There are 2 books that I've read, that I'd like to mention. Both are tales fantastical in nature, and both therefore inventive.
THE SILMARILLION by JRR Tolkien (edited together by his son Christopher), was written after The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. It was a tale of creation, and how the world of Middle-Earth came into being. It is extremely densely written, and took me possibly five fresh starts, till I could read past the first 20 pages. The leap required for the reader is chasm-like, due to the beginning being so opaque. But once past the very first pages, the novel races along. The story descibes the first God, giving tasks to the lesser gods, and one taking umbrage to this, and abandoning his task. This early rebellion leads the same lesser god to make a people, but because he was not forthright, the humanoids were deformed. It is glimpses at the imagination of JRR Tolkien, that shows an elementary class-driven and possibly even racist intellect, that towered above others. Stupendously imaginative. A fantastic book, but not for the faint-hearted.
The tale of Dr.STRANGE AND Mr.MORRELL regards two magicians, who begin as friendly acquaintances, but emerge as rivals. It tells of a world, where magic has been largely forgotten. One man's desire to see it regain its previous place in society is, over time, a success. It is the telling that is of note, insofar that the world is descibed as if you are sitting in front of it. One can smell and hear the woods, and fields, and old Georgian style houses. There is venom and kindness, decency and deceit. I loved it, though the end seemed written at a different pace from the main part of the book. Excellent, but not perfect.
EDIT: Please note the error of my ways.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, author Susanna Clarke an absolutely withering [I][I]Thank You**[/I], to rive gauche[/I]
There are 2 books that I've read, that I'd like to mention. Both are tales fantastical in nature, and both therefore inventive.
THE SILMARILLION by JRR Tolkien (edited together by his son Christopher), was written after The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. It was a tale of creation, and how the world of Middle-Earth came into being. It is extremely densely written, and took me possibly five fresh starts, till I could read past the first 20 pages. The leap required for the reader is chasm-like, due to the beginning being so opaque. But once past the very first pages, the novel races along. The story descibes the first God, giving tasks to the lesser gods, and one taking umbrage to this, and abandoning his task. This early rebellion leads the same lesser god to make a people, but because he was not forthright, the humanoids were deformed. It is glimpses at the imagination of JRR Tolkien, that shows an elementary class-driven and possibly even racist intellect, that towered above others. Stupendously imaginative. A fantastic book, but not for the faint-hearted.
The tale of Dr.STRANGE AND Mr.MORRELL regards two magicians, who begin as friendly acquaintances, but emerge as rivals. It tells of a world, where magic has been largely forgotten. One man's desire to see it regain its previous place in society is, over time, a success. It is the telling that is of note, insofar that the world is descibed as if you are sitting in front of it. One can smell and hear the woods, and fields, and old Georgian style houses. There is venom and kindness, decency and deceit. I loved it, though the end seemed written at a different pace from the main part of the book. Excellent, but not perfect.
EDIT: Please note the error of my ways.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, author Susanna Clarke
an absolutely withering [I][I]Thank You**[/I], to rive gauche[/I]