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Merissa (14056 KP) rated Uprising (Rebellion #3) in Books
Apr 7, 2022 (Updated Jun 26, 2023)
UPRISING is the third book in the Rebellion series, and I think this is the last. The story is wrapped up nicely, giving me exactly the ending I was looking for.
This book focuses on Michael and Isaac, the two enigmatic Alphas from packs seemingly on opposite sides of the war, but looks can be deceiving as we find out. Isaac and Michael were as close as two wolves could be without being bonded. When they decided what they were going to do, it placed them miles apart - both figuratively and literally. Now events have brought them back together, but can they pick up where they left off?
Uprising starts where Defiance finished and the whole host of characters return, including those you love to hate. Some will shock you though, and some you will end up feeling sympathy for. Don't you just love it when an author does that to you?
Just as full of action as the previous two, you get the bigger picture in this as groups start working together. If there was one character I wish I'd heard more from, it would be Baker, but it wasn't his book!
A brilliant end to a fantastic series and absolutely recommended by me, so long as you read it as a series and don't miss out on any of the good bits.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 7, 2022
This book focuses on Michael and Isaac, the two enigmatic Alphas from packs seemingly on opposite sides of the war, but looks can be deceiving as we find out. Isaac and Michael were as close as two wolves could be without being bonded. When they decided what they were going to do, it placed them miles apart - both figuratively and literally. Now events have brought them back together, but can they pick up where they left off?
Uprising starts where Defiance finished and the whole host of characters return, including those you love to hate. Some will shock you though, and some you will end up feeling sympathy for. Don't you just love it when an author does that to you?
Just as full of action as the previous two, you get the bigger picture in this as groups start working together. If there was one character I wish I'd heard more from, it would be Baker, but it wasn't his book!
A brilliant end to a fantastic series and absolutely recommended by me, so long as you read it as a series and don't miss out on any of the good bits.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 7, 2022
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Restrained Desires (Rehoboth Pact #3) in Books
Apr 4, 2022 (Updated Jun 26, 2023)
RESTRAINED DESIRES is the third book in the Rehoboth Pact series, bringing to a close this fantastic trilogy. Kyle has played her part in the previous two books, strong and steady but kind of in the background. Now it's her time to shine.
Oh, Kyle! Bless you, sweetheart. You are so completely adorable but, please excuse me as I deck your mother! What a piece of work! It's amazing you turned out as you did. And thank goodness Chelsea can see that.
When I first read fake-date, I will admit to groaning a little. I love that trope but felt Kyle deserved someone who saw her, and who wanted her. And guess what? That's exactly what I got! Chelsea has her own issues to contend with but never did she not see Kyle for the wonderful human being she is. (Yes, I do know she's a character!)
Aubrey - you were a sod in this one. I went off you for a while. I'll let you off... just this once.
This is a spicy-hot story with plenty of feel-good moments. I will even admit to my eyes leaking but that's all I'm saying.
Ms McIntyre certainly saved the best until last in my opinion. Absolutely amazing. This whole trilogy is definitely one to buy, keep, and to re-read. ❤
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2022
Oh, Kyle! Bless you, sweetheart. You are so completely adorable but, please excuse me as I deck your mother! What a piece of work! It's amazing you turned out as you did. And thank goodness Chelsea can see that.
When I first read fake-date, I will admit to groaning a little. I love that trope but felt Kyle deserved someone who saw her, and who wanted her. And guess what? That's exactly what I got! Chelsea has her own issues to contend with but never did she not see Kyle for the wonderful human being she is. (Yes, I do know she's a character!)
Aubrey - you were a sod in this one. I went off you for a while. I'll let you off... just this once.
This is a spicy-hot story with plenty of feel-good moments. I will even admit to my eyes leaking but that's all I'm saying.
Ms McIntyre certainly saved the best until last in my opinion. Absolutely amazing. This whole trilogy is definitely one to buy, keep, and to re-read. ❤
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2022
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Code Blue (Atrous Series #2) in Books
Feb 23, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)
CODE BLUE is a follow-up to Code Red, the first in this duo. Now, I LOVED Code Red, so this one can't possibly be as good, can it? It's an N.R. Walker book - OF COURSE, it can!!!
