After I turned the last page to this book a few hours ago, I was wondering why there was so much time between the publication of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and this one (2008 and 2013 respectively). I know good books take time, don't get me wrong. But then I found out a little bit more of what Hosseini does - not only author but he is also a former Goodwill Envoy to the UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency) and the founder of the "Khaled Hosseini Foundation", a non-profit which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
One reason why I love reading Hosseini's work so much is that it opens my eyes to a completely different culture. Previous to reading "The Kite Runner", "A Thousand Splendid Suns", and this new novel, my knowledge of Afghanistan was limited to the Taliban and war which had seemed to wage on for as long as my memory functioned. Therefore, it was a pleasure to read about the Afghanistan that was, the Afghanistan at peace when people did not have to live in turmoil and girls could go to school safely (though still under the thumb of the Soviet regime...).
Hosseini does not paint a rose-tinted glasses version of Afghanistan, but he does want us to see his homeland the way he and his kinsmen did - not just the version we see on the news. He demonstrates his flair for scene-setting that is both sweeping and yet detailed enough to flesh out an image in our mind's eye while stopping short of describing every rock and blade of grass as could be tempting:
"...no-one in sight but the deep copper gorges and vast sandstone cliffs. The desert unrolled ahead of them...the sky high and blue. Rocks shimmered on the cracked floor."
The imagery is stunning and yet not limited to the deserted landscapes:
"Everywhere, he saw traffic lights, and teahouses, and restaurants, and glass-fronted shops with bright multicoloured signs. Cars rattling noisily down the crowded streets, hooting, darting narrowly among buses, pedestrians, and bicycles...The sidewalks...were crowded with cigarette and chewing-gum sellers, magazine stands..."
In terms of plot, the opening chapter sets the tone for the rest of the book. Suleiman, Pari and Abdullah's father, tells them a story in which a div, comes to the village and takes one child. The child chosen is the favourite of this story's main character, Baba Ayub. Baba Ayub eventually goes to search for his child, only to find him not imprisoned by the div but provided for in every single way. Though it breaks his heart, Baba Ayub lets his son go. And thus we know that this story is going to be heart-wrenching. And it is.
Pari and Abdullah share a bond rare between brothers and sisters - the most touching and evident example given in the novel is the one in which Abdullah traded his pair of shoes in order to get a feather for Pari. However, this is broken when Pari is taken by her father to be adopted by a wealthy couple in Kabul. She and Abdullah are separated, likely to never see each other again. There is a moment on the journey to Kabul when Abdullah, ignorant of what is about to happen, promises Pari that they will always be close, and the position one is in as reader is made all the more difficult, because despite being less than thirty pages in we know that this promise is going to be broken.
The story is not just about Pari and Abdullah, however. It follows the stories of other characters, though by the end of the novel we find out how they are all linked. It is done in a very subtle way and more than once I had to stop and try to remember who was link with whom and where and when in time this was happening. Hosseini builds both his characters and his interweaving plots brilliantly. This is a skill which is hard to master - in both books and films characters can be sacrificed for the sake of plot and vice versa - but it is something Hosseini does almost effortlessly - at least, that's the way it looks on the page.
What I really enjoy reading in novels is the way the authors put themselves in the book. Writers, at least in my experience, write because they want to communicate something but want to do so in the guise of a book. In this case, the message is about creating:
"Creating means vandalizing the lives of other people, turning them into unwilling and unwitting participants. You steal their desires, their dreams, pocket their flaws, their suffering. You take what does not belong to you. You do this knowingly."
This was said by Pari's adoptive mother, Nila Wahdati, who turns out to be quite a destructive kind of person, but there is a ring of truth in her words none the less. Authors, poets, journalists, anyone who does some kind of writing gains inspiration from their surroundings. For me, it was an RE lesson about genetic engineering and my imagination ran wild with the possibilities of the technology. Often, writers also do this with people, both in their lives and from ages past. It is not wrong, but it is true.
Overall, I loved this book. I picked it up expecting to love it and it did not disappoint. If you are a fan of Hosseini's work, get it. Borrow it. Read it. And don't worry - it won't break your heart and reduce you to tears like his first two did (and I cry *a lot* through books like this) but that does not make it any less profound or moving.
Until next time!
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Take This Feather
I just finished reading "And The Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini, and was once again blown away by his brilliant storytelling.
