Abby

https://www.goodreads.com/abbygrout

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Abby is Currently Reading

Abby is currently reading

Gardens of the Moon (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1)

by Steven Erikson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: fantasy, complete-series, highly-recommend, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in May 2020

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Abby said: " As many people forewarn, this story starts in medias res, or in other words, in the middle of things. While other works might then go back to explain or introduce characters, this story just keeps going and expects you to just do your best to keep up As many people forewarn, this story starts in medias res, or in other words, in the middle of things. While other works might then go back to explain or introduce characters, this story just keeps going and expects you to just do your best to keep up.

Because of all that, you have to be willing to be a very patient reader: double check the glossary and list of characters, reread passages, and push steadily onward. Many readers will find this annoying and off putting, but because so many people warn of this style of writing it can be easier since you have an inkling of what your getting into.

I thought I would dislike this style more than I did. It helped that the story is very interesting and well paced, I definitely felt a draw to the story when I didn’t quite have a draw to the characters yet. The second half of the book, I definitely felt that I had a more firm footing and understanding of the characters and relationships.

The hardest things about this type of story where twofold for me. One, it’s hard to pin down the relationships between characters, which makes it hard to judge what their actions mean. Two, it takes much longer to care for the characters, and often I would read and things would easily slip out of my memory. Because there was less establishment and less understanding for me as a reader, it was harder to keep a solid memory like learning a new language and everything slips away more easily.

Definitely, definitely intrigued enough to keep reading. But was absolutely a different experience from most fiction I read.

Thoughts on characters:
Ganoes Paran - probably the first character I felt attached to since we got more of his backstory, relationships with his family, etc. His struggle around free agency vs being controlled by a god was very interesting.
Whiskeyjack- he’s got the cool guy feel, with a team who implicitly trusts him. Strong character, and I’m interested to see how he develops.
Quick Ben - He had some very exciting moments, hints at backstory, and I’m definitely left wanting to know more.
Tattersail - I very much like her. She shows strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes survives on chance. She has to figure out who to trust in a cruel cruel world. And even with her past experiences, I’d call her a good person. She was ripped out of the story a bit, so I’ll be excited to see her return.
Kruppe - I very much enjoyed the change of voice. What a funny character. I also like that his dreams pushed the story forward, very interesting. I had a guess that he was the spymaster, but a fun lay of events for sure.
Rallick and Murillo - they’re fine. They didn’t leave a super distinct impression besides one being an assassin and the other basically a dandy. Good enough distinction for side characters. And their plot to help Coll was cool. (I had to be careful to not mix up Rallick and Kalam since they felt a bit similar.)
Crokus Younghand - I liked this character, and loved that he was pretty oblivious to the coin in his possession. His awkwardness with Sorry seemed pretty realistic. Also he had to find out the hard way that rich girls are pretty full of themselves. Though a little thief, I think he sees himself as a hero in the making.
Anomander Rake - Great name, and a deeply fascinating character. I want to know so much more about him, his people, Moon Spawn. I have so many questions. His dialogue with Baruk was very interesting. Cool to see how he strategizes a bit, and that he is willing to work with humans and develop those relationships. Also interesting that they don’t have to get involved but choose to.
Dujek - Classic loyal general. Very clever and down to earth. I like him.
Tayschreen - Something very off about him. I don’t currently understand his motivations.
Sorry - Wow what a life to live. This character is probably closer to having dissociative identity disorder than any other character I’ve read. What a traumatic childhood. And now she has to deal with whatever memories are left from when she was possessed.
Toc the Younger - I think I will need to reread to track him fully. Also interested to see if he comes back into the story or not.
Caladan Brood - don’t know much about him. Interested to see more. ...more "

progress:

(page 555 of 666)
— May 07, 2020 09:15PM

Mar 21, 2023 03:18PM · see review

Abby’s Quotes

“I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.”
― Julia Child

1261 likes

“A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”
― Dinah Maria Craik

tags: misattributed

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“We men and women are all in the same boat, upon a stormy sea. We owe to each other a terrible and tragic loyalty.”
― G.K. Chesterton, The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton Volume 28: The Illustrated London News, 1908-1910

tags: brotherhood-of-man, interdependence, loyalty

468 likes

“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other.

None of us need one more person bashing or pointing out where we have failed or fallen short. Most of us are already well aware of the areas in which we are weak. What each of us does need is family, friends, employers, and brothers and sisters who support us, who have the patience to teach us, who believe in us, and who believe we're trying to do the best we can, in spite of our weaknesses. What ever happened to giving each other the benefit of the doubt? What ever happened to hoping that another person would succeed or achieve? What ever happened to rooting for each other?”
― Marvin J. Ashton

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