Paolini, Christopher ; Eragon (Inheritance Cycle #1) ; Informal Buddy Read Start Date 17 January 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

                    

One boy . . .

One dragon . . .

A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★


What is a buddy read?

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book


EXPECT SPOILERS!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Same here! My sister has been telling me about this series for years.
What date in Jan suits?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sounds good

[✿~Danielle~✿]

Are you thinking of reading all four books in this series?

[RachelvlehcaR]

I'm in and I'd like to read all them in the series.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Provided I like the first one, I'm up for reading the whole series

[Michelle]

I've had this one at home for a very long time so this might be a good incentive for me to finally get to reading it!
Count me in!

[Sydney]

I'm in!

[Jackie]

I'm in. I've had this on my TBR for a long time.

[Jex]

I own this so I'm adding it to my calendar. Been on my TBR for quite some time.

[Allison Ann]

Twice I have tried to read this book, twice I have given up after a dozen or so pages. Maybe with others to discuss it with I will have more success. :D

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

*claps*
welcome everyone

[Caron]

My friend loaned me the book a few months ago and he's getting agitated because I still haven't read it yet. So I'm going to take part in this. Definitely in!

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I need to read this bad

[Mirliz]

Can we participate even if we've read it before? I still haven't gotten around to reading the 4th book but I need to re-read book 1-3 first.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Of course Mirliz -welcome! Just be clear and use spoiler tags if you are referring to anything that is about the series for those who haven't read that far ahead :)

[Caron]

Are we still planning on reading this book?

[Jackie]

I've just started today.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I got my copy today

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Finished the chapter "Tea for Two" which is up to page 55 in my version.

Initial thoughts...

I quite like the world, I think it is interesting and the protagonist is generally likeable so far, as is his family. At times I find the writing style a little juvenile, which I guess is to be expected from a 15 year old author. I also think there is a fair bit of 'obvious' plot building happening which gives it all the markings of a classic fantasy tale.
(view spoiler)[ I am interested to find out more about Brom. He clearly knows a lot. I also have to assume that Eragon is the son of the original Eragon (assuming he is still alive) or at least a descendent. I am curious as to how he will be able to continue to hide the dragon. I suspect he will need to leave the village pretty soon... especially with the Urgals hunting for the dragon.
(hide spoiler)]

[Caron]

I'm just about to start this.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I finished the book. Here are my notes on it.

I've always wanted to read this book series because I bought them when they came out for my son. He read them and liked them. I didn't get to reading this book until now.

I knew that the influences were strong in LOTR and Star Wars. In one of my groups this was listed at one of the worst fantasy books. I was surprised but read their reasons why. I can understand it because as I was reading the book, I felt there were parts that really lacked. I wouldn't give this book a one star. I gave it 3 because I liked it. The amazing things is that Christopher Paolini was 15 when he started to write the book and 19 when he finished it. This is amazing to me. Looking at the fact that a teen wrote this is just remarkable and I wish I had just some of that talent.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Oh wow. That's a great prologue. So much going on there. The first sentence alone, (view spoiler)["Wind howled through the night, carrying a scent that would change the world." (hide spoiler)]

Amazing start to the entire book. I've only had two other books that have the best starts. One of them being The Gunslinger and the other The Martian.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I'm loving the story of Eragon. I'm past you, I'm about page 50. Just starting the Chapter Tea for Two. I'm really liking it a lot.

The build up of the world is really nice. I was totally sucked in the story. (view spoiler)[ I loved that Eragon is babying a new born baby dragon. It must be hard for him to have to hide it and try to give it what it needs. I wonder what is going to happen with him being sought out. I know he is going to have to leave the town. That dragon is going to get big. Also, I really liked Brom. He is like Obi Wan Kenobi. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

I read half the book. Good gravy! This book is full of so much stuff.

(view spoiler)[ I really loved Eragon getting his future read and the werecat. I was thinking the one that betrays him is Brom.

I love it when Saphira gets ticked off with him.

Hmm, he also gets the fairest girl in the land, aww so snow white, gag. Okay, okay he was a teenage boy... They all want the fairest girl in the land, I wonder if she will have an I.Q of a lettuce leaf. Most likely not, I have a feeling she will be the whole package. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

I'm at the 3/4 mark in the book.

(view spoiler)[Dragon needs a lot of growth still. He is getting better but needs so much more. I love that Saphira is bossing him around. It's funny because she is the one that wears the pants in this relationship.

I see why people don't like there vegetarian elves. It is very kiddish but just an eh thing for me. I don't hate it but it's eh. For some reason this part is going slower for me.

I'm kind of thinking what else is he going to put in the book. I'm waiting for care bears, my little pony, and transformers to enter the book. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Karen wrote: "Finished the chapter "Tea for Two" which is up to page 55 in my version.

Initial thoughts...

I quite like the world, I think it is interesting and the protagonist is generally likeable so far, as..."

(view spoiler)[ I see Brom as like Obi Wan Kenobi. Eragon is much like Luke Skywalker, being raised by his uncle. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I've read through A Miller-to-Be, 62 pages in my copy. So far the book has been standard setting up the world and introducing the characters. The writing does feel a little juvenile but that's to be expected considering the writer's age at the time. Regardless, the story is flowing smoothly and I'm enjoying it.

