tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post1741556830786113976..comments2024-02-27T13:22:06.787-05:00Comments on Literature Frenzy!: The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel KayJason Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-16239789174999929142015-03-03T13:34:36.799-05:002015-03-03T13:34:36.799-05:00Hello Anthea! I'm glad to meet another GGK fan...Hello Anthea! I'm glad to meet another GGK fan. *high-five!*<br /><br />Yes, I have visited his website on more than one occasion but haven't browsed around it very much. I should really change that. <br /><br />Indeed, you are correct -- those looking for more "traditional' fantasy novels in a similar vein to Tolkien's LOTR's should seek out "The Fionavar Trilogy." Having read the these during my youth, I look back on them with fond nostalgia and it would be interesting to see how they would hold up if I were to ever read them again. Although some of his more recent novels failed to register with me (Ysabel and The Last Light of the Sun come to mind), he has developed so much as a writer since the early Fionavar days. Some might argue that he will never again reach the heights of his middle-career during the 1990's to early 2000 when he turned out masterworks like Tigana, Lions, Arbonne, even the underrated Sarantine Mosaic, but I don't think he is past his prime just yet. Under Heaven was excellent and showed a returned to form. I haven't read River of Stars though. How do you find some of his more recent works?<br /><br />I'm trying my best to encourage others to read his work but there's only so much that I can do in this situation. As long as I can convince one person to read any of his novels, I'll be satisfied. Thanks for dropping by and if you ever want to discuss GGK again, you know where to find me. :)<br /><br />Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-45761283127601860042015-03-03T09:40:34.020-05:002015-03-03T09:40:34.020-05:00Do you know about www.brightweavings.com which is ...Do you know about www.brightweavings.com which is the GGK website? Lots of excellent information and advice on that. Guy Kay's early Fionavar Tapestry books are more traditional fantasy novels - and none the worse for that - but Tigana is very special and from then on I think his books have just got better and better and deeper and wiser and more compelling. Lions has always been a favourite of mine. As you say Jason C, Guy makes the reader part of the world of his characters and we love, laugh and suffer with them. Thrilling to know you are introducing him to new readers. Antheanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-37240965338187144852015-02-26T22:34:45.805-05:002015-02-26T22:34:45.805-05:00Glad I could spark your interest to read some GGK,...Glad I could spark your interest to read some GGK, Lindsey! He has such an extensive output of work and its difficult to choose which one to start with but I would have to say that "Lions of Al-Rassan" would be a safe bet because it easy enough to get into and gives you a really good sense of his style of writing. I am hesitant to recommend Tigana to newcomers because the novel is 700 pages long but the story is so enrapturing that it surely doesn't feel like it. If for some reason you cannot acquire "Lions" then try "A Song for Arbonne" which is influenced by the history of medieval France. Pretty cool. I also find that it has a very similar tone and lyrical quality to Lions as well.<br /><br />Happy reading! :)Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-65965989066619057972015-02-26T11:01:13.678-05:002015-02-26T11:01:13.678-05:00What a great story about meeting a favorite author...What a great story about meeting a favorite author! I have heard a lot about this author but I haven't read any of his books yet. Which book should I start with?Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00333927782181943347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-45695258804946812292015-02-26T08:57:49.200-05:002015-02-26T08:57:49.200-05:00Hmmm...perhaps there is a connection between the t...Hmmm...perhaps there is a connection between the two authors as you suggest but I would argue that Rushie dabbles more in magical realism whereas Kay creates a hybrid between fantasy/historical fiction. However, I can see what you are getting at here because even something like "The Enchantress of Florence" does have fantasy elements mixed in with historical fiction. I'd have to read more Rushdie though before making any more conclusions. <br /><br />Indeed, it was a quite a thrill to meet him and receiving a signed copy of Lions was the icing on the cake. I contemplated buying one of those small glass cases to put it in but that seemed a bit extreme. I would still like to read it again and it's nice to be able to pick it up now and again to hold in my hands. Now, if I happened to come into possession of a 1st edition of "To the Lighthouse" that would be a different story.<br /><br />I'm not sure where you live but hopefully you get a chance to attend one of these book signings or meet some of your favorite authors one day. I never realized how many reading events there are in this city and I should really start going to them. I wouldn't have even known of the GGK book signing had it not been for a very nice librarian (I also happened to have a serious crush on her) who told me about it when she noticed that I was checking out a pile of GGK books. Pure coincidence. Or maybe it was just meant to be...<br /><br />Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-60327154842137279782015-02-26T08:31:07.847-05:002015-02-26T08:31:07.847-05:00Nice pun on his name, hehe. You can't go wrong...Nice pun on his name, hehe. You can't go wrong with free books. I really wish they had a recycle depot like that around here. Awww...don't beat yourself up about not blind-buying. I've done that so many times and got burned in the end. Besides, there's no guarantee that you will even like his work (he is Canadian after all haha) so why not test out the waters first by heading on down to your local library. :)Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-60819756058690186172015-02-26T02:47:03.238-05:002015-02-26T02:47:03.238-05:00The Moorish Spain setting and the "playing ar...The Moorish Spain setting and the "playing around with genre conventions" reminds me of Rushdie, but I don't know if the similarities end there. Meeting an author I admire is something I have yet to experience but I can imagine a lot of stammering and swooning. You must love that signed copy!Priyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09671631876416310280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-56089986700707127452015-02-26T01:42:10.847-05:002015-02-26T01:42:10.847-05:00I just walked by a GGK book of novels about 5 hour...I just walked by a GGK book of novels about 5 hours ago at a store here. I should have stopped, I know (have I dropped in your estimation?), but I'm so used to getting great books for free at the recycle depot here, that I mentally tagged that I didn't want to pay for it so ......... I can't even tell you the novels it included. How wretched ........ And I'm leaving at 6 am tomorrow, so I can't go back. Look at that! Now I've depressed myself and I haven't even read the guy yet! ;-)Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-63795549681227539782015-02-25T17:56:20.608-05:002015-02-25T17:56:20.608-05:00Jason, I do not know why I made the Woolf slip. Pe...Jason, I do not know why I made the Woolf slip. Perhaps my own mind wanted to substitute my preferred Woolf title. In any case, I will BOLO for GGK titles, so thanks for the Rx.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-66750620536943794652015-02-25T17:51:37.719-05:002015-02-25T17:51:37.719-05:00Actually, it was "To the Lighthouse" but...Actually, it was "To the Lighthouse" but now that you mention it, I could have also used Mrs. Dalloway as another novel that affected me on a deep level. You've made me so happy right now RTD. Guy Gavriel Kay deserves a much wider readership and I hope you end up becoming a fan. I would highly recommend starting with Lions of Al-Rassan or if you are feeling a little more daring, Tigana. I wish you all the best on your journey into the wonderful world of GGK and hope to see you on the other side. :)Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-24821358377011008042015-02-25T17:09:47.781-05:002015-02-25T17:09:47.781-05:00If you are willing to include this author and titl...If you are willing to include this author and title in the same sentence with Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, I am persuaded to abandon my aversion to fantasy fiction and read Kay's book. Yes, the jury of one is in: I am going to find and read Kay. R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.com