Kevin's Watch

I've avoided most of the threads in here since I haven't finished the first read of AATE yet. But I'm up to chapter 5 and

Spoiler

they are still sitting around Andelain talking and making decisions?!?

I assume the pace picks up at some point?

I'm still in chapter two, and I'm fully enjoying the snail's pace of examing the characters' emotions in handfuls of paragraphs at a time. The care which Donaldson takes to explain the difference between Linden's *dismay* and the alternative of *despair* is just breathtaking in its detail. Mapping out these flavors of human experience is fascinating to me. I think the moment has earned it.

I can't believe how quickly some people are reading this book. It's not a book I want to read in order to see what happens next. Rather, I want to linger over each and every sentence, continuously connecting them to sentences and the flow of textual movements from previous paragraphs. So far I don't think a word is wasted. I'm amazed how the concepts he's trying to relate *require* so much space. This ability to define and delineate ineffable facets of the human soul is wondrous. I can't believe he can produce books this rich in only 3 years.

However, if the pace continues like this for a few more chapters, I can imagine getting impatient. I didn't read your your spoilered text. I hope they're not still fretting in Andelain by chapter 5.

I just started Part 2, and I must say, between where you guys are at and where I'm at... it got pretty intense for me. I couldn't stop reading it (good thing I hid until after I was done with my exams ) I mean, I'm saying TDAGD intensity... as in I needed to take a break, it stressed me out so much... and I probably would have forgotten to breath.

And now that I've built it up, enjoy!

I just finished, and it picks up, all right. And it continues building up in intensity all the way through the end. And my goodness, it is worth every "slow" moment. It even redeems RotE and FR in my estimation (I did not enjoy either book at the time).

Auleliel wrote:I just finished, and it picks up, all right. And it continues building up in intensity all the way through the end. And my goodness, it is worth every "slow" moment. It even redeems RotE and FR in my estimation (I did not enjoy either book at the time).

The plot gains in intensity?!

Orlion wrote:

Auleliel wrote:I just finished, and it picks up, all right. And it continues building up in intensity all the way through the end. And my goodness, it is worth every "slow" moment. It even redeems RotE and FR in my estimation (I did not enjoy either book at the time).

The plot gains in intensity?!

Well, there are a few pages of respite every once in a while, but yes.

Auleliel wrote:

Orlion wrote:

Auleliel wrote:I just finished, and it picks up, all right. And it continues building up in intensity all the way through the end. And my goodness, it is worth every "slow" moment. It even redeems RotE and FR in my estimation (I did not enjoy either book at the time).

The plot gains in intensity?!

Well, there are a few pages of respite every once in a while, but yes.

Dang... I really wasn't expecting all this awesomeness until The Last Dark... I don't know if I'm ready

Well that's good to hear. Read a few more pages at noon...

In Chapter 6 now.

Spoiler

They finally left Andelain!!!

Don't get me wrong, it's good. It's just going slower than I figured

*edit* I was only in Chapter 5 when I first posted this... oops

Zarathustra wrote: I can't believe how quickly some people are reading this book. It's not a book I want to read in order to see what happens next. Rather, I want to linger over each and every sentence, continuously connecting them to sentences and the flow of textual movements from previous paragraphs.

I get it. But I'm a different sort of creature. Certain authors, a new book is like a first date I've been dying for: I want all of it, right now. The lingering and flowing is for the second "read through," after a little rest.
Probably start this weekend.

Vraith wrote:

Zarathustra wrote: I can't believe how quickly some people are reading this book. It's not a book I want to read in order to see what happens next. Rather, I want to linger over each and every sentence, continuously connecting them to sentences and the flow of textual movements from previous paragraphs.

I get it. But I'm a different sort of creature. Certain authors, a new book is like a first date I've been dying for: I want all of it, right now. The lingering and flowing is for the second "read through," after a little rest.
Probably start this weekend.

Maybe I'm just rationalizing how slowly I read.

