"Sabriel" First Impressions - *No Spoilers*

[Sarah]

Here is the first impressions thread for Sabriel by Garth Nix. Please keep this thread spoiler free.

[Allison]

So excited about this book! It is one of my enduring favorites.

[Ellen]

A favorite of mine. Looking forward to a reread.

[Sarah]

This will be my first time reading it. I'm waiting on the library audio because I can't imagine not listening to an audio narrated by Tim Curry.

[Azrael]

Loved Sabriel! :-)

[Allison]

Sarah Anne wrote: "This will be my first time reading it. I'm waiting on the library audio because I can't imagine not listening to an audio narrated by Tim Curry."

I've been told it's fantastic! The only thing I can't get over is he says "Sab-riel," and in my head I'd always heard "Say-briel." As he says it "Sab," I imagine that's how Garth intended it. But I am here to say that I think the author was wrong with how he decided to pronounce the name he made up. ;-)

[Sarah]

Lol! Those authors are always getting things wrong :)

[Ryan]

Very cool setting, particularly the British WWI feel. And I read it as Sab- rather than the long A.

[Anna]

I read (listened to) Sabriel for the first time last year and finished the last book in the series yesterday. I think I would've liked it when I was younger, but reading it for the first time as an adult it was just OK. I was slightly disappointed because I'd been expecting something awesome. I think it's more due to timing though, I would still recommend the series to younger readers.

[Kim]

My wife pushed me for a long time to read this book. She was always amazed I had never read it, or even heard of it, considering I love fantasy and am Australian.

[Jeremy]

Been wanting to read this book for a long time! Excited to see it be chosen, now to start reading it.

[Allison]

Ryan wrote: "Very cool setting, particularly the British WWI feel. And I read it as Sab- rather than the long A."

*cough cough* TEACHER'S PET *cough cough*

I'm just playing with you. I have a friend pretty thick in the fandom and she looks like I've told her that I believe we should make chocolate illegal every time I grumble about Sabriel rhyming with Gabriel.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I love this book - the whole series, really (except for Clariel).

I first read it ages ago, but I've reread it a handful of times since then.

I also pronounced it Say-bree-el.

[Bill]

Same situation as Sarah Anne. Will join in when library hold comes in.

[Claire]

I'm really looking forward to this and for once my library has come in on time for me to join in the discussion - yay!

[QueenAmidala28]

borrowed from the library today. Can't wait to read it!

[Jan]

I've always said Sab-riel, not rhyming with Gabriel. Don't know why! This book series is an old fav of mine. The second book in the series, Lirael, is actually my particular favourite. I'm very interested to see how people find this one. It's a few years since I read it. On re-reading the opening today, the prologue started to bring me back into that fascinating world of the Old Kingdom again.

[David]

I never even heard of this book until it was nominated. At least I won't form any bad pronunciation habits, thanks to you guys.

[Andrea]

I loved Sabriel. I listed to it on audio, and Tim Curry narrated it. He was amazing. I've since listened to it a couple more times. Great story, great characters, very imaginative world, with romance and magic and a satisfying ending.

[Allison]

David wrote: "I never even heard of this book until it was nominated. At least I won't form any bad pronunciation habits, thanks to you guys."

Fantasy character and place name pronunciation is a struggle I don't think we address enough. I'm thinking of starting a support group for those living in fear, audiobook-less and alone.

[Ellen]

My library had the Tim Curry audio available so I started it. Like this version so far.

[Claire]

Ok so I'm on Cpt 10 and I want a Mogget. I'm also jealous of anyone with a Tim Curry audiobook, that must sound amazing.

[Veronica]

I read this one a few months ago as well. It was the first book featuring a young adult as the main protagonist that didn't annoy me. I usually steer clear of YA but since this one predates the whole Twilight effect it avoided the current YA tropes that make me want to stab myself in the eye with an ice pick.

Loved Mogget!!!

[Trike]

Veronica wrote: "make me want to stab myself in the eye "

Stabriel!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Loved Mogget and super loved The Dog (from Lirael).

[Kim]

Without going into details, or spoilers, I have found this series gets better with each subsequent book. My wife is a massive fan of the series and recently received an Abhorsen bell from Garth Nix at an event he did.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Kim wrote: "Without going into details, or spoilers, I have found this series gets better with each subsequent book. My wife is a massive fan of the series and recently received an Abhorsen bell from Garth Nix..."


Out of curiosity, have you read Clariel?


(I would love a bell. They were selling a bracelet with the bells, but it was pricier than I would've liked. I did get a single silver bell for my fandom charm bracelet, though.)

[Kim]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Out of curiosity, have you read Clariel?"

