E&E (Bk1) Discussion: Chapters 1-6

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings)]

So what are your thoughts so far?

What are your favorite bits? Scenes? Lines?

[Nicqui]

When I first read this book earlier this year, I was prepared to have to read a couple chapters before I really got into the book but Sophronia just reeled me in in that first chapter. She is such a compelling character that I immediately wanted to follow her entire story.

E&E was the first Gail Carriger book I had read at this point. I was sold in that first chapter and Gail has become one of my undisputed favourite authors ever.

[Nicqui]

Just started my reread and I love how observant Sophronia is to her surroundings. I also love the picture Gail paints of Sophronia's home life to contrast with how well she later fits in on the dirigible. Sort of reminds me of how Harry Potter fits in at Hogwarts in that series. Not that I'm comparing the two.

[Kittie]

I had a much easier time getting into this book than I had with Soulless, where I needed a couple of chapters to get used to Alexia's voice. Here, Sophronia just had me hooked after the first chapter.

What I really enjoyed was the fact that Sphronia did not have an advantage on us (the readers). She was thrown into this situation the same way the reader is and as she discovers her surroundings and the people in it, we do the same. I really likes this approach.
Often setting the scene and word building includes pages and pages of info dump about who is who and did what when and how to get here...and that ususally has me bored rather quick. So I have to say: Well done.

[Nicqui]

I agree. Normally the info-dump is very boring and can lose the reader. But Carriger does it with such style that after a while you know all you need to know about all the characters and you can't really recall when/how you got that information. It just happened. And all the characters are likeable in a way, even the villains.