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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 1481 Views

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Re: The Prologue Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:34:28 PM 1173 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 1058 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 976 Views

I'd forgotten most of this. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:32:26 PM 975 Views

Chapters One and Two. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:36:57 PM 985 Views

I was waiting for someone else to go first. Nate - 13/06/2013 03:39:31 PM 1102 Views

What do you mean by "lampshading"? Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:52:46 PM 1086 Views

I will explain! It requires Chapter Three information. Nate - 18/06/2013 03:55:55 PM 989 Views

Thanks; I'd never seen the term before. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:57:47 PM 461 Views

Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:50:27 PM 1516 Views

Re: Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Nate - 03/07/2013 05:21:34 AM 969 Views

Not as entranced as I thought I would be. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:47:24 PM 960 Views

Re: Descriptions Nate - 24/06/2013 05:00:34 PM 1070 Views

Re: Descriptions Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:59:28 PM 1010 Views

I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:54:32 PM 1180 Views

Chapters 3 and 4. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:53:34 PM 966 Views

Initial thought: Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:55:52 PM 968 Views

This is another one with messed up timelines. Nate - 24/06/2013 04:47:16 PM 3194 Views

Re: This is another one with messed up timelines. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:01:35 PM 2856 Views

It's funny - your comment above had spoiled me so... Legolas - 08/08/2013 05:25:31 PM 1111 Views

Re: Sabetha Nate - 08/08/2013 05:42:18 PM 1011 Views

The first part of the book is a little slow, I've decided. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:05:45 PM 965 Views

It does really pick up, doesn't it? Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:37:26 PM 870 Views

Chapters 5 and 6. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:06:10 PM 429 Views

Things really pick up now. Rebekah - 28/06/2013 04:04:27 PM 1032 Views

Re: Women (spoilers) Nate - 01/07/2013 04:56:07 PM 1029 Views

Re: Things really pick up now. Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:56:37 PM 1051 Views

Chapters 7 and 8. Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:02 PM 1046 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 1066 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 450 Views

I think this is where I became quite impressed with Lynch's plotting. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:20:31 PM 1582 Views

Chapters 9 and 10. *NM* Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:22 PM 489 Views

Lynch can be such a tease. Nate - 16/07/2013 04:35:51 PM 1095 Views

I love Doña Vorchenza Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:28:30 PM 1107 Views

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Lynch is ruthless in these chapters. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:40:19 PM 1088 Views

Poor everyone. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:04:34 PM 1038 Views

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These are very satisfying chapters, on the whole. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 03:11:28 PM 1045 Views

Locke's scheme is probably one of my two favourite sequences in the book. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:13:40 PM 1053 Views

Those interludes suddenly started to remind me very strongly of Lost. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:01:04 PM 1655 Views

Chapters 15 and 16 and the epilogue. *NM* Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:09:39 PM 453 Views

Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:25:31 PM 1085 Views

I liked parts of it, but you make good points. Nate - 15/08/2013 05:45:14 PM 1195 Views

Yeah, I liked parts too - but still. Legolas - 15/08/2013 06:54:19 PM 1014 Views

I enjoyed it enough to overlook any deficiencies, apparently. Rebekah - 21/08/2013 08:09:54 PM 1151 Views

Re: Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Aviendha - 22/09/2013 11:22:19 PM 1095 Views

Oh my. Legolas - 23/09/2013 06:00:44 PM 987 Views

Re: Oh my. Aviendha - 09/10/2013 10:12:55 PM 1023 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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