But that's not entirely true. As an aspiring writer, I can't help reading critically. I read books like I drink beer: marveling at the craft, analyzing the ingredients, wondering how I would have done it myself. I know it's not for everyone, and maybe it sounds like it's over-thinking of something that should be fun, but for me it is fun.

I have to agree, Z!

Having only started a new job two weeks ago and having major domestic commitments, I only have a little time each day that I can devote to reading this book, one I have been waiting since this time in 2007 to read.

Still, I am only starting chapter 4 tonight. SRD's writing is far too intricate to rush through. I may take a less disciplined pace through TLD in three years, knowing that the end of the story is waiting to be discovered. I can always go back then and re-read for the detail of the prose...but right now, I know there is only another midstream stop waiting at the end of this book. Might as well linger over the craftsmanship which SRD puts into his writing. Amazing!

Zarathustra wrote: As an aspiring writer, I can't help reading critically. I read books like I drink beer: marveling at the craft, analyzing the ingredients, wondering how I would have done it myself. I know it's not for everyone, and maybe it sounds like it's over-thinking of something that should be fun, but for me it is fun.

Despite the joke I couldn't resist [although it's true, as well as being a joke],
I also read fast first to avoid/suppress all the critical/analytical stuff I've learned. It ruins my immersion in the story. I did English Lit. cuz I loved reading...and what I learned there interferes with just having the experience. I have to separate my funs.

I thought the pace was, hm, interesting. I mean, in the back of my head I did think "uh...you guys might want to get busy, the world is now officially in the process of ending." But on the other hand, I was choked up a number of times throughout the first few chapters, and the sheer weight of revelations we get about LF's past, about the Elohim's deceitful bargain with the Giants, Linden's dismay/despair, etc., are pretty breathtaking. To say nothing of the forgiveness/healing of Kevin Landwaster. As someone who has experienced depression, and tried to hide it (as you do when in that state), and was terrifed to be exposed, and received words of grace and healing when I most expected condemnation...well. Kevin's been in despair for something like 8000 years. That moment of healing between Kevin and his forbears, that "we are grieved but not shamed", that was really powerful. Yeah, it was talking heads for several chapters (and again after Mt. Thunder), but the emotional weight in those sections more than made up for it.

From a plot viewpoint, I think it's handy that we had access to teleportation, so one doesn't have to travel the Land by foot like we did way back in LFB.

chaplainchris wrote:To say nothing of the forgiveness/healing of Kevin Landwaster. As someone who has experienced depression, and tried to hide it (as you do when in that state), and was terrifed to be exposed, and received words of grace and healing when I most expected condemnation...well. Kevin's been in despair for something like 8000 years. That moment of healing between Kevin and his forbears, that "we are grieved but not shamed", that was really powerful.

I really liked the lead-up to this moment, the discussion B/D/L had among themselves about fatherhood before they decided to let Berek deliver the news. And I really liked the concept of what they were doing. I agree with it. But the execution bothered me a little. The "we forgive you, Kevin" group-hug just seemed kind of lame. (Why would spectres need to hug? Can they feel touch?)

And the fact that it was set-up to contrast how unforgivable Linden's desecration was ... wow! She's worse than Kevin. Pretty powerful stuff.

chaplainchris wrote: From a plot viewpoint, I think it's handy that we had access to teleportation, so one doesn't have to travel the Land by foot like we did way back in LFB.

Yeah, it is handy, but that seems like such a deus ex machina... it's almost annoying. Some of the talking they did in Andelain, they could have done while riding to Mt. Thunder - would have seemed more realistic, but what the heck, it's fantasy!

Akasri - I agree about the semi-annoying deus-ex-machina part. I was being semi-tongue-in-cheek by calling it handy. As in, without this, the world would end before you guys had time to walk anyway.

But I can live with it. The trek from Revelstone to Andelain took long enough, and we've had plenty of travelogues-across-the-Land before. And hey, the world is ending, we needs to get places quick!

