Hi again

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

You may remember me as the newbie from a few posts back. I just thought I'd pop in to say that I finished reading King of Attolia yesterday, and it was OMGdkjngkdfjngkd so awesome. ^_^' As you can see, I really liked it. Actually, I loved it. I think it's my favourite out of the three.

And I've got my mum reading The Thief right now, and it's fun hearing what she thinks is going to happen. She is, of course, completely clueless, though. Oh, and she got a kick out of the story about the lightning bolts. I'm really anxious for her to get to the end though, so I can jump around and say, "Oh! You didn't see THAT coming, did you?! AHAHA!"

And thanks to everyone who welcomed me to the community! I made myself a KoA icon, as you can see. It doesn't have cool text on it, but honestly, that cover's so awesome it doesn't need anything...


Eugenides grew on me so much throughout the books that before I knew it he was one of my favourite characters ever. I love that guy so much. I love how he's not your typical 'hero', and he has flaws, but hidden depths as well. My mum, who's about half-way through The Thief right now, was saying something about Gen, and then wondered if she was giving him too much credit, and I told her that I thought it was safe to say that she wasn't giving him too much credit. I don't even remember what it was, but I think that applies in most situations with Gen. Even after three books, it's easy to underestimate him, even if you don't realise you're doing it.

I like Eddis a lot. The Queen, I mean. I guess I could just call her Helen. :P Anyway, I think she's a rather cool character. I kind of missed her in this book. I cheered when she got a scene. The magus has kind of grown on me too, but I keep picturing him as Anthony Hopkins for some reason. o_O'

Attolia AKA Irene. I really like her, and I don't know why. I'm actually kind of surprised. But I was glad whenever she showed up. She and Eugenides make quite the pair. I thought the whole crying on their wedding night was very realistic, and the throwing of the ink jar. XD I thought that was great.

Relius is an AWESOME character.

And Costis. I liked Costis as well.

Oh, oh, and Sophos! OMG, Sophos! He can't be dead! I'm telling you, he's got to be alive!

...That is all.

Comments

[dannybailey.livejournal.com]

I keep picturing him as Anthony Hopkins for some reason.

I actually like that a lot.

Check out this post (http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/12280.html) for other people's thoughts on actors.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Yay! You finished KOA! And a belated welcome, too.

It's funny what you said about Eugenides. I was talking to someone who recently reread the two earlier books then read KoA, and she said, "I love Eugenides. He's so...flawed." It sounds like your mom has his number, though, if she is giving him too much credit. It's easy to underestimate him, although those who do usually regret it.

And the Magus is totally Sam Neill. *sighs*

So, fast, what you have to do now is read the Esteemed Authors' answers to many questions. The reason I say fast is because rowana is going to delete the threads in the next day or two, so read them now and print them for your mom to read later.

http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/24280.html?mode=reply

http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/25695.html?mode=reply

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Oh yeah, and I just remembered another thing my mum said about Eugenides... she thinks he's very patient and that he's good at biding his time. I'm inclined to agree with that characterisation of him, even though she's only read half of the first book and I've read all three, I think it's accurate. I'd be interested to know what everyone here thought about that.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

And the Magus is totally Sam Neill. *sighs*

*mutters quiet disagreement*

:) And yes, the threads will probably be taken down this Friday - I decided to leave a week extra - so get them read before then. :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

And the Magus is totally Sam Neill. *sighs*

*mutters quiet disagreement*

What the heck! Alright, Queen Ro, who makes a better magus? Anthony Hopkins is Too Old. The man is almost 70!

[rowana.livejournal.com]

What the heck! Alright, Queen Ro, who makes a better magus? Anthony Hopkins is Too Old. The man is almost 70!

I think we've already had this argument. You said Sam Neill could smack you with a riding crop any day

:D

Yes. I still think Ian McKellen would be better, or even Ian Holm. Alan Rickman's an interesting thought, but not quite right. It's just...Sam Neill looks too much like someone from a western to me. I can picture him as a cowboy, but not as the Magus. It could be because I've never actually seen him act in anything. *hides*

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

My, what a LONG memory you have. :)

Too old, too old! Think of someone in his 40s, maybe early 50s.

