Northern Lights AKA the Golden Compass Book - His Dark Materials

Advantages: A great way to escape from reality !
Disadvantages: None for me

...NORTHERN LIGHTS FILMED AS THE GOLDEN COMPASS After some heavy hinting a couple of christmas' ago and with a bit of help from my sister, My son bought me the first book in Philip Pullmans 'His Dark Materials' Trilogy. Book one in this trilogy was first published by scholastic in 1995 and went on to become an international best seller and whilst I myself had heard of this trilogy some years before receiving it as an xmas gift in 2007 -I had near forgotten all about its existence just previous to that point. It wasn't until all the hype had started surrounding Northern Lights being made into a movie. It was only then on hearing that Northern Lights was being released as Movie The Golden Compass that I was reminded just how much I liked the sound of these books the first time around that i'd heard about them. Luckily...

bobbetta 29.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Northern Lights Filmed as The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman's Northern Lights

Advantages: Exciting story, told by an obviously imaginative author
Disadvantages: Kids book, so maybe a little restrictive on content in places

...Much has been made of Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy. In 2005 it was voted the Cilip Awards best ever book(s). It is a critically acclaimed series, and the focus has come to the fore again with the emergence of 'The Golden Compass', the film adaption of 'Northern Lights', the first in the trilogy. Upon starting the book, I was aware of the criticism of anti-religion Pullman has received for the trilogy. Howev er, this is a work of fiction, and this must not be read into too much. I found that, with letting go and just trusting the author, I found it an extremely good book. The theories are incredibly imaginative, as are the characters and the plot. The book starts with the main character, a 12 year old girl named Lyra Belacqua, hiding in a room forbidden to her. What she overhears and sees then shapes the course of the book, as...

pmcds 09.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Northern Lights (His Dark Materials) - Philip Pullman

Northern Lights - full of passion & suspense

Advantages: Fantastic read, great characters, great story
Disadvantages: Couldn't put it down!

...I find Nora Roberts an unusual author. Some of her books are the best I've ever read - whereas others are so hard to get into that they remain unfinished months after I've started them. Also, I find some of her books are so obvious and predictable, while others keep me guessing right until the end of the book. This book - Northern Lights - is one of the latter. It's full to the brim with romance, passion, suspense and even a bit of gore added in. It kept me guessing until right near the end. This is definitely one of my favourite Nora Roberts books. This 535 page book is published by Piatkus (www.piatkus.co.uk), and the paperback version retails at £6.99. However, as it was first published in 2004, you may be able to find this on offer in places, although I haven't seen this. The story is about a big city police officer...

TJ034 31.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Northern Lights - Nora Roberts

Northern Lights Review

Advantages: Interesting Read
Disadvantages: Patience Required

...This was an essay written by me for my Year 9 English class. Phillip Pullman brings another masterpiece to readers, in Northern Lights. First published in 1995 by Scholastic, the book is re-issued again by the same publishers. The story revolves around a young spitfire named Lrya. After sneaking into a forbidden room and hiding in a closet, she discovers some startling and mysterious facts. She vaguely learns about Dust, but wants to learn more about this mysterious entity. The plot revolves around her trying to unravel more and more answers to questions, which prevent more questions themselves, sending her on countless voyages. The story is set in Oxford, but often moves to various locations. The book comfortably fits into the Fantasy genre, showing strong streaks on fantasy in its roots. The book revolves around many subjects...

Sheet 21.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of His Dark Material I: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Northern Gem

Advantages: Unputdownable
Disadvantages: When it came to the end!

...I've heard over the years about the triology of Philip Pullman's books known as "His Dark Materials" so last month I thought I'd start to read the first book in this triology "Northern Lights". I was immediately hooked. The star of the books is a 12 year old girl called Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pantalimon, who we find in the first book living in Jordan College in Oxford, but not our Oxford, a place named Oxford in a parallel world. She's looked after by the staff and her "Uncle" Asriel. All beings in Lyra's world have daemons who form part of thei own "soul" so when they feel pain so does the daemon. Daemon's are not allowed to touch other beings. Also if a daemon is parted from its owner the owner or the daemon will most certainly die. The book follows Lyra as she sets off across parallel words in search of her Uncle...

MitchellandAimeesMum 03.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of His Dark Material I: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Northern Quarter for the Northern Birds

Advantages: Stunning apartments, very clean, good price, very central
Disadvantages: Nothing!

