Aain’s Bed-and-Breakfast

Hello. I’ve managed to finish ‘Eldest’ today, second in the installment of the Inheritance series by young Christopher Paolini. I shall now go forth to critic and compliment it, so those of you thinking about reading the first; ‘Eragon’ or the second book, ‘Eldest’ steer clear of this post.

{ WARNING: SPOILERS!!!!! }

Okay, now that I can write with a clear conscience, I’ll continue with my post. First of all, I want to say that I am a Tolkien fan. I am sure this will explain what I have to say later. Right. Anyway, the book was okay, I guess. And ungrudgingly, I would have to say a good attempt. In fact, why don’t we all just be honest and say it was a marvelous attempt? Fine. I have said that.

Plot-wise, it was mostly guessable. But of course, not too much that you would bet your life on your guesses. The fact that Roran would not be the family who would betray Eragon is easily guessed and anticipated, as Stronghammer was not important enough to do so. Begging your pardon, Carvahall.

Also, the fact that Murtagh and the Twins weren’t really dead was very very very very very (excuse my grammar) much anticipated. The way Paolini wrote them off was somewhat pale and as a reader, I knew that was not how authors usually say goodbye to a character of such high import to the main character like Murtagh. Paolini wrote that Eragon was sad, of course, but he didn’t seem sad. He should have just went all out to describe Eragon’s mourning. Then it wouldn’t seem so obvious.

However, I was surprised to find out that Murtagh was to end up as a Rider. The last couple of paragraphs in the chapter ‘Eldest’ before the revealing of Murtagh did bring me to that suspicion as much, but I never gave a thought to it before. Suspected he would support Galbatorix, yes. But that in being a Rider? No.

Another matter which I’m not quite fond of is how Paolini seems to incorporate styles of a movie. For example, the exchange between Eragon and Saphira right as they prepared to face the Empire’s soldiers:

Shall we dance, my heartfriend?

We shall.

I mean…is it just me, or is that lame? I don’t know…It might have worked for some…but certainly not for me. I’d save it for the adaptation of the book on the screen, if I were him.

And of course, of Arya Svit-kona and Eragon Shadeslayer. The epic tale of love, huh Angela? More like a pathetic tale of a fool’s love scorned and a princess as endearing as your’s truly. Sorry Arya/Eragon shippers. It’s just too stale. I mean…I just don’t see why Eragon loves her. Paolini doesn’t give me that. Arya is beautiful, fine. Arya is kind, fine. Arya is strong of heart and also physically, fine. And of course that Arya loves the flowers that Faolin made for her, fine. Besides that? What does Eragon know of her? Nothing. Nada. Zero. And setting aside the kindness, I find nothing endearing of her, sorry. This love story may yet deter from the destination it’s heading for right now in the final book. But to do that, radical changes are sure to come. One term: Out of Character. I hate that.

Hey…who knows? Maybe it will turn out great after all. We’ll never really get to know until it’s finished, which will be around this year. 

Ooh! And before I say bye-bye, I would like to say: I LOVE ANGELA! She’s witty, weird, wacky and wonderfully brilliant! I like it when she opens her mouth. To quote Saphira, she’s ‘different’. 

Plus…I absolutely love the interaction between Eragon and Saphira. It’s funny at times, and sweet too. Muaxxies and kudos to Paolini for that. KUDOS!

I also love a whole bucketful of other things in the first two books of the Inheritence series, but I’m too butt-lazy to write about it. Critics are refreshing, compliments are boring. (For a book, that is. Don’t try me with that philosphy, or I keel you, I swear!) And yes, the second one is better than the first. But only in comparison, of course. Hehe, sorry.

Any-hoot, it was a very good attempt for someone so young as Paolini, and far beyond anything I can ever write. My only attempts at writing have been futile ones, and nothing in comparison to his works. I am just a passer-by, who felt compelled to comment. Tha’s all.

So here’s the verdict: ‘Eldest’ is a reasonably enjoyable book.

Muaxxies, everybody!

Aain.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 4th, 2007 at 10:52 pm and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.