Javor

Well, finally, a new trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, this time different, yet still similar in his signature fashion. The differences lie in the setting and a more action packed package. Instead of a fantasy land with some magic, this one is set in an alternate Europe with considerably more magic. Everything else feels familiar; a collage of morally gray characters (more black than gray, but alas), including an old, grumpy figure full of regrets yet indifferent (and who hates stairs), a piece-of-shit character destined for royalty, a rough barbarian constantly at risk of slipping into mindless frenzy, and the inevitable puppet master pulling strings by the book’s end. There are a few fresh faces, but you get the idea; Joe kept one foot on firm Father Earth while dipping the other into the unexplored waters of Mother Sea.

I’m not saying it’s bad, quite the opposite. I think he struck a sweet spot between the familiar and the new; it’s how he did it that bothers me.

Someone on Reddit wrote that it feels like your favorite alternative band playing more mainstream, pop-ier songs, and I couldn’t agree more. Joe’s usual writing thrives on suspense, gradual unfolding, and satisfying character development, culminating in a crescendo of plot twists. Here, the buildup is rushed, and once the story kicks off, it’s just action scene after action scene. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good (the only thing that I can say against his writing is that he does not do it as often as I would like to),but the relentless barrage grows grating. The inner monologues and multi-POV scenes are there, but they are a shadow of what I’ve come to expect from this beutiful man. I miss the long bridges, the witty verses, and so on. Choruses are fun,but a chorus among choruses just becomes noise. Ok enough of this shitty analogy of mine.

Another gripe is the dialogue in some places. I don’t know how else to put it, but at times, it feels… "Marvely"? That "Okay, that just happened" vibe. Multiple times a character lists off all the bizarre events in a way that feels cheap and unnecessary.

Still, I hold high hopes for the sequel (mainly because Abercrombie’s books are among the few joys of my life… but we all know how it is with hope). I’m glad he’s trying something new—the worst thing an author can do is write the same book over and over (or kill someone, but that’s beside the point). His first trilogy installments are always the weakest, but they walk so the second can run, so the third can leap up and hits you in the face until you forget which way is up and which one is down, and he makes it makes enjoy every second of it.

For now, there’s nothing to do but hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Cheers.

A perfect entry book if you want to want to enter a long dark,cold and very descriptive world of classic Russian novels.

It has all the ingredients that make a classic Russian novel; depressing Russian atmosphere, long descriptive dialogue, focus on motives and thoughts of the characters, and so on, and so on... but it is short, very short in comparison to others of its kind and it is written in first person.

I found it very similar to Crime and Punishment, especially the main character. On the other hand, the perspective from the first person really gives it a more direct approach to main character line of thought which is refreshing for the genre. The first part of the book is just one big monologue, which might as well be my favorite piece of literature, later it waters down with an actual story but still remains what it is, just a great read that I can not describe how much I am happy to pick up.

Cheers.

Got this book after History of Knowledge (which I really liked) and I can not say anything new that has not been said in comments before this one.

The book is overexplained and has that bit of a pretentious tone of a snob writer. I must say that over explanation is sometimes needed so that every reader can get writer's ideas and points. Especially in science books, or whenever author has something refreshing or interesting to say

But there is nothing interesting here.

The analysis goes very shallow and does not branch out into other themes that can be associated with reading.

If I did not know half the things that are written in this book I could not read it and understand it at all.

Or maybe the pretentious tone of the book reminded me of my own pretentious writing style.

Yikes.

Cheers anyways.

Fun fact: In 1961 this book and LOTR were nomineted for Nobel price, and guess which one won... This one.

Now that I have your attention, I can start mansplaining.

Even though I think LOTR is not that great of a book, the incredibly detailed world that Tolkien made made such an impact on literature and all other media can be hardly be explained by words. This book is also very detailed and narrative but is realistic and brutal as much as LOTR is not, and pretty much forgotten outside countries of former Yugoslavia and literature snobs( I think).

The book takes historical approach of telling the story of the bridge and settlement around it (Višegrad) across several centuries. As bloodsheds, wars, and different authorities take over, and characters change frequently the bridge stands as a striking monument defying the time itself, like a sleeping stone giant.

It is a slow read mind you. Like a grampa telling you story of the old days, but it is interesting and will warm you and tuck you in its pages in that dark and raw way that eastern European books do.

Cheers.

Rarely do I have an urge to read the book twice, that I understood anyway. And you guessed it, this is one of them.

It is just more than feminist essay, it is a piece of author's ideas that puts you closer to that far-away peace of mind of understanding human nature. The slow paced old type of writing just gets under your skin and just calms down all the questions of society, what it means to be an author, and what we need to secure to make the most of them and as many as possible. They may not be 100% true but it does a great job of visualizing problems and pointing them out, which for me is hard considering that everything we humans are chaotic and a lot of people (aka society) is chaos beyond words.

Some of the points are outdated of course, but they are interesting in historic view, actually the books covers problems in history and problems that are still burning and will burn until there are woman, authors, until they turn to ash together with this world for the sake of the writing.