| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Simon Scarrow
Small mammal
Uruguay
777 Posts |
 Posted - 10 October 2006 : 09:27:27 AM
|
Just coming to the end of checking through the proofs of the Young Bloods paperback. It's always quite sobering to come back to a book after along gap, and see all the missed opportunities, wince at some awkward sentences and wish that I could go back and cut much more out. It's a long book, even longer than I remembered it and frankly the section on their childhood and schooldays should have been half as long. Apologies to all then.
Also, after visiting my son's school to be I went to the dads' bookgroup where we discussed Young Bloods. The book had also been read by the wives' bookgroup. As ever, less than half the guys had read through the whole thing, but they seemed to like it well enough which was pleasing. By contrast only one of the women hadn't and they really enjoyed it. So I think the crossover readership is there, as I had hoped, although the women said that the cover did put them off a bit and made them expect far more by way of battles. Surprisingly few readers sympathised with Arthur. Again, I expected that since Napoleon's rise was against far greater odds and we tend to root for the underdog. My take on this is that Arthur had a far tougher time of it, and had to struggle against far more subtle obstacles. As an english lit teacher friend put it last night, the book is a kind of Bernard Cornwell meets Jane Austen thing where Arthur has to cope with unrequited love and the absence of fortune and good fortune.
All of which makes me feel quite positive about the way the second book is going. It's far pacier and yet a lot of the signature elements of their characters carry over into the battles they must fight. Plus the locations are terrific!
|
|
|
Peter Croft
Dinosaur
United Kingdom
291 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 09:38:37 AM
|
| I think you're right about the first book. Much could (and should) have been cut. It's not that I didn't like the way it outlined formative experiences, it's just that it slowed the story down way too much. Apology accepted. I'm not sure that the cover is for blokes only. Looks classy and almost literary to me. Not quite Jane Austen, but getting there. But still a good read and I'm looking forward to the next one. Keep it up. |
 |
|
|
The Delayer
Dinosaur
United Kingdom
216 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 10:02:38 AM
|
| I remember making some of those points in my review at the time and got roasted by Simon and others for not getting it so does that mean I was right ! |
|
|
|
John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8415 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 12:31:26 PM
|
On the other hand, I thought the balance was fine between childhood/school and adult life. Their formative years are important to cast light on how they turned out later, and the narrative is not at all slow. I'm looking forward to Book Two with Wellington in India and Napoleon beginning to get delusions of grandeur.
Cheers
John |
|
|
|
Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 2:36:27 PM
|
I think that the story was well told, i felt that a lot of the early tales were not only informative and in some cases endearing, they gave the reader a real insight into both the main characters.
I have given the book to a few family members and they all loved it.
The cover IMHO was great, a nice mix of showing the battles to come and also subtle enough to show that this is a serious piece of writing.
IMHO this is Simons best work to date, i loved the whole book. Im sure if i had to i could pick fault with some sentances but why do that, taken as a whole its a fantastic book.
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
|
|
|
|
Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
13892 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 4:20:50 PM
|
Hi jericho...welcome to the forum.
I agree with you mate! my persoanl fav bit in the book is the snowball fight scene, i loved that, and it was more special to find that it was true!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
|
|
|
|
Jerico
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
1 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2006 : 4:35:58 PM
|
Thanks, to true.
I have just finished Young Bloods and thought it was excellent, a great change to get to know the characters from the cradle rather that just hear about the exploits when they were famous and before the grave. It is truly amazing how someone like Napoleon can rise from nothing to such a position of absolute power and it feels good getting to know the “real man” behind the legend. Also the French Revolution period is fascinating as it changed the status quo in Europe forever and showed there was workable alternative to absolutism. It must have been terrifying to live through it but there must have been one hell of a buzz in the air and as we see great opportunities for some. Cannot wait for the next instalment.
Jerico |
|
|
|
AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6629 Posts |
Posted - 14 October 2006 : 2:58:23 PM
|
I really enjoyed it and i didnt think any of it shold be edited out, but i guess it's a balancing act on flow against historical fact. i liked the childhood aspects of it all, enabled me to get a feeling for them before they grew up and events carried them along.
if simon had edited it before we all saw it we would neve have known and i'm sure Simon has edited lots of bits out before the final release was made.
_________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Proofs... book groups...second thoughts
