Not Suela, but I also really disliked
Dragonhaven,
and I've loved what I've read of her earlier books. My biggest problem with
Dragonhaven
was that the protagonist-narrator's voice was incredibly obnoxious and nearly incoherent. He seemed to be halfway to creating his own new slang, or grammar, such that I could barely understand some of the sentences themselves. And I couldn't really figure out why it had to be that way; his way of speaking didn't seem to be germane to the plot or setting or even an interesting facet of his character. I mean, I'm down with innovative uses of language to illuminate something about the story or the characters or the world they inhabit, but that didn't seem to be the case here. It was just... hard to understand, and made the story draaaaaaaag.
I haven't read her latest,
Chalice,
so I can't speak to whether or not it's a return to form.
I'm near the end of
The Moonstone,
and I'm in the pleasurable delight of seeing an excellent writer at work. The very different characters of the individual narrators, the way the mannerisms and feelings of the other characters are illustrated by the observations of the individual narrators, the sly, sarcastic humor that sidles in--this book has been a joy. The butler's stalwart passive-agressiveness at dealing with instructions he finds abhorrent but which have been given to him by his mistress is wonderful.
I feel sorry for Miss Clack, but her speeches about the duty of a Christian going about the Good Work should be printed out and handed around for insights into whackamole Evangelicals.
I had the impression that
Dragonhaven
was meant to be in the same world as
Sunshine
- the slang style was similar. I'm not sure if there were other reasons for me to think that.
Chalice
seemed to me to be very much in the vein of her fairy-tale books.
I had the impression that Dragonhaven was meant to be in the same world as Sunshine - the slang style was similar. I'm not sure if there were other reasons for me to think that.
!!!
Because I luuuurved Sunshine, and want more stories in that world.
Because I luuuurved Sunshine, and want more stories in that world.
I'd like that too! Not that I don't love her other books, but
I'm a little bit tired of them. Sorry!
Oh, yes - I did love
Sunshine.
Meanwhile: OMG WTF???
I just came back from my local thrift store with tears in my eyes! I watched as boxes and boxes of children’s books were thrown into the garbage! Today was the deadline and I just can’t believe it! Every book they had on the shelves prior to 1985 was destroyed! I managed to grab a 1967 edition of “The Outsiders” from the top of the box, but so many!
The GARBAGE?
It’s hard to believe, but true: under a law Congress passed last year aimed at regulating hazards in children’s products, the federal government has now advised that children’s books published before 1985 should not be considered safe and may in many cases be unlawful to sell or distribute.
THE LIVING FUCK?
Not until 1985 did it become unlawful to use lead pigments in the inks, dyes, and paints used in children’s books.
Oh. Lead. That makes more sense. But still.
Yeah, the most recent "We Must Protect The Children!" law, which may drive lots and lots of small businesses into the ground because each and every new iteration of their product must be extensively tested for toxicity.
Right, because those of us that grew up before the 1980s are so mentally deficient.