I got my wish - I got more of Steve and Jeremy. What I wasn't prepared for was how much I would fall in love with both of them as they struggle with certain feelings, situations, and people.
Told completely from Steve's point of view, we see him struggle with his love for Jeremy when a stalker becomes apparent. He also has secrets from his past that come back to bite him in the butt, but which help to explain his feelings. Jeremy is also struggling with his health, which doesn't help matters. Code Red was on tour, this one is mainly at Jeremy's home for reasons that become apparent. And, yes, the name of the book means something!
I was so happy to see Moscoe here and the support they provided. The epilogue had me in tears for both couples, but then I'm sappy that way.
This was an amazing sequel and I'm delighted N.R. Walker wrote it. This is definitely a duology for me to buy in paperback, so I can look at them on my shelves, and fall in love with them all over again.
Absolutely fantastic and completely and utterly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 23, 2022
I got my wish - I got more of Steve and Jeremy. What I wasn't prepared for was how much I would fall in love with both of them as they struggle with certain feelings, situations, and people.
Told completely from Steve's point of view, we see him struggle with his love for Jeremy when a stalker becomes apparent. He also has secrets from his past that come back to bite him in the butt, but which help to explain his feelings. Jeremy is also struggling with his health, which doesn't help matters. Code Red was on tour, this one is mainly at Jeremy's home for reasons that become apparent. And, yes, the name of the book means something!
I was so happy to see Moscoe here and the support they provided. The epilogue had me in tears for both couples, but then I'm sappy that way.
This was an amazing sequel and I'm delighted N.R. Walker wrote it. This is definitely a duology for me to buy in paperback, so I can look at them on my shelves, and fall in love with them all over again.
Absolutely fantastic and completely and utterly recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 23, 2022
Ryan Hill (152 KP) rated Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) in Movies
May 10, 2019
Chris Evan as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Sebastian stan as Bucky Barnes/The winter soldier
The rest of the cast
Fury's car chase
The elevator scene (1 more)
The highway fight scene
Cap and Bucky's final fight
Cap and Bucky's relationship
The political intrigue
Antony Mackie as Falcon
"i'm with you till the end of the line"
Man 2014 sure was a fantastic year for Marvel! Not only did we get Guardians of the Galaxy, but also Captain America the Winter Soldier, a film that I honestly didn’t really appreciate all that much when I first saw it, as back then I wasn’t all that interested in the plots of these films more then I was just seeing the cool characters and fight scenes. But upon rewatching this I was legitimately blown away by how jaw dropping good this was, because not only is this an amazing movie that completely surpasses the first film on every level with it’s excellent story and standout action sequences, but also serves as a great action thriller, and surprisingly, a political satire that reflects the corruption that lies in our very own government. And sure Jon Favreau and Joss Whedon did great jobs with their inclusions in the franchise, but the Russo brothers just absolutely nailed it with this film.
And what makes Winter Soldier so good and entertaining, is it’s extremely captivating story. I was so invested in it that I couldn’t take my eyes off of the screen, I focused and paid attention to every line of dialogue that was said by these characters, as well as every easter egg and reference, which trust me, there are a lot of! This film also features a ton of different twists and turns which on my first viewing way back in 2014, really had me shocked, and though rewatching it five years later doesn’t at all have the same impact on me that it once did, it still is highly entertaining, and some scenes do actually still hold that element of surprise with their abrupt sequences. And while technically they’re not in that jump scare category, the were some parts of the movie that really caught me off guard and made my heart stop for a moment. One aspect about this movie that I thought was very interesting and added a sense of realism to the plot, was the political satire that was excellently interwoven into the storyline of the movie, and like I said, really made the film feel very grounded because it reflects all of the corruption lying within our very own government, and for Captain America to want to expose that and put a stop to it really when you think about it lines up perfectly with Steve’s very patriotic attitude and outlook. I mean he’s Captain America for crying out loud!
