An authors blog where you can find news, links and upcoming events and appearences.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The first review of The King’s Daughters
John Ottinger over at Grasping for the Wind just reviewed The King’s Daughters. And although he preferred The Princes, he still enjoyed the sequel and recommends it. Read all the details here.
I have to disagree with his "the reactions to the killings happening within the castle walls seems almost blase" as a bad thing. After all those killed were either soldiers or servants whose lives will not be of significance in that setting. The reviewer is applying a Western perspective to an Eastern setting. As someone who was raised in Middle East and had a Russian nanny to booth, I actually found the reactions in both books quite authentic save for allowing some discussion of dispatching troops to search for missing princesses in the second book. As for predictability, you read ten Agatha Christie novels and you can figure the eleventh fairly from the start. For most experienced readers it is the journey that counts and for the most part, both books deliver.
You are correct. In Medieval times, very little value was place on the lives of soldiers, servants, peasants and serfs. Life was cheap back then, and unfortunately when one looks at what is currently happening in places like Sudan it still is. However, although I agree with you on several points, I also understand that people are allowed to have different opinions, and I accept that. It comes with the territory.
I have to disagree with his "the reactions to the killings happening within the castle walls seems almost blase" as a bad thing. After all those killed were either soldiers or servants whose lives will not be of significance in that setting. The reviewer is applying a Western perspective to an Eastern setting. As someone who was raised in Middle East and had a Russian nanny to booth, I actually found the reactions in both books quite authentic save for allowing some discussion of dispatching troops to search for missing princesses in the second book. As for predictability, you read ten Agatha Christie novels and you can figure the eleventh fairly from the start. For most experienced readers it is the journey that counts and for the most part, both books deliver.
ReplyDeleteHi A. Saffar,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. In Medieval times, very little value was place on the lives of soldiers, servants, peasants and serfs. Life was cheap back then, and unfortunately when one looks at what is currently happening in places like Sudan it still is.
However, although I agree with you on several points, I also understand that people are allowed to have different opinions, and I accept that. It comes with the territory.
So you had a Russian nanny...how intriguing!