Customer Reviews

Northern Lights

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Adult fans of young-adult fiction have had something of a Garden of Eden lately, with such wonderful novels as the Harry Potter series, Artemis Fowl etc. crossing the line between the genres of young adult and adult. Somewhat less well-known (and, in my opinion, more deserving of credit and praise than either Harry or Artemis) is this series of books by hitherto-unknown Philip Pullman - the 'His Dark Materials Trilogy', the first book of which is this, 'The Northern Lights'.

To synopsise: Lyra is a strange orphan girl living in a version of London not-unlike our own. She accidentally uncovers a plot to rid people of their Daemons (spirit-like creatures that accompany everyone everywhere, like an extension of one's soul) and sets out to rescue her friends from the clutches of a sinister church-based organisation. Along the way she makes some unusual friends and discovers that her ultimate goal will take her far beyond the reaches of her own world.

What I can't praise enough about this book is the imagination and originality with which it is written. A comparable revalation in terms of ingenuity would have been the original release of the JRR Tolkien novels. However, unlike Tolkien, Pullman has imbued his characters and worlds with such a lack of pretension and sense of dry wit that we can't help but become totally enthralled by the events that shape their lives. For the first fifty pages you won't understand what's happening, so different is Lyra's world from our own - but then all becomes much, much clearer, and quite unapologetically, Pullman uses insanely clever puns and vivid imaginative descriptions to force us to draw our own conclusions about the strange world occupying this book.

His characters are wonderfully-realised. Lyra is a tough, spare little thing, but the clever inclusion of Daemons is Pullman's unique way of illustrating her humanity and little-girlness to us. Mrs. Coulter is menacing and terribly cold, the Gyptians are a beautifully-concieved and su[erbly-executed race of people. It's impossible to touch on each amazing character, suffice it to say that Pullman's imagination is given free reign, tempered with his uncanny knack to edit his own ramblings into something convincing and captivating.

The first in a trilogy of books, I can only advise you to buy all three together, as each one finishes rather abruptly, leaving you gasping for more. You won't be able to escape Pullman's imagination, and more importantly, you won't want to. 'Harry Potter' is the paste-jewelry, 'Northern Lights' is the Hope Diamond. I can't recommend this highly enough.

I read Northern lights, because my aunty who is a school librarian told me how good the book was. She certainly was not wrong. This book offers drama, action, love, hate and a gripping storyline.
The book is all about Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who goes on an amazing adventure up in the north to rescue her friend Rodger and her uncle Lord Asriel. I think this book has a brilliant story line, because as the book goes on new adventures unfold for Lyra that keeps any reader with an imagination involved in this delightful fantasy book.
Throughout the book you join Lyra through her adventures to save the world from original sin. I thought that the clever twist in the book really makes it interesting and an enjoyable race against time to see whether the world shall be destroyed or saved. You will have to read the book to find out, because I am not going to tell you!
Phillip Pullman is a very clever and talented writer and deserves much appreciation from his readers that have discovered a whole new universe inside a little book.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good fantasy read and something to stimulate your imagination.

Philip Pullman's Northern Lights, first book of His Dark Materials trilogy, is an absolutely astounding book. It is centred around a girl called Lyra with a distinct personality. Readers will immediatly be drawn to her spicy attitude to life. She is made to leave her normal life with curiosity of the fact she will travel with Mrs Coulter, who seems to Lyra like an interesting person, despite her odd thoughts about `Gobblers' and the mysterious disappearances going on.It is revealed Lyra has special powers.
You will be pulled face-first into Lyra's world. There are many mysteries that you will want to ponder too. If you like fantasy or adventure books, and that appeals to most people, read this book because it will thrill you the whole way through.

