Scant Consolations

[rj_anderson]

Man, The King of Attolia is a good book. Being in the throes of revisions, I picked it up just now to see if I could find a wasted scene to make me feel better, and I couldn't find one.

Then I started reading and didn't want to put it down, which is silly since I've already read it twice in the past six months.

*shakes fist in general direction of the US* CURSE YOU, MEGAN WHALEN TURNER!

For not writing the next book already, I mean..

Comments

[tapinger.livejournal.com]

There's going to be another book?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I hear MWT's working on it.

[jenny-moss.livejournal.com]

I can't get this book out of my head.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

One might say we are hooked?

*ducks and runs*

[jenny-moss.livejournal.com]

Ha!

[penwiper26.livejournal.com]

I know, I've spent the past week practically memorizing the darn thing. It doesn't get old! I love things that are funny and serious at the same time, and the whole assassination sequence is that. "Costis, I'm speechless." "Not noticeably, Your Majesty."

And yes, I want the next book badly.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, oh, you've read it! *is delighted* I'm so glad you did, and you loved it! But then, you ARE my LJ clone. :D

There is something so disturbing about the whole Gen/Attolia thing, particularly in light of what she did to him in Book II, and yet I ship them like whoa. It's very Dunnettish, really... but then MWT makes no secret of her fondness for Dunnett, so that's no surprise.

[penwiper26.livejournal.com]

Didn't know MWT was a Dunnett fan...but I'm not surprised.

Am with you on Gen/Attolia. My psyche is all very "No no! Yes yes! No no!..." with them.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

There is something quintessentially disturbing about a man afraid of the woman he loves -- and with good reason. Hello, Gen, masochist much? And yet MWT somehow makes it work. In a YA novel, no less. It's really unfair.

*laughs at your icon*

[jenny-moss.livejournal.com]

:) It's these things that do it . . . she's a clever girl, that Megan Whalen Turner.

[jenny-moss.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I'm commenting so much, Rebecca -- I'm just so excited that others love this book as much as I do. I was in ANOTHER bookstore yesterday that had The Thief and nothing beyond it -- and I kept thinking, Why don't people know how wonderful these books are?? The whole trilogy should be stocked in every children's section in every bookstore. :) They are a delight!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Good gracious! Never apologize for commenting. I love me some comments. Especially about books I love.

And yes, every bookstore should have them. I already own a copy of KoA in hardcover and another I just bought in softcover for my niece for Christmas (after sneakily reading the short story about Eddis first), but every time I see another one I'm all MUST HAVE and I have to restrain myself from buying a copy for everyone else I know.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Well- when I read "The Thief", I loved it - it reminded me of Renault, in a way - but I was astounded that it had been published as a children's book. There's nothing in it to keep it from adults. And I'd say the next two are definitely adult, or older teen, anyway. "The Queen of Attolia" is very disturbing, but I intend to reread it soon, in preparation for rereading "King". My sister owns all three - she's a huge fan.

And she would like to know: how does everyone know there is going to be a fourth book in this series? It seems complete to me! Great news, though, if there will be - both of us will want to read it right away.

[sannalim.livejournal.com]

At this moment, I am SO tempted to stop at the bookstore on my way home today and buy these books and stay up all night reading them instead of working on the presentation I have to give in research group meeting tomorrow....

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

*wiggles fingers in front of your eyes, Jedi-fashion*

You know you want to...

But I have a better idea. How about you buy them as a treat for yourself AFTER the presentation? For being a good girl and all. And then you'll have something brain-bending obsessively compelling emotionally devastating nice to look forward to!

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

OK, now I HAVE to read them. But I already have so many books checked out from the library! And so many more on my list that are soon to be checked out--being a children's librarian really feeds the addiction at an alarming rate.

[avendya.livejournal.com]

I love those books far too much.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

It is not possible to love them too much. *nods firmly*

[wahlee-98.livejournal.com]

Maybe this book is just the ticket to get me out of my quickly-downward-spiraling Doctor Who obsession. Because spending all morning hunting up clips of David Tennant on You Tube just *can't* be healthy.

I wonder if I have time to stop at the bookstore *and* the bank during lunch. If I ever get to go to lunch.

I think I'm going to go watch that Comic Relief skit again. . .

[sleepingfingers.livejournal.com]

The King of Attolia is perhaps my favorite of the series. I rarely ever re-read things, and this series, I've already re-read twice, which is rather amazing. MWT has such a witty way with words that it's rather unfair (and wonderful at the same time since we can read all those witty words afterwards). :)

[kerravonsen]

I went to my local SF shop (both of them) after you first mentioned this author, and could not find anything. (is sad)

And I have already splurged far far too much on Amazon and Big Finish this month. Maybe next year?

[my_daroga]

Oh man. I haven't read the third one yet, but I meant to talk to you about The Queen of Attolia after I read it. Remember my husband was all "pooh! Why did she ruin a perfectly good character!" and I kind of... agree.

I don't mind huge shifts in the direction of a story. But I never understood what he liked/loved about her. It just seemed arbitrary. I'm just not sure why any of it happened.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I'm probably not the best person to answer this question, because I never gave it a second thought. Well, other than to say, "OMG HOW COOL," anyway.

Seriously, now that I do think about it, it's possible that MWT could have set it up a little better than she did, or at least explained it a little better after the fact, but I do think the hints were there early enough to justify the revelation -- I certainly saw it coming, although I wondered for a while if she really was going to Go There or whether I was deranged and imagining it.

But then, I thought that Thief was okay but nothing special, and only really became an Insane Fan once I read QoA and especially KoA, so like I said I'm the wrong person to advise somebody who liked Gen just fine from the beginning.

[my_daroga]

Good point. I know what you mean, when it comes to people being fans for different reasons and therefore picking up different things.

I only liked Gen at the very end of The Thief. And when I heard the summary of QoA, I was fascinated. Mr. Daroga said he didn't like it, but I was all, "no way, man. Anything with that plot must rule." And yet, it didn't work on me. It's not the plot--it's MWT's carrying out of it that didn't capture me.

Ah well!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see that. I still think you might like KoA, though.

[my_daroga]

I do plan on reading it, eventually. Out of interest to see if she "fixes" things for me, if nothing else.