You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Lyra Belacqua is an orphaned 11-yr-old girl living at the prestigious Jordan College, under the loose care and watch of the scholars living there. Her best friend is Pantalaimon, her daemon, a shape-shifting animal representation of her soul that all people have. She is crafty and sly and while hiding in a wardrobe in the scholars' retiring room learns something interesting about her uncle, Lord Asriel, and Dust, which has something to do with the cosmos. Meanwhile, children have been disappearing, their kidnappings being attributed to the "Gobblers". However, Lyra is distracted from this by the appearance of Mrs. Coulter, who insists that the scholars allow Lyra to live with her as an "apprentice". While living with Mrs. Coulter, Lyra and Pan learn some very disturbing information about their benefactor and run off to begin a whirlwind adventure that involves gypsy pirates, sentient polar bears, mad science, witches, and a balloonist.
Lyra and Pan are delightfully flawed but fascinating protagonists, which makes them very easy to relate to. Lyra is not the smartest girl, nor the most well-behaved, but she is cunning and quick on her feet. She also often trusts others easily which endears her to the reader.
The world that Pullman has crafted is quite similar to ours but the little differences make it a bit wondrous. His use of detail and descriptive language really brings the book to life.
Lyra and Pan are delightfully flawed but fascinating protagonists, which makes them very easy to relate to. Lyra is not the smartest girl, nor the most well-behaved, but she is cunning and quick on her feet. She also often trusts others easily which endears her to the reader.
The world that Pullman has crafted is quite similar to ours but the little differences make it a bit wondrous. His use of detail and descriptive language really brings the book to life.
Would give this 4.5 stars if this stupid site let me. Really exceeded my expectations, which were based on the tiny bit I remember from the 2007 movie. So dark and special, full of science and Christianity and a secret third thing... wish I was back in Scandinavia and could read this on a train going far north.
I really loved this book. It's one of the first fantasy books I read where the main character was a plucky young female protagonist. She's written so delightfully bold, it's hard not to love her. This, and the deep lore and detail of the world is why I enjoy the book. It was Lyra that took me on this adventure, and I was happy to go with her.
Now, a lot has been written on the theological nature of this book and if it is or isn't anti-religion. Honestly, I think you need to read the trilogy as a whole to get beat over the head with that. This book alone doesn't really get into that much of a religious argument. Not only that, but you'd need to be a scholar of numerous works of theological fiction and epic poetry to even recognize much of the religious aspect in this book without the aid of being told beforehand that's what this book was about.
I worked in a library before this book was made into a movie and became hugely popular and written about endlessly. The vast majority of readers didn't even think about religion when they read it. Very much like unless you were specifically told what all the allegorical elements were in the Narnia series, you wouldn't on first glance immediately pick it out, the same is true of this. I think it's very hard for people to separate what they thought when they read a book from what they were told to look for in a book. If you're told in advance of reading a book that it's secretly about bees, you're going to, whether you want to or not, subconsciously see everything as it relates to bees. And you'll later say, of course, it was all about bees.
Yes, the author has made it clear this is all about religion. That being said, I'll argue that this book can easily just be read as an exciting fantasy adventure. In fact, most teens I talked to about it closer to the time it released never mention God, religion or any of that. They talked about the giant polar bears with armor. The next two books in the series are more obvious about it, but I also didn't like them as much because Pullman immediately sidelines Lyra as a character and she is truly the heart of this book.
As to whether or not it's YA or should be YA. I think it's fine for older teens. Younger I'd recommend more on a case by case basis. Part of the plot of this book is there's an organization that kidnaps children on the cusp of puberty and does something secretive with them that is quite dark indeed. But what they're doing is more of a B story plot that doesn't truly get fleshed out until the later, much more theologically and metaphysically minded, books. The true story of the first book is Lyra's quest to save her friend who was snatched up. This story is solved but does leave the door open for the other books.
Personally, I can read the book as merely a fantasy without thinking too much on the theological aspects of it. I've read a number of books where there are very similar themes but the religion is made up or involves magic. I suspect had the author gone the route of these other fantasy authors and hadn't explicitly mentioned it, no one would think much on it. It would be yet another fantasy where magical creatures and powers and dust stand in for god and belief. At least until the final book came out and it was made abundantly clear what Pullman was going for.
Where Pullman's writing truly shines is when he forgoes trying to tie in so much from Paradise Lost and focuses instead on Lyra and her overcoming the various challenges in her life. Lyra is an amazingly fleshed out character who drives the whole story and she's best when unburdened with an allegory that has already been told a hundred times before.
Recommended for those who enjoy deep fantasy worlds with more than a dash of steam-punk elements and who won't take issue with the theological elements.
Now, a lot has been written on the theological nature of this book and if it is or isn't anti-religion. Honestly, I think you need to read the trilogy as a whole to get beat over the head with that. This book alone doesn't really get into that much of a religious argument. Not only that, but you'd need to be a scholar of numerous works of theological fiction and epic poetry to even recognize much of the religious aspect in this book without the aid of being told beforehand that's what this book was about.
I worked in a library before this book was made into a movie and became hugely popular and written about endlessly. The vast majority of readers didn't even think about religion when they read it. Very much like unless you were specifically told what all the allegorical elements were in the Narnia series, you wouldn't on first glance immediately pick it out, the same is true of this. I think it's very hard for people to separate what they thought when they read a book from what they were told to look for in a book. If you're told in advance of reading a book that it's secretly about bees, you're going to, whether you want to or not, subconsciously see everything as it relates to bees. And you'll later say, of course, it was all about bees.
