While She Knits
Sep. 10th, 2010 07:38 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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Summer is over, school has started, Megan is back in Ohio knitting a new pair of socks for her upcoming trip to Boston as a Boston-Globe Horn Book Awards Honoree, and
thesehnsucht 's recent post brings to mind just how long it has been since we had a WSK conversation.
What books have you read recently that really left an impression on you? What are the ones on your To Be Read or Upcoming New Release lists that you are simply itching to get at?
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What books have you read recently that really left an impression on you? What are the ones on your To Be Read or Upcoming New Release lists that you are simply itching to get at?
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Date: 9/12/10 03:57 am (UTC)The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - I am still marveling. It's a quiet sort of epic fantasy with what's been described as an anti-hero protagonist. I loved it. And the writing is incredible.
And Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier - loved that, too.
And I've just discovered Dorothy L. Sayers and I'm about to read Elizabeth Wein, so life's good :)
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Date: 9/12/10 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 9/13/10 06:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/13/10 02:45 pm (UTC)And haha to the finishing serie comment. At least Megan stick to her publishing date! (Sorry Mr.Rothfuss, can't help whining.)
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Date: 9/14/10 12:13 am (UTC)And her books can stand alone. There is closure at the end. So even if she never finished another one (God forbid) the story doesn't feel totally incomplete. There was no kind of closure at the end of The Name of the Wind.
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Date: 9/15/10 02:59 am (UTC)There are some parts that are alive: the dragon cracked me up, and I enjoy Innkeeper Kvothe (he's got potential as a nicely-dimensioned character and there are interesting things to say about someone's relationship to his own legend), but I'd say a good chunk of the novel is predictable, overlong, derivative, and cursed with some bone-headed female characters, including one of the worst Mary Sues I've ever encountered.
Despite all of that, this really is one of the books that I love to complain about, and my inability to stop talking about what bothers me is actually a sign that I enjoyed it. It brings out the editor in me: this is so GOOD! Can you make it BETTER?
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Date: 9/15/10 03:14 am (UTC)But what I meant when I said that it wasn't cliche is that the book isn't typical epic fantasy fare. It isn't some battle against good and evil; if anything, it's more of a chronicle of revenge. And Kvothe, to me, is more of an anti-hero than anything. And I loved the writing, and though the pacing was slow, I really didn't mind, because I loved the writing.
About predictability: I agree with you completely, and yet somehow - maybe because he was telling his story, and you knew where he was, and key events, like his getting thrown out of university - it just worked for me. It was almost a tribute to other fantasy works while carving out its own niche.
BTW - weird observation, but the few current male authors that I'm reading now, like Patrick Rothfuss and John Green especially - I haven't really liked the woman in their books at all. Hmmm. *trying to think of other currently writing male authors to see if that holds true*
What do you think? Also, will you be reading the sequel? And this might be a bit long - sorry about that.
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Date: 9/15/10 11:10 am (UTC)Song of Ice and Fire is this massively long series by George RR Martin. It's complicated and messy and twisted, but basically comes down to a kingdom undergoing internal political convulsions and external invasion by fantasy zombies from the north. The size of the books, the comprehensiveness of the world, and the presence of zombie powers in Rothfuss all seem very derivative of GRRM. But, really, I did find the Rothfuss book mostly enjoyable (and I so very wanted to have a crush on Kvothe, because he's just the kind of protagonist I usually crush on). I think you're right that it is a tribute and that it is getting its own foothold. But I want it to be even more than the fairly solid novel it is - which is why the things that bother me bother me SO MUCH.
Also, remember last week Philia mentioned her peeve about martial arts being easy? I feel that way about music - and while I do respect that Kvothe actually puts in practice time (unlike some people), he's just too good too fast and that's annoying. And Denna's mad skillz read pretty Sue-ish too me.
Orson Scott Card has loudly endorsed Rothfuss, here: http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/reviews.asp#orsonscott
All respect to Card and Ender, I disagree - although I realize this is probably a debate that can't be resolved. Ever.
My theory is that the male fantasy woman - "guy bait," if you will - is like Denna or the John Green girls: someone smart and funny and gorgeous and pretty much perfect; your unattainable best friend who always goes for the guys that make you feel small and useless, until one day she turns around and falls for you. So Denna isn't supposed to appeal to me anyway, which explains why I dislike her so much.
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Date: 9/15/10 05:29 pm (UTC)Honestly, I don't know if girls like that even exist - ya know, perfect ones, not smart and gorgeous - except in guys' imaginations. While they're pining. And at least we know that he doesn't end up with Denna *phew* because he's alone in his inn. Except for his student (who had better have a bigger presence in the next book, because I liked him). Although I guess she might show up again, because it's not just Kvothe telling his story; there's also the monster spider stuff going on, which is another thing I liked about the book.
I'm off to - tentatively - find a copy of Ursula le Guin's book. :)
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Date: 9/15/10 08:31 pm (UTC)My favorite parts of this book were the ones with Kvothe in his inn. That is why I am so willing to pick up the next volume. I want to know more about that guy. And I agree with Beth. His sidekick?, assistant?, fanboy?, whatever is really fascinating. Want to know more about him.
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Date: 9/18/10 03:12 am (UTC)I will happily push Denna off a high mountain - although my friend thinks Kvothe is going to kill her at some point. That works too.
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Date: 9/18/10 09:18 pm (UTC)I like your friend's idea. Maybe Kvothe can push her off the high mountain. :)
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Date: 2/21/11 02:06 am (UTC)