Critique

All three of these books are a fun read, and each story is able to stand on its own as unique and interesting apart from the others, even though it’s one story spread over three novels. There is definitely some obvious anti-Judeo-Christian themes, but if you really drill down to what Pullman is communicating through them, they work more as a satire intended to be a mirror to people who hold onto self-righteous and bigoted beliefs that isolate and abuse others. Ultimately, though these are fun stories born out of a creative mind that was able to construct an entirely original fantasy that critiques our own culture. It’s a rare gem, blending both an imaginative fantasy with a pointed social commentary. I recommend this series to all readers 9+ and I also recommend rereading them as you get older, because alike books such as Wrinkle in Time, and The Narnia series, the layered conflicts, references, and commentaries will grow with you as a reader.

The other books in this series are The Golden Compass (book 1), The Subtle Knife (book 2), and Lyra’s Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North as companion novels.

Critique

All three of these books are a fun read, and each story is able to stand on its own as unique and interesting apart from the others, even though it’s one story spread over three novels. There is definitely some obvious anti-Judeo-Christian themes, but if you really drill down to what Pullman is communicating through them, they work more as a satire intended to be a mirror to people who hold onto self-righteous and bigoted beliefs that isolate and abuse others. Ultimately, though these are fun stories born out of a creative mind that was able to construct an entirely original fantasy that critiques our own culture. It’s a rare gem, blending both an imaginative fantasy with a pointed social commentary. I recommend this series to all readers 9+ and I also recommend rereading them as you get older, because alike books such as Wrinkle in Time, and The Narnia series, the layered conflicts, references, and commentaries will grow with you as a reader.

The other books in this series are The Golden Compass (book 1), The Amber Spyglass (book 3), and Lyra’s Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North as companion novels.

Critique

All three of these books are a fun read, and each story is able to stand on its own as unique and interesting apart from the others, even though it’s one story spread over three novels. There is definitely some obvious anti-Judeo-Christian themes, but if you really drill down to what Pullman is communicating through them, they work more as a satire intended to be a mirror to people who hold onto self-righteous and bigoted beliefs that isolate and abuse others. Ultimately, though these are fun stories born out of a creative mind that was able to construct an entirely original fantasy that critiques our own culture. It’s a rare gem, blending both an imaginative fantasy with a pointed social commentary. I recommend this series to all readers 9+ and I also recommend rereading them as you get older, because alike books such as Wrinkle in Time, and The Narnia series, the layered conflicts, references, and commentaries will grow with you as a reader.

The other books in this series are The Subtle Knife (book 2), The Amber Spyglass (book 3) and Lyra’s Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North as companion novels.

Critique

In part, this film didn’t do as well as I’m sure New Line Cinema has hoped because of the perceived anti-Christian sentiment that weaves itself throughout the story. Let’s face it, the group that is most enthusiastic about these fantasy movies is often Christian considering that this genre was largely born from the minds of two of the most famous Christian men of the 20^th century, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein. This group of Christian parents are quick to jump on the band wagon of anything they perceive as lining up with their worldview, and even quicker to denounce en masse anything that does not.

However, a bigger factor to its unsuccessful flight both for in theater and DVD sales is the simple fact that it’s not nearly as compelling as the books. Overall, the story moves too quickly and doesn’t explore the beautiful and original fantasy world that Pullman created. Movies like Harry Potter can carry through the naysayers because the imaginative world is captured impeccably on the screen. That’s largely what will make or break movies like these. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the two Narnia films thus far, that Harry Potter films, and even Coraline have given a little more time and energy toward taking the text and bringing it to life on screen both in storyline and special effects.

There are some great special effects, and the polar bear fight is great. However, it moves through the plot too quickly and doesn’t take the time to establish the world and the characters there within. Give it another 30 minutes and all of that is easily accomplishable, plus the film doesn’t have to end in a weird and awkward place that just seems like it’s cutting everything off completely. End it where Pullman ended the book.

Critique

This is a wonderful Beauty and the Beast sort of story that takes a unique spin on Norse mythologies. The story is engaging, and both the bear and Rose are endearing characters who make you root for them and their love in the midst of all of the difficult circumstances. Pattou spins some beautiful language throughout and gives the audience a glimpse into a world largely untapped in literature within this genre, unveiling many of the local customs and ways of living for northern Europeans during the 19th Century. I recommend this book to anyone 10+.