Before I write and post the review, though, I wanted to share a poem I composed, inspired by this novel. Now, I know nothing about poetry, and what makes it good or bad, so I have no idea whether the following is good or not. But I like it, and that's a start.
"Take This Feather"
Take this feather, dear sister.
I have painted it with
The colours of my heart, the colours of my soul,
Which I know match yours.
Take this feather, dear sister.
It crosses continents,
Yields not to years,
Defies death.
Take this feather, dear sister.
A little piece of me,
For a little piece of you,
Hold on to it as we could not
Hold on to each other.
Take this feather, dear sister.
As the mind decays and memories fade,
This thing alone will last.
Know what was in my heart,
Since you took it in innocence.
Before I write and post the review, though, I wanted to share a poem I composed, inspired by this novel. Now, I know nothing about poetry, and what makes it good or bad, so I have no idea whether the following is good or not. But I like it, and that's a start.
"Take This Feather"
Take this feather, dear sister.
I have painted it with
The colours of my heart, the colours of my soul,
Which I know match yours.
Take this feather, dear sister.
It crosses continents,
Yields not to years,
Defies death.
Take this feather, dear sister.
A little piece of me,
For a little piece of you,
Hold on to it as we could not
Hold on to each other.
Take this feather, dear sister.
As the mind decays and memories fade,
This thing alone will last.
Know what was in my heart,
Since you took it in innocence.
Sunday, 2 February 2014
Empty Shelf/Mad Reviewer #5 - Brisingr, Christopher Paolini
And here we are in the third stage of the 'Inheritance' cycle by Christopher Paolini: Brisingr. When I first saw the page count - 748 pages - my first thought was, how has Paolini written this much and still made it interesting? Paolini himself said in the acknowledgements that it was originally meant to be a trilogy but there was just too much, hence a fourth book. And he gave a nod to his editor as well - the first draft was apparently a lot longer.
Anyway, a lot has happened in Eragon's life up until this stage (SPOILERS APLENTY HERE!!). His uncle, Garrow, was slain by the Ra'zac; he found a dragon's egg who hatched for him - he named her Saphira; they partnered with Brom who began training Eragon but was later slain; he fled to the Varden in the Beor Mountains with a guy his age called Murtagh; he travelled to Du Weldenvarden and received training from Oromois and Glaedr; and he battled with Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, on the Battle of the Burning Plains.
The book opens with Eragon and Roran trying to figure out how to rescue Katrina, Roran's fiancee, from the Ra'zac in Helgrind. After the rescue they are separated, for the most part, and enters into dual narrative again with some overlaps.
In this Paolini takes us over much more of Alagaesia. From Helgrind, to Surda - where the Varden are contemplating their next move - to Farthen Dur where the dwarves need to elect a new king, to Du Weldenvarden and Ellesmera, so Eragon and Saphira can receive some more training.
It really is remarkable to me how fantasy writers can create entire universes, well-thought out to the very last person and path, and take their readers on an epic journey through their world. What was so interesting to me about Brisingr was the amount I learned about the different civilisations, from the humans, to the Urgals, to the elves and dwarves, and in particular about their politics. The clanmeet, in which the dwarves elect a new king, reveals so much about dwarven politics and how the different clans live and work together. We find out from Rhunon, the elf who makes Eragon a new sword, how the elves used to be before the peace between dragons and elves. We even find out smaller details, such as how precisely to make a sword, in the chapter "Mind Over Metal". I was surprised that Paolini had spent about nine pages on it but, as my friend found out, it was good because it further demonstrates how important it is to Eragon to have a sword befitting his needs and station.
I'll be honest, though - some bits of description I did scan quickly over because I didn't judge them necessary to focus much on, although in terms of world-building, it may be beneficial to learn from them. One particular example was during the seige of Feinster, when Eragon and Arya go into a room in which some spellcasters are attempting to create a Shade (someone inhabited by spirits who becomes incredibly powerful, but the person no longer has complete control over themselves). Paolini described every single bit of the room down to the last piece of furniture which, in my opinion, wasn't necessary, as a more general description can give the reader everything they need to know when visualising a place. I guess that's just Paolini's writing style, though, and it works for him.
