The Golden Compass
discussion
doesn't anyone else hate this book?
Azrael, I didn't say the book denounced my religion, I said the author did. I loved the book, and I didn't see any connection between it and Catholosism or Christianity the first time I read it.
Azrael wat r u an english teacher im also guessin u cum from america cuz only den wud i understnd y u dnt knw how tey read dis sort of ritin most people in ireland n europe my age uses dis way of typin wen ur tlkin tey sumwan
but den i guess u older americans wudnt understnd dat
by da way i can have an intulectual conversation jus not wif sumwan like u hus so single minded but anywans religion and u hav no rite tey say dat ashley finks *her* religion is all bout murderin children r anyfing like dat
i happen tey b da same religion as her n i dnt fink ur bein fair on those of us hu du believe in sumfing as oposed tey people like u hu r too scared tey beleive in anyfing dat dey cnny understnd take alook at ursel n make sure ur happy wif wat uve got b4 u start slanderin other peoples beliefs
dis book r author has da rite tey free speech n no wans makin her believe wat it/he says
dats ur own choice so i fink she shud jus stop wingeing, grow up n read sumfing dat duznt pis her off
if shes so into her religion myb she shud go read a bok of psalms r else da bible
she was asked weder r not she liked da book not was it blasphemas r not
All of these comments now make me want to read the book!
Keelin, seriously, I can barely make out what you're trying to say, and I'm 17, although I'm from America. I would have to make an effort to type like that. It's just easier to me to spell things right.
it cumz secnd nature tey me n my frends it saves time fer all of us
it dnt meen we cnt spell properly it jus dats da wey we rite online ova here dats all
it meens if yee cnny spell a wrd rite u can put it dwn tey dis :P
da way tey reed it is tey say wat yee c
it mite seem weird cuz i probs use wrds u neva herd b4 but it not hard once u get used tey it
I think I just got dumber by reading some of these comments, not going to lie. Haha
@Ashley: When did Pullman denounce your religion? I've yet to see any evidence of him denouncing any actual religions.@Keelin: I'm 16, and I live in England. Please, get off the internet. You are an awful, awful person. I also found it funny that you trying to explain text-speak to us, as if we'd never heard of it before. Almost everybody on the internet has before been exposed to the likes of your braindead brethren.
@Meh: The internet needs more people like you.
@Molly: I know exactly how you feel.
K, you (alongside Keelin) have officially ruined this discussion. At least Keelin contributed her opinion, however malformed it was, to the discussion. Please at least read your argument before you hit 'post'. You start off by telling me that I'm sad and I should fuck off because I talk crap -- ignoring the fact that you yourself are spewing bullshit faster than a diarrhoetic cow. Then you tell me that I should wise up, which is once again hypocritical considering the fact that you can't even form a coherent sentence, and then you tell me 'NAT WAN PERSON CARES !!! NOBODY'. If nobody cares about what I have to say, why would they care when you bash your head on the keyboard and call it a retort?
Sorry, but I completely by pass all of your posts cause I don't have a freakin clue what they say.Just makes everyone sound stupid... too much effort...
And fyi, I'm from the UK.
I'm going to have to agree with Bethany and Azrael. I can't understand a thing you're saying and now I've completely forgotten the topic of this discussion.
Everyone else is retarded KEELING AND K ARE RIGHT. I LOVEE YEE TOO KEELIN.
azabeaa r wateva ur name is fuk off.
keelin they are stupid if they cant read txt da tarded hoes. evrywan knows how to. n if they do then y da fuk is it a big deal.
they are obviously not kool. haha
Oh how lovely how such a lovely, civilized discussion about a book has been degraded to name-calling, swearing, blaming others, and basically just being immature. Some people actually want to discuss the book here, not just piss other people off, so thank you very much for losing the focus of this thread, it's oh so greatly appreciated.
yay Sophie! Yay, yay! Hmm, for some reason my computer thinks that I am watching this, so ya know...
Ok guys! What the heck is the point really, of arguing so much about this small thing that doesn't even pertain to our book discussion?
Um, I personally don't think that people are stupid because they can't read text speak, in my humble opinion, really. Azrael, I think that you perhaps could have left out some of the things to Keelin and K differently, and it may have helped matters really.
Um... now I'm like... well, a third party view is always useful!
However, K, I think that it would be rather nice if you didn't have to name call and such and use swear words and such to discuss how mad you are at Azrael. It really is not such a big deal, and besides, how much does it matter in the scheme of things?
I thought that you were being rather extreme considering the fact that you were really just talking about text speak, yeah...
Anyway, yeah. A rather odd discussion, hope that it all clears up soon, yay!
