Weekend of the Great Escape.
I finished reading Terry Goodkind's Confessor on Thursday. In many ways, it was the best possible conclusion to the series. Of course, we all know that the protagonist triumphs. That isn't exactly a surprise. I very much enjoyed the struggle to the end, and-- huh, come to think of it, I don't remember what the last Wizard's rule was. Did Goodkind not say at all, or did I just forget because I was reading quickly, wrapped up in the flow of the story? I'll have to go and re-read the end, I think.
As I was saying, I did enjoy the struggle to the final conclusion. Despite that, though, it was vaguely dissatisfying. I'm not sure if I had grander expectations for the big end, or what. I thought it was fitting that many things came full-circle. Certain characters we thought we would not see again in the story had cameos, and that was nice. It was also quite appropriate that the end of the last book should somewhat parallel the end of the first. And, as with most things in this series, Richard's wit stands above all. I do enjoy that Richard's keen ability to figure things out is a driving force in the story. Have I mentioned how much I adore a smarty-pants?
Even so. It was slightly disappointing that the series ended with a sigh rather than a bang.
On Friday I took advantage of an opportunity to run to Barnes & Noble and pick up the third book in the Codex Alera series, Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher. It's been quite a good read. Unfortunately, I wish I had re-read the first two in the series as it's been a long time and I'm not as familiar with all the political machinations as I had been. I'm almost done with the book, and though there are elements of it that are slightly predictable, I'm really enjoying the characters (Butcher always writes great characters) and I'm enjoying the direction in which the plot is moving. Though there has been a whole lot of action, nothing of great magnitude with far-reaching consequences has happened -- for the protagonist, that is. Things of great significance have certainly happened for the kingdom in general.
I think I won't be satisfied with the end of this book -- it seems more like set-up for the next one than anything else. Luckily, I waited just long enough to read this installment, because book 4 (Captain's Fury) will be coming out on December 4th. Even though I don't really want to wait to read it, I'm going to put it on my gift list since it's in hardcover. In the meantime, I think I may just go and buy the previous two books since they're out in paperback and re-read them in preparation.
Yesterday I vegged out at home, watched a couple of movies, actually. Which is the way it happens with me. Finally saw Snatch again; I've had the urge to watch it for a few weeks. It was quite entertaining. I really enjoy its style. ^^ I also saw Curse of the Golden Flower (minus the first 30 minutes), which was gorgeously done. The set, props and costumes were intricate and stunning; the colors were rich and beautiful. The story was a tragedy and maybe because I hadn't seen the beginning, I wasn't sure whether it would turn out the way it did or not. Having said that, the ending wasn't exactly surprising either. I was hooked by the stylistic execution more than the story itself. I keep wanting to compare it to Hero, but personally I'd call Hero delightful and touching and something I could watch over several times, whereas CotGF was captivating, but only because I knew it was going to end in 2 hours.
After those I saw Stranger Than Fiction, which I started out thoroughly enjoying. SPOILERS AHEAD! I absolutely loved the setup and the beginning of the story. I really adored the character of Harold Crick. Will Ferrell was really convincing and I enjoyed his portrayal. Unfortunately, even though I really like Maggie Gyllenhaal, her character (Harold's love interest) was sadly two-dimensional. Though there's some appropriate irony in that, considering Harold and by default, his love interest was a character in Eiffel's book. I really enjoyed the link between Harold and Eiffel and thought it was probably wise of the writers not to try and explain how this was even happening and whether Harold came to be because of Eiffel, or if he existed before she thought of him. That kind of explanation, I believe, is best left up to the viewer's imagination (though in a book I'd have the opposite opinion for the most part).
I have to say, though, that I really disliked the ending. I really liked that Harold read the book in one sitting and was so moved by the ending that he though Eiffel should go ahead and write his death. I think they succeeded in portraying how emotionally attached one can become to characters in a book, and obviously the idea they were going for is whether authors (and/or readers) come to think of characters as real people -- and how one's reaction is changed if you really think of them as real people. In light of that, I suppose I can't argue with how they chose to end it -- with Eiffel rewriting the ending so that Harold was able to live instead of die. But considering that it is just a story, I thought it would have been more interesting had Harold died. I was really hoping that he would. After they revealed that, though he was hurt very seriously, he would still live and that his love interest was going to be there for him -- the implication being for the rest of their lives -- well, it was just another trite happy ending.
I do enjoy happy endings. But it takes more than 2 hours' worth of story, when you've barely gotten into a character's head or actual emotions, to make me feel satisfied with a happy ending. Otherwise, a happy ending after a story that failed to touch me was just a waste of time. Because, let's face it people, a story is a story. When I get into a book, where I really get into a character's head, where I feel their emotions and have cried in sympathy or bitten my nails with worry, that's when a happy ending means something.
You might ask, aren't you taking all of this too seriously? *shrugs* That's what mindless action movies are for. Or movies that are more plot-driven than character-driven.
Wow, I seem to be turning my posts into essays a lot lately. Sorry? A little? >_<;
As I was saying, I did enjoy the struggle to the final conclusion. Despite that, though, it was vaguely dissatisfying. I'm not sure if I had grander expectations for the big end, or what. I thought it was fitting that many things came full-circle. Certain characters we thought we would not see again in the story had cameos, and that was nice. It was also quite appropriate that the end of the last book should somewhat parallel the end of the first. And, as with most things in this series, Richard's wit stands above all. I do enjoy that Richard's keen ability to figure things out is a driving force in the story. Have I mentioned how much I adore a smarty-pants?
Even so. It was slightly disappointing that the series ended with a sigh rather than a bang.
On Friday I took advantage of an opportunity to run to Barnes & Noble and pick up the third book in the Codex Alera series, Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher. It's been quite a good read. Unfortunately, I wish I had re-read the first two in the series as it's been a long time and I'm not as familiar with all the political machinations as I had been. I'm almost done with the book, and though there are elements of it that are slightly predictable, I'm really enjoying the characters (Butcher always writes great characters) and I'm enjoying the direction in which the plot is moving. Though there has been a whole lot of action, nothing of great magnitude with far-reaching consequences has happened -- for the protagonist, that is. Things of great significance have certainly happened for the kingdom in general.
I think I won't be satisfied with the end of this book -- it seems more like set-up for the next one than anything else. Luckily, I waited just long enough to read this installment, because book 4 (Captain's Fury) will be coming out on December 4th. Even though I don't really want to wait to read it, I'm going to put it on my gift list since it's in hardcover. In the meantime, I think I may just go and buy the previous two books since they're out in paperback and re-read them in preparation.
Yesterday I vegged out at home, watched a couple of movies, actually. Which is the way it happens with me. Finally saw Snatch again; I've had the urge to watch it for a few weeks. It was quite entertaining. I really enjoy its style. ^^ I also saw Curse of the Golden Flower (minus the first 30 minutes), which was gorgeously done. The set, props and costumes were intricate and stunning; the colors were rich and beautiful. The story was a tragedy and maybe because I hadn't seen the beginning, I wasn't sure whether it would turn out the way it did or not. Having said that, the ending wasn't exactly surprising either. I was hooked by the stylistic execution more than the story itself. I keep wanting to compare it to Hero, but personally I'd call Hero delightful and touching and something I could watch over several times, whereas CotGF was captivating, but only because I knew it was going to end in 2 hours.
After those I saw Stranger Than Fiction, which I started out thoroughly enjoying. SPOILERS AHEAD! I absolutely loved the setup and the beginning of the story. I really adored the character of Harold Crick. Will Ferrell was really convincing and I enjoyed his portrayal. Unfortunately, even though I really like Maggie Gyllenhaal, her character (Harold's love interest) was sadly two-dimensional. Though there's some appropriate irony in that, considering Harold and by default, his love interest was a character in Eiffel's book. I really enjoyed the link between Harold and Eiffel and thought it was probably wise of the writers not to try and explain how this was even happening and whether Harold came to be because of Eiffel, or if he existed before she thought of him. That kind of explanation, I believe, is best left up to the viewer's imagination (though in a book I'd have the opposite opinion for the most part).
I have to say, though, that I really disliked the ending. I really liked that Harold read the book in one sitting and was so moved by the ending that he though Eiffel should go ahead and write his death. I think they succeeded in portraying how emotionally attached one can become to characters in a book, and obviously the idea they were going for is whether authors (and/or readers) come to think of characters as real people -- and how one's reaction is changed if you really think of them as real people. In light of that, I suppose I can't argue with how they chose to end it -- with Eiffel rewriting the ending so that Harold was able to live instead of die. But considering that it is just a story, I thought it would have been more interesting had Harold died. I was really hoping that he would. After they revealed that, though he was hurt very seriously, he would still live and that his love interest was going to be there for him -- the implication being for the rest of their lives -- well, it was just another trite happy ending.
I do enjoy happy endings. But it takes more than 2 hours' worth of story, when you've barely gotten into a character's head or actual emotions, to make me feel satisfied with a happy ending. Otherwise, a happy ending after a story that failed to touch me was just a waste of time. Because, let's face it people, a story is a story. When I get into a book, where I really get into a character's head, where I feel their emotions and have cried in sympathy or bitten my nails with worry, that's when a happy ending means something.
You might ask, aren't you taking all of this too seriously? *shrugs* That's what mindless action movies are for. Or movies that are more plot-driven than character-driven.
Wow, I seem to be turning my posts into essays a lot lately. Sorry? A little? >_<;