Sunday, December 4, 2011

D. Barkley Briggs- CSFF Blot Tour

Corus the Champion is the sequel to The Book of Names. I read the first book some time ago and gave it to my assistant to read recently. It is fun to listen to her enthusiasm. She tells me about how fantastic a scene is or what a great character this guy is. She will soon be after me to loan her the second book.
One of the things I admire about D. Barkley Briggs' style of writing is his descriptions. Look at this paragraph:
Other than hedgerows of wild hazel and scattered oak and elm, the hill was the only major feature, like someone had dropped it there by mistake. It rose, tall and sudden, shorn of trees, utterly alone, with vast sweeps of green on every side. A worn footpath wound down the hill, past a stand of trees, toward a clutch of wattle-and-daub buildings. One of them, larger than the rest, was circle shaped, with a cross made out of beams rising from the center of the thatched roof. It looked to Garret like an old church. Near to these simple structures, small brown figures worked in rows, tilling the earth. The way they were hunched over made Garret of giant mushrooms. He stood very still, trembling, not quite sure to believe his eyes.
After reading that paragraph, one not only has a clear picture of the scene but also the feel of apprehension that shrouds Garret. The image is precise, but the prospect is incongruous to his reality. His reality must shift.
I love that precise description with just an edge of emotion coloring the setting.
Now I have to admit that chapter Two, Mount Agasag, triggered the skim mode for me. The details did not rivet me to the story. I skimmed, looking for Garret or Gabe, to latch on to what was happening with them.
I'm sure many readers were intrigued by Corus and Kr'Nunos. My investment was in the four brothers and therefore, every time they were "in the picture," my interest was caught and held.
Book link - Buy at Amazon
Author’s Web site - The Hidden Lands
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2 comments:

Rebecca LuElla Miller said...

Interesting observations, Donita. I read in an interview with Dean at Novel Rocket (formerly Novel Journey) that he wasn't writing for a YA audience particularly, so maybe that's why he had no qualms switching to adult POVs from time to time. I was more attached to the brothers myself, though. Even later in the book, when Sorge is the POV character, I missed Ewan and wanted them to re-connect.

Becky

December 7, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Anonymous said...

my sister loves thous books wen i saw it on haer i was surprised i am that same 13 year old gril who is trying to make a book with her cousin .PS: i am reading dragon fire know sofar i love it i love dragons they are awsome

January 5, 2012 at 9:30 AM

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