Shards of Honor was an interesting read. In all honesty, I didn't get too far into it (about 60 to 70 pages if I remember correctly). When I say it was interesting I mean two things. The first being that it has the good sci-fi hook, I was interested in exploring these planets and unknown worlds, and found things like weapons that render people psychologically stunted pretty engaging as well. The second point of mine is more of a negative point of view. The political intrigue into a society I didn't feel connected to just came off way too strong. Parts that I was fond of (like burying the crew member by the light of glow-sticks while fighting off alien creatures) were good to me, but the whole Betan versus Barrayar felt like a big "so-what" to me. Perhaps I just didn't give it enough time. Not that it all wasn't done well, though.
I'm sure this science fiction universe is well established and as in-depth as good world building should be. I'm simply a bit picky for this sort of thing. This could be why I've never been a big fan of Star Wars. Space Opera is a bit too big of a scope for my taste. Not that it has to be simple, quite the opposite. I'm a fan of Warhammer 40k (a bit different from Star Wars, I know, but not any smaller of a universe by any means), but maybe that's because I can relate to something that originates from Earth. That little bit of familiarity can do a lot for a story when I trying to decide whether or not I'm interested in it.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Ocean at the End of the Lane
This book was my introduction to Neil Gaiman's literature. The only extent of interaction I had with this author was seeing Coraline in theaters, the first 3D movie I subjected my eyeballs to. He also came to Ringling in the spring of 2012 with is wife, Amanda Palmer, and did some reading opposite of her playing a few songs on a ukulele. I knew that what he did would appeal to me, but I had not actually tried to prove that to myself before reading Ocean at the End of the Lane.
The emotion of this book was a bit disturbing to me. I say this first because it's what hit me so quickly. Going from the present into the past is nothing new in the beginning of a book; the narrator recollecting his childhood seemed pretty normal. I knew fantasy elements were going to present, to an extent, but the way in which Gaiman uses imagery and his style of prose is pretty mature in my opinion. I was prepared for a children's book, and what I read was a bit horror-inspired and not what I expected. A good example of what I wouldn't want a kid to read or experience is the part where the father repeatedly holds the boy underwater. And the general idea of a woman/demon coming in to replace one's mother is a pretty disturbing scenario. I was disgusted when the narrator remembered looking into the window when sneaking out, seeing his father hug Ursula from behind.
Gaiman's writing style is on point at times, then feels like stream of consciousness at other times. This style was pretty appealing to me, feeling pretty real in that I can space out and not miss extra details, and regain intense focus when the action is happening. My roommate is a big Neil Gaiman advocated, I plan on asking what books I should read next.
The emotion of this book was a bit disturbing to me. I say this first because it's what hit me so quickly. Going from the present into the past is nothing new in the beginning of a book; the narrator recollecting his childhood seemed pretty normal. I knew fantasy elements were going to present, to an extent, but the way in which Gaiman uses imagery and his style of prose is pretty mature in my opinion. I was prepared for a children's book, and what I read was a bit horror-inspired and not what I expected. A good example of what I wouldn't want a kid to read or experience is the part where the father repeatedly holds the boy underwater. And the general idea of a woman/demon coming in to replace one's mother is a pretty disturbing scenario. I was disgusted when the narrator remembered looking into the window when sneaking out, seeing his father hug Ursula from behind.
Gaiman's writing style is on point at times, then feels like stream of consciousness at other times. This style was pretty appealing to me, feeling pretty real in that I can space out and not miss extra details, and regain intense focus when the action is happening. My roommate is a big Neil Gaiman advocated, I plan on asking what books I should read next.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Night Circus
Night Circus was a pretty captivating read, to be honest. It was described as a more adult Harry Potter, a description I felt was appropriate from what I experienced. I had a feeling I would enjoy the book after seeing what Prospero said when first seeing his daughter dropped unexpectedly into his care: "Well, fuck."
Comparing it to Harry Potter, I can see why it would be labeled as a more adult version of wizardry. I mean, looking beyond the perverse bet that Prospero and Mr. A.H. set up, thematically speaking the label sticks. Harry Potter was engrossing to many children because it was relevant to what they wanted to experience. Their imaginations were captivated by magic, and they felt as if they were as good of friends with Ron and Hermoine as Harry was. My friends and I literally grew up with Harry Potter, both the books and the movies. They get darker and have a more mature feeling as the years at Hogwarts went on. Perhaps this is because the people who were children when Harry was were growing up?
Along the same lines as the H.P. tangent, the Night Circus has similar, more adult themes or ideas as the later books/films do in the H.P. setting. J.K. Rowling didn't really delve into romance whereas Celia and Marco develop their relationship and it's a central point of the book. They're bound to fight each other for their lives, a 'contract' they have no control over.
If Night Circus was written pre-J.K. Rowling, perhaps it wouldn't have been met with the reception it had received. Part of the world's most recent generation had grown up with magic, and having it introduced again in a not-so-foreign light seems pretty appropriate.
Comparing it to Harry Potter, I can see why it would be labeled as a more adult version of wizardry. I mean, looking beyond the perverse bet that Prospero and Mr. A.H. set up, thematically speaking the label sticks. Harry Potter was engrossing to many children because it was relevant to what they wanted to experience. Their imaginations were captivated by magic, and they felt as if they were as good of friends with Ron and Hermoine as Harry was. My friends and I literally grew up with Harry Potter, both the books and the movies. They get darker and have a more mature feeling as the years at Hogwarts went on. Perhaps this is because the people who were children when Harry was were growing up?
Along the same lines as the H.P. tangent, the Night Circus has similar, more adult themes or ideas as the later books/films do in the H.P. setting. J.K. Rowling didn't really delve into romance whereas Celia and Marco develop their relationship and it's a central point of the book. They're bound to fight each other for their lives, a 'contract' they have no control over.
If Night Circus was written pre-J.K. Rowling, perhaps it wouldn't have been met with the reception it had received. Part of the world's most recent generation had grown up with magic, and having it introduced again in a not-so-foreign light seems pretty appropriate.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Fantasy and Literature
The reading for fantasy was The Hobbit, a definitive classic in fantasy literature. I had never read this book before this class, and was surprised in a few ways by what I was reading. I haven't seen the movie, either, but have seen the Lord of the Rings movies and had a certain level of anticipation for the novel.
In my mind, I was set up for a pretty gritty and relatively dark fantasy world that I absorbed from the films. What I got from reading, though, was a bit more light hearted. Not childish, but less dark that I figured. I can see why it has captured the minds of thousands. A lot of artists that I follow cite it as a gigantic reason they're interested in the fantasy genre at all. Even having seen actors that portray the parts of the characters, I can imagine the black skinned Gollum with his light eyes, crouched in his cavern. A different design, a bit more appealing than what I saw in Lord of the Rings (which I was really surprised was different). The relatively short volume and quick pace of the book seemed like it left a lot open for my head to fill in details, or at least what I felt was necessary to imagine.
In my mind, I was set up for a pretty gritty and relatively dark fantasy world that I absorbed from the films. What I got from reading, though, was a bit more light hearted. Not childish, but less dark that I figured. I can see why it has captured the minds of thousands. A lot of artists that I follow cite it as a gigantic reason they're interested in the fantasy genre at all. Even having seen actors that portray the parts of the characters, I can imagine the black skinned Gollum with his light eyes, crouched in his cavern. A different design, a bit more appealing than what I saw in Lord of the Rings (which I was really surprised was different). The relatively short volume and quick pace of the book seemed like it left a lot open for my head to fill in details, or at least what I felt was necessary to imagine.
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