There was a great twist in this (AGAIN, SPOILERS) that I probably could have seen coming, but did not. Eragon was told by Murtagh in "Eldest" that he is the son of Morzan, one of the forsworn who betrayed the Riders to Galbatorix, the evil king. Obviously this gives Eragon a bit of an identity crisis, considering how appalling Morzan is, but he finds out that this is not actually the case. His father is, in fact, Brom. MIND BLOWN.
This book was a bit of a mission to complete in a week, I'll be honest. But it was worth it. I look forward to reading Inheritance in a couple of weeks (I've got some library books I need to read first) and see how Paolini brings this great series to an end.
Until next time!
Anyway, a lot has happened in Eragon's life up until this stage (SPOILERS APLENTY HERE!!). His uncle, Garrow, was slain by the Ra'zac; he found a dragon's egg who hatched for him - he named her Saphira; they partnered with Brom who began training Eragon but was later slain; he fled to the Varden in the Beor Mountains with a guy his age called Murtagh; he travelled to Du Weldenvarden and received training from Oromois and Glaedr; and he battled with Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn, on the Battle of the Burning Plains.
The book opens with Eragon and Roran trying to figure out how to rescue Katrina, Roran's fiancee, from the Ra'zac in Helgrind. After the rescue they are separated, for the most part, and enters into dual narrative again with some overlaps.
In this Paolini takes us over much more of Alagaesia. From Helgrind, to Surda - where the Varden are contemplating their next move - to Farthen Dur where the dwarves need to elect a new king, to Du Weldenvarden and Ellesmera, so Eragon and Saphira can receive some more training.
It really is remarkable to me how fantasy writers can create entire universes, well-thought out to the very last person and path, and take their readers on an epic journey through their world. What was so interesting to me about Brisingr was the amount I learned about the different civilisations, from the humans, to the Urgals, to the elves and dwarves, and in particular about their politics. The clanmeet, in which the dwarves elect a new king, reveals so much about dwarven politics and how the different clans live and work together. We find out from Rhunon, the elf who makes Eragon a new sword, how the elves used to be before the peace between dragons and elves. We even find out smaller details, such as how precisely to make a sword, in the chapter "Mind Over Metal". I was surprised that Paolini had spent about nine pages on it but, as my friend found out, it was good because it further demonstrates how important it is to Eragon to have a sword befitting his needs and station.
I'll be honest, though - some bits of description I did scan quickly over because I didn't judge them necessary to focus much on, although in terms of world-building, it may be beneficial to learn from them. One particular example was during the seige of Feinster, when Eragon and Arya go into a room in which some spellcasters are attempting to create a Shade (someone inhabited by spirits who becomes incredibly powerful, but the person no longer has complete control over themselves). Paolini described every single bit of the room down to the last piece of furniture which, in my opinion, wasn't necessary, as a more general description can give the reader everything they need to know when visualising a place. I guess that's just Paolini's writing style, though, and it works for him.
There was a great twist in this (AGAIN, SPOILERS) that I probably could have seen coming, but did not. Eragon was told by Murtagh in "Eldest" that he is the son of Morzan, one of the forsworn who betrayed the Riders to Galbatorix, the evil king. Obviously this gives Eragon a bit of an identity crisis, considering how appalling Morzan is, but he finds out that this is not actually the case. His father is, in fact, Brom. MIND BLOWN.
This book was a bit of a mission to complete in a week, I'll be honest. But it was worth it. I look forward to reading Inheritance in a couple of weeks (I've got some library books I need to read first) and see how Paolini brings this great series to an end.
Until next time!
Friday, 24 January 2014
Empty Shelf/Mad Reviewer Challenge #4 - "Instructions For Visitors" by Helen Stevenson
First off, I love books about France. I mean, this is only the second author I've read who has written about France (the first being Joanne Harris) but so far I've had a very good experience.
"Instructions For Visitors" is Stevenson's memoir of her life as an expat in a small town in Southern France, and in particular her love affair with a Frenchman called Luc. She develops good friendships with eccentric characters in the village, celebrating but also puzzled by her life in France compared to what life would look like back in England.
Stevenson really nails the "show, don't tell" rule of writing. She creates stunning imagery with delicious phrases: "Down on the beach the endless tiny lapping movement movement of the sea mills them to yellow salt, mingled with stale crustaceans, the nail clippings of the ocean bed. The sun has a simple journey to make each day, rising from a sea and setting in an ocean." On every page I felt like she was guiding me round the village, driving me in the car up to Luc's farm, inviting me into her new and strange friendships. It was such an easy and relaxing novel to enjoy, though not without its share of substance, particularly related to the complexities of human relationships.
