Typing the title makes me feel smart. * Eragon Review

Well, new add to the ever-growing list. :) We have a weekly Bible study where I work, and we're about to start a new project...

namely, Salvation Belongs to the Lord

better yet, the subtitle: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

Should be fascinating. I confess that I don't believe I've ever read any hardcore theology... not that I haven't wanted to dig into theology and philosophy, anyway. It's just a bit daunting to jump into heavy reading for pleasure...

But hey, I enjoy abstract, 3-dimensional thinking, so. :P

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And on the polar opposite of that... (lol)

Eragon = finished. For the second time. Yay.

The movie did give me a new perspective... the second time around, I caught things I missed before. So let me give the official verdict (I'd like to wrap up all my books this year with some kind of review)...

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Eragon is one of those pesky books that people just can't seem to agree on. One camp proclaims the brilliant talent of Chris Paolini for such a young newcomer to the writing world; the other writes it off as a cliche, overrated waste of time.

Cliche? Heck, yes. Overrated. Mmm, maybe. But a waste? Nah.

I, for one, enjoy the detail of the world. I can tell that the writer may not have nailed all the little plotholes and incosistencies, but he definitely spent a great deal of time imagining his world. And to the haters: did you begin to write a nearly 500 page epic fantasy novel at the age of 15? Much less finish it? And get it published?

Didn't think so. :)

So. I have issues with the book... oh, do I have issues. Like Eragon: cocky, obnoxious punk turned hardened-yet-emo warrior. Bleh. Not to mention the obsessively detailed musings on Arya's beauty... oh wait, this was written by a 15-year-old boy. And the character is a 15-year-old boy. Okay, offense forgiven. :)

And I am inclined to agree that the book does indeed borrow every fantasy cliche in the book, with nods to Tolkein and LeGuin. Magic rules (the concept of "true names" particularly) are lifted from The Earthsea Cycle. A somewhat minor quibble, since most fantasy novels do borrow from each other.

But in the grand scheme of things... when you approach this novel not expecting, say, Tolkein or LeGuin, it's easy to get caught up in the hugeness of the world. The characters are archetypical, yes, but many many fantasy characters are, and these have their own life. (Plus, Saphira and Brom are awesome and make up for it.) Also, I do appreciate all the detail that goes into developing a world like this, and a plot that spans many miles (and pages!) to explore the world.

So the final verdict? It's not exactly literary (I had a hard time getting used to Paolini's simpler prose after reading so many "literary" books in my college life!), but it's fun, and a promising start to Paolini's career. It will be interesting to see how Eldest plays out and how Paolini has grown as a writer.

And let's hope in the future there will be no more of this "dived" nonsense in his writing. (The past tense of "dive" is "dove"... DOVE!!! *lolgrammarnazi* XD)