Don't force yourself to read books just because others say they're awesome. I've run across that before as well - sometimes an author's writing style just doesn't appeal to you. Like, I personally love "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell", but I'm a history major and I love how the author cleverly wrote it in the writing style of the early 1800s, and incorporated fake footnotes/references all throughout. Some people detest history, though, so they can't even get through the first chapter. Personally, I love the regency era. :) It's also a really neat book: an alternate universe in which magic once existed in England, but had been in decline for centuries (there were really only theoretical magicians, dry dusty historians of magic). Then, suddenly, a practical magician appears: Mr. Norrell, a retiring old man from Northern England. He should be the most interesting thing since sliced bread, and is invited to all of these parties in London... but he's so BORING that no one can bear to speak with him. ;) Then, of course, another practical magician appears - Mr. Strange, who is young and bombastic and awesome. And they should be rivals, but they become friends/mentors/on-and-off-rivals and it's adorable. And the plot's far more complicated than that, but it's a 1,000 page book and never have 1,000 pages seemed TOO SHORT before. *pant pant* Sorry, it's like my favourite fantasy book ever, hands down. The author (Susanna Clarke) does some wonderful world building, what with the history of magic and all, and it's set during the Napoleonic wars, so you do get some awesome scenes with Strange fighting in Portugal... <3 (God, my history major is showing through, isn't it? D: )
Ooh... so that was what the true-born Child of the Sun reference was! I was actually kind of confused when it was first mentioned offhandedly in the fic. An interesting concept! (But try explaining it to Jet. ;) )
As for timelines... that's the one thing that kind of irks me about Avatar - how everything happens so quickly. I think that all three seasons take place over the course of less than a year (due to the discussions with Avatar Roku speaking in season 1 of Sozin's comet arriving this coming summer). But really, can a kid - even the AVATAR - master three distinct fighting styles over the course of mere months? But it's ironic - magic kung fu I can believe, but I have trouble suspending my disbelief over a matter of timing. ;)
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And the plot's far more complicated than that, but it's a 1,000 page book and never have 1,000 pages seemed TOO SHORT before.
*pant pant* Sorry, it's like my favourite fantasy book ever, hands down. The author (Susanna Clarke) does some wonderful world building, what with the history of magic and all, and it's set during the Napoleonic wars, so you do get some awesome scenes with Strange fighting in Portugal... <3
(God, my history major is showing through, isn't it? D: )
Ooh... so that was what the true-born Child of the Sun reference was! I was actually kind of confused when it was first mentioned offhandedly in the fic. An interesting concept! (But try explaining it to Jet. ;) )
As for timelines... that's the one thing that kind of irks me about Avatar - how everything happens so quickly. I think that all three seasons take place over the course of less than a year (due to the discussions with Avatar Roku speaking in season 1 of Sozin's comet arriving this coming summer). But really, can a kid - even the AVATAR - master three distinct fighting styles over the course of mere months? But it's ironic - magic kung fu I can believe, but I have trouble suspending my disbelief over a matter of timing. ;)