There's something about being in a bookstore. To me, there is no other feeling quite like it. It is there that I want to be, in a building crammed left to right, top to bottom, corner to corner with tomes of various sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Facts, fictions, opinions, ideals, mountains of it gathered in one place. The scent of the paper, ink, and binding glue wanders into my nostrils and I'm swept away.
The bookstore in question was Barnes & Noble in Greenwood. My wife and I visited there for the first time since it went up. There, among my paper peers, I was compelled--indeed, perhaps even possessed--into buying a book. I felt that to enter into that place and leave again without having made a purchase would be some kind of blasphemy.
So I bought Confessor by Terry Goodkind. The latest and, perhaps, last book in the Sword of Truth series.
I'm about halfway through it already, but I can definitely say that so far it's been a good yarn. The last couple books have waxed preachy in too many places and rehashed material from far too many predecessors, but this book doesn't seem to suffer this curse. It is a more compact, more streamlined work.
I want to hold my review until I've finished the piece. I just thought my readers (such as you are) might enjoy knowing I am once agan back in the literature saddle. I fully intend to begin writing again as well. But first, this book.
3 comments:
You'll like the journey, but the end wraps up in true Goodkind fashion. You'll know what I mean when you get to it.
I'm interested in knowing where he'll go next. I don't get that he's the type of person to retire from writing, and he's mentioned that the trilogy wasn't necessarily the end of the series. I'm sure his efforts will be with the TV show for a little while, so I don't look to see anything coming out for another 18 months or so. I'm just glad there's finally a date for the show, fall 2008. The TV series should be enough to tide me over until another Goodkind work comes out.
Hmmm, take, "I don't look to see anything coming out for another 18 months or so" to mean I don't expect to see any information about another book for another 18 months.
There's usually some marketing stuff about 6mos before another book comes out, title and book cover art release, etc.
It was fascinating watching Jason's face when he finished the book. I could tell something was wrong immediately.
He looked somewhere between righteously angry and supremely let down. I asked him how it was and he said Goodkind took a "swipe at religion" at the end and that it was implied Earth was made by the protagonist for people who want to be alone in the universe and not believe in magic. I have no context to apply it to, but from all I've heard/read, this chap has a huge ego and used his books as a vehicle for his narrow philosophy. Second advent of L. Ron Hubbard? :)
I admit, my interest in reading these books waned almost entirely after I read Goodkind said his books were not meant to be used for escapism. Considering that books generally are used for either education, instruction, or entertainment, it seems plain these are his own version of a bible. Sorry, Terry, but if I'm going to read about ultra-powerful people who are excessively attractive and intelligent, engaging in epic quests, it had better just be for giggles.
I'm not knocking the books. I can't. But you have to attract an audience, and an selective reader does preliminary study before committing to a series. Or I do.
The fantasy genre is one I prefer to keep to video games. Those are relatively light fantasies where all the ridiculous qualities are not stapled over one man's personal agenda. They're made for fun, not intellectual stimulation. Just how I like it.
I don't mind a little author surrogate action. But there's a difference between a character embodying the author's beliefs and the author trying to sell you his philosophy. The difference is subtle, but there. One shows, the other tells.
I'm not trying to say Goodkind's fans are mindless zombies. Certainly not. In a way, it's my way of saying I can't wait for Jason to publish his stories. I'm not sure the fantasy fans will be ready.
Care to share your thoughts, dear?
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