There are books that you cannot go to sleep without finishing. And there are books which you can immerse yourself in but it's easy enough to put down and pick up the next day without feeling tense in between because you need to find out what happened. This is the latter. I was absorbed in every page but I could wait to find out more, which, in terms of sleep, was probably better!
Overally, a thoroughly enjoyable novel, and one which I would highly recommend to someone who is looking for an easy but absorbing read.
Until next time!
"Instructions For Visitors" is Stevenson's memoir of her life as an expat in a small town in Southern France, and in particular her love affair with a Frenchman called Luc. She develops good friendships with eccentric characters in the village, celebrating but also puzzled by her life in France compared to what life would look like back in England.
Stevenson really nails the "show, don't tell" rule of writing. She creates stunning imagery with delicious phrases: "Down on the beach the endless tiny lapping movement movement of the sea mills them to yellow salt, mingled with stale crustaceans, the nail clippings of the ocean bed. The sun has a simple journey to make each day, rising from a sea and setting in an ocean." On every page I felt like she was guiding me round the village, driving me in the car up to Luc's farm, inviting me into her new and strange friendships. It was such an easy and relaxing novel to enjoy, though not without its share of substance, particularly related to the complexities of human relationships.
There are books that you cannot go to sleep without finishing. And there are books which you can immerse yourself in but it's easy enough to put down and pick up the next day without feeling tense in between because you need to find out what happened. This is the latter. I was absorbed in every page but I could wait to find out more, which, in terms of sleep, was probably better!
Overally, a thoroughly enjoyable novel, and one which I would highly recommend to someone who is looking for an easy but absorbing read.
Until next time!
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Empty Shelf Challenge/Mad Review #3 - "Bring Up The Bodies" by Hilary Mantel
"We think time cannot touch the dead, but it touches their monuments, leaving them snub-nosed and stub-fingered from the accidents and attrition of time."
"Bring Up The Bodies", Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize winner sequel to her Booker Prize-winning "Wolf Hall", follows the period of time in which Henry VIII, after finally casting off Katherine of Aragon, starts to lose interest in Anne Boleyn, compounded by the fact that, after all this time and all this upheaveal, she still has not given him a son. After meeting Jane Seymour, the king tells Cromwell, in hints at first, then more explicitly, he wishes to be rid of Boleyn. His reasoning? He did not think the marriage is lawful after all. The story is narrated through Cromwell's point of view, though still in third person.
A book likes this makes me wish I were a better writer, simply so I could write a review that does justice to a brilliant book like this. I'm not saying it's brilliant just because it won the Man Booker Prize in 2012. It was that knowledge which made me deliberately examine it more as I was reading it to try and judge why it did win.
Most of the time I was reading this book I felt like I was being gently carried along by a smooth-flowing river, or floating in a dream. It was so easy to lose yourself in the narrative, and more than once I had a "wait, what?" moment that resulted in going back paragraphs, or even pages, to try and find my place in the story again.
The use of third-person present tense narrative was partly what, in my view, made this book so fantastic. The tone it results in is menacing - quietly so, at first, but increasing in volume. Cromwell is doing the best he can - it is no mean feat, bringing down a queen of England, let alone trying to do it legally, as well as protecting himself from the jealousy and haughty contempt of higher-born men surrounding the king - and although he foreshadows that it is likely that he himself will be brought down at some point, neither he nor the reader could say for certain.
Mantel herself writes at the end that she does not claim authority for her version of events. She is only offering the reader a proposal, and using a different point of narrative to display events of centuries past. We may never know whether Anne Boleyn truly committed adultery or not. What we do know is that she failed to produce an heir, Henry couldn't abide this and turned his attentions to Jane Seymour, and he bid Cromwell do his dirty work for him.
I personally found this book fascinating all the more because it was written from Cromwell's point of view. He is clever, calculating, and deliberate in all his moves. To keep a king of England in order, much less Henry VIII, while trying to keep himself from the reach of more noble men with a jealous eye, must have made for a tiring but no doubt satisfying occupation. I am definitely going to seek out "Wolf Hall" very soon, and indeed other works by Mantel. A very good read indeed.
Until next time!
Thursday, 16 January 2014
A bit of exciting news to start the day!