"Northern Lights" by Phillip Pullman is thankfully the first of the Dark Materials trilogy. Within the first five pages its adventurous plot captured me totally. This book combines elements of fantasy, thriller and an adventure story into a novel that can be enjoyed on many levels.
This book is set in a parallel universe where the idea of human is to have a "daemon". Daemons take the form of animals, they and their human are intimately, including telepathically, linked. Human and daemon can never be more than a few feet apart, but can both think and act independently. The daemons of children can change themselves to and from any animal whilst those of adults are fixed at puberty into a permanent form.
Northern Lights takes the classic form of a quest where our heroine, 12 year old Lyra, as always accompanied by her daemon Pantalaimon, must battle overwhelming odds to save her world.
Lyra is a wild, spirited girl who charges through this book on a foolhardy mission to rescue her friend Roger, the kitchen boy. She delights in mischief and lies like a champion. Lyra is helped on her mission by many different characters. Amongst these characters is the Master of Jordan- torn between his genuine love for Lyra and his priority of preserving the college against a background of serious political and religious intrigue. Another major part of the plot is Lord Asriel a proud, arrogant man set on achieving nothing but his own goals which will change Lyra's world irrevocably. Lyra's chief supporters are Lord John Faa, the king of the Gypsies, a people who were once her enemies, and a solid good man.
Starting from an alternative Oxford College, the fictional Jordan college, the plot moves us through London to the frozen wastes of the Arctic.
This book grips you from beginning to end and leaves you desperate for the next book in the series. Although it is set in a parallel world unlike our own it is astonishingly convincing and strangely moving. Reading this book leaves readers, of all ages, eagerly awaiting book two.

This is an interesting book, the story developed well from a suspensful opening. I found my self wanting to know more about the strange technology e.g. Anbaric Lighting but none of that was explored. I wanted to know more about what was known about Dust. I wanted to find out how the Atheliometer works. Lyra lives in a world which is very different from ours with a completely different nature. Every person has their own Demon which is a physical manefestation of their conciousness. The book contains a very textured world of many types of inhabitants ; Humans+Demons, Wiches, Panzerbjorn, Giptians. As I progressed through the book the plot continued in a fairly linear manner and I felt that the writer made the story just a little too simple. The twist at the end relating to Lyras relationship with her father was a little strange and seemed more of a convenience to the plot. The combination of circumstances pulled out an unlikely scenario which jarred with the earlier story. This left me feeling that although the book provided many textured and colourful scenes, the final scene did not end on a perfect cadence. I started to believe in Lyra less as the book finished. The story gives you a feel for the place and its atmoshphere and is a good book to read on a hot holiday.

This is a magical book, a truly inspirational piece of writing from Philip Pullman. It focuses on the life of a young girl named Lyra and her daemon. Lyra leaves the places she knows well and sets out on a journey, not knowing the true purpose of her trip until she is completely caught up in it. The story takes the reader completely into Lyra's world and lets you enjoy the twists of the plot, observing the life of the life of the young heroine as she grows along the way. AND...guess what...there's a sequel!

I ordered a copy of Northern Lights for my son only to find out that it is the same book as The Golden Compass. This must be the original title in the U.K. Great book, so I hear. Just get one or the other.

One of my friends sent me this saying it was brill. I read it in two days. I love the way it opens with a very good start. Lyra is trying to spy in a room where she's not allowed to go but she has to hide in the wardrobe because someone comes in. There's never too much description or dialogue. Lyra sets out on an adventure with her little daemon Pantalaimon and they come across so many dangers and adventures. Another sign that it is very well written is that when Lyra felt scared or hurt l felt it too. I thought because she saved her fathers life that he might want to get to know her better and ask her to come with him in the other world. But did he? No. He asked the women who kind of betrayed him and also used Lyra's friend's life to get into the new universe.
Iorek Brynison is my favourite character(but i like Lyra too). Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter are my least favourite characters.
I would recommend this to adults as well as kids. I kept pestering mam to read it but she said she was too busy but that she would when she had time. This is a book you pick up and can't put down!! IT'S BRILLIANT, MINDBOGGLING AND FANTASTIC!!!

Northern Lights is thrilling and fillied with adventure.Lyra a wild spunky girl sets off on a journet to fid her friend Roger who has dissapeared. She meets witches, armoured bears and many other many magical creatures! This book is def 1 of the best ever!! Be sure to read it!!

This book has unlocked a key in my head, the key to imagination.. this book along with it's sequals are the best books you can be reading now. They help you express yourself and widen you imagination
This book is about a girl called Lyra, and her daemon Pantalaimon.. she has a friend called Roger and he disapeared, a rumour spread that there were people who kidnapped kids, they were in danger of.. THE GOBBLERS! But Lyra didn't care, she was going to find Roger if it was the last thing she'd do!
Thanks Uncle Aiman for buying me this book from amazon.com