What were some of the reasons why you enjoyed the book?

[LadySylvia]

THE GOLDEN COMPASS is a pretty good, solid story and I like it. I just don't find it mind blowing.

[Yrael]

I loved it because it was so well writen that it felt real, it was all so reasoned, Pullman left no blank edges on the map as you might say.

[bharned1]

All the characters are great, Lyra and Will go perfectly together, and the book keeps you going. I chain-read them without stopping. Easily the best books that I've ever read.

[Yrael]

Will isn't in Northern lights.
But still he is a great character.

[Midnighttosix]

The reason I enjoyed the book was simply that it was the first book I really did enjoy.

I first read Northern Lights six or seven years ago, and up to that point all I read was trashy children's fiction. I slowly got into it, finding the description of Lyra's Oxford surprisingly engaging and the way the story of the Gobblers was gradually revealed entrancingly removed from the clunky exposition I was used to. I found myself being pulled more and more into Pullman's world as I read on, particularly as Lyra journeyed further north. What really sold me, though, was the 'Armour' chapter when Lyra pulls at the bond between her and Pan. I was amazed that I actually felt the pain of separation and the moment of joy when the two are reunited.

But the turning point came with the discovery of Tony Makarios and his ultimate fate. As strange as it sounds, it took me a while to realise that what I felt was really sadness, it never occurred to me that writing could actually bring out my emotions. What’s more, it made me feel hopelessly lonely without a daemon of my own. From then on it was one inconceivably exciting event after the other: the silver guillotine, battle of Bolvangar and the wonderful Svalbard section. When I first read the ending, I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not (I still think Pullman’s writing in the last few chapters seems very removed in style from the rest of the book). But luckily, I had a copy of The Subtle Knife at hand and was straight into it- I can still remember exactly where I was when I finished Northern Lights and started the sequel!

[Rayne]

This trilogy for me, was stunning. The characters were so believable and I grew to love and care for them. Im 23 years old and I love this series. It is by far my favorite! PP is so creative and original and I love the truth in his books.

**Im so very new to this site!! Nice to meet you all!!

[thebrood]

the reasons for liking the book are numerous, and it's easily one of the best i've ever read. but there's a few things that stand out to me, and the first is: alternate-universe science! it intrigues me to no end to explore the potential course of history if certain things never happened, or happened a different way, and Pullman pulls this off excellently with a believable world where religion and science are intertwined. Naturally there'd be less emphasis on things like biology and geology, since they tend to clash with the church's view, and more emphasis on material sciences like particle physics, an area in which Lyra's world seems to be more advanced than our own. That's just a science nerd thing, though.

The other thing that really differentiated this book from others that i've read is the ability that Pullman has to make his readers experience what the characters experience. Like others in this thread have already said, reading the book actually caused a yearning for an IRL daemon of my own. The horror when lyra finds out what they're doing at Bolvangar was my horror, and the loss and rage and betrayal felt when Roger died at the end would follow me for several days, causing me to simultaneously curse Philip Pullman and Lord Azriel, and at the same time cause me to pick up The Subtle Knife at the very next opportunity.

third reason: ARMORED. FRIGGIN. BEARS.

[bee]

The other thing that really differentiated this book from others that i've read is the ability that Pullman has to make his readers experience what the characters experience.

This easily sums up one of my favourite aspects of these books (and is, in general, what I feel makes a truly great writer).

That's just a science nerd thing, though.

Science nerdery, ftw.

You should pop over to the Newbie Welcome and introduce yourself!

[Valrad]

There are way too many to list and detail them too, so I'll probably stick to the ones which glued me to the book and made me feel dry and empty when I finished the series.

The first thing would be the plot: It's so mysterious and detailed that it makes you wonder what would have happened if a decision coming from one of the characters which could influence Lyra was made. What if Pantalaimon somehow forced Lyra to not go find Tony Makarios, or Roger not wanting to follow Lyra in the last step of her journey?

Now, everybody liked daemons, I presume. I loved them, the concept was great and its application has been done nicely. I wish that daemons were able to hurt humans though, it makes them more important and gives them a more prominent appearance than just your usual adviser.

And my favorite? The ending of course! It was so intense and nicely detailed, and Asriel's deception was one of the most striking parts of the book. Even now, I'm asking myself whether Asriel was a villain or not.

[tellthemstories]

Its a beautifully crafted work of literary genius complete with fantastic characters, great plot line and a believably imagined world. Whats not to like? (unless you are a devout christian)