Eragon and Eldest - Not Disappointed

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, kemper mentor
<kempermentor at y...> wrote:
> bboyminn:
> For what it's worth, we've had discussions about Eragon in the past,
> if you search for that word in this group, I think you'll find that
> the response to the book has been very favorable.
> 
> snipped a positive review...


> Kemper now:
> I bought Eragon prior to reading it, and I was one of the one's
> whose opinion of Eragon was not the greatest. ... My questions to 
> Steve and others who enjoyed Eragon... 
>  
> Did you find that the writing has matured?  
> Stylistically, what are the differences between the two?

bboyminn:

Yes, I understand what you mean about 'mature' writing, and while I
can't put my finger on it and specifically say 'here...see, not
mature', I go agree. But you have to remember, Paolini was age 15 when
he started writing 'Eragon' and is only 20 or at best age 21 now.
That's very young for such a stunningly detailed and vivid writer. Not
to mention the underlying historical knowledge and research the went
into writing these books.

Between the two books, he has certainly grown as a writer, but whether
this mysterious intangible element of 'immaturity' is completely gone
or not, it's difficult to say. Especially since it is only something I
sense and not something I can point to by example.

All that said, I find his narative descriptions stunningly vivid, his
characters are also very life-like as I read. The latest book is
actually two stories in one. Not only do we get the story of Eragon
and his dragon, but we get the story Roran (Eragon's cousin and
Garrow's son) which is also an epic herioc tale. When those two
stories merge at the end, it sets the stage for the next and final book.

I'm not sure what it is about the first book that put you off, but I
found it a thrill a minute, every page drawing me forward to the next
and the next. Perhaps, rather than 'thrill a minute', I should say
'never a dull moment', because, for me, that's how the books are -
'never a dull moment'. It is a thoughly captivating story, if you like
that kind of story.

Further, Paolini has had to invent three languages, as I point out
before, and they are based in real languages so they have form and
syntax. In addition, Paolini seems to have an incredible grasp of the
history and nature of medieval arms and weapons. The language he uses
is very rich in detail. Usually, I would be upset and annoyed at
having to have a dictionary nearby while reading, but in Paolini's
case, I found each new word a thrill of gained knowledge. As a side
note: any unusual or uncommon words were self-explanitory in the
context of the story. So, you can read just fine without your
dictionary. I just found the language so rich that, as I said, each
new word was a thrill.

For some people, I suppose this style of book is just not their cup of
tea. For example, I thought 'Confederacy of Dunces' to be hillarious,
and said as much when we discussed it here, but others just didn't get
it. Keep in mind that this is a book that won the NOBEL Prize for
humor in literature. You can get a much better endoresment than that,
yet some people just didn't get it. To each his own.

On another side note, which I have also pointed out before, Paolini
has create a whole new world based on a somewhat medieval model, so
there are strange place and people names which for me makes if
difficult to read. In fact, that was precisely the reason I couldn't
read 'Lord of the Rings'; I could never keep track of all the unusual
names, so I was always lost. I could never keep track of who was who
or what was what. 

To some extent that is true of Paolini's books; very strange people
and place names, but Paolini keeps them contained, you only have to
keep track of a small number at any given time, so while somewhat
distracting, I found it an easy read.

Part of my problem is that I am ever so slightly dyslexic, so when I
stumble across odd complex names they become images. I know them when
I see them, but can't pronounce them. For me, the name 'Galbatorix'
(the evil King) always comes out 'Galbatrox'. Though now that I've
read both books twice, it's becoming less difficult.


> Kemper continues:
>  
> I really want to enjoy Eldest.  I'm currently reading Ender's Shadow
> (recommended by Steve) and am enjoying it thoroughly... but I very 
> much disagreed with his review on Eragon, but I was one of few.

bboyminn:

I just finished reading the complete Ender's Series for the second
time. These last three books may be hard to read if you haven't read
'Enders Game'. But once you read 'Enders Game' and come to love and
know Ender Wiggin, the other three books are an easy read. The books
do get a bit preachy and long winded at times, but because of my/your
love for Ender, you are interested enough in his life and fate that
you overlook it. 

I also, just finished reading the 'Shadow' series which is the story
of Bean, who is a character in the 'Enders Game' story. He has indeed
lead a dark and tragic life, though in the next two books, life
improves significantly. If you read 'Enders Shadow', then you know
Bean's fate. The forth and last book of the 'Bean/Shadow' series is
published in Hard Cover now, but knowing Bean's ultimate fate, I'm
resisting because I'm not sure I can take the sadness that I know is
coming. 

Like Ender (and Harry), Bean is another fictional character that I
love as if he were real. I can promise you that your heart will ache
many times during both the remaining 'Ender' books and the remaining
'Bean/Shadow' books; all are very moving stories. Though, as I said, a
bit long winded at times.

>  
> Kemper,
> who just finished with Gathering Blue by Lois Lowery and The
Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer, both good reads... on a side note, I
didn't Colfer's other books.

bboyminn:

You didn't like Colfer's 'Artemis Fowl' Series? I though they were
very funny and very captivating. These aren't books you can take
seriously; just good fun. But I found the stories very exciting with
vivid characters and a great deal of humor. I love that dwarf!

I liked 'The Supernaturalist', also very captivating, and while I'm
not complaining, I didn't find it as intriguing as the 'Fowl' series.

I wish I could clearly answer your questions about the 'Inheritance'
series (Eragon, Eldest,...) but without understanding what you didn't
like, there's not much I can do. And, ultimately, if you didn't like
it, you didn't like it, and nothing can be done to change that. As an
example, I would recommend the 'Ender' and 'Bean/Shadow' books to
people who don't like Science Fiction because the stories are so good
that the transend the genre. But ultimately, many people won't read
them simply because they don't like science fiction. So, again, to
each is own. While you may not have been enthralled by 'Eragon', I
hope you are least enjoyed it enough to justify the time and money you
spend. Personally, I could find a better investment for my
entertainment dollar.

Just a few... OK, not so few... thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn