Tamora Lovers discussion

Anyone can discuss the first chapter (and first chapter only please (in case someone hasn't read it before). If you wnt Chapter 2 discussion, please post it as a new topic under Alanna: The First Adventure.

I guess this would be the place to post this, then: How do you all view Alanna's plan in the first chapter? I can't decide if it was well or poorly thought-out. I mean, the plan works; she thought through all the steps she and Thom would have to take to see it through, but it also seems incredibly impulsive and spur-of-the-moment. I wouldn't have had the guts to do it! (But then, I'm not into phys ed. stuff and danger anyway...)

uh, how far did chap one go? like, plot wise? othrwise, i might spoil for sumone on accident...

I don't think Alanna's plan is that well thought out, but then again most of Alanna's plans aren't really thought out. There's no way I'd ever be able to do it, I'd be terrified of getting caught.

It wasn't very wellt hought-out, but it was a good idea. I think she's just like that, think of something and do it! No thinking or putting it off, doing it right away

Why do you think Tamora included the foreshadowing about the City of the Gods? Do you think it was necessary for Alanna and/or for the story? Or even plausable, since Alanna wasn't supposed to get a vision then?

My take on it is that the foreshadowing makes the book more of a whole, the City of the Gods being the climactic event everything is leading up to. Stories sometimes need that sort of thing, even if life doesn’t, but it doesn't seem very realstic. What I mean is, I doubt anything would have changed if Alanna had not seen the vision. What do you all think?

I think so because i love foreshadowing, you get to see a peek of her desitiny and look forward to it and guess and wonder and all.

WHY do none of you answer me?! i DONT remember WHAT happened in chap 1!!! *sigh* but yeah, jer plan wasn't thought out, but it was good! and forshadowing is sweet!

Chapter One ends with Alanna just about to meet Duke Gareth.

Why do you think Alanna rejects her magic? I'm not sure if its ever said (I completley forget at the moment). THe only reason I can think of is if ner mother was killed by using her magic. (Does it ever say that either - how her mother died?)

I also love how George is introduced (although they don't say his name).

Also, I just thought I would add this. It's my favorite quote made by Coram from the first chapter: "I don't care if the two of ye want t' be dancing bears!"

I think she's afraid of her magic, about the only thing she is afraid of, which makes her more real, and she considers it cheating almost, I think.

Yeah, she says as much later (oops, spoiler), and I don't think she trusts magic. It's not tangible; it's not usually something she can see to fight. With human enemies and physical obstacles she tends to be very straightforward: she sees a challenge, then trains and attacks until she overcomes it. If and when she gets over her reticence regarding magic, she'll probably deal with it in a similar way until she masters it.