Sure, its a book written for young adults that features comingofage themes, but it also tackles really big questions about religion, power, and authority. Written and directed by chris weitz, it stars nicole kidman, dakota blue richards, daniel craig, sam elliott, eva green, and ian mckellen. I literally just finished the first book in his dark materials and i cannot believe what i have been missing. The golden compass is such an exciting story that it was turned into a hollywood movie in 2007. But i did want to read it with him and talk about it throughout the book. The book is called northern lights and the film is the golden compass and it aint even a compass i should have read this book years ago so thank you bbc for the current production of his dark materials which is gripping us on sunday nights, for finally prompting me to pick up this book. The golden compass, the subtle knife, and the amber spyglass are available together in a collectible his dark materials boxed set perfect for any fan or newcomer to this modern fantasy classic series that has graced the new york times, wall street journal, san francisco chronicle, book sense, and publishers weekly bestseller lists. So says an impressed texan aeronaut to a young english girl after she befriends a depressed talking polar bear, inspires the bear to strike back against some churchbased bad guys, and persuades the bear to join her on a questall, seemingly, in a matter of minutes. The book is just so, so good, so i didnt want that to be a reason not to share it with my son who loves fantasy and science fiction.
The golden compass summary from litcharts the creators. The golden compass is the film adaptation of northern lights, the first book of the his dark materials trilogy by philip pullman. The golden compass questions and answers the question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss literature. Philip pullman has said, miltons angels are not seriously meant to be believed beings with wings and halos and white robes. The project was announced in february 2002, following the success of other recent adaptations of fantasy epics. She lives at the grounds of a college amongst adults. The golden compass graphic novel, complete edition book. Golden compass his dark materials by philip pullman 19960416 hardcover excellent condition. The project was announced in february 2002, but difficulties over.
This is a good book it hold a lot of secrets you will have to read to know. These thrilling adventures tell the story of lyra and willtwo ordinary children on a. Nov 04, 2019 before hbos his dark materials show, we revisit the infamous banning of philip pullmans golden compass books. In november 2019, the bbc listed his dark materials on its list of the 100 most influential novels. The picture was taken from the book, and readers were extremely unhappy with the way the story was originally presented in the. The book is really descriptive and has the perfect balance between whats real and whats magic. The golden compass northern lights his dark materials. I like interesting, unique, and exciting stories that open or expand your mind. The golden compass is not only an amazing and fascinating story, it is also a beautiful film that is simply nice to watch. Golden compass has drawn a lot of flak from church groups over the killinggod thing, incidentally, and i can only presume that, as usual, most of the people protesting havent actually read the.
As an adult reading the golden compass for the first time, it. A we have long defended harry potter, as you can imagine, and, also as you can imagine, took some serious hits, especially here in the bookshop. Let me just start off by saying that this post isnt really about the plot or characters from the golden compass, so its not really a very good book report. It can be very confusing and hard to read, but it is totally worth it.
Please dont recommend harry potter, twilight, lord of the rings, or narnia. This book will not be understandable to everyone, because it is not naive, but it does not have a tediousness of magical systems and humor. Meet our protagonist, lyra, and her daemon pantalaimon the shapeshifting animal that is her soul, or pan for short. Jun 06, 2012 a few of you have raved about the golden compass.
The golden compass is the first book in the trilogy his dark materials, which gets its name from a passage in john miltons paradise lost, quoted at the beginning of the novel. Knopf published the first us edition april 1996, entitled the golden compass. Under that title it has been adapted as a 2007 feature film by hollywood and as a companion video game. Why was the golden compass book banned philip pullmans his. The golden compass is more than just a book to read. The golden compass summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The golden compass his dark materials 8601200379488. And i would have too if it werent for that sheer enormity of suckiness that was the third book in the series the amber spyglass. As an adult reading the golden compass for the first time. Its a good thing that daniel craig is also james bond, given his inability to create. Percy jackson is a good kid, but he cant seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. Good choice for fantasy lovers whove outgrown the kid stuff.
The golden compass is about a girl named lyra, who lives in a world similar to ours but in a different parallel universe. They live at oxford universitys jordan college, among scholars and other brainytypes. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. The golden compass is the first book of the dust series by philip pullman.
