Words from me:I finally got to finish this book. Still haven't seen the movie yet, and I'm very eager to. (Although I have to lower my expectations since the book is so exhilarating and made my imagination go wild.. I might end up disappointing myself when I get to see the movie)
It was so hard for me to pause for a bit when I got myself starting... that I open the book every chance I got. The copy I got from national book store was the deluxe edition. (It was the only copy available for book one of "His dark materials" Triology by Phillip Pullman) I was looking for a paper bound, but since there was no other book available I decided to grab the copy aside from the price comparison since I have been deprived too long from reading it. IT WAS WORTH IT!!!! (I was searching the internet for the front cover picture of the deluxe edition of the book but there seems to be none except from amazon that i can't even paste it here... so I took a picture of my own book to show.)
First, the character of a stubborn child with a daemon... a good start.
Second, an uncle for a dad and a mom for a villain... the confusion starts.
Third, an alethiometer in the hands of a child... story begins.
I love the intrigue that came with the book. Pullman was a crafty writer, there was a time though I wanted to throw the book in one second because of all the scientific explanation but then at the same time I can't bring myself to do it since it was so vital to understand or else I'll be lost from the main thought. Then when I got understand it all, I just stated... "So that's why." The ending was such a twist that I wish I had an Alethiometer (known as the golden compass) myself to know what's real and not. (But we all know knowing the future is not a good thing, we leave that to the Higher being to know.)
What creeped me out in this book was at the latter part when a part of the Bible was discussed. I swear I had goose bumps when I read it. The good thing was that I had a bible with me. (reading this reminded me of "The Da Vinci Code" that if your faith wasn't stable enough you would be doubting what you have believed from the very start... so I suggest read your bibles first before deciding to read this) I heard rumors of its scientific explanation and the Christian Church's dislike of the Book. Just like to Harry Potter's, Narnia, LOTR and such... But with all its complexity, I really don't care. One should understand their own standing and let them choose. That's why we have our own will... which the book has also stated. That's what gave me goosebumps and the part where the daemon was included... which as i understand is like our own demon which is always with us... but I must be reading it wrong... you tell me what you think.
Aside from what I just said, the whole book was amazing and Lyra's adventure was a real great imaginative art. I would love to see the Bear's Fight in the movie...
Summary:(Spoiler)
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In The Golden Compass, readers meet for the first time 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford, England. It quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own - nor is her world. In Lyra's world, everyone has a personal dæmon, a lifelong animal familiar. This is a world in which science, theology and magic are closely intertwined.
These ideas are of little concern to Lyra, who at the outset of the story, spends most of her time with her friend Roger, a kitchen boy. Together, they share a carefree existence scampering across the roofs of the college, racing through the streets of Oxford, or waging war with the other children in town. But that life changes forever when Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, prevent an assassination attempt on her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust.
It is at this time that children mysteriously began to disappear. Children, and only the children, are vanishing at the hands of what become known as the "Gobblers." Who the Gobblers are and what they want is unknown, but soon, children from far and wide are disappearing with out a trace, even Lyra's good friend, Roger.
But before she can begin her search for Roger, Lyra is introduced to Mrs. Coulter, a beautiful and bewitching woman. Mrs. Coulter is a scholar and an explorer - seemingly everything that Lyra could ever hope to be. Mrs. Coulter takes Lyra under her wing and employs her as an assistant to help in the next expedition to explore the Arctic North. On the morning she is to leave Jordan College, the Master of the school gives Lyra an alethiometer, a rare and powerful instrument with the power to reveal the truth in all things.
While under Mrs. Coulter's guidance, Lyra learns of her mentor's critical role in Church's General Oblation Board, a.k.a. the Gobblers, the party responsible for the disappearing children. It is revealed that these kidnapped children are taken to Bolvangar, a place in the far North, to participate in Dust experiments whereby they are severed from their dæmons through a process called intercision. Lyra also learns that the Church has captured and imprisoned Lord Asriel in the Arctic region of Bolvanger where he has undertaken Dust experiments of his own.
Horrified at what she has learned, Lyra and Pantalaimon flee Mrs. Coulter's home in the middle of the night and are rescued through the kindness of two gyptian men. The gyptians are a gypsy group of boat-people who live a harsh life on the water tempered by their unwavering sense of family, loyalty and love. It is the gyptians' children who have suffered most at the hands of the Gobblers, and they have vowed to travel North to rescue them. Lyra pledges to share what she knows, rescue her dear friend Roger, and ultimately find her imprisoned father. Through the gyptian elders, Lord Faa and Farder Coram, Lyra is bewildered to learn that her parents are Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter. Despite this shock, Lyra quickly learns to read the alethiometer and understand its messages. Although her alethiometer enables her to discover the truth in everything around her, Lyra is unaware of the incredible role her own life plays in the fate of the universe. Lyra is the subject of a great prophecy in which she is destined to commit a fateful betrayal that will determine the future of all worlds.
To succeed in the rescue mission for the children, the gyptians enlist the alliances of three people who come to regard Lyra dearly: Serafina Pekkala, the witch queen who reveals that the fate of universe lies in Lyra's future; Lee Scoresby, a Texan aeronaut and commander of a hot air balloon; and Iorek Byrnison, a renegade armored polar bear, deposed as king of his clan by a deceitful brother. While on their long, hard journey in the far North, Lyra and Pantalaimon are kidnapped by hunters who take them to Bolvangar, the place where all the kidnapped children have been brought. At long last, Lyra is happily reunited with Roger, but to her horror, she witnesses intercision, the gruesome Dust experiment that separates child and dæmon. Banding together, the children and their daemons escape the terrors of Bolvangar, fleeing into the safety of the gyptians, Serafina Pekkala's witches, Lee Scoreby's balloon, and Iorek Byrnison.
Although the children are rescued, the journey for Lyra and Roger is far from over. They travel further north and finally find Lyra's father, Lord Asriel. Lord Asriel has experimented with Dust as well, and has discovered its role in crossing the barriers into other worlds. He has constructed a bridge to another world, but crossing that bridge requires the energy released in an intercision. Unable to sacrifice his own child, Lord Asriel makes Roger his prey and escapes to another world. The universe has been broken and Lyra's friend lies dead, but she vows get revenge and discover the secret of Dust.
