I have finished reading the first of the trilogy by Philip Pullman called the Golden Compass.  This book takes place in Oxford, England but in a different world from ours.  In this world all humans have animals that are apart of their soul and must go everywhere with their human.  These animals are called demons; demons represent a person’s soul, they show their humans true emotions and are a source of comfort when needed.  Demons also have the ability to change into whatever animal they wish until their human has reached a certain age where they must settle into one shape forever.  The main character Lyra is a rebellious orphan who lives at Jordan College.  She has no real set education at Jordan college, she just lives there and plays with the young kitchen helper Rodger.  Her adventure to discover her true meaning in life starts when her friend Rodger is captured from the Gobblers and she must rescue him. 

One of the reasons why I started reading this book is because of the controversy around it.  Many people believe that Philip Pullman is trying to change children’s opinions about God.  I am a religious person and did not feel my thoughts being swayed by Philip Pullmans ideas, nor did I feel that this book really talked much about the Church.  Because this book is set up in a different world it is hard to compare it the churches of today.  Maybe in reading the second and third book I will begin to see more of Pullman’s atheist ideas.