The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
The Book of Dust, Volume 2
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The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
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Narrated by:
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Michael Sheen
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Written by:
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Philip Pullman
About this listen
The number one New York Times best seller!
Return to the world of His Dark Materials - now an HBO original series starring Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, and Lin-Manuel Miranda - in the second volume of Philip Pullman’s new best-selling masterwork, The Book of Dust.
The windows between the many worlds have been sealed, and the momentous adventures of Lyra Silvertongue’s youth are long behind her - or so she thought. Lyra is now a 20-year-old undergraduate at St. Sophia’s College, and intrigue is swirling around her once more. Her daemon, Pantalaimon, is witness to a brutal murder, and the dying man entrusts them with secrets that carry echoes from their past.
The more Lyra is drawn into these mysteries, the less she is sure of. Even the events of her own past come into question when she learns of Malcolm Polstead’s role in bringing her to Jordan College.
Now, Lyra and Malcolm will travel far beyond the confines of Oxford, across Europe and into the Levant, searching for a city haunted by daemons, and a desert said to hold the truth of Dust. The dangers they face will challenge everything they thought they knew about the world, and about themselves.
Praise for The Book of Dust
"It’s a stunning achievement, this universe Pullman has created and continues to build on." (The New York Times)
"Pullman’s writing is simple, unpretentious, beautiful, true. The conclusion to The Book of Dust can’t come soon enough." (The Washington Post)
©2019 Philip Pullman (P)2019 Listening LibraryWhat the critics say
"Michael Sheen throws himself wholeheartedly into narrating this sequel to La Belle Sauvage, and listeners will be rapt.... For the ever-expanding international cast of characters, Sheen conjures a multitude of accents and delivers rapid-fire conversations between them. He's in step with the text at every turn; when situations become fraught or dangerous, Sheen ramps up the tension exquisitely. Thanks to Pullman's intricate storytelling and Sheen's propulsive narration, listeners will be on the edge of their seats right up to the cliff-hanger ending." (AudioFile Magazine)
"The Secret Commonwealth is a majestic return to Lyra’s next chapter with all the magic, folklore, and fantasy only Philip Pullman can provide." (Hypable)
"A big novel full of big ideas, big characters and big sorrows.... This book feels like a response to the darkness of our time." (NPR)
"Pullman’s best novel so far. A work of extraordinary depth and humanity." (The Observer)
What listeners say about The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tyler
- 2020-09-25
The narrator makes this book!
I loved the character voice performances by this reader. I was on the edge of my seat!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chenoa LeBlanc
- 2020-02-17
I wish Michael Sheen could narrate every book!
Honestly the best audio book I’ve listened to in a long time. He’s a master. I am devastated to have to wait for the third book now.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mavo
- 2019-10-30
Lyra is back!
Lyra is back, and so is Phillip Pullman. Although I enjoyed the Book of Dust, it just didn't have the same visceral quality of the first Dark Materials trilogy. So was I monumentally thrilled when I started listening to the Secret Commonwealth. Although the Book of Dust was a prequel to the Golden Compass, this book is a sequel to the Amber Spyglass, and the treachery of the Magisterium is back in full force. And this time, Lyra has in some way, lost herself. As we follow her angst, we wonder where that spunky, sharp little girl has gone to, now that she has grown up. The setting is spread across a dozen countries in Europe and the near East, with delicious characters and places, intense with smells, particularly that of 'rose oil'. Wait, no more spoilers. You HAVE to read this if you loved the Dark Materials.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- KnowYourRights
- 2019-10-31
Spoiler Alert (sort of)
Excellent listen. Narrator is a very good actor. With respect to the story - I wish the second book didn't finish the way it did. This book does not have a feeling of a conclusion like the first book did. Instead, this one requires that you read the third. And since the third is not available yet, I am sitting with a feeling of disappointment rather than excitement. I don't like to read/listen to get half of a story. I want a real conclusion, not a cliffhanger like this. I'm sure the third book will be great. But in an on-demand era, I almost get so mad at this kind of ending to blacklist.... almost.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel Tascona
- 2021-04-02
Can't wait for the next installment!
The narrator's performance was excellent, as was the story. Lots of interesting characters and he gave a unique voice to each one.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-03-25
Great work enhanced with great performance
I am so happy to be able to be back in Lyra’s world, a lot more real and colorful, and as adventurous and full of surprise as the first trilogy. Just like how they have shaped my thoughts and behavior in my young years, this book has made me feel stronger and lot more determined. Thank you Phillip Pullman for this great gift. Narration has done so professionally and artful. I loved listening to every bit of it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ray Parker
- 2021-09-12
Great continuation of a classic story
I love how this series has stuck with Lyra and transitioned from a series of young adult fiction to adult fiction . Much like the original readers of this series have matured. There are some traumatic and perhaps even dystopian events that lend to the original storyline while also letting you know that things are not as we remember them in His Dark Materials.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Oliver
- 2019-12-27
Darkest materials yet
I saw the first series on display in the kid's section of the local bookstore and thought "Not this sequel and not the prequel, it's all grown up." and that's not a criticism but it does make this out to be a different expedience and a fascinating evolution. This one as the last is excellent but the narration disjointed in places as we follow the characters apart, it can be a bit jarring as in some cases we leap from a cryptic encounter to a domestic calm to suddenly we're far away and things have gotten strange and grim. It's a gothic steampunk engine pulling a train and it ends at the station with all the passengers where we knew they'd be. The next book has a lot of gaps to fill and I look forward to seeing how and even if it all comes together.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- megan
- 2020-04-18
Interesting story
The story was very engaging and Michael sheen did an amazing job narrating. I was so impressed, recommend!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- elle
- 2020-10-14
Michael Sheen's performance is excellent.
My favourite part of the first book in this series was Michael Sheen's performance and he again does a phenomenal job here.
I know that this book and this series (The Book of Dust) has received some bad reviews, especially when compared to the first trilogy (His Dark Materials). I loved His Dark Materials and I have to say that I still quite like The Book of Dust. Yes, this is much darker and more grown-up, but I've tried to accept it for what it is, not what I think it should be. There is discomfort in this book, yet it is still intriguing, interesting, thought-provoking and entertaining.
I eagerly await the next volume - especially if Michael Sheen does the reading again.
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1 person found this helpful