Jayson's Reviews > The Golden Compass

I really liked this book :)

I'm glad to hear that Zenki, I do too. :) In fact this is the series that got me started on reading as a pastime. This is actually one of my first reviews, if not the first one I ever wrote.

Nice review Jayson! I read this book years ago as a kid. Wasn't really my thing. There's another book with it that I have as well.

Jordan wrote: "Nice review Jayson! I read this book years ago as a kid. Wasn't really my thing. There's another book with it that I have as well."

Thanks Jordan! I'll say that the latter two books in the trilogy are a step up from this one – a lot deeper than your usual juvenile fantasy. I wouldn't say this book by itself is anything special, it's the other two that really make the series.

Yes, nice review Jayson. The books are for youngsters primarily I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed all three as an adult some years ago and would happily read again.

Leila wrote: "Yes, nice review Jayson. The books are for youngsters primarily I know, but I thoroughly enjoyed all three as an adult some years ago and would happily read again."

Thanks Leila! This is one of the very few series I've read more than once, I did it some years apart. The first book's definitely aimed at younger readers, though I will say that the other two have a much more mature tone and subject matter. It's actually quite remarkable the difference, a much greater shift in tone than from the second to third Harry Potter books, for example.

||Swaroop|| wrote: "nice review, Jayson!"

Thanks a lot Swaroop!

How can i read this book? Do i have to buy the actual hard copy? Or can i read online?

Shenah wrote: "How can i read this book? Do i have to buy the actual hard copy? Or can i read online?"

For freebie reading, I would recommend the library :)

More or less childlike than Percy Jackson #1 , do you think?

Shaina wrote: "More or less childlike than Percy Jackson #1 , do you think?"

Well, it depends on what you mean by childlike. The Lightning Thief is a book about teenagers written in a fun, juvenile style, whereas this is a book about children done very maturely and with rather complex ideas. Which would appeal to children more? Probably Percy Jackson. This book is more all-ages than middle-grade.

Agreed. I have these but I haven’t read them yet. I have the movie. I always thought these were supposed to be pretty adult with the themes and never knew where to classify them. Thanks for your Input. :)

Shaina wrote: "Agreed. I have these but I haven’t read them yet. I have the movie. I always thought these were supposed to be pretty adult with the themes and never knew where to classify them. Thanks for your In..."

Happy to help Shaina. The second and third books go a lot further into that adult direction. Though still on the serious side, this one is comparatively light.

Good to know. Are you gonna read the newer one? The Book of Dust

Shaina wrote: "Good to know. Are you gonna read the newer one? The Book of Dust"

Eventually. It's book one of a trilogy, and it took forever for this one come out. So I'm in no rush, and there doesn't seem to be any spoiler issues with this like there would be with the next Song of Ice and Fire book. Usually with these I'll wait for a box set to come out or for this to go on clearance and save some money. No use cliffhangering myself. Plenty of other books TBR in the meantime.

Oh, so he’s writing more after the “Dust” book? It’s another planned trilogy.. is that what you mean ?
Forever is right.
I only asked cause you said you stick with a thing for a while and I really haven’t seen anyone I know review it.

Shaina wrote: "Oh, so he’s writing more after the “Dust” book? It’s another planned trilogy.. is that what you mean ?
Forever is right.
I only asked cause you said you stick with a thing for a while and I reall..."

Yes, The Book of Dust is the name of the new trilogy. La Belle Sauvage is merely the first book. And though I've seen reviews for it, you're right, there aren't as many as you'd expect for a book with such fanfare.

many people make this kind of books we like to read a lot..

Areebah Nazmi wrote: "many people make this kind of books we like to read a lot.."

Well, juvenile fantasy as a genre really took off during the Harry Potter craze, and even though this was written previously, it nonetheless rode the wave and benefited. So, yes, there are many books like it, though my feelings are that few do it as well as Pullman.

Did you see the trailer for the HBO version of this after Game of Thrones?

Chad wrote: "Did you see the trailer for the HBO version of this after Game of Thrones?"

I didn't catch it after Game of Thrones, though I did see it on YouTube when it popped up. It looks good. It's a bit strange that the two female leads are brunettes now, where they were notably blondes in the books and the film, but lack of book accuracy is easily overlooked if the series is any good. And I think the BBC has a good track record with literary adaptations, certainly much better than Hollywood.

Jayson wrote: " And I think the BBC has a good track record with literary adaptations, certainly much better than Hollywood. "

I didn't realize the BBC is involved. Are they the producers and HBO is just picking it up in the U.S.? That would actually make more sense than HBO turning childrens books into a series even if these are thematically very dark.

nice review jayson!

Chad wrote: "I didn't realize the BBC is involved. Are they the producers and HBO is just picking it up in the U.S.?"

I've just looked it up and it's actually being produced by New Line Cinema for BBC and HBO, who I presume are splitting the bill. I remember they did the same thing with Rome due to the high cost of it.

I read 24 7 wrote: "nice review jayson!"