I haven't yet. That's sitting on my shelf, along with Goldenhand (he was on tour for that when she met him).

[Veronica]

Trike wrote: "Veronica wrote: "make me want to stab myself in the eye "

Stabriel!"

Haha!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Kim wrote: "I haven't yet. That's sitting on my shelf, along with Goldenhand (he was on tour for that when she met him). "


I liked Goldenhand.

I'm almost tempted to recommend skipping Clariel... but some people liked it. *shrugs*

[Trike]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "fandom charm bracelet"

You know the rule: pics or it doesn't exist.

[Chris]

I loved Mogget, the bells, and the Paperwings.

[Silvana]

So is this YA or not? Kinda get the feeling from reading the sample.

[Jan]

Sabriel is YA but totally great for adults as well. No s*x though if anyone's looking for that. Clariel wasn't that great for me. Didn't have the *magic* of the rest of the series LOL. Lirael will always be my fav. And yeah, the Disreputable Dog from Lirael. One of the greatest magical animals ever. If you're just starting out on the Old Kingdom journey, stick with it. It's totally worth your time. Terrific and fascinating world and characters.

[Allison]

When the "finished" forum gets posted, can we also please have a "finished the series" post too? No rush, just don't want to ruin any of the magic for people who intend to stick with it :)

[Kim]

Allison wrote: "When the "finished" forum gets posted, can we also please have a "finished the series" post too? No rush, just don't want to ruin any of the magic for people who intend to stick with it :)"

We wouldn't create a thread like that in the Sabriel folder, but you can always create a Goldenhand thread in the What Else Are You Reading folder and will cover all books up to that one.

[Allison]

Okie doke. Can do.

[Lisa]

Sabriel was so good that I can hardly wait to reread it! Oh my gosh - the bells. I am in love and fascinated by the bells. So unique. I never want Sabriel to end so I am hesistant to read the rest of the series. Love!

[Allison]

Lisa wrote: "Sabriel was so good that I can hardly wait to reread it! Oh my gosh - the bells. I am in love and fascinated by the bells. So unique. I never want Sabriel to end so I am hesistant to read the rest ..."

Lirael and Abhorsen won't let you down!

[Mary]

I didn't think Lirael as good, and didn't like Clariel at all -- but Goldenhand was good.

[Marti]

Im excited to read a book I voted for, for the first time. I must have minority tastes because the books I voted for usually wind up with about 10 per cent of the vote.

One thing I really love is the originallity of his magic world yet the emotional resonance of the creatures in it. Im deeply envious of those who have bells. As for those who want moggets, I found myself rethinking that in later books!

[Byron]

Unique world-building with interesting semi-modern and classical fantasy era crossover. Finding the story pretty easy to get into.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Lisa wrote: "Sabriel was so good that I can hardly wait to reread it! Oh my gosh - the bells. I am in love and fascinated by the bells. So unique. I never want Sabriel to end so I am hesistant to read the rest ..."


A sort of, not really, minor spoiler for Lirael concerning Sabriel - (view spoiler)[the next books shift focus, and Sabriel becomes a secondary character, whereas Lirael becomes the main protagonist.

It was a bit jarring, for me, at first - but since I liked Lirael and the Dog so much, I quickly got over it. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison]

Sabriel was, for me, the strongest of his works in this series. I liked Lirael quite a bit--it really expanded the world. Abhorsen is really a continuation of Lirael, it didn't feel like a separate story, the way Sabriel and Lirael are.

Clariel I only enjoyed because I like the way he writes. Everything else about it was a disappointment to me.

And Goldenhand...I have some thoughts about Goldenhand. And, conveniently, a thread!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Trike wrote: "colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "fandom charm bracelet"

You know the rule: pics or it doesn't exist."


Since you asked. The bell is on the left, next to the bow & arrow:




I realized that my book charm bracelet is also relevant, since Sabriel/Abhorsen were used for one of the charms:

(view spoiler)[

(hide spoiler)]

[Trike]

You are a serious nerd. I like you.

[Claire]

That's a gorgeous charm bracelet - I need to know where you got them all from!!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Trike wrote: "You are a serious nerd. I like you."

LOL, thanks.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Claire wrote: "That's a gorgeous charm bracelet - I need to know where you got them all from!!"

I got both bracelets from etsy.

For the charm bracelet, the seller had a huge list of possible charms and I worked with her to design it. Unfortunately, it looks like her shop has closed.

I'm sure you could find another seller who would be able to design something, though.

[Claire]

I actually have a sadly neglected silver charm bracelet which has plenty of space for new charms - I think I've found a new project! Etsy here I come :)