tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.comments2014-08-12T14:37:32.023+02:00Space and SorceryMaddalenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-18207430043091201412014-08-03T20:51:11.160+02:002014-08-03T20:51:11.160+02:00Indeed there would have been interesting conflict ...Indeed there would have been interesting conflict if, as you wrote, there were no possibility at all to change factions: that would have also created drama and helped build up and shape the MC's personality. But in the story one CAN change faction - and again, following your reasoning, there went another possibility for growth and depth, because such a choice would have created conflict both with the original family and, more importantly, INNER conflict in the character.<br /><br />Sadly, we have none of this, because the faction switch is allowed and only frowned upon, with some unspecified stigma being attached to the changee. Why? We are not told.<br /><br />IMVVHO, Tris being divergent was just a way to explore her Mary-Sue-ness: she's different, or rather, "different-better", a breed apart, the chosen one, and on and on and on along the tired tropes boulevard. (see? you just unleashed my Evil & Nasty Twin! *g*)<br />Yet we are not made to care for her, as we both came to understand, and if there is a reason, or an explanation for all that, we'll never know. And still live happily...Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-32954805689619718892014-08-03T19:03:04.417+02:002014-08-03T19:03:04.417+02:00I did make it through the end and bought the follo...I did make it through the end and bought the follow up, but have yet to start it. <br /><br />I agree with your critique. What I also found as I read the book, was this thought: "Is this a thing?" The society didn't quite ring true, and I'm often willing to overlook logic if the story is compelling enough. In this case, here was my thought process: Okay, so people are divided into factions so that society will keep on course, but people can CHOOSE to change factions, which means that the society isn't REALLY all that controlled. So...if I'm a dauntless personality but I'm born into an abnegation faction, and I'm stuck there with no hope of leaving EVER...well, that seems to me that you're going to have conflict if you're constantly fighting your instinct with no hope of actualizing it. BUT, if you can CHOOSE to leave that faction, then your biggest thing is not living with your family anymore (it's called "growing up and going to college and getting a job" in our world) yet your family can still come and visit....<br /><br />So, what's the problem? I just didn't get why it was such a deal, I suppose. <br /><br />Now, with Tris being DIVERGENT, she possesses elements of all the factions, right? So you'd think that would make her more like to empathize, not less. And because I still didn't see what the big deal was, her being DIVERGENT also made me thing "is that a thing?"<br /><br />I guess the whole book is a metaphor for growing up and leaving old ideas behind. Maybe it makes more sense in the subsequent novels but maybe I just don't care. Eva Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855603175280772481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-56643052886430925832014-07-06T20:53:29.697+02:002014-07-06T20:53:29.697+02:00Hellllooooo! *waves*
Agreed on the wistfulness: ...Hellllooooo! *waves*<br /><br />Agreed on the wistfulness: part of it comes from the narrator and part from the storytelling itself, indeed. This is a very different GRRM from the one we're used to, one that shows his softer, dreamier side. And the... loss of innocence that underlies this story is what makes it memorable.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by! :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-2822344094070268942014-07-06T18:30:08.548+02:002014-07-06T18:30:08.548+02:00I think of the 4 stories Claudia Black read in thi...I think of the 4 stories Claudia Black read in this series, this one was my favorite. There is such longing/wistfulness to it. That might be due to her rendering of it (which was gorgeous) but I suspect it also has to do with the idea of the mists themselves, of fantasy vs reality. This one stayed with me quite awhile.Eva Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855603175280772481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-80546215488048289162014-06-23T22:39:32.119+02:002014-06-23T22:39:32.119+02:00I'm the one who should say thanks! After all ...I'm the one who should say thanks! After all I got the idea for this recap from our conversation over at Pinterest.... ;-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-16277363196579770162014-06-23T05:53:50.054+02:002014-06-23T05:53:50.054+02:00Awww, aren't you sweet! Thanks for the link lo...Awww, aren't you sweet! Thanks for the link love :>)Mulluanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525878564470398696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-88141831878935570702014-06-22T10:46:45.909+02:002014-06-22T10:46:45.909+02:00The idea of branching out of the solar system is i...The idea of branching out of the solar system is indeed proving to be a winning one - and I'm only halfway through the book!<br />Let's just hope that SyFy doesn't ruin the story when translating it to screen... ((crossing fingers))Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-3055981019743851752014-06-21T19:34:31.293+02:002014-06-21T19:34:31.293+02:00The Expanse is probably my favorite sci-fi series ...The Expanse is probably my favorite sci-fi series out right now. I just finished Cibola Burn and I think it's the strongest one yet. It's nice when I see a series just get better and better.<br /><br />~MogsyBiblioSanctumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01910858361017908691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-10239618180808919862014-06-17T19:04:27.617+02:002014-06-17T19:04:27.617+02:00Yes, Mira Grant is Seanan McGuire alter ego, and I...Yes, Mira Grant is Seanan McGuire alter ego, and I love her Newsflesh trilogy - who would have thought that I would so enjoy something with zombies in it... LOL<br /><br />This book is a great place to start with McGuire because it's not connected to any other ongoing series, and I highly recommend her October Daye novels! Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-65461464214867191302014-06-17T04:56:28.399+02:002014-06-17T04:56:28.399+02:00Hummmmmm interesting. I read her first Mira Grant ...Hummmmmm interesting. I read her first Mira Grant novel (that was the same author right?...) and quite enjoyed it. I'd like to try some of her urban fantasy stuff - this one looks good!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790516689953309548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-16289626895972642792014-06-16T22:47:50.862+02:002014-06-16T22:47:50.862+02:00And it's not a scary book at all, even though ...And it's not a scary book at all, even though it deals with ghosts! There are some very tense moments, granted, but it's not the kind of book that gives you nightmares... :-)<br />I hope you enjoy it!Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-83948461963849542142014-06-16T03:11:35.208+02:002014-06-16T03:11:35.208+02:00That book sounds like quite something. I'll ha...That book sounds like quite something. I'll have to check it out when I'm in the right mood. {Smile}<br /><br />Anne Elizabeth BaldwinAnnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05083766769757259822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-37406364149904260962014-06-11T22:14:12.410+02:002014-06-11T22:14:12.410+02:00It is indeed fun, and I hope you enjoy it!
And by ...It is indeed fun, and I hope you enjoy it!<br />And by the way, I've always thought that the figure on the cover looked weird so I guess it *IS* indeed weird-looking... :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-44149053001166215222014-06-11T14:43:38.252+02:002014-06-11T14:43:38.252+02:00Awesome review - this really makes me want to try ...Awesome review - this really makes me want to try out this series. I've always been put off my the cover (her spine looks unnatural!) but you've made it sound like heaps of fun. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790516689953309548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-83544129096762173112014-06-09T22:11:46.204+02:002014-06-09T22:11:46.204+02:00Even the romance comes with a funny twist in this ...Even the romance comes with a funny twist in this book, so I don't think you should worry about an excess of of it. And I heard that the series gets even better with the following books...Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-19675795207247648212014-06-09T22:10:16.366+02:002014-06-09T22:10:16.366+02:00Ah, this will be the perfect antidote to darkness!...Ah, this will be the perfect antidote to darkness! It will indeed restore some much-needed balance... :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-80209078253262794462014-06-08T20:43:24.018+02:002014-06-08T20:43:24.018+02:00This was such a cool book! I've not read beyon...This was such a cool book! I've not read beyond this first book though, because ultimately I wasn't sure if the strong undertones of romance was really for me, but I have the second and third book at the ready, in case the mood for this series strikes again :)<br /><br />~MogsyBiblioSanctumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01910858361017908691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-47973519832957853692014-06-08T09:52:45.071+02:002014-06-08T09:52:45.071+02:00I'm about to switch up and do some funny fanta...I'm about to switch up and do some funny fantasy once I finish the extensive round of dark epic fantasy I'm currently doing. Funny is such a nice change, especially in the summer. I should reserve dark for winter :>PMulluanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525878564470398696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-28447883472773996182014-06-05T21:29:46.305+02:002014-06-05T21:29:46.305+02:00"Old Man's War" was my first Scalzi ..."Old Man's War" was my first Scalzi book, and it totally captivated me: the series is still ongoing and he wrote on his blog that he's at work on the next book. Great news!Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-14430687949500774502014-06-05T08:10:52.324+02:002014-06-05T08:10:52.324+02:00So many books! All I've read by him is Redshir...So many books! All I've read by him is Redshirts, which I thought was very clever. Will keep an eye out for Old Man's War - the series sounds really interesting. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14790516689953309548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-24014567934122856482014-05-25T19:46:14.412+02:002014-05-25T19:46:14.412+02:00Agreed. And what's more, he deals with very di...Agreed. And what's more, he deals with very different subjects in his books, so that - no matter what you try - he always holds your attention. And keeps you amused along the way...<br />Not a bad deal at all! :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-32956117498492730522014-05-25T00:26:45.532+02:002014-05-25T00:26:45.532+02:00Such a great author. I credit Old Man's War fo...Such a great author. I credit Old Man's War for being my gateway into sci-fi...I didn't used to read this genre much, and when I wanted to start reading more I tried a lot of titles that were just too heavy or focused on the techno babble for a beginner like me. Then I read Scalzi, and his mix of sci-fi and humor was just the thing I needed to ease my way into this genre.<br /><br />~MogsyBibioSanctumhttp://bibliosanctum.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-18124325417884057572014-05-23T17:23:11.773+02:002014-05-23T17:23:11.773+02:00It's usually true that the transition from boo...It's usually true that the transition from book to screen is not an easy one, and sometimes it angers you - I've still not forgiven Peter Jackson for that scene where Frodo banishes Sam on the stairs of Cirith Ungol, because he badly mistreated (betrayed?) both characters. This is what's important in the translation from book to visual medium, that the screenwriters remain respectful of characters.<br /><br />In the GoT tv series there have been story changes, yes: after all it was next to impossible to follow the books too faithfully, not with the constraints imposed by 10-episode seasons. But I think that Benioff and Weiss have done an admirable job of keeping as faithful as possible to the original structure of GRRM's characters. And I'll add something else: some of the actors have given their characters levels of hidden depths that I would not have believed possible outside of book form. I could even go as far as saying that this might very well be the first novel-to-screen rendition that did NOT disappoint me...Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-40586319955347131592014-05-23T06:34:15.738+02:002014-05-23T06:34:15.738+02:00Oh I've read all the books (so far) it is the ...Oh I've read all the books (so far) it is the show that I refuse to watch. Everybody is different and with books we imagine things according to our personalities. TV/Movies takes that away from us.Mulluanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525878564470398696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461380103545323175.post-70686089914907136952014-05-22T21:46:05.644+02:002014-05-22T21:46:05.644+02:00GRRM requires a lot of strength, granted, but some...GRRM requires a lot of strength, granted, but somehow you build it along the way: I started reading his books some 12 years ago and now... well, I have to make it to the end of the "tunnel". It's become a matter of pride! :-)Maddalenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08816530861727890713noreply@blogger.com