All of the performances in this film are absolutely phenomenal! Chris Evans, Scarlet Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, as well as Anthony Mackie. And if that’s not good enough we’ve got freaking Samuel L. Jackson reprising he role as Nick Fury. What more could you possibly ask for in terms of casting, I mean seriously! There is not a single bad or bland performance, and everyone gets to shine with their own great and memorable moments. But for me the standout of this movie is Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. Holy crap! This is the definition of a badass villain, and he owns every scene he is in. Whenever he shows up on screen and starts taking down guys your heart just starts beating faster and faster, and I was on the edge of my seat when watching the nail biting action scenes he shows up in. So gold star to the Russo brothers for not giving us another two dimensional baddie just there to be evil, as well as being a typical MCU villain. Yeah I’m looking at you Darren Cross! Overall just fantastic performances.
The action scenes in this movie are amazing, and you can really tell that the filmmakers as well as the Russos really put a lot of effort in these sequences, as they are choreographed and shot so well, and the way the directors move the camera really adds a whole other intense and exhilarating edge to these already intense scenes. The highway scene in particular is probably one of, if not the best part of the movie, I mean it’s just perfection, and that’s mainly because of the excellent choreography and directing, that Joe and Anthony Russo definitely put a lot of time into getting just right. And they not only did it right, they did it masterfully! Henry Jackman’s score for the film is so good as well, and it may just be in my top ten favorite soundtracks of all time. And the Winter Soldier’s theme is just downright fantastic as well as absolutely terrifying!
So that’s my review. This is a film that really surpassed my low expectations when rewatching this for the first time in a few years. And with it’s great storyline and characters, as well as it’s amazing performances and action sequences, which kept me enthralled and entertained the entire time, Winter Soldier proves that it is not just a great Captain America movie, or MCU addition, and that it is just an amazing film in general.
And what makes Winter Soldier so good and entertaining, is it’s extremely captivating story. I was so invested in it that I couldn’t take my eyes off of the screen, I focused and paid attention to every line of dialogue that was said by these characters, as well as every easter egg and reference, which trust me, there are a lot of! This film also features a ton of different twists and turns which on my first viewing way back in 2014, really had me shocked, and though rewatching it five years later doesn’t at all have the same impact on me that it once did, it still is highly entertaining, and some scenes do actually still hold that element of surprise with their abrupt sequences. And while technically they’re not in that jump scare category, the were some parts of the movie that really caught me off guard and made my heart stop for a moment. One aspect about this movie that I thought was very interesting and added a sense of realism to the plot, was the political satire that was excellently interwoven into the storyline of the movie, and like I said, really made the film feel very grounded because it reflects all of the corruption lying within our very own government, and for Captain America to want to expose that and put a stop to it really when you think about it lines up perfectly with Steve’s very patriotic attitude and outlook. I mean he’s Captain America for crying out loud!
All of the performances in this film are absolutely phenomenal! Chris Evans, Scarlet Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, as well as Anthony Mackie. And if that’s not good enough we’ve got freaking Samuel L. Jackson reprising he role as Nick Fury. What more could you possibly ask for in terms of casting, I mean seriously! There is not a single bad or bland performance, and everyone gets to shine with their own great and memorable moments. But for me the standout of this movie is Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. Holy crap! This is the definition of a badass villain, and he owns every scene he is in. Whenever he shows up on screen and starts taking down guys your heart just starts beating faster and faster, and I was on the edge of my seat when watching the nail biting action scenes he shows up in. So gold star to the Russo brothers for not giving us another two dimensional baddie just there to be evil, as well as being a typical MCU villain. Yeah I’m looking at you Darren Cross! Overall just fantastic performances.
The action scenes in this movie are amazing, and you can really tell that the filmmakers as well as the Russos really put a lot of effort in these sequences, as they are choreographed and shot so well, and the way the directors move the camera really adds a whole other intense and exhilarating edge to these already intense scenes. The highway scene in particular is probably one of, if not the best part of the movie, I mean it’s just perfection, and that’s mainly because of the excellent choreography and directing, that Joe and Anthony Russo definitely put a lot of time into getting just right. And they not only did it right, they did it masterfully! Henry Jackman’s score for the film is so good as well, and it may just be in my top ten favorite soundtracks of all time. And the Winter Soldier’s theme is just downright fantastic as well as absolutely terrifying!
So that’s my review. This is a film that really surpassed my low expectations when rewatching this for the first time in a few years. And with it’s great storyline and characters, as well as it’s amazing performances and action sequences, which kept me enthralled and entertained the entire time, Winter Soldier proves that it is not just a great Captain America movie, or MCU addition, and that it is just an amazing film in general.
