Flash Reviews: Gladstone, Valente, Zahn

[calico_reaction]

I'm going to try something new and rather distressing. For a long time, I knew that when it was time to start pulling away from the book blog so that I could spend my time doing other things, like working on my own fiction, that I'd have to change the way I did reviews. Quite honestly, I dread sitting down and putting my thoughts on paper, even

Comments

[temporaryworlds]

I don't mind the flash reviews. Your reviews are normally so in depth, I can see why time would be an issue if you're focusing more on your writing. As someone struggling to juggle the blogging and writing life, I totally understand it.

[calico_reaction]

I'm glad everyone's being so understanding so far! The real test will be when I do a few of these and whether or not people starting dropping the LJ in droves! :)

[boxofdelights]

These reviews were definitely worth reading.

[calico_reaction]

Thanks!

[weasel_of_d00m]

Better flash reviews than no reviews!

Personally, I like your short reviews, and hopefully they are not as draining on your time as the long in-depth ones are! Plus, I am sure if you would really feel like writing a long review of a book, you will ;)

I am reading "Scoundrels" right now (I am a Han Solo fan girl. There was never a doubt that I would read this book. Resistance was futile), and you are right about the weird vibe. I am not sure what it is. It almost feels like the novel could have been written with any 11 other characters, in any other universe, if that makes any sense. Plus, since I have not kept up with the Extended Universe books, I am feeling a bit lost, too. Oh well. Half-way though the book. Will share my final opinion once I am done...

[calico_reaction]

Plus, I am sure if you would really feel like writing a long review of a book, you will ;)

Very, very true!

Regarding Scoundrels, yeah... it's not very Star Wars-ish. Really, being out of touch with the EU isn't a bad thing, but given what a weird vibe this one has, maybe that is a problem after all, because there's such a weird dissonance to what you're used to seeing in the EU.

[weasel_of_d00m]

Book finished. Here's a copy of my review from Library Thing:

"I was so looking forward to this book. It has Han Solo on the cover, who I have a giant crush on! It is written by Timothy Zahn, whose "Thrawn" trilogy I loved! Alas, that noise you hear is my expectations crashing and burning :(

"Scoundrels" did not feel like a Star Wars book. I have seen reviews refer to the book as "Ocean's 11 in space" - and it felt as if any 11 characters could have been inserted into the "main heroes" slots and nothing would have changed. It was hard to care about the heroes, and I kept feeling like I am missing huge parts of the book because it assumed a fairly detailed knowledge of Extended Universe canon (unless the world-building was just bad).

Overall, the book was a disappointing experience. It took me four weeks to slog my way through it, and at the end I was skimming the pages, just wanting to get it over with.

Oh, and what was it with Chewbacca 'warbling' all the time? He is not a freaking bird! (I am nitpicking, I know, I know....)"

[calico_reaction]

Heh. It's been a LONG time since I've read a book with Chewbacca in it, so I've forgotten how the Wookiee language was usually handled...

It was hard to care about the heroes, and I kept feeling like I am missing huge parts of the book because it assumed a fairly detailed knowledge of Extended Universe canon (unless the world-building was just bad).

I never got this impression at all. What was there to assume about EU cannon? I felt like if you recognized EU characters, great, but if you didn't, no biggie. But your comment that it didn't feel like Star Wars was right on, and that may be the be-all-and-end-all in terms of why the world-building and backstory and all just felt off.

[calzephyr77]

Oh! I must read Six Gun Snow White :-)

[calico_reaction]

Yes, indeed!