Hello, good Hatrackers. Between fighting perilous jungle beasts and roaming the uncharted expanses of savage Rio de Janeiro, this poor South American native also likes to read some good fantasy books. So, I was perched on a tree branch, browsing Amazon.com (wireless, of course. What? We may be savages, sir, but we're XXI century savages) searching for a sweet read. One of the top reviwed books was "Sabriel", from Garth Nix, part of The Abhorsen Trilogy. As I said, these books are very well liked in Amazon.com, but I never heard about them (probably my fault). Does any of you have read some (all) the "Abhorsen" books? Are they any good?
Well... time to leave. The d*mn monkeys want this branch. It seems it's a favored mating spot, or something like that.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I read the first one ages ago so I don't remember much about it, but I think it was good.
Posted by Damien.m (Member # 8462) on :
The trilogy is very very good.
Theres no cliched magic or anything its really fresh and new.
Definitely worth a read.
Posted by Damien.m (Member # 8462) on :
Oh and heres a linky. Posted by Liz B (Member # 8238) on :
Loved it. The end of the 3rd one is one of the most satisfying endings of all time.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I liked it very, very much. I recommend it highly across the board, to adults and to young adults. It's fresh, has great characters, and it's a joy to read.
I heart Garth Nix.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
::agrees with Belle::
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
Nix is great. I've been making my way through all his books I can find, and I haven't been disappointed yet.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I'm going to have to finish reading that. As usual, I am starving for things to read.
Posted by Steve_G (Member # 10101) on :
One of these days I'd love to log into amazon.com from the amazon. Don't know anything about the trilogy though.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Hi, guys, so that you know, I ended-up buying the books. Hope they're as good as everyone is saying they are. It's such a joy to discover a "new" writer...
Anyway... thanks! Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Heck, it sounds so good, I ordered it, too.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
@ <<<Eduardo>>>
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
I actually started Sabriel a few months back, but found I wasn't in the mood for all the death and shades and darkness, although the writing was very good. I don't know what my deal is, because I've loved Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and that's sure not all sweetness and light.
From those who have read the Abhorsen trilogy, does it lighten up any? I may give it another go.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Uprooted, the next two books are definitely lighter, if only for the addition of the Disreputable Dog. Although there is some death and darkness in all three.
I loved Lirael for the scenes in the Library and for the Dog. The final book does indeed have an incredibly satisfying ending, as Liz says.
Posted by The Flying Dracula Hair (Member # 10155) on :
You did good, the Abhorsen Trilogy fab, and Garth Nix is <3
Posted by aragorn64 (Member # 4204) on :
I love the Abhorsen Trilogy. It was one of those books that starts off the first one with characters you just love. And when you start the second one and realize that there are different main characters, you're a bit depressed that it wasn't the ones from the first book. But then you find out you almost like the new characters more than the old ones! Epic win!
Got to agree with Liz B on the ending of the series. One of the best, and most satisfying endings to a series I've ever read.
Dang it, now I've got to go reread the books. I read them probably five years ago, and desperately need to read them again.
Posted by Shepherd (Member # 7380) on :
I just re-read these books after about a three year break and I forgot how much I loved these books. The way Nix mixed magic into the world made it seem very natural, and the style it was performed in was quite refreshing and interesting. The characters were strong, though I must admit I found the protagonist in Lirael really annoying for the first few chapters, but she grew out of it.
And some of the side characters are what make these books great, I'm lookin at you Mogget, and the Diresputable Dog as well.
And yes, the ending is absolutely amazing.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
So that you know... the "Abhorsen" box is here! Yay! :-)
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Thanks, Belle. I may need to pick up where I left off just to learn more about this Disreputable Dog!
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
one of the most awesome unconventional fantasy novel(s) of all time.
Posted by aragorn64 (Member # 4204) on :
Be sure to let us know what you think of them, Eduardo. So we can all gloat if you like them, and make fun of you if you don't.
Just kidding, naturally. I'm just curios what you'll think of them. Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
I'll start reading this monday, when I go back to work (here in Brazil, school year starts on february). Since I must suffer a 6 h. trip (one way) each week, I'll have plenty of time to read them. I'll ressurrect the thread and tell what I think of them.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Wow. I just finished the trilogy today and I loved it. You guys were right; it's just amazing.
I do have to disagree with ya'll on one thing. Mogget is cooler than the Disreputable Dog. Though she does pull ahead in the Epilog, I still like Mogget best.
Posted by aragorn64 (Member # 4204) on :
I noticed that you the trilogy is only $15 off of Amazon, so I went ahead and ordered it. Looking forward to rereading the series!
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
I finished reading "The Abhorsen Trilogy" a couple weeks ago and forgot to mention it here: It IS great. All the hype at Amazon.com (and here) is well deserved!
Hail golden hand! Hail the wallmaker! Hail the disreputable dog! Hail the (very awesome)mogget! Hail the seven!
Now I'll have a some books from an amazing portuguese writer called : José Saramago (Nobel Prize Winner): "O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo" (The Gospels According to Jesus Christ), "As Intermitências da Morte" (Death with Interruptions) and "Ensaio sobre a Lucidez" (Seeing).
What can I say? A rabid reader's work never end... (even when you're a poor third world denizen).
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
I read Saramago's The Cave last year, in English. Took me a while to get through it (page-long paragraphs do that to me), but it was worthwhile. Just finished Love in the Time of Cholera last night, very intense, very romantic, a little disturbing at times. I'm about to dive into Borges's collected fictions, some of which I've read before. I'm excited.
Edit: Eduardo, have you read Dom Casmurro? Cute book, not quite what I was expecting. I love how the narrator is so self-conscious.
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Dom Casmurro is one of Machado de Assis' masterpieces. Since the author is considered (possibly) the greatest brazilian writer during the second half of XIX century, that's something. Saramago does the page-long paragraph thing every time. It's his trademark :-). I don't know how well it translates to english, though. Even in portuguese, it's a barrier for many. Borges is also amazing. Another argentin writer you might like is Julio Cortazar. If you like Borges and Gabriel Garcia Márquez, he's the next one to try.
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
Cool, thanks for the recommendation! I'll put Cortazar on my list.
Edit: oh cool, I remember seeing Blowup as a kid and being entranced by it. I'm definitely curious to read his stuff now.
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@ <<<Eduardo>>>
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