You could be right about the western thing. *ponders others*

[rowana.livejournal.com]

*grins* I just clicked on the link Dannybailey provided above.

It's difficult to find an appropriate person that age. I never realised casting was that difficult. :)

threads

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

and can these be re-posted? Or e-mailed? please? oh keeper of the archives ...

Re: threads

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I'll have a look and try and email them to you on Wednesday. Is your email address on your profile page? If not, just type it in a reply comment. :)

Re: threads

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Is your email address on your profile page?

I had to check, and make is visible. Now it is :)

Is there a way to be notified when people add new comments to old entries?

Re: threads

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I had to check, and make is visible. Now it is :)

Excellent. :)

Is there a way to be notified when people add new comments to old entries?

If the new comment is being made in reply to an old entry which you made, you should receive the comment by email. If you mean old entries in general, made by everyone, I don't think there is a way to be notified. But, for example, you should be getting this comment, by email, as I'm making it in reply to your comment. :) If that makes sense.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, and, favorite part of KoA??

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Favourite part, oh man, how am I going to choose... honestly, any part where Eugenides and Irene were interacting. I also loved the 'go to bed' scene when he was on the roof, but whenever there's a part like that where he's climbing around, I'm terrified he's going to fall. :S Really, I loved the whole book, so it's hard to pick just one part. I just keep thinking of more parts I loved, I could go on for ages.

[dh684.livejournal.com]

QoA still remains my favorite of the three books simply because there's just so much going on and I like the overall angstiness of it all.

KoA is a close second though because I really enjoy the glimpse into Gen and Irene's marriage. After QoA, I believed that they loved each other but wondered if it was going to be enough and I feel KoA addresses that question satisfactorily. My favorite part of KoA is probably the whole sequence of events which begins to expose the true nature of their relationship to all of the court. And after her fainting scene, Attolia really became Irene for me. With regard to Gen and Irene's dance, was Gen just pulling out Irene's hairpins because he could?

Eddis is still Eddis to me though as opposed to Helen. I do hope that we learn more of her story in the next book, maybe from her pov and get more from Gen and Irene's pov too although I like Costis well enough.

I found this article on KoA and some other books listed below.

http://www.startribune.com/384/story/348112.html

I wondering what I should be reading next.

Also, here's a thread re: KoA:

http://tinyurl.com/hxlfd

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

With regard to Gen and Irene's dance, was Gen just pulling out Irene's hairpins because he could?

That's what I thought. That he wanted to show everyone (including his wife) who doubted that he could dance the Eddisian dance that not only could he do it with one hand, but he could do it while he pulled out all her hairpins, too.

Read Howl's Moving Castle, The Eagle of the Ninth, or Cordelia's Honor (Bujold). Or Twilight (Meyer).

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Seconding what Checkers said.

I think that as patient as he is he's really a show-off underneath and he was getting pissed off at everyone doubting and pitying him - so he wanted to show that he could do more with one hand than what most people could do with two.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I think that as patient as he is he's really a show-off underneath and he was getting pissed off at everyone doubting and pitying him - so he wanted to show that he could do more with one hand than what most people could do with two.

That's an interesting idea. I agree actually. That whole scene was very interesting, and I think there's still more to be looked at, like the reactions of other people to Gen's pulling Irene down the steps, and pulling her hairpins out. He seemed to be in a better mood afterwards, to me.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Yes, Gen pulling Irene down the stairs. Did anyone else think he made a mistake by doing that in public?

[rowana.livejournal.com]

That was...yes. I just re-read that scene and it seems to be another point showing the nature of Irene and Gen's relationship. But perhaps the point is that it had to be in public, it was the public who didn't seem to understand after all.

Am I just rambling now? :) I liked the line about how 'she did not manage him like a dog on a chain'. I think the dance just showed that. In a way, it was just Gen being King. I think.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I thought Irene did an admirable job of letting Gen be Gen. It must have been hard after running things for so many years.

