Goliverse discussion

I'm about 8 chapters into the book. Some big spoilers have happened, but I'll leave those out of this post, and focus just on the exposition we've had so far.

I was a little thrown off at first by the writing style. But that may be because I went directly from reading the story of Turin in The Silmarillion, which is a very different style. So at first I thought This Paper World was poorly written or something, but I actually just needed to read about half of the prologue and adjust to the change in style. The author uses a very straightforward voice, like someone who's telling you a story at a campfire or something. I found the nonlinear storytelling in the prologue really worked out. It made it easier to jump into this world. Troy's search for the girl essentially being a flashback from the events in the diner makes it so the reader doesn't ask what happened before. Instead you just accept the supernatural things going on as being a part of the world in which this story takes place.

The exposition and action of the prologue were so cool that it was almost a bit jarring to switch to Jim. It creates an interesting tension. As a reader, I want to know more about the supernatural stuff going on, but am also being shown how normal Jim's life is (usually). This tension continues once Jim begins to be drawn into the bigger picture. On the one hand we want Jim to accept his destiny, so that we can see all the cool action. But on the other hand, we care about Jim, and understand how nervous he is about taking that step.

Not sure if everyone is aware, but the audiobook is available for free at Jeff Lane's website. He released it through a podcast feed. The sequel is there as well. I will be starting it tomorrow. I hope it's good.

I bought it on Amazon because I had some free digital cred. :)

I've seen some people posting in other threads that they aren't liking the book. I'm curious to hear specifically what people don't like about it. I think it could generate some interesting discussion. But keep it spoiler free, at least in the main thread.

It feels clunky and not very interesting. Our hero trained his whole life as a superhero and then just kinda forgot?! They expect Jim to fight for right but the bad guys are just "generally bad"?! Seriously. The author keeps changing voices and throws in pandering references that don't enhance the realism at all. Im really glad this was free because I am not going to finish it.

Yeah, I would definitely recommend you stop there and move on to a different book. There are too many books in the world for people to suffer through books they really don't like (even books that they have spent money on, in my opinion).

I didn't see anything wrong with Jim "forgetting" his training, partly because I bought into the premise of the book -- that there is more going on than the physical, and that the "power" that Jim has is locked behind a mental door -- but also because he's a college student. Also, the "forgetting" of training and preparation seems analogous to what happens to a lot of Christians/Catholics. How many adults went through years of Sunday School or parochial school as children, only to "move on with their lives" as adults and forget everything about their upbringing.

I think the prologue sufficiently gets across how evil the Spoilers are, by showing -- and relating Troy's reaction to -- what the Spoilers did to the abducted girl.

The references the author included initially stuck out like a sore thumb, but part of that was because the last 2 books I read took place in the galaxy far far away and Middle Earth, not present-day USA. They stuck out less as I got further in, but I still think some of them are out of place, and are a negative of the book.

John, I first read your comment about the change in voice as change in perspective (as in, going from Park's POV to Jim's in the middle of a chapter), but now I realize you are talking about the manner of expression of the writing (as in, the literary term "voice"). Or at least, I think that's what you're talking about. If so, I'll agree that it is distracting. it is another negative of the book. But my interest in the world that the author created, as well as the action of the plot, keeps me reading despite the flaws.

I agree with what john said pretty much. I have been keeping quiet because I would rather just not talk about something I don't like then to talk bad about it. I know other people will enjoy it but for me it feels shallow, klunky, not very descriptive and just overall uninteresting, it just didn't hold my attention. There are many things I still don't understand which may be by design. Such as the whole war in the background still don't quite get it. It was a big step down coming from the martian.

Yeah, it wouldn't be fun to just have a bash-fest between people who don't like the book. But I think there is a way to discuss the things we like and dislike without just spewing hate (like "it sucked and was written poorly and I hated it"). Hearing specific aspects that people dislike can help others appreciate other aspects more, or be able to articulate their thoughts better. That's the whole point of book discussion.

I do not mind unanswered questions in something that is labeled the first book in a series. I would assume the author is going to answer those kinds of things in the next book. Also, I think a lot of the descriptive phrasing which seems clunky in the book is due to the author being new. I think he needs to let more people read it and give advice and I'll bet in a few more drafts that clears right up. It reads as someone trying too hard, and the effortless thing we are used to come with practice, I think. I am interested in the basic story, and that goes a long way.
I am not that far into it yet, though. I am going to keep reading.

Eh, I'm having a really hard time getting into it. Starting off with the torture of a little kid is quite off-putting for me. I may just skip the rest of this one as it might just not be for me.

I will say in my opinion that beginning part you are talking about is about as bad as it gets. There is violence throughout but nothing worse than that. But hey if that turned you off already then maybe just pass on it, I've given my opinions in a previous post.

Rod, any idea when the book club episode for this book will be?

According to fearless leader, thinking 13th. Please be ready to call in. Can't call in? Email goliversereads@gmail.com. We may actually read it.