Yes, the author has made it clear this is all about religion. That being said, I'll argue that this book can easily just be read as an exciting fantasy adventure. In fact, most teens I talked to about it closer to the time it released never mention God, religion or any of that. They talked about the giant polar bears with armor. The next two books in the series are more obvious about it, but I also didn't like them as much because Pullman immediately sidelines Lyra as a character and she is truly the heart of this book.
As to whether or not it's YA or should be YA. I think it's fine for older teens. Younger I'd recommend more on a case by case basis. Part of the plot of this book is there's an organization that kidnaps children on the cusp of puberty and does something secretive with them that is quite dark indeed. But what they're doing is more of a B story plot that doesn't truly get fleshed out until the later, much more theologically and metaphysically minded, books. The true story of the first book is Lyra's quest to save her friend who was snatched up. This story is solved but does leave the door open for the other books.
Personally, I can read the book as merely a fantasy without thinking too much on the theological aspects of it. I've read a number of books where there are very similar themes but the religion is made up or involves magic. I suspect had the author gone the route of these other fantasy authors and hadn't explicitly mentioned it, no one would think much on it. It would be yet another fantasy where magical creatures and powers and dust stand in for god and belief. At least until the final book came out and it was made abundantly clear what Pullman was going for.
Where Pullman's writing truly shines is when he forgoes trying to tie in so much from Paradise Lost and focuses instead on Lyra and her overcoming the various challenges in her life. Lyra is an amazingly fleshed out character who drives the whole story and she's best when unburdened with an allegory that has already been told a hundred times before.
Recommended for those who enjoy deep fantasy worlds with more than a dash of steam-punk elements and who won't take issue with the theological elements.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I was supposed to be re-reading it, but it felt like a first read all along. Firstly because I had no recollection of the story—okay, I had some, but only the basics—, and secondly because I enjoyed it so much more this time around! I couldn't believe how much fun I had while reading it, and if I didn't finish it earlier it was because I really couldn't.
In short, I loved it all, I really did. From the world-building to the characters and the writing and everything. Lyra's such a lovable protagonist, flawed and believably childlike, and her relationship with Pan is so nicely presented.
The only bad thing I can think of saying about this book, the only thing that bothered me, was that Lyra seemed to sleep a whole lot. Not for a human being, that's not what I'm saying at all; what I mean is that a lot of chapters seemed to end with or show Lyra going to sleep with no apparent relevance to the plot. This little detail got me intrigued/bothered.
In short, I loved it all, I really did. From the world-building to the characters and the writing and everything. Lyra's such a lovable protagonist, flawed and believably childlike, and her relationship with Pan is so nicely presented.
Spoiler
I must say that in the end I was sad to say goodbye to Iorek (Iorek!!!), Farder Coram, Serafina Pekkala and all others, as I don't think they're going to be in Subtle Knife—I'm hoping for an Iorek cameo, though.The only bad thing I can think of saying about this book, the only thing that bothered me, was that Lyra seemed to sleep a whole lot. Not for a human being, that's not what I'm saying at all; what I mean is that a lot of chapters seemed to end with or show Lyra going to sleep with no apparent relevance to the plot. This little detail got me intrigued/bothered.
Aunque hace muchos años que vi la película, creo que es bastante fiel al libro.
Lyra y su daimon viven en el college de Oxford, pero todo cambia cuando de repente los niños comienzan a desaparecer. Uno de los amigos de Lyra, Roger desaparece y ella quiere ir a buscarlo, así es como se ve en envuelta en una aventura que no podría imaginar.
Comienza de forma lenta, puesto que la vida en el college no tiene mucha acción, es en esas páginas cuando aprovecha a describirnos más el mundo (muy parecido al nuestro con toques de magia y fantasia).
La premisa del libro es encontrar a esos niños que han ido desapareciendo, así que lo que te cuenta el libro es esa aventura hasta llegar a verlos y rescatarlos. Y aunque de ritmo está bien y es en su mayoría ágil, a veces tiene demasiada descripción que lo hace un poco tedioso. A pesar de ello creo que los personajes están bien pensados, son redondos y memorables.
La trama en sí no es nada especial y cae en los clichés típicos de los libros de fantasía, pero es que es un libro juvenil, en realidad no va a al publico adulto (asi que creo que es normal pensar esto)
Lyra y su daimon viven en el college de Oxford, pero todo cambia cuando de repente los niños comienzan a desaparecer. Uno de los amigos de Lyra, Roger desaparece y ella quiere ir a buscarlo, así es como se ve en envuelta en una aventura que no podría imaginar.
Comienza de forma lenta, puesto que la vida en el college no tiene mucha acción, es en esas páginas cuando aprovecha a describirnos más el mundo (muy parecido al nuestro con toques de magia y fantasia).
La premisa del libro es encontrar a esos niños que han ido desapareciendo, así que lo que te cuenta el libro es esa aventura hasta llegar a verlos y rescatarlos. Y aunque de ritmo está bien y es en su mayoría ágil, a veces tiene demasiada descripción que lo hace un poco tedioso. A pesar de ello creo que los personajes están bien pensados, son redondos y memorables.
La trama en sí no es nada especial y cae en los clichés típicos de los libros de fantasía, pero es que es un libro juvenil, en realidad no va a al publico adulto (asi que creo que es normal pensar esto)
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an exciting, thought provoking book. Its style is suitable for adults as well as youths. Lyra is a remarkable protagonist, thrust into an adventure not of her own making, yet is smart and persistent enough to succeed in conquering one problem after another. Her companions, especially the bear Iorek Byrnison, are interesting in their own rights, although perhaps a bit too black-and-white. The universe is intriguing. The idea of daemons being a part of every human's existence is creative, but also a bit bewildering in its mechanics. We get some hints near the end of the book, but I suspect the big reveal won't happen until much later in the series. Aside from the daemons, this world is enough like our own to be quite recognizable, yet different enough so that we can still be surprised.