Review: 'The Golden Compass' (His Dark Materials #1) by Philip Pullman

This weekend I saw everyone on Tumblr being sad about the His Dark Materials TV-show coming to an end and sharing heartbreaking posts about the novels. Since I'm a glutton for books that will tear my heart in two, I knew now was the perfect time to get into it. And of course I ended up not-so-mildly obsessed. I have shared the blurb for my edition below, but because I think it's a little spoilery I would recommend not reading it!

Pub. Date: 4/16/1996

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.

Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other. 

First a note on reading "Children's Literature" as an adult. Part of me was wondering, as I began the book, whether it made sense for me to read this now, when I'm technically outside of the target audience. Would it still work or would it feel childish? That was the wrong question. Any book, when well-written and well thought-out, can work for any reader. While Children's Literature may take a more gentle approach, it nonetheless will often engage with difficult themes and topics, precisely because its audience needs an introduction of these themes and topics. I often find that when I read books aimed at children at a later age that I appreciate this introduction all over again. Morality, for example, is a grey subject, fully dependent on circumstances. The Golden Compass perfectly encompasses (ha!) this through its adult characters, who frequently act in a way that may seem cold or dismissive, while Lyra functions on a fully emotional level of morality. Her choices are influenced not by calculations or machinations, but rather by how she feels about things. If she thinks things will be ok, she doesn't have to worry about them because they will fall in place. If, however, she is worried she will immediately jump onto the breach to defend those she loves. It is uncomplicated, at the first glance, but really it reveals a very nuanced portrait of what the right thing to do is. I came to appreciate this anew through this book, which is why I will probably never stop reading books aimed at younger readers,

Oh Lyra, my beloved. I fell in love with her almost from the first page. She is so free and yet so burdened with destiny. Pullman is also lovingly dry about her, comparing her to a wildcat and saying she wasn't imaginative enough to really worry about consequences. (As someone battling their anxiety I majorly appreciated this.) In short, Lyra is really a child, a proud, courageous, and fool-hardy child, who just wants to do good and be a part of the big wide world the adults around her move in. We also get an insight into these adult characters around her, into their love and worry for her, their awareness of the role she is meant to play, but this is all kept from Lyra on purpose. I am already intrigued by how this fated destiny will take shape. I did also like the role love played in this book, because although it cannot prevent disaster and save the day it can provide comfort in the dark moments. It's a beautiful theme, running through a novel that is full of complex world-building. Honestly, the world of The Golden Compass is a fascinating one, full of religious institutions, university hierarchies, scientific advances, and sly comments on class. It is quite something for a children's book but then, as stated above, kids are fully able to pick these ideas and themes up if they are presented well.

And that brings us to Philip Pullman and his writing. These books, and his other works, are all classics and it may seem a bit unnecessary to once again state that his writing is excellent. But it is! The writing in The Golden Compass is deceptively simple and uncomplicated. Things are stated in a very straightforward manner, whether it is the description of the armoured polar bear society or the scientific discussion of Dust, a mysterious matter that may or may not be important. This simpleness belies the complexity that is behind the writing, however. It is a real challenge to state complex matters clearly and simply, to bring across facts while also creating real pathos. The Golden Compass is a book meant for young readers, yes, but it is nonetheless a read anyone can enjoy. As I mentioned above, the book also doesn't shy away from discussing pretty heavy topics. Whether it is death, the desire to be loved, friendship, class differences, parent-child relationships, and more, The Golden Compass weaves all of it into Lyra's world in a way that feels natural. What I loved most about the book in the end was the way Lyra's character stayed true throughout all the ups and downs of the plot. Whether she is roughhousing with her newly-found friends or facing mortal danger, she remains a clever and optimistic child. The events absolutely affect her and she carries them with her, but at her core she does not let anything corrupt her, and that is beautiful in a main character.

I give this novel...

4 Universes!

I loved The Golden Compass and started reading the second novel of the series, The Subtle Knife, almost immediately afterwards. With its sometimes dry tone, combined with epic world-building, this novel has so much to offer to both young and adult readers. 

asd