I'm finding it difficult to continue this book because Lyra has an alethiometer that will tell her the answer to anything and she rarely uses it. She's on a quest to find scholars to ask them questions to figure out what Dust is...and why not just ask her magic 8 ball what it is? Why isn't she asking this thing 2k questions a day? Is this just how things continue? It's infuriating. Spoil if you need to to answer.

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3 years ago
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Gabriela The alethiometer basically tells her to stop doing whatever she wants and stop asking questions that don't help, so she decides to believe and help will, that's why she hardly ever uses it, she doesn't relly on the alethiometer. It's a really good book, I recommend you stick to it and eventually it will catch you again

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Daniele Artioli I would agree with you, I had the same though myself. But in the book is stated that the alethiometer has some sort of mind of its own, probably because Dust is sentient, and that it can be pissed off if Lyra asks too many questions or the wrong ones: Lyra herself senses when the alethiometer is annoyed and she doesnt' dare to challenge it too much. So yes, theoretically the alethiometer would give her all the answers, but it doesn't.

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Jill Pohren Agree with Gabriela. Also, the story wouldn't move forward if Lyra sat asking the alethiometer to tell her answers to all questions all the time. If she's a 'special' character then the plot depends on her to be resourceful, sympathetic, smart (or clever), and fallible. The alethiometer is a symbol but Lyra's adventure or quest is not dependent on it.

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