Zarathustra - did you mean to say Elena in place of Linden? Or are you saying that Linden's resurrection of Covenant was an act of rage w/o thought of consequences, and thus Desecration? If the latter, I don't agree. It was risky, but she didn't *intend* Desecration (as Kevin supposedly did, and Trell definitely did, preferring to kill what he loved rather than see it in the Despiser's hands where it would be broken). Linden had some fear of the consequences, but she was also guided by Covenant's hints to do something unexpected, and to FIND him...and she was desperate. But that's different from despairing, if barely. Mhoram was desperate when he led the sortie out of Revelstone, but he was not enacting Desecration.

Have to admit - was hugely disappointed by the beginning section. It's the first time I've ever wanted to put a Donaldson book down - it was all getting so frustrating. Yes it certainly picked up later on but nothing reached the kind of intensity we normally expect. FR was a far superior book, much as it pains me to say so after waiting for so long.

And as for the teleportation I found that a bit of a cheat and a means of denying us the opportunity to SEE the Land again. I loved the descriptions of the Land in the earlier books, but you get almost none of that in this one.

Sorry to be a grump. I'm sure the Last Dark will be extraordinary.

Akasri wrote:I've avoided most of the threads in here since I haven't finished the first read of AATE yet. But I'm up to chapter 5 and

Spoiler

they are still sitting around Andelain talking and making decisions?!?

I assume the pace picks up at some point?

I'm up to Part 2: Chapter 1.

Stock up, because once they leave Andelain, you will not want to put the book down for quite some time!

Okay, now that I've finished chapter 5, I feel pretty silly for this:

I wrote:I didn't read your your spoilered text. I hope they're not still fretting in Andelain by chapter 5.

Yes, I can see why people would complain. It was an extraordinarily long time for characters to sit around in one spot and debate. I've never seen anything like it. No writer has ever attempted it, to my knowledge. The first 5 chapters are basically one long 103 page scene!!

But I think that's exactly why it was an astounding piece of writing. No other writer could have pulled that off. As I was reading--conscious that I had made the above statement--I felt the press of time and the gradual thickening of pages "to the left," and the growing realization that my stated hopes would be dashed. But I also found myself not caring. I was continuously amazed that Donaldson had this much to say. Where does it all come from? Very little seemed like filler. The vast majority of it seemed necessary. The fact that so much occurred to him at all was just shocking. Every paragraph held a new revelation on the characters, the plot, the history, the consequences, the logic, ... godamn he's good. So far, this is without a doubt the best book of the Last Chronicles. I'm enthralled by what I'm reading.

chaplainchris wrote:Zarathustra - did you mean to say Elena in place of Linden? Or are you saying that Linden's resurrection of Covenant was an act of rage w/o thought of consequences, and thus Desecration? If the latter, I don't agree. It was risky, but she didn't *intend* Desecration (as Kevin supposedly did, and Trell definitely did, preferring to kill what he loved rather than see it in the Despiser's hands where it would be broken). Linden had some fear of the consequences, but she was also guided by Covenant's hints to do something unexpected, and to FIND him...and she was desperate. But that's different from despairing, if barely. Mhoram was desperate when he led the sortie out of Revelstone, but he was not enacting Desecration.

I meant Linden, not Elena. But after my thoughts in the Reading Along thread concerning chapter 4, I'm taking it back. You're right: it wasn't Desecration. I think Linden was supposed to bring Covenant back so that he could die, and so that she could deal with it. It's authenticity, not Desecration.

Z wrote:I think Linden was supposed to bring Covenant back so that he could die, and so that she could deal with it. It's authenticity, not Desecration.

I think this may have some truth, and it lead me to a thought that any who haven't finished the book so ignore, hence the spoiler:

Spoiler

Don't you think it's interesting that TC pushed Linden away before dealing wtih Joan, much like he did at the beginning of the Second Chronicles?

Shame, it's an interesting thought too!