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated Kill the Father in Books
Sep 22, 2017
Filled with Twists and Turns
This was one of the better thriller/mystery novels I have read so far this year. Wow. It was well written, filled with lots of twists and turns and the way everything is tied together is fantastic and makes the writing flow to keep you engaged and the pages turning.
The characters speak for themselves. They’re heavily flawed and are dealing with horrible pasts. I like both of them and Dante and Colomba do make a great team. Dante certainly has his quirks and his mannerisms due to his being a previous kidnapping victim. It feels like they certainly complement each other and they have an amazing chemistry when working together. They’re both very strong characters, no doubt.
If any of you have read The Monster’s Daughter by Michelle Pretorius I found some similarities between Colomba and Alet in the fact they both don’t take crap and go beyond their limits to solve things and they’re certainly not afraid to take a swing or kick to make their point across (Colomba has a good share of that throughout the book)
The plot was really good and what I really enjoyed reading the most was the way everything was seamless and how it was put together. Everything that happened to Colomba and Dante was related and well explained. The explanation as to the origins of Colomba’s situation was very well done! I enjoyed that aspect of the plot. The only thing is, the book is rather long and the plot a bit on the slow side but it’s nevertheless a great read and going through the twists and turns was completely worth it.
And yes, there’s a cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to read the second one.
The characters speak for themselves. They’re heavily flawed and are dealing with horrible pasts. I like both of them and Dante and Colomba do make a great team. Dante certainly has his quirks and his mannerisms due to his being a previous kidnapping victim. It feels like they certainly complement each other and they have an amazing chemistry when working together. They’re both very strong characters, no doubt.
If any of you have read The Monster’s Daughter by Michelle Pretorius I found some similarities between Colomba and Alet in the fact they both don’t take crap and go beyond their limits to solve things and they’re certainly not afraid to take a swing or kick to make their point across (Colomba has a good share of that throughout the book)
The plot was really good and what I really enjoyed reading the most was the way everything was seamless and how it was put together. Everything that happened to Colomba and Dante was related and well explained. The explanation as to the origins of Colomba’s situation was very well done! I enjoyed that aspect of the plot. The only thing is, the book is rather long and the plot a bit on the slow side but it’s nevertheless a great read and going through the twists and turns was completely worth it.
And yes, there’s a cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to read the second one.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Bronson (2009) in Movies
Nov 14, 2017
Beautifully Brutal
I saw this movie years ago and recently re-watched it. Tom Hardy has given some great performances over the years, but an argument could be made for this being his best. He is in almost every scene in the movie and he commands the screen masterfully. He is domineering yet endearing, in other words you can't take your eyes off of this guy, but you wouldn't want to be left in a room alone with him either. You really do get a sense of him being extremely dangerous and highly unpredictable.
The movie was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and his unique directorial style works well in the context of this insane story. Refn clearly took influence from other stories of violent insanity, such as A Clockwork Orange and Natural Born Killers, but the movie wears this on its sleeve and never feels derivative for it. The cinematography and lighting are also well implanted in the film, shot by Larry Smith, who has previously worked with Kubrick on Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining. The addition of Smith's eerily pretty camera work adds to the off kilter tone that the movie maintains throughout.
I also like the way that this movie is structured. It comes across as erratic and unconventional, but this is intentional and serves the bizarre narrative perfectly. You have to remember that this is an insane person recalling his deranged memories to an audience inside his own head, it is going to be sporadic and manic at times.
Overall, I think Bronson is a fantastic view into a severely fractured psyche. It is a disturbing and intense watch, so it may not be for everyone, especially if aggressive violence bothers you, but I think it is a masterful film, with one of the greatest lead performances I have ever seen.
The movie was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and his unique directorial style works well in the context of this insane story. Refn clearly took influence from other stories of violent insanity, such as A Clockwork Orange and Natural Born Killers, but the movie wears this on its sleeve and never feels derivative for it. The cinematography and lighting are also well implanted in the film, shot by Larry Smith, who has previously worked with Kubrick on Eyes Wide Shut and The Shining. The addition of Smith's eerily pretty camera work adds to the off kilter tone that the movie maintains throughout.
