I'm sure his age was a significant part of WHY it made it off the pile.
It was never in a slush pile. It was self-published, and then Knopf contacted him.
I repeat: Eragon got good reviews. Not "good for a kid" reviews, but "good for a first novel" reviews. This is from the NY Times:
''Eragon,'' for all its flaws, is an authentic work of great talent. The story is gripping; it may move awkwardly, but it moves with force. The power of ''Eragon'' lies in its overall effects -- in the sweep of the story and the conviction of its storyteller. Here, Paolini is leagues ahead of most writers, and it is exactly here that his youth is on his side.
I have no interest in the books because I don't like that kind of fantasy. But I don't think any old 15 year old SF fan could get a review like that.
Oh, I agree. He's a talented kid. I read most of Eragon - hated it, personally, but then it takes a lot for me to actually get into stereotypical epit fantasy. I need more humor to my fantasy.
I saw
Casino Royale
tonight! That was totally awesome!
It was, wasn't it? Mmm, Daniel Craig.
So I went looking for a trailer for David Fincher's new movie, Zodiac, and I came across a trailer for The Zodiac, released earlier this year. Oops.
Another Office Space-as-thriller trailer, also very good. Better, I think, than the Milton-centric one with the horrid font.
Interesting. Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest was the third movie to top the $1 Billion mark after Titanic and RotK.
One. Billion. Dollars.
That is a lot of moola. Serious samoleons.
Not even gonna try to convert that to a package.
I was wondering if there would be a Christmasy movie on tonight, but instead I see TCM is running The Bad Seed! Which, yay! Best creepy child movie ever! I also just discovered that Mervyn LeRoy directed it, which I never knew.
I know many people here didn't like it (although I believe the other Megan is with me on this--if only we could convince a few Amys), but I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code.
I keep meaning to read it, simply because I'm tired of hearing everyone talk about it and not understanding what the big deal is all about. A friend had actually recommended Angels and Demons (when it came out, not post-DaVinci) and I convinced DH to read it. He enjoyed the story, sort of, but deplored the writing, so I skipped both.
I'll definitely read a book for a decent story -- I don't expect every novel out there, especially mass market originals, to be lyrically written masterworks worthy of a Pulitzer. Sometimes I simply want a pageturner. Does DaVinci Code qualify on that count?
The Bad Seed! Which, yay! Best creepy child movie ever!
I have to believe Rhonda grew up to become Bette Davis in In This Our Life. Someone who starts the movie by stealing her sister's husband, and gets worse from there.
