Review - Under Heaven
Under Heaven (Guy Gavriel Kay)
I tried to avoid specific spoilers, but I've nonetheless put this under a cut just in case.
I loved so much of this book. Particularly the opening. Guy Gavriel Kay writes beautifully, and the images and thoughts in the opening are beautiful, and had me hooked right there -- even if it is a relatively quiet, contemplative opening. I loved the characters, the women with their subtle ways of power, the politics of the court. I found it hard to follow, in a sense, especially because it's so strongly based on the history and ideals of a culture I've never been very familiar with; I felt like I was often a step behind what seemed obvious to the characters involved. That didn't bother me too much, though.
I loved the first three parts a lot. I loved the characters of Tai and Sima Zian, and Wei Song. I loved the relationship between Spring Rain and Tai, how honourable they both are, and I find it interesting how it works out. I loved Tai's relationship with Wei Song, up to a point. In a lot of fantasy that seems based on history, it feels like the author decides that because women in medieval times didn't have much agency, the female characters in their own books should be powerless. Guy Gavriel Kay rarely submits to that, if ever. Wei Song is mouthy, independent, not submissive at all. The way her relationship with Tai ends up, I didn't like so much: I didn't like how much she surrendered of herself, although in the context of the story and the society portrayed, it makes plenty of sense.
The first three parts, I loved pretty unconditionally. Part four, however, was a bit of a problem. Which I kind of expected, knowing that the central character is an expendable piece in the war: a pawn with one protection and one purpose only. Following him through the story, it gets so far and then he isn't there to witness it any more, which absolutely makes sense for his character, but makes parts of the narration very much like a summary.
And I didn't get the ends for some characters that I so much hoped for. I'm quite resigned to that, with Guy Gavriel Kay, and in some cases it is gracefully, beautifully done, and makes absolute sense for the story. I thought part four could have done with more of Li-Mei, Meshag, Spring Rain and Sima Zian. I didn't like the way their stories ended. It felt like the threads were snipped short, instead of followed to more interesting conclusions: everything made sense, really, but it wasn't the most interesting way for it to play out. Li-Mei and Meshag especially earned better send-offs.
Part four is written beautifully, and there are some excellent, well-placed, well-written scenes. But it doesn't seem to fit quite so easily with the rest, and I wish it had been five parts, and less summary.
I will probably love this even more and understand even more of what Guy Gavriel Kay is doing, when I reread this book. That, I expect. I'm looking forward to letting this book wine and dine me next time.
During the "Three Weeks for DW" stuff, I will not be disabling comments here, but I will be asking people to come over and comment on DW, if at all possible. Go here to do so. If you need a DW invite, ask. There is a tutorial on how to set up your OpenID here. If you comment anonymously, please sign your comments!
I tried to avoid specific spoilers, but I've nonetheless put this under a cut just in case.
I loved so much of this book. Particularly the opening. Guy Gavriel Kay writes beautifully, and the images and thoughts in the opening are beautiful, and had me hooked right there -- even if it is a relatively quiet, contemplative opening. I loved the characters, the women with their subtle ways of power, the politics of the court. I found it hard to follow, in a sense, especially because it's so strongly based on the history and ideals of a culture I've never been very familiar with; I felt like I was often a step behind what seemed obvious to the characters involved. That didn't bother me too much, though.
I loved the first three parts a lot. I loved the characters of Tai and Sima Zian, and Wei Song. I loved the relationship between Spring Rain and Tai, how honourable they both are, and I find it interesting how it works out. I loved Tai's relationship with Wei Song, up to a point. In a lot of fantasy that seems based on history, it feels like the author decides that because women in medieval times didn't have much agency, the female characters in their own books should be powerless. Guy Gavriel Kay rarely submits to that, if ever. Wei Song is mouthy, independent, not submissive at all. The way her relationship with Tai ends up, I didn't like so much: I didn't like how much she surrendered of herself, although in the context of the story and the society portrayed, it makes plenty of sense.
The first three parts, I loved pretty unconditionally. Part four, however, was a bit of a problem. Which I kind of expected, knowing that the central character is an expendable piece in the war: a pawn with one protection and one purpose only. Following him through the story, it gets so far and then he isn't there to witness it any more, which absolutely makes sense for his character, but makes parts of the narration very much like a summary.
And I didn't get the ends for some characters that I so much hoped for. I'm quite resigned to that, with Guy Gavriel Kay, and in some cases it is gracefully, beautifully done, and makes absolute sense for the story. I thought part four could have done with more of Li-Mei, Meshag, Spring Rain and Sima Zian. I didn't like the way their stories ended. It felt like the threads were snipped short, instead of followed to more interesting conclusions: everything made sense, really, but it wasn't the most interesting way for it to play out. Li-Mei and Meshag especially earned better send-offs.
Part four is written beautifully, and there are some excellent, well-placed, well-written scenes. But it doesn't seem to fit quite so easily with the rest, and I wish it had been five parts, and less summary.
I will probably love this even more and understand even more of what Guy Gavriel Kay is doing, when I reread this book. That, I expect. I'm looking forward to letting this book wine and dine me next time.
During the "Three Weeks for DW" stuff, I will not be disabling comments here, but I will be asking people to come over and comment on DW, if at all possible. Go here to do so. If you need a DW invite, ask. There is a tutorial on how to set up your OpenID here. If you comment anonymously, please sign your comments!