Michele Decoteau
micheledecoteau@verizon.net
Book Reviews
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Golden Compass is set in a world similar to ours and tells the story of an 11-year old girl, Lyra. Lyra lives at Jordan College in Oxford and was haphazardly raised by the scholars there. She embarks on a journey to find her uncle and discover the nature of Dust in the cold North with the aid of her alethiometer, a truth-telling device. Dust is an elementary particle that may unite or destroy all the universes. On her quest she meets witches, daemons, gyptians, and helps to depose the king of the Armored Bears.
This is a lively tale, well paced and imaginative. Lyra is a compelling character and her world is richly textured with characters and inspired description. Pullman sets the scene of Lyra’s adventure well and develops interesting characters you want to know better.
The Golden Compass is part of a trilogy and will leave you wanting more, so have the next book, The Subtle Knife, on hand! This book has been marketed as a Young Adult book and I would urge you not to hold that against the story. The Golden Compass is not a simple story. This is a true tale about good, evil, heart, learning and the true nature of a hero.
The Golden Compass had been made in to a movie set to come out in December. I am curious to see it. Much of the tension in the book is from the strictures and controls the Church puts on its subjects and the movie is said to only have the vaguest mention of religion. I am hoping that the writers have worked to tell a great story and are not relying on special effects.
~Copyright October 2007 by Mom Matters - Millbury Sutton MOMS Club
