Why should I finish Daughter of Smoke and Bone?

[valancy_s]

This book was recommended (loaned to me, in fact) by someone whose taste is very similar to mine. I've heard great things about it from others. Right off the bat, there are certain cool elements: the setting, the magical world secretly existing side-by-side with the mundane. And I have only read 4 chapters, which isn't a lot

Comments

[tempestsarekind]

I haven't read the book, but my understanding is that Karou's perfection is plot-relevant? I can see how the narration would be annoying, though - even if Karou is perfect, would she describe herself as being like a birdlike ballet dancer in her own head

[valancy_s]

It's a really interesting issue and one I thought about as I was writing the post. But while you're right that it's common and accepted for male characters to have a lot going for them, I feel the Mary Sue is a different case. The problem is that she's not a character so much as a fantasy structure -- like James Bond, who I also have no patience for. The Mary Sue doesn't prove herself awesome to the reader by doing hard, interesting things, she comes pre-laden with traits that code as "awesome."

To borrow your example, some of the shoddiest Doctor Who moments are when people fawn on the Doctor just for being the Doctor. He does bring a lot to the table, but that's not why we like him. And it's not just that he's "flawed," though he's that too. The key difference is that we're convinced to root for him by his actions, not by being told how special and amazing he is.

Also, the Doctor has something that Mary Sues (and James Bond) never have: an honest-to-goodness sense of humor.

[tempestsarekind]

Oh, I absolutely agree about what the Mary Sue is *supposed* to be! But I see the term getting lobbed at female characters all the time, in situations where male characters don't get the same treatment. Like, a male character can be introduced as top of his class at university, and people will take that as a valid part of his characterization, as a reasonable point to start learning about the character. A female character introduced in the same way often gets labeled as a Mary Sue, because "we're just *told* she's smart," even if she goes on to do plenty of smart things in the story. For another Doctor Who example, a lot of people complained about Martha's being a doctor because it was just "pasted on," even though she is obviously compassionate, wants to fix people's problems, and clever enough to notice something that impresses the Doctor straightaway. I feel like female characters who *come to the table* with skills are not given the credit of earning or deserving them in the way that male characters are. Which is where I think the

[valancy_s]

Hm. If I understand you right, part of what you're arguing against here is not related to what I said, but a habit people have of calling any accomplished female character a Mary Sue. I have no doubt you're right, but I'm not actively involved in a fandom so I don't come across it. Nevertheless, I tried to show as extensively as possible without boring everyone that Karou's case goes way beyond that.

As for my point about characters making you like them by being awesome, I actually disagree with you that male characters don't have to do this. Sherlock Holmes does have to prove himself--that's why in every single story he makes some startling deduction and then explains his chain of reasoning. He's a genius, but he has to perform his genius for the audience or we lose interest. I'm not saying we need everybody's origin story, or that they have to start with nothing; I'm saying a well-written character persuades us of his/her exceptionalism through action.

[soniag]

It is plot-related. Have you encountered the boy character who is too beautiful to look at? That stuff bugged the crap out of me at first, but it all comes together for the most part. I think it is worth finishing.

That said, I wasn't all that jazzed about reading the sequel. It's all a bit OTT for me. I can't quite fall in love with the characters.

I did, however, just finish Laini Taylor's LIPS TOUCH, THREE TIMES and was pretty impressed. Especially with the story inspired by Christina Rosetti's "Goblin Market." Gorgeous writing.