[Sammie]

Oooppss.......discussion now open!!

[Nevyn]

I'd like to say firstly , what a beautiful , well written book this is !
I think the thing that caught my attention the most was how alive the characters personallities were . The book had the feeling that you were reading about real people , sharing their greif and happiness on a much deeper level than I have come to expect from other writers .

I think what I'm trying to say is I was totally captive to the prose (almost poetic) and the way Kay handled dialogue between characters . It will be interesting to see who you thought the bad if not tragic characters were , I already have mine picked out.

BTW excellent ending :D

[Ouroboros]

I read Tigana many years ago, and was struck by the fact that compared to what was in the ascent at that time, it was a truly mature work aimed at adults- the complexity of the characters and their motivations, more than the sex and violence.

In many ways it was and is quite a daring novel, because it is unremittingly grim for the most part.

[Sirand]

First few pages don't bode well. There's too much description and the author breaks off all the time to tell you absolutely everything. I don't feel like struggling through 700(?) pages like I did with tEotW and then coming out thinking life is too short to read books like these.

[Ouroboros]

...It isn't an example of easy-to-read 'pop' fantasy, that's for sure. It can be heavy going.

[Nevyn]

Sirand , I promise you that after the 100th page or so you won't put the book down . It struggles at first to find it's feet then it's like going from crawling straight to running ! As for the mention of tEoTW in the same breath , well , there can be no comparision .

[Sirand]

...It isn't an example of easy-to-read 'pop' fantasy, that's for sure. Being easy-to-read is not a crime. I'm not saying it is too complex, just badly written, which is why I mentioned tEotW.

I might try and read a little more of Tigana but i've got quite a large 'to-be-read' pile.

[scooter13]

Originally posted by Nevyn
Sirand , I promise you that after the 100th page or so you won't put the book down . It struggles at first to find it's feet then it's like going from crawling straight to running ! As for the mention of tEoTW in the same breath , well , there can be no comparision .

Yes yes! Do stick with it. I struggled with it at first, but soon I was frustrating my wife for constantly reading it. ;)

[Ladijen]

I totally agree, Nevyn! Kay's prose is very poetic--I also read "The Lions of Al-Rassan" (I think that is the title) quite a while ago and was caught by the rich description. The world and the characters could almost be real, with the gritty non-happily-ever-after feel of this present life. Unfortunately, I'm too busy to read as much as I'd like, so I haven't finished the book yet.

Sirand, I'd say give it until about page 50 or so before you call it quits. The political intricacy of the story requires a long set-up, but then events begin to move.

[FicusFan]

Originally posted by Ladijen
I totally agree, Nevyn! Kay's prose is very poetic--I also read "The Lions of Al-Rassan" (I think that is the title) quite a while ago and was caught by the rich description. The world and the characters could almost be real, with the gritty non-happily-ever-after feel of this present life. Unfortunately, I'm too busy to read as much as I'd like, so I haven't finished the book yet.

Sirand, I'd say give it until about page 50 or so before you call it quits. The political intricacy of the story requires a long set-up, but then events begin to move.

I would have to disagree. I am at close to page 400 and it doesn't get any better. It is just one long slog and I am going into my third or more week with this book. I just find it hard to keep reading. Maybe I am too old to enjoy the premise of the book. When I was younger the idea of all this glory and fighting for the idea of your homeland was interesting, now I just keep thinking of stupid macho gang-bangers who abandon their families because they think their colors have been dissed, and off they go to wreak death and destruction on everyone.

I too read and loved The Lions of al-Rassan, and this is not in the same league. This was the book where I think he first tried to do what he did in 'Lions'. The basis for Lions is Moorish Spain, and the basis here is Italy before it became a country. This book was published something like 6 years before 'Lions' and judging between the quality of the two -- he did a lot of growing in those six years. Its not the worst I have ever read, but it is waaay tooo long.