Audry P. (witchywoman) reviewed on 1/18/2008 + 56 more book reviews

After hearing and receiving emails regarding this book/movie's anti-Christian contents I decided to read it myself to determine was was causing the hysteria.

This is book 1 of a trilogy. Book 2 is THE SUBTLE KNIFE, which I will review separately.

I did not find THE GOLDEN COMPASS to be anti-Christian. It did, however base a church in the book and that church's followers, on historical activities of the Christian church, in particular the Catholic church of the middle ages. The main character is a young girl that is dropped off at a university by a person she believes is her uncle, but turns out to be her father. She is raised in a haphazard manner by the scholars, but has a good life until children begin disappearing. This is the story of her adventures as she tries to find her best friend, who is one of the children that disappears.

While the story line is interesting, the over all message seems to be that people that should love and care for you will betray you at every turn and that the few good people that do love and care for you will continually be either overcome or out witted by evil people. I also found the main character's pride in being a good liar a problem. As for the part that touches on the the evils of the church and those seeking to overthrow it, by so opposing God, well both groups of people are so horrible that I found the whole book to be depressing. There is no good vs. evil. It seems it is just evil vs. evil.

In addition, most of the book was rather tedious and at times, boring.

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