond of books that show people and the world we live in as realistically as possible even if the genre is fantasy. After all human nature is the same regardless of the time and place. Pullman definitely delivers as far as that goes. I kept catching myself thinking that every single character cannot be categorized definitively as good or evil. They all perform feats worthy of heroes and they all lie and kill to defend themselves, their friends and what they believe in. They all grow and change and discover something about themselves and each other. And it's like that in the real world too - things are hardly ever just black and white, pretty much everything is a shade of gray.
My reservations with these books stem from the theme, which is the struggle between science and religion where on one side there's knowledge, self-awareness, acceptance of maturation and understanding of the world around us and on the other side there's faith, church, innocence, reverence for mystery of creation. This conflict is nothing new, but here's the twist: here on the side of science are the good guys, young, honest and brave and on the side of religion are the bad guys, at best decrepit and senile and at worst underhanded, cruel and deceitful. As a Christian I found it difficult to read books like these, especially since as an adult I know what I believe, but young minds are still forming and while I don't think teens and pre-teens are so unperceptive that this radical, uncompromising view would elude them I do wonder whether they would regard it as perfectly acceptable or whether they would question it for its onesidedness. For this reason I would suggest that parents read the books before their children and decide whether they are appropriate for them.
I would definitely recommend these books to those who are looking for a beautifully-written, well-crafted story but I would speak about my apprehensions as well.
You can find more of my reviews at bibliophilescorner.blogspot.com
cra -
This was a wonderful series and made me want to be right there in the books with them from beginning to end. In fair warning, you will get emotionally attached to the characters as you read along with the challenges and dangers facing them, and see how they solve each one along the way. ^^
Melissa W. reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on + 40 more book reviews
DO NOT BE FOOLED! Our family listened to the audio of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife - enjoying the action, while still having an uncomfortable feeling in the gut. When we got to the third book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass - we stopped listening. For the Christian - this is NOTHING SHORT OF BLASPHEMY. The entire series is about "killing God" in the author's own words. The third book in the worst - but all are bad....trying to set the trap to ensnare kids into the fantasy world of believing all this stuff. No, the demons, witches, spectors and talking animals didn't freak us out. It was the out-and-out lies of an athiest author that turned us off. So, IF YOU ARE CHRISTIAN....DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS SERIES.
Melissa W. reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on + 40 more book reviews
DO NOT BE FOOLED! Our family listened to the audio of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife - enjoying the action, while still having an uncomfortable feeling in the gut. When we got to the third book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass - we stopped listening. For the Christian - this is NOTHING SHORT OF BLASPHEMY. The entire series is about "killing God" in the author's own words. The third book in the worst - but all are bad....trying to set the trap to ensnare kids into the fantasy world of believing all this stuff. No, the demons, witches, spectors and talking animals didn't freak us out. It was the out-and-out lies of an athiest author that turned us off. So, IF YOU ARE CHRISTIAN....DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS SERIES.
Melissa W. reviewed His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) on + 40 more book reviews
DO NOT BE FOOLED! Our family listened to the audio of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife - enjoying the action, while still having an uncomfortable feeling in the gut. When we got to the third book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass - we stopped listening. For the Christian - this is NOTHING SHORT OF BLASPHEMY. The entire series is about "killing God" in the author's own words. The third book in the worst - but all are bad....trying to set the trap to ensnare kids into the fantasy world of believing all this stuff. No, the demons, witches, spectors and talking animals didn't freak us out. It was the out-and-out lies of an athiest author that turned us off. So, IF YOU ARE CHRISTIAN....DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS SERIES.
