The Golden Compass
I finished the book the Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. It was the third time I went to read it. It wasn’t that it didn’t catch my attention . The problems I had were more to do with the lack of tenderness the main character was experiencing. There was no nurturing. So I must have been pregnant the times I tried before.
This time it didn’t hit me as overly cruel.
Spoiler Alert--Read No Further--If you don't want plot points revealed
I find it is a book about taking care of one another in the world. The main character’s motivation is pretty much she wants her friend back. Sure she has some great skills and dubious parentage but she is selfless in her selfishness. She risks everything to rescue her friend.
Sure there are other themes running through the book. One big theme that I believe that is causing a ruckus is the problems that can happen when individuals within an organized religion use their influence to generate power for themselves in the name of a religion. It also shows that it is not a good idea to experiment on human subjects just because it is possible, consequences should always be considered.
To sum up the themes are:
- You are responcible for more then just yourself.
- Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- Just because something is possible doesn’t mean it is a good idea.
I am going to read the next two. I’m taking a detour to read the first Spiderwick novel. I’ve had it in my stack for over a year and it is coming out in a movie format too.
--Mom
PS. Hannah and I are reading the third Septimus Heap book Physik and Gabriel is working on See Otto books