Thanks :)

This is my favorite trilogy, I’m glad you liked it. If you read the three books you’ll see that this isn’t a children’s tale at all. 😊

Graciela wrote: "This is my favorite trilogy, I’m glad you liked it. If you read the three books you’ll see that this isn’t a children’s tale at all. 😊"

Thanks, Graciela! Happy to hear you enjoyed it so much. I like it a lot too. It's actually one of the few series that I've read more than once. And you're right, the second and third books really shift into a more mature direction, and can get quite intense and profound :)

Id love to start this series. So many books I have to read and many series. Glad you liked this book

Constantine wrote: "Id love to start this series. So many books I have to read and many series. Glad you liked this book"

Thanks, Constantine. Hope you do give this series a try one day. Deciding what to read next is a difficulty I think we can all empathize with :)

I liked because it's about children. At least in this first book only supporting characters have a romantic involvement and that's is so refreshing! Also there are some pretty violent scenes even it's.for children and that's really cool. I love the fairy tale vibe and how the geography of our world was used in it.

Heloisa wrote: "I liked because it's about children. At least in this first book only supporting characters have a romantic involvement and that's is so refreshing! Also there are some pretty violent scenes even i..."

I'm happy you enjoyed it so much, Heloisa. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate it :)

1. It is very violent
2. Just because a story is about kids doesn’t mean it’s for kids

Bridget wrote: "1. It is very violent
2. Just because a story is about kids doesn’t mean it’s for kids"

1. I value your opinion
2. Thanks for sharing it :)

I disagree with you on that it is solely a kids tale with a kid on a quest to save other children. Indeed, that is Lyra’s primary task, but if you look closer to the core of the book and look a bit out of the perspective of Lyra and more to what REALLY happens around her, you see a world about to shatter because of powerhungry people and folks who believe they do and know the right things but are actually, too, consumed by power. It is very much a cautionary tale of what happens when people are afraid of what the world is really about and losing power. I can go on but then my review becomes to large haha. This is so much more than just a kids story. This is social and political critique here for you! Therefore, I think it’s a wonderful story. It has a deep, profound meaning underneath and I can very much appreciate that. I’m glad you liked it too!

Suzanne wrote: "I disagree with you on that it is solely a kids tale with a kid on a quest to save other children. Indeed, that is Lyra’s primary task, but if you look closer to the core of the book and look a bit..."

You misquote me, Miss. I never said it was "solely a kids tale," I said it was "very much a children's tale." There's a significant difference in meaning between those two statements. One is an absolute, and the other is a qualifier. Additionally, I never said the story lacked depth, indeed many children's tales can be very deep. All I said is that it has the format of a quintessential children's tale, where one child goes on a quest to save other children. That is a fact statement. That is what happens in the story, which you, yourself, mention is her "primary task." I'm afraid you interpreted intent and meaning to my review where there was none. Having said that, I'm glad you liked it too :)

78% is a B+?

Ava wrote: "78% is a B+?"

Yes, absolutely, in Canada and many places around the world that are not the United States. Not everyone grades American... I think you'll find most countries don't 🍁😁👍

On the surface it’s a children’s tale, but if you look deeper you’ll find a masterful exploration of science, consciousness, and morals.

Unacorn 🦄 wrote: "On the surface it’s a children’s tale, but if you look deeper you’ll find a masterful exploration of science, consciousness, and morals."

I'm afraid you put words in my mouth, ma'am. No one is saying this does not explore science, consciousness and morals... whether it's masterful in any way is a different matter.

All right, I can understand that. Everyone has different things that resonate with them 🙂

Unacorn 🦄 wrote: "All right, I can understand that. Everyone has different things that resonate with them 🙂"

Glad you've come to see that 😁👍

i love this book

Blog Divergente wrote: "i love this book"

Happy to hear that :)

It’s a great read and so is book to but the amber spyglass is where it gets amazing!

Stuart wrote: "It’s a great read and so is book to but the amber spyglass is where it gets amazing!"

Yes, I agree with that. The Amber Spyglass is definitely my favorite book in the series.

Bro, a bear's lower jaw was violently ripped away spilling blood over a football field worth of snow and ice... What kinds of kids books are you reading?!

Sean wrote: "Bro, a bear's lower jaw was violently ripped away spilling blood over a football field worth of snow and ice... What kinds of kids books are you reading?!"

So, this isn't a "tale with one child going on a quest to save other children"? and that's not a classic children's trope?

Violence isn't the litmus test you think it is. Next you'll try to tell me Little Red Riding Hood isn't a children's tale because grandma's eaten. Try to poke all the holes you want, the point I made is solid, bro.

I just finished this book. I thought it was great, well written and had a decent plot except for Lyra’s parents plot hole. The ending was in my opinion disappointing but I was glued to the rest of the book. I haven’t read the other books. Nice review.

Thanks! Happy you liked this one. Glad to hear your perspective 😁👍

umm hi y r u in my friends list i never friended you who r u!?