Timewaster's Guide Archive

Yeah, it's true that the Matt/Tuon progression was better than much of the other stuff going on, and I wanted so much to enjoy it.  Matt finding himself linked to, and then learning to love, what was something like an alien being.  A skinny, dark-skinned oddity, one of the most powerful humans in that world, and Matt, most everyone's favorite character, slowly falling in love.  It could have been delicious.

Unfortunately, their chemistry just didn't ever work for me.  Maybe it's because RJ didn't develop Tuon enough.  I think this is an excellent example of leaving a character entirely too mysterious/inscrutable and sacrificing likeability.  I'm still hoping for a satisfying payoff there.   But I'm still not sure the cultural differences can be realistically overcome.  It's a little like a Jew falling for Mengele's daughter, y'know?

However, I've always been very tolerant of Gawyn and Egwene, really enjoying their relationship arc, and thrilled with the most recent payoff there.  So, go figure.  I also love Cadsuane and feel that her perspective has been justified.  I think almost everyone began to see hope for Faile's return from obnoxiousness during her little adventure with the Shaido.

I remember reading that RJ called one of the books (CoT?) a failed experiment, referring to the timeline backtracking.  I didn't mind Winter's Heart because it was so much better than the book that preceded it.  That and New Spring were a huge WHEW for me.  And Kramer/Reading's pronunciation in the audio books really improves about then.  They must  have discovered the online audio resources or something.  Maybe a clinic with Team Jordan?  Something happened.

Egad!  In Albequerqe, it is anathema for such things to occur to such a one as Peter, who has no doubt never been completely borracho.  At least not on record, the susurration of which would make its way to the BIG CHEESE himself. 

Two sentences, I know, but I added another great word.

Susurration might have come from Lemony Snickett.  But I would rather it had been a Tiffany Aching thought bubble. 

Another awesome word: quixotic

susurration

Blame that on Terry Pratchett.

I'm now in love with Albequerqe, anathema, egad and borracho with the proper rolling of the double-r's.  Great words.  I'll work on a sentence using all those words unless someone else beats me to it. . . .

Hey, all, I've heard of a general website at which one can view/post typos found in various books.  Anyone know of this?

Quote from: Bookstore Guy on April 11, 2011, 09:42:49 PM

Quote from: mtbikemom on April 11, 2011, 09:11:44 PM

I think I like everything that both Peter and Nessa like.  What does it meeeeeean?

That you're a cylon.

Do I get to be the blonde one? /leaves to buy sexy red dress

I'd rather be the kick-butt Asian cylon, anyway.  Always wanted to fly a space ship.  Which one would Peter be?

Back on subject, reading Memory by Bujold because I forgot I bought it and read Komar just before.  Both excellent.  She is such a good writer.  I decided not to read any more Alan Campbell after all.  The Amazon review sez he drops all the characters I cared about in book two.  Not worth the dark content for me.

Just finished Alan Campbell's Scar Night and, while I almost put it away several times, I finished it mostly out of curiosity.  Not so much for plot resolution or character arc satisfaction, but to see how far into depravity this author was willing to go while still spinning a fascinating if credence-stretching tale.  If there had been overt sexual content mixed in with the unceasing violence, that would have done it for me.

 I found it fascinating, though, how much the destructive, bloody themes of "Grand Theft Auto" were mirrored in this story. The author is one of that game's developers.   Kind of a social excursion into a genre I have learned to avoid.  I should have known better, but I'm actually glad I finished it.

Having said that, and with my obvious distaste for the horror genre and its cheapening of human life and suffering, there was a lot to like in this generally distasteful book.  The uncluttered prose and ghastly metaphors combined for an unsettling balance.  The pace is rollicking, as advertised, but the content is not really emotionally satisfying, so the good pacing was mostly wasted on me.  I am a demanding reader when it comes to believable interpersonal relationships.  The motivations of the main characters didn't always ring true or stay consistent, but the like-able ones were very like-able. Not original, but intriguing nonetheless.  Toward the last third of the book, I groaned each time the only half of the story that still interested me shifted to the cheerless other half.  I almost skipped the above-ground battle scenes, especially since I was not fully invested in the story as a whole, but persevered.  Again, it was just intriguing enough as a glimpse into a twisted perception of his world and for sometimes surprisingly good writing to keep me going.

The ending, and most of the intense action scenes, went bad-Matrix, but with a delicious cliffhanger ultimately.  Almost good enough for book 2, but only if I get really desperate for a good read.  Yes, I admit, this was a good read.  In the meantime, I will cleanse my literary palate with Bujold and Rothfuss and maybe another sweet, older McKillip because I have had enough blood and guts for the present, thank you very much.

another year has gone by and the world hasn't been destroyed yet, hooray!

That wasn't supposed to happen for another year or so, though, right? 

Oops, that's not happy for most people.  Ummm. . . live each day like it's your last?  That could be happy for those around you.  This could be our last Valentine's Day!  Make it a good one.

The world ending is a happy thought for me, personally.