I'm very grateful to Warwick University in many ways. Firstly, their entry requirements for Classical Civilisation (my degree) were ABB but they still let me in with a BBB. Thank goodness.
Secondly, the course was (mostly) amazing and I really couldn't imagine studying anything else.
Thirdly, I met some absolutely incredible people, including my lovely husband, there, and am still friends with these people over 3 years since graduation. (Seems like a small bit of time, but not that insignificant when a lot of us are now all over the country!)
Fourthly, they really like to big up their graduates! I saw a while ago on the Warwick Alumni section a special page for graduates whom have published books since their graduation. I wasn't sure whether my book, X&Y, would count, seeing as it's self-published, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. And the very lovely people at Warwick Alumni services put it on!
Follow the link to share in my joy :)
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/alumnipublications/
Until next time!
Secondly, the course was (mostly) amazing and I really couldn't imagine studying anything else.
Thirdly, I met some absolutely incredible people, including my lovely husband, there, and am still friends with these people over 3 years since graduation. (Seems like a small bit of time, but not that insignificant when a lot of us are now all over the country!)
Fourthly, they really like to big up their graduates! I saw a while ago on the Warwick Alumni section a special page for graduates whom have published books since their graduation. I wasn't sure whether my book, X&Y, would count, seeing as it's self-published, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. And the very lovely people at Warwick Alumni services put it on!
Follow the link to share in my joy :)
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/alumnipublications/
Until next time!
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Empty Shelf/Mad Reviewer #2 - Eldest, Christopher Paolini
Just before I start properly, I wanted to add a note to my 'Empty Shelf' Challenge. I found a great blog called "The Mad Reviewer" and she has issued a challenge to read and review a certain number of books in 2014, according to how much time you have:
http://carrieslager.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/the-mad-reviewer-reading-and-reviewing-challenge-2014-sign-up/
I have signed up to the status of "Crazy Reviewer" which means I will attempt to read and review 52 books this year. Thus the "Empty Shelf" and "Mad Reviewer" challenges are combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again, I am indebted to Jennie who, it's pretty fair to say, is my first "go-to" for new books to read. She guided me to Stephen King books that would not scare the crap out of me while enabling me to appreciate why he is so freaking amazing; she introduced me to Joanne Harris, whose books I now always look for in libraries and book stores; and now, I am reading the "Eragon" series.
"Eragon" and "Eldest" remind why I really love fantasy. It's incredible to read stories set in worlds that sprang entirely from the author's imagination. Yes, it may be pretty much the plot of 'Star Wars' but that doesn't take from the fact that Paolini created an entire world that's believable, that works according to very specific rules and logic, and that's so rich and diverse, when he was only fifteen.
Here's a few things I enjoyed about "Eldest", the second in the "Inheritance Cycle":
1) It didn't bore me. Obviously, it's a fairly fundamental intention of books to not bore its readers, but when you're dealing with a book 668 pages long, that's a pretty substantial achievement. Always something was happening to keep the reader interested. Even Eragon's training with the elves, which could have been repetitive and tedious to trudge though, I found fascinating.
2) The dual stories. I can imagine it's tough as an author to keep two different plot arcs going in one novel (I haven't attempted it yet) while ensuring that they're not so separate to belong in different novels altogether. I found Roran's story even better than Eragon's at times. That was probably due to the fact that Roran was having to deal with a lot more pressing matters than Eragon was, but it was great having the insight into lives that, though affected by Eragon's actions, were having to cope without the benefit of a Rider in their midst.
3) The character arcs. Both Eragon and Roran go through irrevocable changes in the book. Again, that's a fundamental of writing - to have an interesting arc that leaves the character fundamentally changed, otherwise what's the point of investing time in them? - but still, the changes Eragon and Roran experience are pretty drastic. Eragon is changing all the time through his bond with Saphira and communion with the elves, but he expects that and is equipped for it. Roran did not expect needing to kill in order to keep his village safe, and that leaves its scars. I liked that Roran was counting those he had slain - he is wary that the more he kills the more his humanity is under threat and that he is in danger of losing himself. From the man who had simple ambitions in life - learn a trade and become a man worthy to marry the woman he loves - he has to deal with the loss of his father, the - what he thinks as - betrayal of Eragon, and the threat to his village. He becomes the leader of a frightened rabble and pulls them together into a formidable force in order to save them from the mighty Empire. I would not be surprised if, in Brisingr, he is elevated to a high position within the Varden, so great were his deeds in this book.
