Oh, I'm so happy that you read them and liked them! What a pity that you got so stymied by the summer of 2007. It didn't stop me reading, but it did (for awhile) make me practically allergic to a certain type of fantasy. A series? About kids learning to control magic? And a "special" youth with a "special" future? No, thank you! I refused to touch any such books with a ten-foot pole. it took me awhile to get over that aversion.
And, if you like Gawain, have you seen what my livejournal friend Sigune is doing with him?
Thomas Mann - I liked "Mario und der Zauberer, and liked "Death in Venice" well enough, and actually loved "Buddenbrooks", mostly because of the figure of Toni - who is a good-hearted and lively woman, if not especially bright. But otherwise, I can't say I've been able to get through one of his novels. Shallow characters in good story lines - I suppose that would be Christie, or books of that sort? What I really like, and look for, is the story growing naturally out of the characters' actions. That's what I'm aiming for in my own writing - I'm not much of a plotter, really. I hope I can pull it off.
BTW, good for you for figuring out Nick! I was thinking: Asperger's? No, not quite, but there is something seriously wrong with the way this kid thinks - and certain aspects of it do fit autism spectrum disorders. I should have guessed when he was on the boat; I did guess slightly later. But it took me awhile. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the sequel, at any rate.
Another thing I really liked about The Demon's Lexicon; as with the Bartimaeus books, magic is not a good thing!
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Date: 2009-09-05 04:15 am (UTC)And, if you like Gawain, have you seen what my livejournal friend Sigune is doing with him?
Thomas Mann - I liked "Mario und der Zauberer, and liked "Death in Venice" well enough, and actually loved "Buddenbrooks", mostly because of the figure of Toni - who is a good-hearted and lively woman, if not especially bright. But otherwise, I can't say I've been able to get through one of his novels. Shallow characters in good story lines - I suppose that would be Christie, or books of that sort? What I really like, and look for, is the story growing naturally out of the characters' actions. That's what I'm aiming for in my own writing - I'm not much of a plotter, really. I hope I can pull it off.
BTW, good for you for figuring out Nick! I was thinking: Asperger's? No, not quite, but there is something seriously wrong with the way this kid thinks - and certain aspects of it do fit autism spectrum disorders. I should have guessed when he was on the boat; I did guess slightly later. But it took me awhile. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the sequel, at any rate.
Another thing I really liked about The Demon's Lexicon; as with the Bartimaeus books, magic is not a good thing!