Back on topic, I rather liked this book, and thought that it was all awesome, man!
ano buh lah girl azrael if no wan agrees wif her she goes mad eveywan has to agree wif her nowan can have her/his say with her callin lem stupid or sumfin . shes goin mad at people for usein text speak like. lats like us goin mad at hur for useing proper grammer. like come on .
forgive me sophie but we didnt degrade dis discussion i said my bit bout da book n sumwan elses cmmnt n azrael said dat i cudnt have an intulectual convo becuz of da way i rite i say again it duznt mttr wat way i rite it da basic principal of my argumnt is still the same n dats not goin tey change.
keelin, I don't really think that Sophie meant that you degraded the discussion in particular. It was really the fact that people are swearing and calling names and being immature, which is really rather unpertinent to our conversation.
The way that you write doesn't exactly change your arguement - but the fact is, people are more likely to take you seriously if you speak with proper grammar and spell things correctly - because that's just the way that things turn out. It really is rather hard to read what you say, and I would personally rather read it written out properly - and then that's just me. I don't agree with what you said earlier about the book, but then again, that's just my opinion.
K, you say that Azrael gets mad if people don't agree with her, which may be true, but then you're getting mad about the fact that people aren't agreeing with you, and I think that there are other ways to say what you said... in a kindlier manner, perhaps?
Oh gah, look at me! I sound like a teacher!
am not gettin mad at the fact lat other people dnt agree wif me im get mad at that girl azaerl cuz nowan can have leere ownn say wif out her callin lem names . n she was just bein a compelte asshole.
Thank you Tate! I was not at all accusing anyone in particular of degrading this discussion, I was just speaking in general that as a whole it has been degraded.And common sense is telling me that I really should not get involved with this part of the discussion, but I need to say that it is so so much easier to read posts when they are written in proper English.
Once again, I probably shouldn't get involved with this, but the point of these threads is to discuss books. Therefore, if you're going to participate, I think that you need to just remember that everyone-really meaning everyone-is completely and utterly entitled to his or her own opinion about the book or whatever is discussed here.
And please, refrain from the swearing/name-calling! Enough already! I don't care about in your personal lives-I know I swear enough usually-but here should be somewhere where we can all coexist without resorting to such base measures.
Sorry about the slight "lecture," I just want to share my opinion, hopefully making this a more enjoyable thread and website in general. But again, sorry...
K, I'm a guy. Everybody else has stopped arguing, please, you do too. As much as I'd love to pick out all the flaws in your argument, I'm going to have to concede that Tate and Sophie are right.So anyway, I found The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass in my loft whilst looking for a book about fractals (which I've still not found). Does anybody mind if the discussion shifts to encompass the entire His Dark Materials trilogy?
PLEASE DO!I didn't join this discussion to read comments that make my head hurt...
So, please, move on =]
everyone needs to calm down !! . i think this book is okay .
I personally loved the series. I can see why people had a hard time getting into them because i had to start over a couple of times to get the story straight in my head. However once I got into them then I couldn't put them down. I love the series because it not only deals with religion, but philosphy, and also science (string theory anyone!) I also loved them because I grew up Catholic and I always hated the dogma behind all the Church's rules. I believe in God and but I don't believe in the man's Church. One the main points of the series is that sometimes religion tends to overstep their boundaries by claiming that their law is God's law. I also loved the series because the relationship of Lyra an Pan. I loved the fact that in this book's worl, souls could actually manifest into living things.
ps. Does people actually write text format now, I mean is that how they write papers, fill job applications, and communicate now days?
actually the golden compass dosnt however the other two books in the seris do
How can you hate a book that you haven't read?Why should you hate something or determine you won't read something just because someone else says you shouldn't?
Surely you need to read this for yourself then form your own opinion no matter what that may be?
Lyn
Just finished rereading the trilogy, and it was as good as (if not better than) the first time I read it. I'd have to say the worst one was The Subtle Knife, but that may be because it suffered from being merely a bridge between the first and last books. The Amber Spyglass, however, was utterly enthralling; I couldn't put it down.I think Pullman could've avoided a lot of negative press if he had refrained from referring to God and The Church, as they are almost exclusively used to refer to the Christian religion. It didn't spoil it for me, as I've never been religious, but as 76.5% of Americans identify as being Christian, I can see why it was probably a bit too close to home for them.
(Though, the irony is, the Authority was a false deity. The story wasn't about trying to kill God, but rather overthrowing a false one. And the Christians got upset about it.)