[dh684.livejournal.com]

In the end, I think they quite enjoyed themselves and Eugenides was able to demonstrate to the Court that the Queen could, in fact, on occasion let her hair down.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

:D

[dh684.livejournal.com]

Read Howl's Moving Castle, The Eagle of the Ninth, or Cordelia's Honor (Bujold). Or Twilight (Meyer).

Thanks for the book recs, Checkers. I've been in a mini-reading slump, but I'll keep THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH in mind. I've already read books #1 and #2 and attempted but did not finish TWILIGHT.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I've already read books #1 and #2

Of the Vorkosigan books? Or something else?

[dh684.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I meant I've already read Howl's Moving Castle (book #1) and
Cordelia's Honor (book #3). Now, for a change of pace, I'm looking at a thriller, VANISH by Tess Gerritsen.

And two more

[dh684.livejournal.com]

http://thassalia.livejournal.com/276879.html#cutid2

http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/2006/04/king-of-attolia.html

One more link

[dh684.livejournal.com]

re: King of Attolia

http://minnow1212.livejournal.com/247905.html

Re: One more link

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

That's great. Do they know about us? They could come squee with us.

Nice icon...

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I keep picturing him as Anthony Hopkins for some reason. o_O'

:D I had to bite my hand to keep from laughing at that in the library today. :D I can actually picture that quite well.

On Gen's character, I agree, it was just so easy in KoA to expect him to still be a bit bitter about the loss of his hand. But I think we're getting used to his surprises. :)

And Irene and Helen are fantastic, as are Relius and Costis. And as for Sophos...I think I'll start a speculation thread soon. :)

Re: Nice icon...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I had to bite my hand to keep from laughing at that in the library today.

Ha!

it was just so easy in KoA to expect him to still be a bit bitter about the loss of his hand.

That's why I was very glad to see Gen destroy his bedchamber. Although it was somewhat directed at Nahuseresh(sp?) I thought he had to still be, somewhere deep down, angry and bitter at the loss of his hand, and no matter how much he loved her some of that had to be directed at Irene. He suffered so much and had to live with a tremendous (for him) and unecessary handicap. I felt that was a very realistic reaction and it made his attendants and Costis look at him in a different way. They saw more of his dangereous side, and felt a bit more sympathy towards him.

Re: Nice icon...

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I agree, it had to happen. Although a lot of the summaries of the book talk about this book affirming his and Irene's relationship, and showing Gen coming to terms with the loss of his hand, he can't have accepted it entirely already. I think the whole plot with Relius is quite telling in that respect - Gen pardoned Relius as he wasn't pardoned. The parallels between their situations are mentioned. I think it also shows that Gen doesn't blame Irene for the loss of his hand - he seems to believe her pervious experience and circumstances justified her actions (though I could just be mis-interpreting). He blames Nahuseresh.

Re: Nice icon...

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Gen doesn't blame Irene for the loss of his hand

Gen tells Eddis "She was within her rights" or something to that effect, in QoA, just after losing his hand. Gen actually defends her action, and truly it was the optimal solution to the very bad situation Attolia was in (in retrospect, much later). Eddis is much too angry to agree. Attolia had not yet recognized her love for Gen.

Re: Nice icon...

[empmai.livejournal.com]

I thought the whole destroying the room scene wasn't just about not being able to go kill Nah (umm can't spell it) not just because of the lost hand but because he was KING. i.e. In QoA even after he lost his hand was was able to go and kidnap the Magnus - albit with help - but as king he cannot go disappear for court and be the thief.

Kind of why he's so mad about Sophos - if Gen was still only the theif he could just go find Sophos by himself, but since he's the King he has to let other people do all the fun stuff.

Ohh, do start a thread soon on Sophos, I need to know all the way my Sophos could still be alive :)

Re: Nice icon...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're right. Having only one hand didn't stop Gen from doing much. He couldn't leave Attolia and galavant around the area once he was king.

But his attendant (and I loved the sentence about, "I'm not as stupid as you think I am..." having an insult attached to it) thought Gen couldn't go kill Nahuseresh because he had only one hand, not because he was king.

Re: Nice icon...

[rowana.livejournal.com]

Ohh, do start a thread soon on Sophos, I need to know all the way my Sophos could still be alive :)

:) I'm about to post it, so you should be able to comment soon.