I really enjoyed both of those (though the Fionavar(?) ones kind of lost me midway through the second book) but Tigana just grabs at my heart whenever I think about it.
Must go read again.
Buffy: A Guide, but no water or food. So it leads me to the sacred place and then a week later it leads you to my bleached bones? Giles: Buffy, really. It takes more than a week to bleach bones.
'Dirty Girls'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
brenda m - Mar 10, 2004 1:42:49 pm PST #1199 of 10002
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
Consuela - Mar 10, 2004 4:09:11 pm PST #1200 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I do like the ending of al-Rassan
The ending of Lions of Al-Rassan made me want to throw the book across the room, and not in a good way.
There's manipulation of the reader, and then there's the writer with his hands over your eyes, snickering "neener neener, I'm not gonna tell you, neener neener!"
Pissed. Me. Off.
I've never felt as kindly to GGK since. And yes, I've read everything, and will probably read LLotS, but only in paper or from the library.
§ ita § - Mar 10, 2004 4:14:04 pm PST #1201 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I never got the GGK love. I know I read Lions, but the ending didn't stick with me -- could you whitefont it for me?
JohnSweden - Mar 10, 2004 4:24:48 pm PST #1202 of 10002
I can't even.
I like the Lions ending, but then I'm along for the ride, no matter what GGK does.
ita, there's a
mislead. He doesn't tell you which of the two great duelists has won, then you find out in a twist that it is the El Cid character who died. I don't think which of the great men lives or dies is the issue. The suffering, lossand the decline of a great culture is where he leads you.
§ ita § - Mar 10, 2004 4:29:08 pm PST #1203 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Ah. I see your point, and the cause of irritation. I hate when it's obvious that the author is hiding something from you. If they can do it so subtly you don't know what you didn't know until you learn it -- that's cool writing. Otherwise the mechanism overshadows the message, for me.
Katie M - Mar 10, 2004 4:46:52 pm PST #1204 of 10002
I was charmed (albeit somewhat perplexed) by the fannish sensibility of many of the music choices -- it's like the director was trying to vid Canada. --loligo on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies
It's hard to pick, although I do like the ending of al-Rassan. It's such a complex, real ending. I hated it, but I like it, too.
Oh, I hate the...
Nevermind. Suela got there first. Actually, I think we've agreed on this before.
I adore Tigana beyond reason, though, and while I can see the flaws in Fionavar I can't look down at any book that can make me cry that many times.
Betsy HP - Mar 10, 2004 4:48:23 pm PST #1205 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
I think Tigana has his best ending and is his best standalone novel.
Consuela - Mar 10, 2004 5:00:55 pm PST #1206 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I loved the ending of Tigana -- both Dianora's fate and the way the last few pages ended.
I also loved the weird business with the, um, I forget the name. The people who fight in their dreams? Straight out of an anthropological text, and completely out of place in the novel, but so very cool.
Katie M - Mar 10, 2004 5:03:45 pm PST #1207 of 10002
I was charmed (albeit somewhat perplexed) by the fannish sensibility of many of the music choices -- it's like the director was trying to vid Canada. --loligo on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies
*goes and looks*
The Night Walkers of Certando.
DavidS - Mar 10, 2004 5:20:57 pm PST #1208 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
This leads to a literary subject I've been thinking about.
Endings are hard. What are your favorite endings in books?