Comments on: Book Review: The Golden Compass

By: Harmony

Harmony — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:45:17 +0000

I though the movie was boring and the anti-religious themes were very obvious. I haven’t read the book, but I’m sure the books are better than the movie. They always are.

By: Billy Chia

Billy Chia — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:51:43 +0000

W.E.B.,
Right on, I’m way down with the Peter Jackson version

Although I’ll still contend that this book is not even remotely close to being anywhere near at all to be being a children’s book. Early teens is the best I think you could get in terms of target audience. Completely ignoring the religious issues, the book was simply really violent and dark and I think if people are reading it to younger children they are probably neglectful parents in more ways then one.

Chris,
Completely agreed, you need the anti-religious sentiment. It’s the crux of the whole book. omitting it would destroy the story, and so from a Christian’s point of view if people choose to pass this book up I’d don’t really fault them and think it’s pretty reasonable.

As for the Bible, I think you’re treating the Bible like it’s one book written by one author at one time.

It is not.

It’s a collection of writings. Written by over 40 different authors over thousands of years. There are many different types of literature represented including everything from historical documents and personal letters to poetry and retelling of people’s dreams. When the Bible makes historical statements they are literally true - archaeologists and scientists have proved this over and over again. When Biblical authors write poetry they never intended it to be taken literally any more than Pullman would have us believe that Lyra is a real person.

Do I believe in every word of the Bible?

Yes, absolutely.

I just don’t ignore the author’s intent or cultural context a Biblical document was written in. Trying to pretend the Bible was written in our modern culture by one author can take you to all kinds of dark places.

As for Jesus siding with Lyra. Yeah, I think you might be on to something there. The Church in Pullman’s book ridiculously abuses power, distorts the truth of the Bible, lies, murders, cheats and steals. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus preaches heavily against the established religious leaders of his day as they likewise very poorly followed God in their leadership practices.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:52:52 +0000

I think that Lyra’s father’s little bible speech is quite necessary to set up the rest of the books, it is necessary for Lyra and Pullman’s younger reader to know why the church hates and fears dust in that world. In Lyra’s world the church believes every word that the bible states, hell I have people at my work tell me that all the time, they don’t care that every bit of scientific knowledge says that one point could not possibly be “literally” true. I have read Milton’s Paradise Lost many years ago, and Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is basically a retelling of that story for teenagers, but I think that many teens lack enough classical literature background to pick it up. I don’t feel that the books are anti-religious, only anti-organized religion. A telling point in the books is the lack of Jesus as a character in Lyra’s world, and that’s on purpose. Jesus existed in Will and Mary’s world and that Christian faith line is much more tolerant than in Lyra’s world. The word is that Pullman will include a Jesus character in his upcoming novel titled “The Book of Dust” late 2009, this book is rumored to have Lyra journey to a area similar to our middle east and she will encountered a character very similar to Jesus, if not out-rightly named Jesus. Oh, by the way if Jesus was around at the time of the Golden Compass I’m 99% sure he would have side with Lyra and her quest over the church in her world.

By: W.E.B. Adamant

W.E.B. Adamant — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:21:47 +0000

On the note about Tolkien, I can’t get through any of his books (not that I’ve tried in the last five years or so). But I remember reading that he wrote those books to test out his new languages. Of course they’re going to be boring. Thanks to Peter Jackson, they make terrific movies.

As for your review, I agree. It’s beautifully written, and I remember thinking that that last rant was out of place. I’ll also agree with you that The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass press the issue a bit more. But there is a beautiful story beneath it all, and it’s still worth reading.

I’m glad you liked it though and came out “in tact.” Maybe people will consider that when their children ask to read the books.

By: Sarah Chia

Sarah Chia — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:44:57 +0000

I’ll read it one of these days.

It sounds like Pullman must’ve attended the creative writing classes that Tolkien skipped. Every good author know the rule “show, don’t tell.”

I’m glad that Pullman was able to use his God-given talent so well in that respect.