The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman [February/06]

This is the first in a trilogy by Philip Pullman known as His Dark Materials. I had heard about the series for quite some time, even owned the first book in the series for a while, but never got around to reading them. They are really hyped up books with many people telling me they are the best fantasy novels they have ever read, or something along those lines. It made me nervous to read them because a lot of times when a lot of people are saying good things about a book, I don't end up enjoying it so much. I ended up having to read it for school, though, so I got to get my taste of Pullman. I read it just before I read the novel Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and I am glad I chose that order because I think I would have strongly disliked it if it had to follow the wonder that is Good Omens.

As it was, the book was not as great as I was expecting it to be. I found I had to force myself to stay with it because I found it rather slow in many parts. It was an interesting read, though, with the daemons and a young girl on the brink of maturity setting off on a wild adventure to the North to save other children of the world. Lyra has never really had a stable life and all she knows of family is the uncle that comes to visit her from time to time where she lives at a college surrounded by many scholars for companions. As a result, she is often running wild with the servant class of the college as there is not many other options open to her. It is her Uncle, Lord Asriel that starts her off on her adventure by sparking in her an interest in dust, and then the rest of the novel goes from there. It is her story, and she is a compelling young lady, but the action is lacking and I just was not blown away with the novel as other people I know where. I am hoping if I finish the trilogy in the future I may come to like it more.

3.5/5