The Sword of Shannara (Sword of Shannara #1)

[Mary Pat]

This thread is to discuss Terry Brooks‘s book, The Sword of Shannara.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Brianna, Catherine

[Mary Pat]

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 181.50
Week 2: 181.50
Week 3: 181.50
Week 4: 181.50

[Brianna]

So the version I have of this is the annotated version that has only 512 pages so I'm going to share how I'm going to split it between 4 weeks in case it may help anyone else who's reading it.



Week 1 → end of chapter 09 (page 120)
Week 2 → end of chapter 18 (page 246)
Week 3 → end of chapter 26 (page 375)
Week 4 → end of book (page 512)

It's approximately 128 pages a week.

[Jennifer]

I hope you two enjoy the book! I love his books and have read quite a few of them.

[Catherine]

I'm not sure if mine is the annotated version or not. I'll have to check when I get home from work. Looking forward to this!

[Catherine]

My book is the non-annotated version. I'm a little nervous about being able to finish it on time, but I started it today and I think it's going to move pretty fast.

Brianna, have you watched any of the TV show?

[Brianna]

Catherine wrote: "My book is the non-annotated version. I'm a little nervous about being able to finish it on time, but I started it today and I think it's going to move pretty fast.

Brianna, have you watched any o..."

I've seen the entire first season. My husband had read the series when he was younger and really wanted to watch it. It definitely made me interested in the series. I know the show starts with the second book so going into this book will be brand new storylines and such.

I'll be starting it in a few days. I'm currently in the middle of 4 other books so I want to finish at least one or two before diving into this one.

[Catherine]

I've seen the first season as well. I didn't know anything about the show or the books when I started watching it and I didn't realize this first book wouldn't follow the show, but it still seems like it will be fun to read -- just very long!

[Brianna]

Yeah, the second books is where the show picks up so I'm excited to get there. It'll be nice to have a bit more background to the show though.

[Mary Pat]

The first week of February is at an end! Hard to believe. Have you started this book? What are your thoughts so far?

[Catherine]

I'm on page 112 of my version of the book, a little ways into chapter 7. It's good but a little scary! I've had to put it down a few times. I'm nervous for the characters. It's suspenseful!

[Brianna]

I'm planning on starting it today!

[Brianna]

Reading the annotated version is kind of hard! With these little notes on the sides of the pages I find myself getting distracted. I also feel like some of them are somewhat spoilery and I'm going to try to ignore them going forward. I only finished the first chapter so far, but I'm definitely intrigued!

[Kailu]

Great book, loved it so much I would gladly read it again!

[Brianna]

I just finished chapter 9 and I like it so far. I like when things are happening but I am definitely struggling through all the backstory. As much as I like Allanon it's not hard to tune him out. lol

[Catherine]

I'm midway through Chapter 18, about half done with the book. I got a little stuck about 100 pages back but then things started to pick up again!

[Brianna]

I'm hoping once they get going on their quest again that it picks up more.

[Catherine]

Yep, that's exactly where it picked up for me!!

[Mary Pat]

Interesting conversations as we head into the third week of February. Sounds like everyone is enjoying the first book in this series! Terry Brooks has often been recommended to me as an author so I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts.

[Catherine]

Is there any chance we could wait until April to start the second book in this series? I'm still just slightly over half done with this book and I know there is no way I can finish it this week. I'm very interested in continuing with the series! For me though, the books are too long to get through in one month :(

[Brianna]

Catherine wrote: "Is there any chance we could wait until April to start the second book in this series? I'm still just slightly over half done with this book and I know there is no way I can finish it this week. I'..."

I am SO okay with that! I'm almost half way, but it is definitely slow going.

[Catherine]

Great!! Thank you! That makes me feel better.

[Mary Pat]

Hi Brianna & Catherine!

I will extend this book for another month and postpone the second book until April! I will push the third book back as well. (Hard to believe we are in the last week of February!)

[Catherine]

Thanks, Mary Pat! That will be great.

[Brianna]

Thank you Mary Pat!

[Brianna]

Yay! I broke the halfway point! I am just about to start chapter 21. (view spoiler)[Shea just found the gnome who had the Sword of Shannara but didn't know he had it and he escaped! (hide spoiler)] I feel like things are starting to pick up a bit (or at least I hope so!).

[Catherine]

I must be just past that point! That was pretty funny. I'm looking forward to getting back into it, I haven't had time to read so far this week.

[Brianna]

I am in chapter 21 - (view spoiler)[This is where their group starts to disband and how Allanon treats Menion is interesting. I feel like he is helping the Prince of Leah learn what it'll take to be a good ruler even though at times it comes off like a parent scolding a child. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

After not reading this for about a week, I finally dove back in. I feel like things are starting to get moving again. I really don't know why I'm struggling so much with this book. It's not like I dislike it at all, it's just proven to be a hard one for me to get through.

[Catherine]

I ended up finishing it faster than I expected. My mom has been in and out of the hospital over the last two weeks, so I had more reading time than I had planned for.

I really liked this book, and it was not boring by any means, but it did feel like it took forever to finish it! I think the last section of the book went faster, once the action really started heating up and the group was split up into different story lines.

[Brianna]

Catherine wrote: "I ended up finishing it faster than I expected. My mom has been in and out of the hospital over the last two weeks, so I had more reading time than I had planned for.

I really liked this book, and..."

They just split up so it is definitely moving quicker. I'm aiming to read at least one chapter a day so I can complete it by the end of the month. I'm hoping to get in the zone at one point and charge through quite a bit, but we'll see. lol I'm excited to start the next book since I'm already familiar with some of the characters so I doubt I'll have such a hard time like with this installment (I hope).

[Mary Pat]

Sounds like you are moving along on this book as we enter the third week of March! Hope everyone is enjoying it!

[Mary Pat]

Just a gentle reminder that March will come to an end in a few days. Onward to The Elfstones of Shannara!

[Catherine]

I'm ready!

[Brianna]

I can't wait!