(view spoiler)[The interaction between Eragon and Saphira is interesting as they can communicate through their thoughts as well as words. That shows a very deep connection and I'm sure it will only get deeper as the book progresses. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm pausing for a few days as I don't get much reading done through the week (other than audiobooks), but I'll catch up soon!

[Caron]

Prologue - Palancar Valley:

(view spoiler)[The first bit was slightly confusing for me. I understand that this stone is really precious. Eragon seems...adventurous. To be honest, the describing of everything in the area annoys me a bit. Although I do applaud his vocablulary. This Spine story interests me. Why are people so afraid? Missing people are hardly something to strike such a deep fear. I wonder what kind of magic The Spine actually holds. (hide spoiler)]

Fantasy is my favourite genre but I've put this book so far in my mind that it never went on to my TBR shelf. I'm reading it for a friend and I want to put it down so bad, but I think a prologue and 2 chapters is hardly giving the book a chance. Onward we go!

[Caron]

I can't finish this book. I know I said that I'd try, and I can't even get through 'Dragon Tales'. And that used to be my favourite show as a kid. But yes, maybe if I had read this when I was younger and hadn't delved so deep into the reading world I would have enjoyed it, but I can't. I'm 20 and usually I enjoy books with the main character being a teenager because it makes me imagine all the awesome things that I wished were real. But Eragon's world is confusing. Maybe that's just me. I wasn't here long, but thanks for having me either way. Happy reading further

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

No probs Caron. I find if I'm not enjoying something it is best to just move on!

[Jackie]

I've read through Magic Is the Simplest Thing, 151 pages. The book has been very predictable so far but I'm still enjoying it. Quite an easy read.

(view spoiler)[Brom is a man of mystery. The further into the story, the more we learn about him. Eragon would be lost without Brom's help. The bond between Eragon and Saphira is becoming stronger. I find Eragon annoying at times but he is a teenager and is grieving as well as feeling guilty. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Jackie

I'm about to start "Revelation at Yazuac" ; page 128

I agree about Brom. (view spoiler)[ It seems a bit obvious to me that he must have been a dragon rider previously. I'm not sure why Eragon hasn't asked him that?
Eragon is a bit irritating. I guess typical for his age! :o
(hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I read half the book. Good gravy! This book is full of so much stuff.
.."

I was so surprised about (view spoiler)[ Brom. I wasn't expecting that so early in the story.
And, yes, the whole damsel in distress things is a touch amusing ;) I don't mind so much as I've already accepted this as a pretty young YA book!
(hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I'm through Capture at Gil'ead, page 292.

(view spoiler)[I was sorry to lose Brom because I really liked his character, much more than Eragon. I'm hoping Murtagh will turn out to really be a good guy. Saphira is my favorite character so far. And yes, the damsel in distress is certainly predictable. I agree, Karen, that this book is a young YA book. I've been making a lot of allowances for that as I read but it's still a pleasant read. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I finished. It was an okay read. Especially since it was written by an author so young. I'll probably read the next in the series sometime soon to see what happens next. I like all the main characters except Eragon who just gets on my nerves.

(view spoiler)[I am curious to learn more about Angela and Solembum and all the new characters that were introduced toward the end of the book. Hopefully, we'll learn more about the elves and Ellesmera and the Varden. I believe Roran plays a bigger part in Eldest. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I agree with you Jackie. I finished it this morning and I did enjoy it because I made those allowances for the author's age and the demographic it is marketed to. I'm really interested in Angela and Solembum too. I hope they play a larger role in the next books.

My (older... over 40yrs old) sister loved the first and second books and then got annoyed because the trilogy was turned into a 4 part series and I know she ended up being really disappointed with the 3rd and 4th books.... So I'm not in a rush to keep going, but I may pick up book 2 at some point

[Allison Ann]

I'm almost halfway through this novel and it was clearly written by a young person greatly influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien, however I am enjoying it more than I thought I would. My least favourite plot device on earth is "I can't tell you what is really going on because of MYSTERIOUS REASONS so stop asking so many questions boy!!!!" so I am really glad that Brom seems to have gotten over that fairly quickly. Also the author clearly couldn't think up those mysterious reasons either. :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

lol
indeed ;)

[Allison Ann]

The more I read the less I like Eragon the character but the more I enjoy Eragon the book.

[Jackie]

I felt the same way, Allison Ann.

[Allison Ann]

Finished. This book sort of made me want to read the next one, which is more than I expected, so bravo 19 year old Paolini. :) I continued to dislike the main character. He's damn near useless. Useless shouldn't cut it in high fantasy. Useless should get you killed in a very messy way. When the hero makes a noble speech and it is written by someone like Tolkien or Guy Gavriel Kay (who, if you haven't read, what are you waiting for???) I can feel it and react to it and I forget I'm reading a story. Eragon's noble speech made me roll my eyes and wish that Ajihad would just kill him already. Yes it was derivative, yes it was basically fanfiction but I'd read this over 50 Shades of Crap any day of the year and that hack of an author didn't have youth as her excuse. ;)