filling fantasy
I read, actually that’s not true, I didn’t read them. I devoured two fantasy books this past week and while they have weaknesses, I enjoyed both. I recommend them with the warning that, as of yet, sequels are not yet available. Read them at your own risk.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The first few chapters left me unsure of this book, but once I plowed past them it improved greatly. I am struggling to decide what write for a book which totally engrossed me and had me put aside things I really needed to do in order to read 300 pages last night in order to finish before I had to return it today (due to my not thinking about the due date). The Telling of the story, the character, world, and development completely engrossed me. It also reminded me of parts of my past that I had set aside and were now missing from my life. I am slowly bringing those back and the joy they bring me are priceless.
I wish I had realized that The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two will be released in April 2009. I will wait impatiently for it’s publication.
I picked this book up more because Jones is a Barnard Alumna (’08) than for any other reason.
I enjoy dragon stories, but the mechanical yet magical-ness of the dragons did not catch and hold me to this story, and thus it fails to earn it’s fifth star.
It does earn four however for the following reasons:
the pace, the language, and the relationships of the story, while not perfect, kept and held me until I had devoured this book. I thought about the world in which it was set and contemplated the “outside the scenes” actions … that sort of thing hasn’t happened for me in a while. That earned this book three stars.
The fourth was earned because I was impressed by the language choices and really enjoyed the fresh-ness of it. I’ve read plenty of “street” stories and rarely have I found a character who felt free to be him or herself and cuss and they needed to.
However, this is not the novel I thought it was and I found many failings in character (and to some degree, world) development. I was not impressed with the dragons as there wasn’t enough discussion of them. The brief descriptions of their workings felt stuck in there like a post-it and detracted because it left me daydreaming about how it could happen.
I also wonder why the women characters are portrayed as they were, though based on my Barnard experience I may (falsely) understand.
I look forward to reading more from Jones and Bennett in the future.
Please feel free to view all my reviews at goodreads.
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4 Replies to “filling fantasy”
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> based on my BC experience
It’s amazing how often acronyms are reused, esp. in the context of universities; I went from SUNY-Bunghamton, aka Binghamton University, self-styled “BU” to Boston University, the – as far as I know – original “BU”. . . and around here, “BC” means Boston College, which bears similarly NO resemblence to Barnard College. . . . just thought I’d mention :)
duly noted and edited for future readers. thanks. :)
I bought Havemercy because I accidenty bought the cover art as a painting. I loved the art, so I bought it. I just didn’t know it was a cover piece ;)
It looks wonderful in full size..
Also, if you haven’t read them, read the Naomi Novik books. I know you had her as a TA, which is just cool…
re Naomi’s books, I’ve not yet read the new one. I TA’d for her 3x (maybe 4?). She never TA’d me… as far as I can recall. If anyone remembers life from way back then care to comment? I’m curious who else reads this blabber. ;)
I must say I’d *love* the coverart fullsize. I hope they expand upon the mechanical dragons or are very fanfic friendly.