i finished recently this book by pullman. his dark materials was the last book i bought in hong kong, and didn’t read it until i’m back in the philippines. when i was looking for this trilogy, i had to inquire the store attendant as i can’t find it. then found out that it’s in the children’s section.
i have a massive book backlog, and have other books lined up to read, but i immediately resorted to this pullman fantasy first for two reasons. first, it’s going to be shown in theaters very soon and i want to read it first in case i’ll be watching the film. second, the intrigue going on emails not to support pullman as he is an atheist.
so here goes, there might be spoilers ahead so those who haven’t read the book yet or will be watching the film soon, stop.
the 351-page first installment of the supposedly ‘children’s trilogy’ is entitled ‘the golden compass’ (which is the american english version). book is divided into 3 parts, and a total of 23 chapters. it’s about a child, a young orphan girl and her struggles, her curiosity of their world, and her attempt to save her friend roger (captured by the gobblers, an organization that hunts children) and her exiled uncle asriel (which later on she learned that he’s not her uncle but some other sort of relative).
the book is full of thrilling adventures, and the narrating was impeccably done. would surely make a young mind’s hooked up very very easily, i say.
it’s really a children’s book. in fact, i even commented out when i was in my last chapters that there’s nothing evil on it any more than i’ve read in harry potters. that’s the truth save for the last 3 chapters or so of the book. i’m neither a theology expert nor a walking bible, but there’s really something going on at the ending of the book. mockery. hatred of the protagonist’s to her own parents. allow me to quote some part of the book.
and with anger, too; she could have killed her father, if she could have torn out his heart, she would have done so there and then…
now, that’s a very obvious strong expression of a child’s hatred. 
apart from that, it even attempts to equate Dust to the original sin, and create it’s very own version of genesis chapter 3!!! (complete with eve, adam, and the snake!)
i understand it’s a fantasy book. there’s even a clear label on the side of the book saying it’s a fantasy. truth is, it even won carnegie medal for children's fiction, and was selected by judges of the carnegie medal as one of the ten most important children's novels of the past 70 years! (wiki) i just have a doubt if this should really be categorized as children’s book because imho, the way it ends is far convoluted for a child to comprehend.
strange as it is that I even thought the possibility that some other writer must have finished the last part of the book for it’s really way off the original plot.
