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Book 3 of the Wheel of time series it is a nice conclusion to the opening story arc of the series. You are still able to feel like all the major threads of the story are complete, or at least to this part of the narrative. The protagonists of the story are all re-united at the end even if the future is uncertain, and a victory has been scored. Things that were hinted at in the previous novels have been fleshed out in this one with new characters joining the increasingly large cast of characters. A satisfying novel giving space to more than just of few characters to develop and provide their own viewpoint on the happenings of the world.
A series of speeches surrounded by a story, it is a quite enjoyable piece of science fiction for the most part. There is no doubt that it is goal is to provide an idea rather than to tell a tale and depending on your philosophical or political inclinations you will find it to be either nonsense or magnificent.
If you enjoy blues music and have some notion about its origins, this book might surprise you. The author goes into great detail as to the birth of blues music and how over the years it was mythologized in a way that did not really represent the reality of its creation. Well written and with copious notes it should put sounds into your head and make you reach for the music he refers to.
Book four of the Wheel of Time series it manages to split itself in to several stories without becoming convoluted or sacrificing the importance of one over the other. A few more characters are introduced while yet others are given more development. It ends with quite a number of plot lines clearly unresolved and marks the beginning of change in the series to be more continuous story where there is a need to jump from the end of one book to the next.
If you ever wanted to find out how dysfunctional an industry can be, then the story of Marvel comics is a good way to find out. I have always been interested in how comic books build stories upon stories that were created by different writers and this book shows what happened behind the scenes to make them. Although the ending is a bit abrupt, the author kept me interested in what could have just been a dry listing of significant events in the history of the company. This book is not only for comic book fans but for anyone who is involved in writing as it sheds light on an industry that is fueled by continuous creation.
Book 5 of The Wheel of Time series it brings to a conclusion several plot lines while laying others and adding more complications for the main character. Nicely paced, it is less expository than some of the previous novels mainly because most of the setting of the story and the main characters has been established. We get to see insight into several character referred to before and the growth of others. It concludes with another seeming victory tinged with a hint of threats yet to come.
Book 6 of the Wheel of Time series has les action than others and the characters are no longer jumping about as they flee from one danger to another. In Lord of Chaos we get to see what changes brought on by main characters have caused and some of the drugery that is involved in ruling any nation. The novel also present a relaistic depiction of what people believe and how it influences what they percieve to be true. Jordan presents the cross purposes of protagonists that are arrived to because of incomplete knowledge or differing interpretation of events. At the end of the novel, the story resembles the title, by having things that were established by eralier plot lines in shambles leaving the reader eager to find out what happens next.
A brief survey of words in the English language, it explores word origins and their use both in the past and in current literature. Both interesting and amusing underneath it lies a love for words, not just for their meaning, but for their sound and appropriateness.
Book Seven in the Wheel of Time Series it deals with the immediate aftermath of the events from the previous book and introduces a new character of major importance. It also advances many of the subplots developed in earlier books and ends, in the midst of all the chaos with victories for several groups even if there is also a lot left undone. With good pacing and interesting threads it builds nicely to several points in the story.
It is not clear at the beginning of the book that this is a more of travelogue than a serious discussion of the Kakure Kirishitan community and beliefs. So I was disappointed as I found that the material was more about the author’s travels to find the important sites of that faith rather than an exploration of what was a rather unique religious development. Events are placed in the historical context and it does shed light on a lesser know part of Japanese history, but if you are looking for deep discussion of the subject matter, it is not there.
The eight book in the series, the plot is moved along with not many definite resolutions. The aftermath of events of the previous book is explored, with only a few leaps forward to resolving plot-lines started earlier. On the whole the book seems rather irresolute despite some momentary victories.
Having watched the extravagant movie, I somehow expected the novel to be much longer than it is. Simple in execution the story moves along a brisk pace filled with vivid images and great phrases. It is not surprising that this is considered a classic of American literature no only because of the quality of the writing, but the topics it addresses which are still relevant today. It is a shame that Fitzgerald was unable to know the extent of his novels influence and impact.
Book 9 in the Wheel of Time series it advances the plot while laying new ones. All the main characters are represented in the novel which is quite enjoyable and ends on events that cannot help but significantly affect the rest of the story. At the same time, things are becoming unwieldy and there appears to be no single unifying thread that would lead the story to a conclusion.
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