Eragon

Rating:
Summary: Eragon: Annoying to Read
Review: I know this book has already recieved its fair share of reviews, but I felt I should put my two cents in.
I have to start out by declaring my age: 13. About and around the age many say I should not be able to tell whether a book is bad or not, correct? Well, dead wrong. When I borrowed (thank God) Eragon from a classmate, I liked the cover and was surprised to find the author was very young. My expectations were heightened at this discovery but once I started reading the book, I was disappointed. From the beginning to end, Eragon is just a pain to read. I was first distracted by how the book read like bad FANFICTION - it was painfully obvious how hard he tried to make his boring and predictable plot exciting by using "big words" and fancy made-up language and drawing out scenes forever. Needless to say, it didn't work.

Secondly, I couldn't get past the fact it sounded so similar to Lord of the Rings and the Pern series. I'm sure there are other similarities to many other books, in fact, I'd say Eragon sounds like a English writing assignment gone insane. It seemed like it took really broad aspects of the standard fantasy writings and mashed it all together. Nothing stood out as making these broad themes specific and original. Plus, I felt rather sick as I read the big hints of love between Eragon and that elf woman. Hollywood syndrome. *shiver*

It was just a very messy, boring book. I didn't enjoy it and probably will only read Eldest just to see if his writing has improved. If not, I expect I'll just roll my eyes.

Rating:
Summary: intensely boring
Review: It's true that there isn't much of anything in this book for a girl to relate to. Aside from it being repetition of other fantasys by better authorw
As a girl I like for there to be at least one character I can relate to at least a little bit. This book did nothing for me and most of the time it was intensely boring. I kept expecting it to get better but it never did.

Rating:
Summary: Eragon
Review: Eragon was a really good book. It was the kind of book I couldn't put down. Anyway, Eragon is out hunting and the clearing starts to glow and sudenly theres this stone. Only the stone isn't a stone... I guarentee this is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: A promising start
Review: Christopher Paolini may be a newcomer to publishing, but in "Eragon," the first of what he promises will be a trilogy, he does a fine job of holding high the rich fantasy tapestry woven by masters such as Tokien and others.

Paolini borrows a significant amount from an already-strong fantasy tradition, but he still manages to bring his own unique offerings to the table. His characters are well-developed, his imagery strong, and his wit keen but subtle enough to avoid seeming forced.

At times, he gets bogged down in descriptive detail, but the book and its engaging storyline easily overcome such minor flaws, and it ends up developing into a true page-turner.

And unlike much of today's mass-produced fantasy fiction, Eragon has literary merits. It it well-written, has satisfying depth and offers tantalizing hints about what is to come in the next two books. (Who is Eragon's mother? What's the deal between Eragon and Arya? Is Murtagh a good guy or not?) Fantasy lovers will also enjoy the appendices, which include a glossary, a pronunciation guide, a series of language guides, and a map that readers will find themselves referring to constantly.

Paolini is a young author with promise, and "Eragon" is a must-read book that is bound to lure new fans to the genre while satisfying old ones.

Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as some portray...
Review: As a long time reader of fantasy and science fiction, I'm not sure I understand the complete disgust some of the reviewers are feeling concerning this book. For me, Eragon is a good fill in as my post-LOTR:RotK-high wanes, and I anxiously await the next installment in Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I've read Tolkien, McCaffery, Lackey, Tad Williams, and many others. The fact that many elements are obviously taken from these greater works didn't take any enjoyment away from my reading. Not an epic, I agree, but not a waste of time. For those people who have found books of a Tolkien-esque scale intimidating in their size and vocabulary, I think this is a good start to get into the genre. If you are well aquainted with fantasy novels, this is a nice Saturday afternoon read when you just want to read something for the fun of it.

Rating:
Summary: Not enjoyable
Review: They say that I should like this book. I love J.K Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien - the perfect gift you'd expect. However, as I read the first chapters, I found myself being needled with the feeling that I had read something similiar before, and it was better then. As I read more, I became bored with the whole thing. The whole thing was so predictable and unoriginal. I thought it sounded like a English class fantasy assignment gone crazy. I have read books that definitely took ideas from other "original" fantasy authors and managed to like them a little. But in Eragon, it was so OBVIOUS. Overall, I thought it was something you'd praise on the fanfiction level, but it shouldn't of been published. Glad I borrowed it instead of buying it.

Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a classic trilogy
Review: Eragon was a breathtaking novel that kept me on the edge of my seat through the whole 500 some pages! The characters are vivid and imaginative and draw you into the epic of a boy who struggles to raise a dragon outside the clutches of the Empire. Saphira, the dragon, takes my breath away, and I could feel the deep empathy she has with her rider. Brom, the mysterious story-teller who forces his way into Eragon's life while still hiding his own tragic past, is also a character who will leave a lasting impression.
All in all, this is sure to be a memorable book which will live on into the ages.

Rating:
Summary: looking forward to Inheritance 2
Review: Great book! I'm impressed...and I compare everything to Tolkien, Brooks, Eddings, and McCaffrey. The best part is that he's only 19 and has lots of years and books to come! I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: More Fantasy Please
Review: With Eragon, Paolini ventured into a flooded market of fantasy books. As many have commented in previous "reviews", Paolini's book does have some similarities to Tolkien and other prominent fantasy writers. But with so many fantasy books, it is difficult, if not impossible, to write something completely original. Paolini's work is obviously inspired by the Lord of the Rings, but instead of copying Tolkien's format, he wanders off into his own land, with its own history and own uniqueness. For that, I applaud him.

While reading this book, I was immersed into Paolini's, characters, story and world. I began feeling the emotions that the protagonist was experiencing in the story. Is that not the job of a writer? On this level, I believe Paolini was quite successful.

However, when I read Eragon as a writer reads, I see some problems with his composition. The most glaring issue is his dialogue. The dialogue itself doesn't have the punch that I would have hoped and it seems as though he tried to come up with as many ways possible to say "Eragon said." The true power of the dialogue should be what is said, not how it is said.

Finally, I have an issue with some of the other "reviews" of Eragon. The trouble with previous reviews is that adults are putting adult perspectives on a book that is intended for students and kids. Overall, I would recommend this book. It is entertaining and it kept me reading. Kids looking for something to fill the LOTR void will enjoy this book; they will look forward to its sequels. As a teacher, I know that kids will appreciate this book and accept it for what it is: a good young adult fantasy book.

Rating:
Summary: Like a cover version of an old favourite
Review: This reminds me of some boy band covering one of the classics. It's not bad as such, it just keeps reminding you how much better it's been done elsewhere. The story is totally derivative. I accept that it's difficult not to be these days, but sadly there's not an ounce of originality and far too much direct copying. Even then, if the story was a page-turner, you might be OK but it drags most of the time. Goodness only knows how the author is going to keep it going for two more books. Read the Pern stories, Tolkein, Ursula la Guin to see how it's really done.