tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post4792760193074785973..comments2024-03-27T09:50:53.662-05:00Comments on Happy Catholic*: I just finished reading the latest Harry Dresden novel, Changes. That's several hours I won't get back again.Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-54073523512250196872010-05-28T22:10:41.752-05:002010-05-28T22:10:41.752-05:00Well, I liked it! I got started on Butcher last fa...Well, I liked it! I got started on Butcher last fall by picking up the audio book of <i>Presumed Guilty,</i> so obviously I didn't begin at the beginning. But by now I've read all of the Jim Butcher that I can find, and I think that the action in <i>Changes</i> is completely foreshadowed in the previous books. It reminds me of what John C. Wright says he did in the first part of the Golden Age series: get the protagonist into absolutely the worst situation that you can imagine for him and then see what happens! <br /><br />However, part of the fun of series fiction is the recurrence of characters and the familiar settings. This does make me wonder whether Butcher can pull off the next book. We shall see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-9251268624839402532010-05-28T21:10:57.738-05:002010-05-28T21:10:57.738-05:00Julie,I think you really hit the nail on the head ...Julie,I think you really hit the nail on the head with that comment. It almost felt like a reunion episode. "Look! Here's this character! And this one! And we'll make a call to this character just so she makes an official appearance! And..."<br /><br />I do think this book was a set-up for the book to come. I just hope it pays off...Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112379793387963142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-53652409664053829262010-05-28T12:00:59.470-05:002010-05-28T12:00:59.470-05:00CF - only for Connie Willis would I make such a sa...CF - only for Connie Willis would I make such a sacrifice. :-)Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-6188720391853112642010-05-28T12:00:32.218-05:002010-05-28T12:00:32.218-05:00I didn't mind the ending actually. I didn'...I didn't mind the ending actually. I didn't even mind the actual concept overall.<br /><br />Here's the thing: it was like the third X-Men movie. Assuming that you already knew all the characters, lots of explosions, very little story arc except one main goal ... throwing every special effect except the kitchen sink at the reader. It could have been a well told tale and still had most of the main elements and changed the big picture. Butcher's done that before. But this was just shoddy story telling to me. I felt as if he had a contract he had to fulfill so he just didn't care.Julie D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-70507544218846468552010-05-28T11:46:33.566-05:002010-05-28T11:46:33.566-05:00I agree with Will. Teckla is a good analogy. Harry...I agree with Will. Teckla is a good analogy. Harry's had this coming for some time. In terms of a hard-fought supernatural war, he's gotten off lightly for a long time, starting off as a private but ending up as a general or colonel. I don't like Changes nearly as much as many others, but I think it was necessary for what is to come. I constantly kept thinking about the saying: if you want to test a person's character, give him adversity; but if you want to see his soul, give him power. The end was a shock, but I think it may give Harry a needed out for his contracted obligation.<br /><br />Phillip<br />Memphis, TNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-82108996843852302572010-05-28T08:27:20.324-05:002010-05-28T08:27:20.324-05:00I liked Blackout, but was ticked off to be left ha...I liked Blackout, but was ticked off to be left hanging at the end. <br /><br />I did like her other book (about the plague) better, though.<br /><br />I stop reading a book after a few chapters if I don't like it. I am impressed with your patience. Or masochism. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-30699440195482831872010-05-27T19:03:00.195-05:002010-05-27T19:03:00.195-05:00On the otherhand, I used to feel that way about St...On the otherhand, I used to feel that way about Steven Brust's book <i>Teckla</i>; which, as it turns it, is the hinge of the entire series. It's not a pleasant read, but it's key.Will Duquettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842496412575851453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-30704187666476215142010-05-27T19:01:50.862-05:002010-05-27T19:01:50.862-05:00Well, heck. And I really enjoyed the book just be...Well, heck. And I really enjoyed the book just before this one. I only read Jim Butcher in paperback, so there was no chance of my paying hardback prices for it, but I was looking forward to getting it later.Will Duquettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842496412575851453noreply@blogger.com