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grp101 's review for:
The Golden Compass
by Philip Pullman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A really interesting book that understands kids very well! The world is creative and fun to read about. Everywhere you looked there was another new, interesting aspect of the world to examine, and all the exposition is given naturally and at times when you want it.
I do have an issue(?)/question about one aspect. Were the “Gyptians” supposed to be direct Romany rep or a Romany analog? The word “gyptian” is an old-timey word (slur? i don’t know if that’s a slur) for Roma people, and they live out of boats the way Roma people historically had to do in many cases, but I don’t know enough about Roma people to tell if other aspects of the culture were also taken from/representative of Romany culture or just stuff Pullman made up. All the “gyptian” characters we meet are portrayed as noble, honest, and kind, at least from Lyra’s POV. It does a good job of not making them thieves/career criminals (though I think it is mentioned that they smuggle goods sometimes?) or fortune tellers, but I don’t know how a Romany person would react to this “rep” (again, I’m not sure if they’re meant to simply be Romany or just be an analog). If you’re a Roma person and you see this review, what did you think of them? I’m very curious! I’ve looked online but can’t find any reviews from a Romany perspective.
TWs: child murder, child abuse, general harm to children, religious abuse, animal abuse, violence, animal death, minor sexism, racism (?)
I do have an issue(?)/question about one aspect. Were the “Gyptians” supposed to be direct Romany rep or a Romany analog? The word “gyptian” is an old-timey word (slur? i don’t know if that’s a slur) for Roma people, and they live out of boats the way Roma people historically had to do in many cases, but I don’t know enough about Roma people to tell if other aspects of the culture were also taken from/representative of Romany culture or just stuff Pullman made up. All the “gyptian” characters we meet are portrayed as noble, honest, and kind, at least from Lyra’s POV. It does a good job of not making them thieves/career criminals (though I think it is mentioned that they smuggle goods sometimes?) or fortune tellers, but I don’t know how a Romany person would react to this “rep” (again, I’m not sure if they’re meant to simply be Romany or just be an analog). If you’re a Roma person and you see this review, what did you think of them? I’m very curious! I’ve looked online but can’t find any reviews from a Romany perspective.
TWs: child murder, child abuse, general harm to children, religious abuse, animal abuse, violence, animal death, minor sexism, racism (?)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, War
Minor: Religious bigotry