I also like the way that this movie is structured. It comes across as erratic and unconventional, but this is intentional and serves the bizarre narrative perfectly. You have to remember that this is an insane person recalling his deranged memories to an audience inside his own head, it is going to be sporadic and manic at times.
Overall, I think Bronson is a fantastic view into a severely fractured psyche. It is a disturbing and intense watch, so it may not be for everyone, especially if aggressive violence bothers you, but I think it is a masterful film, with one of the greatest lead performances I have ever seen.
Stephen O'Connor (8 KP) rated Assassin's Apprentice in Books
May 14, 2017
Easy to read and well writen (3 more)
The story is just a hook that keeps you reading
One of the best first person books I've ever read
The world built by Hobb is beautiful and epic
My number one, but for bias reasons
Now I have to be honest and admit that my feeling for this book/series are slightly Bias, let me give the reason. This is the book that got me into my love of reading Fantasy as a whole and the other reason, when I decided to quite smoking I swapped the cigarette for reading, with this being the book that got me through it 😊 . So moving onto the book itself and how it's just god Damn Awesome. Robin Hobb is just a fantastic writer and this just shows throughout the book, the story telling and writing are second to none. Fitz is a royal bastard that gets dumped at the castle doors and left to the care of his unknowing royal family. His struggle of trying to find a place in court and live with the stigma of being the bastard are his young life. This book will have you falling for the character of Fitz like he's your own blood and you'll care for him like no other book characters. Putting the book down for more than 1 day isn't even possible. I'm pretty terrible at writing anything, never mind trying to sell a good book through a review, so please just take my advice and trust me when I say how bloody awesome this book is.
Merissa (14056 KP) rated Twell and the Army of Powers (Como Chronicles #1) in Books
Jun 21, 2017
Twell and the Army of Powers (Como Chronicles #1) by Kate O'Leary
Twell and the Army of Powers is the first book in the Como Chronicles. It gives us an in-depth view into the lives of those who live there, how their lives are regulated, what is forbidden, and what isn't. Twell is the main character, and the story is told from her perspective, and yet is still rounded out enough that you don't feel like you are missing out on anything.
Twell is a bit of a brat at the start of the book, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Her character grows in ways unforeseen, by her own actions and by the 'gentle' advice from her friends. All of the characters have grit though, whether you like them or not. There is not a weak character amongst them, and they all grow and change throughout the book.
There is so much I want to say about this book, but won't in case of spoilers. Things happened that I never saw coming; my heart was broken on more than one occasion; it jumped into my mouth as I desperately held onto hope (even knowing that the author wouldn't make it so easy). The story is concise and gripping, thrilling and action-packed, ending on a cliffhanger that had me shouting out "NO!" even though I had already suspected the outcome!
This is a fantastic Young Adult Dystopian story with a dash of romance, that is guaranteed to enthral the reader. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Twell is a bit of a brat at the start of the book, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Her character grows in ways unforeseen, by her own actions and by the 'gentle' advice from her friends. All of the characters have grit though, whether you like them or not. There is not a weak character amongst them, and they all grow and change throughout the book.
There is so much I want to say about this book, but won't in case of spoilers. Things happened that I never saw coming; my heart was broken on more than one occasion; it jumped into my mouth as I desperately held onto hope (even knowing that the author wouldn't make it so easy). The story is concise and gripping, thrilling and action-packed, ending on a cliffhanger that had me shouting out "NO!" even though I had already suspected the outcome!
This is a fantastic Young Adult Dystopian story with a dash of romance, that is guaranteed to enthral the reader. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Harvey Penson (7 KP) rated The Revenant (2015) in Movies
Jul 12, 2017
Fantastic Cinematic Experience
Films are works of art, pieces not to be taken for granted, unless they are ones that want to be taken for granted. There is a new term for the word masterpiece…Revenant!!
Unbelievable, breath taking, exhilarating, these descriptions are not enough to describe this wonderful movie.
When left for dead by the rest of his military group, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) must look death in the face and battle great woodlands to seek vengeance on the one who betrayed him. DiCaprio is mind blowing in his performance that looks so convincing, you’ll believe he actually went through it. You do not recognize this man at all in his performance, there is no sign of Belfort, Jack Dawson, or Cobb, DiCaprio shows us a completely new person, you won’t believe he is even an actor.
