His Dark Material I: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Advantages: Fantastic, original
Disadvantages: nothing

...of the trilogy in London. His Dark Materials is legend and has won the author Phillip Pullman the Carnegie Prize for his innovativeness and mystery in the novels. Phillip Pullman was born in Norwich on 19th October 1946. The early part of his life was spent travelling all over the world, because his father and then his stepfather were both in the Royal Air Force. He spent part of his childhood in Australia, where he first met the wonders of comics, ...
...has written many other novels for adults as well as children. Ok so now I guess I really should get onto what the book is all about. This book follows 11 year old Lyra Belacqua, who is a precocious, chatty, tomboy of a girl. She lives in Oxford, in Jordon College where she receives education from the Scholars whenever they have the time to deal with her. She spends her days playing around the streets and roofs of Jordon College with her best friend ... Read review

Advantages: Great story, fantastic characters
Disadvantages: None

...Materials’ set of novels. His Dark Materials is split into three books. The first book is the one that I am reviewing now and this is called Northern Lights. The other two books are called The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. These books were written by a man called Philip Pullman. They in fact came third in the BBC’s Big Read competition and have received critical acclaim from all over the World. I first came across the novels late last year. ...
...in 1997 and 2000. His inspiration for this particular book came from a poem by Milton called Paradise Lost. This book refers to how the Almighty must maintain order or all will be lost. Many say this book was written to be against the church. However Pullman claims this not to be the case. Story This is a difficult story to summarise because firstly so much goes on and secondly I want to avoid giving away any interesting twists in the plot! Anyway, ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping, Entertaining
Disadvantages: You will not want to put it down.

...an armoured bear outcast by his own kind) and also a nomadic tribe of witches led by the radiant and yet old in our years Serafina Pekkala. Northern Lights is a story of strange cities in the sky, a story that is so gripping and magical that you will, no matter what your age not want to put it down. This is a story of truth tellers, of dust and people with holes in their heads a tale to share and enjoy with your children. A story to savour on your ...
...story that will fascinate and entertain them in its simplicity and complexity for it is a story that has been told since the dawn of Christianity. It’s strength and beauty lies in the way Pullman draws you into the tale and makes you live the tale. Do not dismiss this book, take it upon yourself to become entwined and engrossed in the words because Phillip Pullman has created a masterpiece not eclipsed yet equalled by the other parts of the trilogy ... Read review

Advantages: Totally and utterly original, Suitable for children and adults
Disadvantages: The opening was a little weak

...is book one of the His Dark Materials trilogy; a publishing phenomenon that I'm sure will have filtered into your consciousness on some level over the past few years. Now, I am not normally one to read children's books (although in my defence, the author does actually say that his did not intend this to be aimed at any particular target audience; it was for adults as much as for children) but I was motivated to read this after a number of promising ...
...that Pantalaimon will take on his true form in reflection of this. This can be seen very clearly in the servants of Jordan College, as no one may be a servant unless his or her dæmon is a dog (reflecting, their steady loyalty, faithfulness and desire to be working within a known and understood hierarchy). This safe world starts to change on the day that Lyra decides to sneak into the Retiring Room, knowing full well that only the important men of ... Read review

Advantages: Very well written, imaginative storyline, wonderful descriptive passages
Disadvantages: Can't put it down

...is how Phillip Pullman describes his Northern Lights in the book of the same name. My Brother in law is from Aberdeen and the very mention of the ‘Northern Lights’ brings a tear to his eye and a unique rendering of “The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen mean home sweet home to me...” I’ve never actually seen the brilliant display myself but the pictures I’ve seen on the net of the ‘Aurora Borealis’, as ...
...best contemporary authors around and his tremendously well-written books are the product of his incredible imagination and immense descriptive powers. The winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Smarties Award of the Carnegie Medal, for some reason he has been ‘pigeon-holed’ as a children’s author, but this or the remaining books of the trilogy appeal to a whole spectrum of ages and are incredibly multi-layered. ... Read review