Azrael- Yes! I know, that is exactly why I don't get this kids calling it a blasphemy to read it, I mean if they really read it and understood what Pullman was saying about false deities, then maybe they would actually like it, or at least get a better argument than "I hate it because it is anti-God propaganda"
It seems to me that most people probably hate this book because they don't understand it.
Thankyou for such an entertaining site.
It is interesting to see young Christians so full of hatred for someone who holds a different opinion.
I recall Jesus saying something about loving your enemies. Christianity isn't about feeling good, its about being ethical and moral. So kids you are sinning in the eyes of Jesus. Luckily for you he forgives you. And you have to be just as generous with Mr Pullman.
Living peacefully in a community with people of differing opinions is the heart of a democracy. You sadly would be more at home in the Nazi Party which allowed the burning of books by people they did not approve of and then the people themselves. Forget Pullman and read The Diary of Anne Frank and other books on the Holocaust. Or actually write a civil letter to Mr Pullman.
I wish you all the best...wayne.
do us all a favour and shut up please also please do not compare any of us to the nazis as having a scwabble about differences of opinion is NOTHING like burning people or putting them in gas chambers thank you very much !!!!!!!!!!!!!
also dont start with the whole sinning against god thing as most of us already know very well about what jesus did or didnt say
as for the books ill comment on them whatever time i get round to finishing all three
I have to say, Wayne, I thought your comment was pretty funny...and sometimes accurate. But not always. That's another reason why it's funny.
Keelin,Please do us all a favor & shut up until you read the books.
@Wayne:As I pointed out in my comment,the book was about overthrowing a false deity, so the Christians should have no problem with that. The bit that they got uppity about was the portrayal of a religion as an evil entity who censor whatever goes against their viewpoints. Unfortunately, they decided to start a boycott on the books, thereby censoring it as it goes against their viewpoints.
Azrael, Enjoyed that last wise and witty comment.
Its good to see the discussion getting back on track after being slightly derailed which is bound to happen especially since everyone is so passionate. If it wasn't for the differing viewpoints( and the passion!) we wouldn't be up to Message 87. I wish I could contact Philip Pullman and get him to join in or at least read this debate.
I watched him on a TV doco last week here in Sydney and he came across as a very genuine and ethical person, hardly what many people would imagine an atheist to be.It is a word that has become so demonised alot of people overreact to it.It merely says what you DON'T believe in,so doesn't even begin to say what you actually are.
PP loves his children and his students, works very hard and really is concerned about helping to make the world a better place. Sounds alot like that guy Jesus.
Myself , I was raised a Catholic. My first theological disagreement with the authorities came when we were told animals never went to heaven. I always questioned what was said .When priests or nuns got angry it seemed to be because they either couldn't answer my questions or thought I was challenging their authority, which I wasn't as I've always just wanted to know.Eventually I ended up in a monastery for seven years and by the time I left I was an atheist, but a very reluctant one.Now I'm a relaxed one!!!!
I recall one of my classes arguing over their beliefs : some believed in the Bible, others the Koran,my Hindu students believed in several gods and I believed in none!!!We all liked each other.
But religion seemed a stumbling block.Finally we agreed that we had to respect each other's differences.And we always went home safely!!!!And stayed friends.
Enjoy your discussion, I am. But it is a bit painful reading the insults Ouch!!!
Hope you come and visit the kangaroos one day.
Cheers from Wayne.
I adore these books and have read all three several times.Yes I am a Atheist - but so what!!! you either like the books or you don't but you have to read them to have an opinion, but that is just my view.
well excuse me elton but its a bit hard to read the books when a)there too hard to get into and b)with my gcses modules cuming up in november finishing off some boring and really pointless trilogy is quite frankly at the bottom of my list and if you think i should just shut up only because i put my education over sepending pointless hours over reading a book that isnt goin to sprout legs anytime soon then you need to seriously rethink your priorities mate
by the way wayne sorry if i seemed a bit harse but im doing history for gcse and we do alot about nazi germany
having read about what they did im not very comfortable being compared to one
anyways see ya all later :P
Wow, love the open-mindedness on display here from some of the younger set. Makes me weep for the future.
If being afraid to read a book because it "kills god" (which by the way it doesn't) or because someone told you it was meant to turn kids atheist, to me that means you are very insecure about your faith. I am religious, but it seems to me that I so completely believe in my religion I can read or watch anything without changing my beliefs. Books about religion and others beliefs are meant as a test. If I can value the author's opinion even though I don't truly believe in them, then I have proven my faith is STRONGER. If I were to not read books because of the suggestions of any religious beliefs I can only think of one reason: I'm scared of my beliefs being changed by someone else's views and am therefore not secure enough in what I believe in.
