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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 1480 Views
The Prologue Rebekah - 03/06/2013 10:08:39 AM 1125 Views
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Re: The Prologue Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:34:28 PM 1172 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 1057 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 975 Views
I'd forgotten most of this. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:32:26 PM 974 Views
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I was waiting for someone else to go first. Nate - 13/06/2013 03:39:31 PM 1101 Views
What do you mean by "lampshading"? Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:52:46 PM 1085 Views
I will explain! It requires Chapter Three information. Nate - 18/06/2013 03:55:55 PM 988 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 1515 Views
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Not as entranced as I thought I would be. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:47:24 PM 959 Views
Re: Descriptions Nate - 24/06/2013 05:00:34 PM 1069 Views
Re: Descriptions Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:59:28 PM 1009 Views
I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:54:32 PM 1179 Views
Chapters 3 and 4. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:53:34 PM 965 Views
Initial thought: Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:55:52 PM 967 Views
This is another one with messed up timelines. Nate - 24/06/2013 04:47:16 PM 3193 Views
Re: This is another one with messed up timelines. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:01:35 PM 2855 Views
It's funny - your comment above had spoiled me so... Legolas - 08/08/2013 05:25:31 PM 1110 Views
Re: Sabetha Nate - 08/08/2013 05:42:18 PM 1010 Views
The first part of the book is a little slow, I've decided. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:05:45 PM 964 Views
It does really pick up, doesn't it? Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:37:26 PM 869 Views
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Things really pick up now. Rebekah - 28/06/2013 04:04:27 PM 1031 Views
Re: Women (spoilers) Nate - 01/07/2013 04:56:07 PM 1028 Views
Re: Things really pick up now. Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:56:37 PM 1050 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 1065 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 1581 Views
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Lynch can be such a tease. Nate - 16/07/2013 04:35:51 PM 1094 Views
I love Doña Vorchenza Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:28:30 PM 1106 Views
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Lynch is ruthless in these chapters. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:40:19 PM 1087 Views
Poor everyone. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:04:34 PM 1037 Views
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Locke's scheme is probably one of my two favourite sequences in the book. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:13:40 PM 1052 Views
Those interludes suddenly started to remind me very strongly of Lost. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:01:04 PM 1654 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 1084 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 1013 Views
I enjoyed it enough to overlook any deficiencies, apparently. Rebekah - 21/08/2013 08:09:54 PM 1150 Views
Re: Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Aviendha - 22/09/2013 11:22:19 PM 1094 Views
Oh my. Legolas - 23/09/2013 06:00:44 PM 986 Views
Re: Oh my. Aviendha - 09/10/2013 10:12:55 PM 1022 Views
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