‘Compass: best children’s book in 70 years
Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, called Northern Lights in the British edition, has been named the best children’s book of the past 70 years.
A public vote, by readers from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, selected the book from a list of past winners of the Carnegie Medal for children’s literature.
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15 COMMENTS:
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Jimmy
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Rachel
I love Philip Pullman, read all his books and His Dark Materials is amazing. Went to see the play/theater version of it in London a few years ago, fantastic. I’ve loved the books for years, it irritates me when people jump on the band waggon after hearing about film versions *cough*Harry Potter*cough*. I really HATE how they’re using the American name, its a British Book and should use its origional British title, The Northern Lights. I dont see the reasoning for changing it for America. Again, a comparison with Harry Potter, changing the real name Philosophers Stone to Sorcerors Stone *fumes* RAWR!
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Sarah
Well, I can’t believe they are turning the book into a movie. I’ve said since the first time i read the series years ago that this would make an amazing movie if they took notice of it. Its usually the books that don’t need to be made into movies that are actually done so. I Love the books and I hope the movie doesn’t leave out all the important things like they tend to do with a book with this much detail.
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Louise
Rachel:
*’I’ve loved the books for years, it irritates me when people jump on the band waggon after hearing about film versions *cough*Harry Potter*cough*’
>Uh, yeah me too!*’I really HATE how they’re using the American name, its a British Book and should use its origional British title, The Northern Lights’
>I partly agree with you for sentimental reason - I’ve always known it as Northern Lights hence I prefer that name. However, I heard that the reason the name of the foreign editions of the book was changed because Pullman changed his mind about the title and decided he wanted the series to be named after the magical objects (for lack of a better description) of each book but it was too late to change the British versions as they were already too far along in the printing process, so the foreign versions were renamed. When it came to do the film, I assume it was Philip Pullman who decided he wanted to stick with ‘The Golden Compass’ as the film name.
Shorter Summary: Phillip Pullman prefers ‘The Golden Compass’.
And please do not take all of this to be an accurate account, it is just what I’ve pieced together from the tidbits I’ve heard.Sarah:
*’I’ve said since the first time i read the series years ago that this would make an amazing movie if they took notice of it’
>Haha, yes me too, I always used to go on about it every time I read it to anyone who would listen. I bet hundreds of other people did too, I think we just underestimate how long it takes for the film industry to translate scripts from scratch to actually get them filmed! At least if it took so long they are more likely to do a much better job of it.It looks like it’s going to be really good!
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stassiel
I’m willing to vote it the best book, period (forget about children’s book- most adults I’ve talked to like it better than their kids), written in the last century. I cannot think of another book which uses the English language so perfectly to convey such an absolutely breathtaking plotline.
I first tried to read these books when I was eight and I loathed them because they hadn’t any funny bits but now at the rather more mature age of 16 I think they’re the most exhilarating books in print. I’m trying to read them in French at the moment… somehow it’s just not the same.
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Henry Birch
I think the film looks like its going to really pay tribute to the book.
I remember the first time i read it i was completely drawn into Lyra’s world and couldnt wait to read the next two books. Luckily for me the other books had already been published and i could move onto The Suble Knife and The Amber Spyglass straight away.Ive got to say though, i prefer the title ‘Northern Lightts’ to ‘The Golden Compass’, which i believe to sound more childish. But i can see why it has been called this, considering the other two books each were named after some kind of an object compared to Northern Lights which can only be seen. Northern Lights just seems to draw my attention far more the the golden compass which could be an everyday object.
Cant wait for the film, and im glad that they are only making now when they can really annimate the deamons and mystical animals to properly pay tribute to what im sure everyone imagined them to be.
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Joe
I just want to echo what everyone else has said really. This is an amazing book and looks like it will be an equally amazing film.
The Dark materials trilogy has been one of my favourite sets of books since they were first released, and at LAST they’re making a film.
Watching all the footage and the trailers it looks like they’ve really gone a long way towards making sure the film does the book justice.Too many times in recent years have book to film transitions lost too much detail. This looks to be a change from that norm.
Can’t wait till december though, and not to mention the sequels.Personal opinion but this is by far the most exciting film out this year.
I agree it’s a shame that they’ve chosen the American title for the film( Northern Lights is just so much more awe inspiring) but I understand the logic behind it.Roll on December!!!!!
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Iorek's Girl
I love these books so much. I know the book as the Golden Compass but I see the beauty in the title Northern Lights. I also see the pattern of the titles (GC, SK, +AS) with the whole magic object thing. Personally, even though I know the book as the Golden Compass, I see more logic in the title Northern Lights because, i mean, the Aletiometer isn’t really a compass.
I really like the Golden Compass best because it is just a bit more light than the other 2 and Iorek is in it more than the other 2. I love Iorek. -
Danielle
I would like to know where to find the Golden Compass book series in the Lehigh Valley. I have already read through the Cronicles of Narnia and I am looking for a new adventure for me to discover in my free time.
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Henry
any local book shop should be able to order them for you.
The series is actually called the Dark Materials and depending on where u live (England or somewhere else) the name changes. The first book is Northern Lights (in England) and The Golden Compass (in the rest of the world).If not, you can always order it off the internet. However the series is definatly worth reading, id definatly recommend it
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Taylor
‘Best Book in 70yrs’
Pshhh, best book ever, period. =) -
Angie
Hi, I saw the trailer to the movie and it looks amazing, I think that I actually read theses books as well as a child, but I am not sure. I have a question concerning the film, everyone seems to be in an uproar on how this is an anti-christian book written by an athieset who is taking a shot at Christians thru this book by pitting ” God against Satan” and Satan is victorious??
Let me say, we went thru the same situation witht the Harry Potter books. I chose to decline the “band wagon” of banning the book and I read it myself BEFORE I allowed my daughter to read…needless to say it was a good book and she has enjoyed them all. She is at a “Christian” college this year and I emailed her the emaill that has been going around conerning this movie, she promptly called me and told me that she has read the book along with the others that go with it ; she said they were fantastic and she is still a very strong Christian!” She also stated that people need to read before they listen to others and make a uninformed decesion!
My goal is to read the series and see the movie with my daughter as soon as she gets home for Christmas break! -
Angie
Best book is 70 yrs….I doubt they can come close to Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia….now those are good books written by brilliant minds. No fantasy series can even come close to the genius of Tolkien and his world of Middle-Earth.
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Brooke
I found the books when I was on a down form Harry Potter, (This is after when I was 8 I ate the Narnia novels whole, and no I knew about Harry Potter before it was even close to becoming a movie….) Anyway I fell in love with the books and I can’t wait for Dec. 7th about the movie because it gives me something to look forward to when I go on break…..it also give me yet another excuse to buy a CD soundtrack and avoid my research paper!
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Rosa
1.) Named my cat Lyra
2.) Got a tattoo from a design in The Amber Spyglass
3.) Will see the movie the first showing on the first day.
I’d say it’s one of the best books I’ve read ever, if not the best. I like the sequels just as much. Actually, I’d have to say The Subtle Knife is my favorite of the trilogy… But anyway, it’s a shame that more people haven’t read this book. My girlfriend (who is very much into literature) didn’t even know it was a book until I told her about it after she saw a trailer for the movie. Anywho, the movie looks like it’ll do the book justice. Can’t wait to see it. =)