And something I wasn't sure about...
Sometimes, I admit, I did cringe a little at his choice of language. Choice examples include "waxed eloquent" and the dwarves' constant use of "Thou, thine, mine (instead of 'my')" etc. I'm sure that these were deliberate and considered choices by Paolini, but it sometimes struck me as a bit...pretentious? That's probably a strong word, but the times when this language was used jarred so much with the simplistic and easy flow of the rest of the book. Just my opinion, though.
Overall, though, I am loving these books. I'm going to take a break before 'Brisingr', though, to read "Bring Up The Bodies" by Hilary Mantel, the next in my Empty Shelf/Mad Reviewer Challenge. (Purely because I've gotten it out of the library and it's been sitting on the coffee table for a week already...)
Until next time!
http://carrieslager.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/the-mad-reviewer-reading-and-reviewing-challenge-2014-sign-up/
I have signed up to the status of "Crazy Reviewer" which means I will attempt to read and review 52 books this year. Thus the "Empty Shelf" and "Mad Reviewer" challenges are combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again, I am indebted to Jennie who, it's pretty fair to say, is my first "go-to" for new books to read. She guided me to Stephen King books that would not scare the crap out of me while enabling me to appreciate why he is so freaking amazing; she introduced me to Joanne Harris, whose books I now always look for in libraries and book stores; and now, I am reading the "Eragon" series.
"Eragon" and "Eldest" remind why I really love fantasy. It's incredible to read stories set in worlds that sprang entirely from the author's imagination. Yes, it may be pretty much the plot of 'Star Wars' but that doesn't take from the fact that Paolini created an entire world that's believable, that works according to very specific rules and logic, and that's so rich and diverse, when he was only fifteen.
Here's a few things I enjoyed about "Eldest", the second in the "Inheritance Cycle":
1) It didn't bore me. Obviously, it's a fairly fundamental intention of books to not bore its readers, but when you're dealing with a book 668 pages long, that's a pretty substantial achievement. Always something was happening to keep the reader interested. Even Eragon's training with the elves, which could have been repetitive and tedious to trudge though, I found fascinating.
2) The dual stories. I can imagine it's tough as an author to keep two different plot arcs going in one novel (I haven't attempted it yet) while ensuring that they're not so separate to belong in different novels altogether. I found Roran's story even better than Eragon's at times. That was probably due to the fact that Roran was having to deal with a lot more pressing matters than Eragon was, but it was great having the insight into lives that, though affected by Eragon's actions, were having to cope without the benefit of a Rider in their midst.
3) The character arcs. Both Eragon and Roran go through irrevocable changes in the book. Again, that's a fundamental of writing - to have an interesting arc that leaves the character fundamentally changed, otherwise what's the point of investing time in them? - but still, the changes Eragon and Roran experience are pretty drastic. Eragon is changing all the time through his bond with Saphira and communion with the elves, but he expects that and is equipped for it. Roran did not expect needing to kill in order to keep his village safe, and that leaves its scars. I liked that Roran was counting those he had slain - he is wary that the more he kills the more his humanity is under threat and that he is in danger of losing himself. From the man who had simple ambitions in life - learn a trade and become a man worthy to marry the woman he loves - he has to deal with the loss of his father, the - what he thinks as - betrayal of Eragon, and the threat to his village. He becomes the leader of a frightened rabble and pulls them together into a formidable force in order to save them from the mighty Empire. I would not be surprised if, in Brisingr, he is elevated to a high position within the Varden, so great were his deeds in this book.
And something I wasn't sure about...
Sometimes, I admit, I did cringe a little at his choice of language. Choice examples include "waxed eloquent" and the dwarves' constant use of "Thou, thine, mine (instead of 'my')" etc. I'm sure that these were deliberate and considered choices by Paolini, but it sometimes struck me as a bit...pretentious? That's probably a strong word, but the times when this language was used jarred so much with the simplistic and easy flow of the rest of the book. Just my opinion, though.
Overall, though, I am loving these books. I'm going to take a break before 'Brisingr', though, to read "Bring Up The Bodies" by Hilary Mantel, the next in my Empty Shelf/Mad Reviewer Challenge. (Purely because I've gotten it out of the library and it's been sitting on the coffee table for a week already...)
Until next time!
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