FWI I am being deadly serious here, not joking at all.
One of the most unique parts of the film, is the use in cinematography, the most effective, and beautiful use I have ever seen. So huge hats off to Emmanuel Lubezki. It pulls you in to the film, and you completely feel the rush of the film through your body.
Alejandro González Iñárritu has pulled of another remarkable, and stunning piece of cinema, that will take you to a whole new world of film. It may be long, but every moment pulls you closer.
This truly is the most amazing, beautiful, and unbelievable film I have ever seen, and is now close to becoming the best. It’s a whole new experience and must be viewed in cinemas. It’s a complete 10/10, and must be viewed by all film fans.
Unbelievable, breath taking, exhilarating, these descriptions are not enough to describe this wonderful movie.
When left for dead by the rest of his military group, Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) must look death in the face and battle great woodlands to seek vengeance on the one who betrayed him. DiCaprio is mind blowing in his performance that looks so convincing, you’ll believe he actually went through it. You do not recognize this man at all in his performance, there is no sign of Belfort, Jack Dawson, or Cobb, DiCaprio shows us a completely new person, you won’t believe he is even an actor.
FWI I am being deadly serious here, not joking at all.
One of the most unique parts of the film, is the use in cinematography, the most effective, and beautiful use I have ever seen. So huge hats off to Emmanuel Lubezki. It pulls you in to the film, and you completely feel the rush of the film through your body.
Alejandro González Iñárritu has pulled of another remarkable, and stunning piece of cinema, that will take you to a whole new world of film. It may be long, but every moment pulls you closer.
This truly is the most amazing, beautiful, and unbelievable film I have ever seen, and is now close to becoming the best. It’s a whole new experience and must be viewed in cinemas. It’s a complete 10/10, and must be viewed by all film fans.
tapestry100 (306 KP) rated The Golden Compass in Books
Aug 2, 2017
Originally reviewed on http://www.frommybookshelf.com
Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass will forever be one of my favorite books. I remember reading it when it was first published in 1995 and thinking then I had never read anything like it before, and each subsequent reading (along with the other books in the His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) still brings that feeling of wonder. The ideas and themes that Pullman introduces in these books challenged me as a reader then, and still do over 20 years later.
Lyra's story of friendship and loyalty found in the most unlikely places, and opposing and challenging those whose beliefs may be strong but not necessarily in the right, resonated strongly with me right out of high school, and I still think that these are important themes for any young reader to experience, especially told through Lyra's eyes. Her strength of character and resolve in what she believes right creates a fantastic role model for anyone, but especially those, I think, who are trying to find their way in the world and are looking to literature to help them. Of course, Pullman disguises much of this in a fast-paced adventure story filled with political intrigue and suspense around every corner, so it will keep readers both young and old eager to find out what happens next. Not every book deserves the title "unputdownable", but I think this was one of my first experiences with a book that earned that description for me. An alternate universe, witches, daemons, polar bears who talk, and more make this book one of the more unique books you'll read, and Philip Pullman's writing is beautiful and poignant.
Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass will forever be one of my favorite books. I remember reading it when it was first published in 1995 and thinking then I had never read anything like it before, and each subsequent reading (along with the other books in the His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) still brings that feeling of wonder. The ideas and themes that Pullman introduces in these books challenged me as a reader then, and still do over 20 years later.
Lyra's story of friendship and loyalty found in the most unlikely places, and opposing and challenging those whose beliefs may be strong but not necessarily in the right, resonated strongly with me right out of high school, and I still think that these are important themes for any young reader to experience, especially told through Lyra's eyes. Her strength of character and resolve in what she believes right creates a fantastic role model for anyone, but especially those, I think, who are trying to find their way in the world and are looking to literature to help them. Of course, Pullman disguises much of this in a fast-paced adventure story filled with political intrigue and suspense around every corner, so it will keep readers both young and old eager to find out what happens next. Not every book deserves the title "unputdownable", but I think this was one of my first experiences with a book that earned that description for me. An alternate universe, witches, daemons, polar bears who talk, and more make this book one of the more unique books you'll read, and Philip Pullman's writing is beautiful and poignant.