Feel free to share your opinion on the book, answer my questions, and even ask your own. I love magical realism and there are plenty of fairytale elements in the golden compass. In the golden compass, who is working for the magisterium and who is working against it. The golden compass, also known as an alethiometer, is a gadget given to lyra by the master of. It is incredibly wellwritten and a real treat for the imagination. As part of my 100 greatest childrens book challenge i read the golden compass by philip pullman last week. The film is based on northern lights released in the u. What connections can you find between the golden compass or the his dark materials trilogy as a whole and john miltons paradise lost.
Nov 14, 2017 though the golden compass kept most of the books plot intact with the aforementioned reductions and dialdowns, it made one big change to the ending. The film boasts great special effects, excellent acting and good music. The golden compass is set in a universe that is parallel to our own. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. His dark materials is a trilogy of fantasy novels by philip pullman consisting of northern lights 1995 published as the golden compass in north america, the subtle knife 1997, and the amber spyglass 2000. There has been much discussion about the book trilogy his dark material by philip pullman and new film based on the first book, the golden compass.
Are all of the characters working against the magisterium good guys. In the golden compass, philip pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. The golden compass, a fantasy film starring nicole kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 december 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned christians. The golden compass is one of those books that doesnt fit into any one genre.
Before hbos his dark materials show, we revisit the infamous banning of philip pullmans golden compass books. One of the central conflicts are the girl and the gobblers. Good choice for fantasy lovers whove outgrown the kid stuff and enough adventure for reluctant readers especially if you start by reading aloud. In trollesund, farder coram takes lyra to visit dr. The golden compass is a blatant attempt to duplicate the success of the harry potter franchise. Books by philip pullman author of the golden compass.
The golden compass northern lights is a very powerful book due to the ideological component and drama of feelings. The golden compass audiobook also know as northern lights audiobook in the uk is a youngadult fantasy novel by philip pullman and the first book of the his dark materials audiobook trilogy. Jerry, assures her that pan will eventually settle in a form and that settling is a good thinglyra will know who she is when pan settles. Im quite overwhelmed at the response to my simple reaction, i said it in a reply early on but i think part of my. In 2007, the golden compass, the first volume of his dark materials, philip pullmans alternateworld, cosmological science fantasy for. In her world people have daemons, little pet like beings that are strongly connected with their people. When we first meet lyra shes a daring kid who likes to push her freedom, but by the end shes a savvy traveler of worlds who creates amazing adventure by being strongwilled and stubborn. Its fun and has a lot of wellimagined characters and adventures and is well written. Northern lights is the first book of the trilogy, his dark materials 1995 to 2000. An entertainment weekly alltime greatest novel a newsweek top 100 book of all time. You know that the title of the book is the golden compass, but lets not forget that its also the first book in the series called his dark materials the golden compass.
Jul 09, 1995 the book is called northern lights and the film is the golden compass and it aint even a compass i should have read this book years ago so thank you bbc for the current production of his dark materials which is gripping us on sunday nights, for finally prompting me to pick up this book. The only thing missing is richly imagined characters, a comprehensible story line, good acting, and. Why was the golden compass book banned philip pullmans. No one really feels wishywashy about philip pullmans controversial his dark materials trilogy the golden compass, the subtle knife, and the amber spyglass. The protagonist is lyra belacqua, an 11yearold girl raised by scholars at jordan college, a place that seems to be in england but which is. Oct 24, 2019 in 2007, the golden compass, the first volume of his dark materials, philip pullmans alternateworld, cosmological science fantasy for young people, became a movie. It follows the coming of age of two children, lyra belacqua and will parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes. During the last few pages i was so filled with emotion at one point i thought i was going to have to put the book down. The golden compass is a good book for teenage girls because of the incredible fantasy world that the reader is thrust into. Though the golden compass kept most of the books plot intact with the aforementioned reductions and dialdowns, it made one big change to the ending. Nailbiting, violent fantasy has elements of mystery. A conversation with philip pullman the golden compass author on loneliness, romanticism, the meaning of the young adult label, and why we all want daemons. Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. It is a childrens book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist.
The golden compass graphic novel, complete edition by. Everyones got an opinion about these fantasy novels written for tweens and teens. The film was released on 5 december, 2007 by new line cinema. Lyra is an orphan whose parents were killed when she was very young. The golden compass a book report kind of suzanne m. Time magazine in the us included northern lights the golden compass in its list of the 100 best youngadult books of all time.
286 1053 98 326 474 265 652 1465 48 940 1227 855 703 1493 766 224 859 920 1234 673 915 16 586 744 434 491 1341 1111 482 1253 1097 174 190 1337 100 1044 886 766 911 301 842 626