The Lies of Locke Lamora Read Along – Week 1

 

I've been waiting to read Scott Lynch's 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' for a long time now and recently came across the perfect opportunity thanks to The Lies of Locke Lamora Read Along that is currently being hosted by a number of book blogs.

Seeing as I've had some health problems in the past months that mean I've got a large backlog of reviews still to finish, now is the perfect time for me to read some of the books I've been holding in reserve while I catch up. Horray for the unexpected upside!

This weeks questions deal with the prologue up until the end of the interlude called 'Locke stays for dinner'.

I'd also love to hear your thoughts on the book and the points raised by the questions as well.

 

Discussion Questions

1. If this is your first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, what do you think of it so far?  If this is a re-read for you, how does the book stand up to rereading?

While I've had this book on my shelf for quite a while now and had it recommended to me by countless people, this is indeed my first reading.

I always expected I would enjoy it (I also really wanted to because Scott Lynch seems really nice) and I'm happy to say that it is just as good as I hoped it would be.

So far I'm very impressed with the writing, the characters and the slightly evil sense of humour that runs through the novel (evil humour often being my favourite kind). I think it's especially impressive as a debut, and if it continues to be as good until the end it will be well on its way to becoming a favourite.

 

2. At last count, I found three time lines:  Locke as a 20-something adult, Locke meeting Father Chains for the first time, and Locke as a younger child in Shades Hill. How are you doing with the flashback within a flashback style of introducing characters and the world?

When I first started reading I found the flashback style slightly distracting and wasn't sure if I liked it or not. However, I got used to it pretty quickly and as I got further into the book I came to appreciate the way this technique was used to build suspense, incorporate backstory without lagging and juxtapose particular scenes and ideas. When I think about it, it really suits the story and I think it works better than a purely chronological format would in this case.

 

3. Speaking of the world, what do you think of Camorr and Lynch's world building?

The world building is great so far and I can't get enough of Camorr. The glass towers and bridges are a nice touch and I love the role the waterways play in the city with all the islands, barges and markets. In some ways Camorr makes me think of a fantasy version of Venice. I thought the little tidbits we receive about the way people live and operate in Camorr are really well done and add a distinctive flavor to the narrative and manage to convey plenty of information without ever growing tiresome  or feeling like an info-dump. I especially liked the description of the Revel festivities that were taking place during Locke's negotiations with Don Lorenzo. I thought that added a lot to the events taking place and managed to tell us quite a bit about the city, its governance and its inhabitants.

 

4. Father Chains and the death offering. . .  quite the code of honor for thieves, isn't it? What kind of person do you think Chains is going to mold Locke into? 

At this stage I feel that Father Chains and his gang are pretty much the 'nobility of thievery', the highest class of thieves in the criminal hierarchy. I think the heists they pull are going to be more ambitious than most and therefore the stakes will be that much higher. To survive they will need finesse, discipline and a high level of co-operation. As a result they likely have a strong code by which they operate and an emphasis on camaraderie and loyalty. I think Chains will mould Locke into someone with a strong, albeit unconventional, sense of honour and morality. I think he will make him into a sort of 'confidence artist' rather than any opportunistic con-man.

 

5. It's been a while since I read this, and I'd forgotten how much of the beginning of the book is pure set up, for the characters, the plot, and the world. Generally speaking, do you prefer set up and world building done this way, or do you prefer to be thrown into the deep end with what's happening?

It really depends on the book for me. Sometimes being thrown into the deep end works well but other times I prefer being given some background to become invested in the story and truly immerse myself in the world. Both have their advantages and possible pitfalls. When I think about some of my favourite books there seems to be around an even mix of both types. Yes, I know that is a cop-out answer, but you can't make me choose!

 

6. If you've already started attempting to pick the pockets of your family members (or even thought about it!) raise your hand.

I can't raise my hand. It's too busy lifting my boyfriend's wallet from his pocket while I type this with the other.

 

That's all for now! I can't wait to read more and will definitely have trouble drawing the book out until the questions each week.