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Those interludes suddenly started to remind me very strongly of Lost. Legolas Send a noteboard - 14/08/2013 09:01:04 PM

View original postAnd as for the interludes, I generally like them, though I had the feeling that a lot of these later ones don't have much to say. They give some nice background for the city, but I don't know if any of it is necessary. They sort of feel as though they've been included because the interludes were part of the narrative pattern so he needed to write more to fill the spaces. In the second book, he actually just plain stops using interludes once he tells all of the flashback story he needs to, meaning we have interludes for the first several chapters and then none for the rest of the book. I think I prefer it that way, even though it unbalances the structure.

I don't know if either of you has watched Lost, but most of its episodes are similar in structure - the main storyline is intertwined with flashbacks that reveal precisely those elements in the key character's history that are relevant to the main plot of the episode. It's pretty clever as a system, but the downside - in Lost like in this book - is that it makes character development feel artificial, with random memories and unlooked for abilities being added to the character seemingly ad hoc as per the requirements of the main storyline. I don't suppose Lynch is actually so clumsy as to really contradict himself that way on any remotely important point, though.

On the other hand, I did not get the impression that you did of the interludes being pointless - if anything, the later ones were much more blatant about merely serving as justification for the newly gained abilities/knowledge (okay, and also as pacing devices) than the earlier ones.

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Reread: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch Rebekah - 03/06/2013 10:07:06 AM 1439 Views

The Prologue Rebekah - 03/06/2013 10:08:39 AM 1085 Views

Re: The Prologue Nate - 04/06/2013 09:09:56 PM 1171 Views

Re: The Prologue Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:34:28 PM 1115 Views

It had been years and years since I'd read this, so I don't remember most of the plot... Legolas - 05/06/2013 10:17:21 PM 999 Views

Re: It had been years and years since I'd read this, so I don't remember most of the plot... Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:35:48 PM 933 Views

I'd forgotten most of this. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:32:26 PM 926 Views

Chapters One and Two. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:36:57 PM 934 Views

I was waiting for someone else to go first. Nate - 13/06/2013 03:39:31 PM 1043 Views

What do you mean by "lampshading"? Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:52:46 PM 1024 Views

I will explain! It requires Chapter Three information. Nate - 18/06/2013 03:55:55 PM 939 Views

Thanks; I'd never seen the term before. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:57:47 PM 437 Views

Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:50:27 PM 1462 Views

Re: Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Nate - 03/07/2013 05:21:34 AM 919 Views

Not as entranced as I thought I would be. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:47:24 PM 913 Views

Re: Descriptions Nate - 24/06/2013 05:00:34 PM 1023 Views

Re: Descriptions Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:59:28 PM 950 Views

I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:54:32 PM 1127 Views

Chapters 3 and 4. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:53:34 PM 924 Views

Initial thought: Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:55:52 PM 922 Views

This is another one with messed up timelines. Nate - 24/06/2013 04:47:16 PM 3143 Views

Re: This is another one with messed up timelines. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:01:35 PM 2792 Views

It's funny - your comment above had spoiled me so... Legolas - 08/08/2013 05:25:31 PM 1050 Views

Re: Sabetha Nate - 08/08/2013 05:42:18 PM 959 Views

The first part of the book is a little slow, I've decided. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:05:45 PM 920 Views

It does really pick up, doesn't it? Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:37:26 PM 820 Views

Chapters 5 and 6. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:06:10 PM 408 Views

Things really pick up now. Rebekah - 28/06/2013 04:04:27 PM 988 Views

Re: Women (spoilers) Nate - 01/07/2013 04:56:07 PM 981 Views

Re: Things really pick up now. Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:56:37 PM 995 Views

Chapters 7 and 8. Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:02 PM 1003 Views

I finally grabbed my book off the shelf so I could see what these chapters were. Nate - 16/07/2013 03:45:50 PM 1017 Views

I'll come back to actually reply, but I just wanted to let you know that I've read this. *NM* Rebekah - 24/07/2013 06:35:54 PM 427 Views

I think this is where I became quite impressed with Lynch's plotting. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:20:31 PM 1527 Views

Chapters 9 and 10. *NM* Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:22 PM 465 Views

Lynch can be such a tease. Nate - 16/07/2013 04:35:51 PM 1048 Views

I love Doña Vorchenza Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:28:30 PM 1055 Views

Chapters 11 and 12. *NM* Rebekah - 24/07/2013 06:34:25 PM 426 Views

Lynch is ruthless in these chapters. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:40:19 PM 1043 Views

Poor everyone. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:04:34 PM 985 Views

Chapters 13 and 14. *NM* Rebekah - 24/07/2013 06:34:41 PM 453 Views

These are very satisfying chapters, on the whole. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 03:11:28 PM 998 Views

Locke's scheme is probably one of my two favourite sequences in the book. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:13:40 PM 985 Views

Those interludes suddenly started to remind me very strongly of Lost. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:01:04 PM 1588 Views

Chapters 15 and 16 and the epilogue. *NM* Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:09:39 PM 430 Views

Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:25:31 PM 1028 Views

I liked parts of it, but you make good points. Nate - 15/08/2013 05:45:14 PM 1136 Views

Yeah, I liked parts too - but still. Legolas - 15/08/2013 06:54:19 PM 956 Views

I enjoyed it enough to overlook any deficiencies, apparently. Rebekah - 21/08/2013 08:09:54 PM 1106 Views

Re: Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Aviendha - 22/09/2013 11:22:19 PM 1042 Views

Oh my. Legolas - 23/09/2013 06:00:44 PM 933 Views

Re: Oh my. Aviendha - 09/10/2013 10:12:55 PM 975 Views

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<quote id="279076">
<quote id="278551">And as for the interludes, I generally like them, though I had the feeling that a lot of these later ones don't have much to say. They give some nice background for the city, but I don't know if any of it is necessary. They sort of feel as though they've been included because the interludes were part of the narrative pattern so he needed to write more to fill the spaces. In the second book, he actually just plain stops using interludes once he tells all of the flashback story he needs to, meaning we have interludes for the first several chapters and then none for the rest of the book. I think I prefer it that way, even though it unbalances the structure.</quote>
I don't know if either of you has watched Lost, but most of its episodes are similar in structure - the main storyline is intertwined with flashbacks that reveal precisely those elements in the key character's history that are relevant to the main plot of the episode. It's pretty clever as a system, but the downside - in Lost like in this book - is that it makes character development feel artificial, with random memories and unlooked for abilities being added to the character seemingly ad hoc as per the requirements of the main storyline. I don't suppose Lynch is actually so clumsy as to really contradict himself that way on any remotely important point, though.

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