http://cyan-light.co.uk/2010/03/disappointing-literature/ Clear-cut with a dash of orange. Serve with ice. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:35:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://cyan-light.co.uk/2010/03/disappointing-literature/comment-page-1/#comment-3421 Cyan-Light Fri, 28 May 2010 11:18:51 +0000 http://cyan-light.co.uk/?p=107#comment-3421 But there was no need for him to die. The novel would have been all the more satisfying had Pelagia died instead--it would have got rid of her, at least. She comes off as a self-indulgent bitch who developed early and is far too aware of how much she is adored, and the incident highlights it further. Once more, she's effectively characterless as a result. The next few chapters are devoid of anything (and I don't know about you but I struggle to read if I don't care what happens to the main protagonist.) The novel had worked till that point because of the rich ensemble of supporting characters, but we're left with new ones who haven't had their personalities portrayed because he's killed off or removed anyone who brought the novel to life. It's all fluff till the captain returns. And that's my problem with it. His death would have worked had the captain been introduced shortly after. But there was no need for him to die. The novel would have been all the more satisfying had Pelagia died instead–it would have got rid of her, at least. She comes off as a self-indulgent bitch who developed early and is far too aware of how much she is adored, and the incident highlights it further. Once more, she’s effectively characterless as a result. The next few chapters are devoid of anything (and I don’t know about you but I struggle to read if I don’t care what happens to the main protagonist.) The novel had worked till that point because of the rich ensemble of supporting characters, but we’re left with new ones who haven’t had their personalities portrayed because he’s killed off or removed anyone who brought the novel to life. It’s all fluff till the captain returns. And that’s my problem with it. His death would have worked had the captain been introduced shortly after.

]]> http://cyan-light.co.uk/2010/03/disappointing-literature/comment-page-1/#comment-3415 Guess Who :) Thu, 27 May 2010 11:04:36 +0000 http://cyan-light.co.uk/?p=107#comment-3415 He died "pointlessly" a) unpointlessly to save them, and b) because de Bernières is always beautiful and tragic, the two at once because what he writes is true. People do die "pointlessly" in earthquakes, people's lives do end up like Pelagia's. Not shying away from less interesting, fitting or appealing endings for the reader is part of what makes him a great writer. Life is illogical. He died “pointlessly” a) unpointlessly to save them, and b) because de Bernières is always beautiful and tragic, the two at once because what he writes is true. People do die “pointlessly” in earthquakes, people’s lives do end up like Pelagia’s. Not shying away from less interesting, fitting or appealing endings for the reader is part of what makes him a great writer. Life is illogical.

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