...I love Manchester, and used to go quite regularly. Unfortunately money is tight so I don't get as many nights out down there as I used. When I do get down, I like to make the most of it. Last time I was in Manchester, we stayed at The Northern Quarter Apartments. The Northern Quarter The Northern Quarter of Manchester consists of High Street and the 'original Northern Quarter' on Oldham Street, which is slightly North of the Arndale Centre and Piccadilly Gardens in the centre of Manchester. There are loads of funky little boutique shops, which are amazing for vintage clothes. There are plenty of coffee shops ( the one next to Pop is quite relaxed and cool) and small sandwiches shops and eateries. The nightlife in the Northern Quarter includes bars like Dry Bar which used to be owned by New Order, the "modern burlesque" club Mint...

MurkyDismal 19.02.2009 (20.02.2009) · Read review
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Review of Northern Quarter Apartments, Manchester

His Dark Materials I - Northern Lights -Edited-

Advantages: It's very well written, great story line, everything described in detail, you can watch the book in your mind while reading it.
Disadvantages: Some readers may find the theories challenging. Anti-religious sentiments

...This novel, seemingly based on real-life scientific theories, is the first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Northern Lights (published as The Golden Compass in the USA) Is an amazing book. It is as simple as that. Amazing. It is the best science fiction novel i have read since Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings." It is a quality book if there ever was one. With the great use of the English language and the way every speck of dust (and Dust) is described perfectly, you think back on the book and see pictures as if it had really happened to you. While reading you are taken to a different world. Every page i read i said to myself, 'Okay, this is the last page for today' Then ended up reading about 4 more chapters! I thought that this book may just be for people interested in science fiction...

Cheezeh 31.10.2002 (01.11.2002) · Read review
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Review of His Dark Material I: Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Northern lights over Edinburgh

Advantages: Tense, exciting film, with great features
Disadvantages: None

..., I’m not going to spoil the film for you. I’ll convey the plot briefly, hopefully not giving too much away. It starts in 1969 by establishing a few basic plot points: a radio transmission about the strange northern lights, the aurora borealis, currently being seen in the night sky; a report on a serial killer called the Nightingale murderer because he targets nurses; and finally the heroic but slightly reckless character of Frank Sullivan (Dennis Quaid), a member of the New York Fire Department. We are then introduced to Frank’s family; his wife Julia (Elizabeth Mitchell) and his young son, John. There is a moving scene where the father is teaching his son to ride a bike. The boy loses his confidence, and his balance, when his father lets go of the bike. His wife gently chides her husband, who is upset that his son...

Crazy-Christian 18.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Frequency (DVD)

In Search Of "The Tricky Lady"

Advantages: Beautiful scenery and excellent production.
Disadvantages: None

...If you were unlucky enough to miss the recent television documentary featuring Joanna Lumley, who fulfilled a lifelong ambition to visit the Land of the Northern Lights, then you may enjoy the DVD which has been made of her journey. Available from Amazon for £10.88 this is, in my opinion, a treasure. Recently I posted one off to one of my daughters who not only loves Joanna Lumley but also shares my fascination with this part of the world. The front cover of this DVD sets the scene. Joanna stands there puffed up in layers of clothing against a background of glaciers. These paint the horizon in a glistening polar white. We are told at one point in the DVD that it's not exactly what she would wear to the Oscars! Growing up in tropical Malaysia Joanna had always had a dream of visiting the "Arctic North". She had a little...

Violet1278 17.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Joanna Lumley In The Land Of Northern Lights (DVD)

Northern Rail

Advantages: gets you from a to b
Disadvantages: overcrowding, delays, cancellations

...I too suffer daily at the hands of Northern Rail. Overcrowding, delays and cancellations are the most common problems. After three years of travelling to work using this company, i am able to say that from experience, there has been no improvement in the level of service for the £300,000,000 tax payers money that is annually chucked their way. The service provided by Northern rail is thrown into sharp contrast by that of Trans Pennine Express who have invested in new trains and actually understand the concept of customer service. I read with interest an interview with the boss of Trans Pennine who explained that, when travelling on his trains, he makes a point of announcing his presence on the train to elicit feedback from his customers. I can only imagine what would be done to the boss of Northern rail if he/she was to follow...

the_tester 19.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Northern Rail, England