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eldabeSo I've been working my way through Garth Nix's Abhorsen Series. I had read Sabriel like once or twice already and recently a friend of mine gifted me their copy (they didn't like it) so I re-read it and then picked up Lirael through the library. I've tried to read Lirael before but I found it SO HARD to get through the Sameth chapters and apparently last time I tried I just quit. This time I kept plugging through and good news! I really enjoyed the rest of the original trilogy!
So nw I've read Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, The Creature in the Case short story, and I'm mostly through Clariel. And Clariel is going to be evil right? In fact, I would hazard a guess she's going to be Chlorr?
I know this book was advertised as "the story of a lost Abhorsen" and I thought it would be Clariel but now I'm like. OH NO BEL. Like, is he an annoying idiot at times? Yes, no question. But he's also the only one who cares. Clariel certainly doesn't!
Looking at this story and how no one was exactly evil but also no one paid attention to Clariel, even when they cared about her, and how that is leading her down a path of darkness, is fascinating. I complained to L while reading this that Clairel kept refusing the call and how it was driving me up the wall. But I wonder, if anyone had let her determine her own life earlier, if maybe she wouldn't have gone evil. Or if anyone had given her even just more choices, or more information. Like, I feel for Clariel even as I'm frustrated with her. I want to make a thoughtful essay comparing Clariel and Sameth and how he stepped up eventually, but of course, I wonder how he would have handled it if he had been as trapped as Clariel. Because Sameth stepped up AFTER Lirael showed up and saved him from being the Abhorsen-in-waiting.
(But secretly I can't wait for Goldenhand, I love Lirael and Nick now ok.)
ANYWAY I wanted to write up my whole thoughts book-by-book but nevermind! I am having a lot of feelings! This ebook is being taken back by the library in a day! I have less than a hundred pages to go! And I had to type this out or I would never finish!
So nw I've read Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, The Creature in the Case short story, and I'm mostly through Clariel. And Clariel is going to be evil right? In fact, I would hazard a guess she's going to be Chlorr?
I know this book was advertised as "the story of a lost Abhorsen" and I thought it would be Clariel but now I'm like. OH NO BEL. Like, is he an annoying idiot at times? Yes, no question. But he's also the only one who cares. Clariel certainly doesn't!
Looking at this story and how no one was exactly evil but also no one paid attention to Clariel, even when they cared about her, and how that is leading her down a path of darkness, is fascinating. I complained to L while reading this that Clairel kept refusing the call and how it was driving me up the wall. But I wonder, if anyone had let her determine her own life earlier, if maybe she wouldn't have gone evil. Or if anyone had given her even just more choices, or more information. Like, I feel for Clariel even as I'm frustrated with her. I want to make a thoughtful essay comparing Clariel and Sameth and how he stepped up eventually, but of course, I wonder how he would have handled it if he had been as trapped as Clariel. Because Sameth stepped up AFTER Lirael showed up and saved him from being the Abhorsen-in-waiting.
(But secretly I can't wait for Goldenhand, I love Lirael and Nick now ok.)
ANYWAY I wanted to write up my whole thoughts book-by-book but nevermind! I am having a lot of feelings! This ebook is being taken back by the library in a day! I have less than a hundred pages to go! And I had to type this out or I would never finish!
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Date: Jul. 8th, 2024 00:39 (UTC)They are one of my FAVORITE series!!!!!!
This is why I call them the Old Kingdom novels and ignore the silliness of calling the series the same thing as one of the books. Though, I guess Susan Cooper did it too, with Dark Is Rising...
Lirael is such a hard book to get through the first part of, it just hurts me so badly for both of them.
Clariel breaks my heart every time, so badly, because of how COMPREHENSIVELY every fucking adult around her fails her over and over again. And I love Bel so, so, so much. He's so wonderful.
I look forward to more thoughts!!!!