Thinking for ones self is if possibly the MOST important act EVER. Banning someone from doing it is almost selfish, I don't support parents or religious figures from banning people (children and followers) from reading something that might possibly cause someone to think with their own mind!
Keelin,No, I don't believe you should put off education to read these books. But I do believe you should hold off commenting on them until you do. That is all. And if you never get around to them fine, but don't knock 'em till you try 'em.
Everyone out there has to have something to float their boat, but there's no need to toss rocks into someone's boat just because you don't like the looks of it.
look im not sayin that the books are bad but from what ive read of the first one im not sure weather or not i want to waste my time on finishing them i guess ill have to since i always finish anything i start
Hi Keelin,I'm glad to see you've come to a definite decision about reading the Pullman books.
However why read 3 whole books if they don't grab you!!! You're not obliged to like them or enjoy them.
I read the first two Harry Potters and that was enough for me. But I always suggested to my students that they might like to try them.I gave them as presents to my nephews who loved them and saw some of the movies.I then found something to read that suited ME!!Fantasy doesn't really grab me I'd discovered.
There are millions of good books out there that may speak to you much more than the Pullmans.
What about the Diary of Anne Frank which I mentioned earlier.That got me into reading other diaries and about the Holocaust. I've visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam twice and joined the Holocaust Committee in Sydney.And I still keep a diary.
Has anyone else got any pointers for Keelin for some goood reads??
Let us know what you discover.We might all join you and start discussing the new book!!!
Good Luck and have fun. Fond regards, Wayne, Australia.
thanks for the suggestion wayne but i already read the diary of anne frank and i found it a little lacking as to the point of reading the books until ive finished the first one at least then im not going to giv up on them
ive also got a new series in mind as well as finishing one that ive already started....which reminds me ive got to get that book off lisa
shes had it for nearly 5 months
thanks anyways wayne
l8r :P
Well, just to make sure my first comment here ostracizes me completely, I'll make it clear that I happen to be an atheist. And I wasn't impressed with this story. The drama was just dripping off the pages, and the action scenarios got just a little bit over the top at times for my taste. And then the whole purpose of the story, the rescue which fails miserably, turns out to be nothing but a plot device for the next book. I can handle cliffhanger endings, but not when the whole book ends up being the building and scaling of said cliff, with little or no resolution to any threads at the end. And if Mr. Pullman had an agenda with this series, I can only say it failed to capture my interest, for all the sympathy I might have with his worldview.
M., if you feel that way about the first book, you'll hate The Subtle Knife. It was stinkingly obvious that it was only to serve as a bridge between the first and last books in the trilogy. I'm an Atheist too, but I enjoyed the stories.
My look on this book-even though I have only read half of the first one-is that it was good writing, yes perhaps a little much to read, but still it was pretty nifty. I liked the Daemons, one of my favorite parts, and I really liked the description and idea of the compass. The thing is, if you don't go looking for the Ant-Religion, you won't find it, and over all it makes a nice read. I want a copy of it for myself, it's great for discussion, and usually good for inspiration. =)
Indeed, Elf, the anti-religious topics only seem to occur to you when you've been told that the book is full of anti-religious topics. But it's like that with all media really -- if you see a bad review of something, you'll then go into it thinking it's bad and then you'll think it was bad too.And that's why you should never read reviews. ;)
"In plus, my church is bascally banning us from reading the book. "All the more reason to read the book!
I'm a religious person (but not a christian mind you), and I just don't understand the banning of books.
If you are strong and confident in your own personal beliefs, a novel isn't going to change that.
Reading other peoples perspectives serves for a greater understanding of the world.
Banning books is juvenile.
Banning books is one of the most outrageous things I have ever heard of. We live in America, I will NEVER let anyone tell me what I can or cannot read.
It's only closed-minded people who would refuse to read a book because it might contradict your religion or values. It's important to broaden our horizons and listen to other peoples' opinions in order to learn and grow. I guess I can understand not being entirely interested in reading a book that totally offends you, but at least refrain from forcing your beliefs onto others.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
The Subtle Knife (other topics)
His Dark Materials (other topics)
The Subtle Knife (other topics)
The Golden Compass (other topics)
H.P. Lovecraft (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Books mentioned in this topic
A Chance Beginning (other topics)The Subtle Knife (other topics)
His Dark Materials (other topics)
The Subtle Knife (other topics)
The Golden Compass (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Christopher Patterson (other topics)H.P. Lovecraft (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Reading is about expanding your horizons and using your imagination so to exclude a book automatically for any reason just shows a narrow mind that isn't willing to read anything that might disagree. What book doesn't challenge points of views and opinions??