Question

[piplover]

I just started reading Eragon since I've heard so much about it and the movie looked really good. But I'm only three pages in and I have a question: does the writing get better? Because it feels like I'm reading something written in high school. I don't want to be mean, and I'm sure the plot is really good - but so far the writing is so sub - par that I don't know if I can finish the chapter let alone the book. So, please, does the writing get better?

Comments

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

something written in high school

I think there was a big thing about the author being quite young, like fifteen or something, when he wrote it.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Ahh, that would explain why if feels like something written in high school. Still - that's what editors are for! Oh, well. I'll try to muddle through, but - I feel like I should be grading again!

[madd4the24.livejournal.com]

Paolini was fifteen when he wrote Eragon ... and it really shows. And sadly it does not get better in any way, shape or form. However, the sequel 'Eldest' does, and while it isn't a fantastic improvment style wise, the universe expands, characters are developed and the plot actually begins to gain some depth and believability within the fantasy world.

Suffer through Eragon, because it gets better with Eldest.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it gets better. I gave up on page nine...

[budgielover.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of buying it, but I don't think I will now. Can't stand poor writing ... it destroys all the joy.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

That was kind of what I was afraid of. I have several friends who have read it and told me how great it was, but when I started reading I found myself wincing, and I'm really not sure I can finish the damn thing. I keep wanted to grab a pen and write corrections, lol. But I will try.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Yeah, I'm seriously struggling. Honestly, I don't know how it was published with the writing quality. I can see that it probably has a great plot, but I wish the editor would have waited until the author's talent had caught up with his ideas. The book could probably be so much better if it had been given a bit more time.

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. I keep trying to get into the story, but I'm sidetracked by the quality of the writing. Which is too bad, because I think it does have good plot. If only the editor had waited a bit longer to publish it, to make the writing quality match the author's ideas.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

If I remember right, the original edition was self-published, or published by a very small press, and did so well via word of mouth it got picked up by a major publisher later. There was some editing done by the major publisher, but not much...