Maggie's review
Eragon (Inheritance) - Eragon Book 1
by Christopher Paolini
Hi Maggie,
thanks for this review - I agreed with much of what you wrote. To respond to something you noted early on, I find it ironic that some people think that children's fantasy literature is cliched and lacking in artistry. I have long felt that it is adult fantasy literature that lags behind in the creativity department (with some notable exceptions of course). The quality of children's fantasy tends to be higher overall, I believe, because there is not as much stigma attached to writing in this genre for children, as there is for adults.
Think about it: when was the last time an adult fantasy novel won a major literary prize like the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, or the Booker? But the major literary awards for children regularly go to fantastic works - Lloyd Alexander, Susan Cooper, Robin McKinley - the list goes on and on. Also, I have noticed that when works originally intended for children are deemed of literary value, they somehow become "adult" books! The best example of this is Ursula K. le Guin's Earthsea series, which WAS a children's series (Library of Congress code PZ, the second book - "The Tombs of Atuan" was a Newbery Honor Book, etc>), but is usually shelved in adult sections now....
Sorry to write you such an epic, but I get pretty passionate about children's literature (hoping to write my dissertation on the connections between fantasy and folklore), and I sometimes feel that people take a condescending attitude to it that is completely unwarranted. Thanks!
Abigail
Maggie's review
Eragon (Inheritance) - Eragon Book 1 by Christopher Paolini
Maggie's review
rating:
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recommended for: Readers interesed in exploring the fantasy genre
I am not going to go into how this book is or is not better or different than the movie. Frankly, I don't want to get into it.
Basically, I read this on a friend's suggestion. Usually I stray away from the 'young adult' section, if only the reputation (perhaps an innacurate one) of churning out chliche fantasy novels that seem to be more suited towards making a quick prophet than creating a work of artistry. In many ways, Eragon does not stray from the common concept of dragons, elves, and magic, as do many fantasy novels. At the time I read it, I became engrossed with, although it is, quite plainly, nothing that new. Ofcourse many books, for better or worse, introduce no new creatures beyond the familiar territory of mythical beasts and beings, and Eragon is no exception.
The reason I give it an average rating is because the story is interesting enough to follow through. Whether it be witches, ghosts, or dragons, all pre-conceived notions, writers must still...more
Basically, I read this on a friend's suggestion. Usually I stray away from the 'young adult' section, if only the reputation (perhaps an innacurate one) of churning out chliche fantasy novels that seem to be more suited towards making a quick prophet than creating a work of artistry. In many ways, Eragon does not stray from the common concept of dragons, elves, and magic, as do many fantasy novels. At the time I read it, I became engrossed with, although it is, quite plainly, nothing that new. Ofcourse many books, for better or worse, introduce no new creatures beyond the familiar territory of mythical beasts and beings, and Eragon is no exception.
The reason I give it an average rating is because the story is interesting enough to follow through. Whether it be witches, ghosts, or dragons, all pre-conceived notions, writers must still...more
Hi Maggie,
thanks for this review - I agreed with much of what you wrote. To respond to something you noted early on, I find it ironic that some people think that children's fantasy literature is cliched and lacking in artistry. I have long felt that it is adult fantasy literature that lags behind in the creativity department (with some notable exceptions of course). The quality of children's fantasy tends to be higher overall, I believe, because there is not as much stigma attached to writing in this genre for children, as there is for adults.
Think about it: when was the last time an adult fantasy novel won a major literary prize like the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, or the Booker? But the major literary awards for children regularly go to fantastic works - Lloyd Alexander, Susan Cooper, Robin McKinley - the list goes on and on. Also, I have noticed that when works originally intended for children are deemed of literary value, they somehow become "adult" books! The best example of this is Ursula K. le Guin's Earthsea series, which WAS a children's series (Library of Congress code PZ, the second book - "The Tombs of Atuan" was a Newbery Honor Book, etc>), but is usually shelved in adult sections now....
Sorry to write you such an epic, but I get pretty passionate about children's literature (hoping to write my dissertation on the connections between fantasy and folklore), and I sometimes feel that people take a condescending attitude to it that is completely unwarranted. Thanks!
Abigail


