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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 1278 Views
The Prologue Rebekah - 03/06/2013 10:08:39 AM 918 Views
Re: The Prologue Nate - 04/06/2013 09:09:56 PM 983 Views
Re: The Prologue Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:34:28 PM 929 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 801 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 760 Views
I'd forgotten most of this. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:32:26 PM 762 Views
Chapters One and Two. Rebekah - 10/06/2013 03:36:57 PM 751 Views
I was waiting for someone else to go first. Nate - 13/06/2013 03:39:31 PM 843 Views
What do you mean by "lampshading"? Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:52:46 PM 805 Views
I will explain! It requires Chapter Three information. Nate - 18/06/2013 03:55:55 PM 735 Views
Thanks; I'd never seen the term before. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:57:47 PM 350 Views
Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:50:27 PM 1288 Views
Re: Falling somewhat behind, but I'm still participating in this... Nate - 03/07/2013 05:21:34 AM 764 Views
Not as entranced as I thought I would be. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:47:24 PM 751 Views
Re: Descriptions Nate - 24/06/2013 05:00:34 PM 844 Views
Re: Descriptions Rebekah - 25/06/2013 04:59:28 PM 780 Views
I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. Legolas - 02/07/2013 10:54:32 PM 885 Views
Chapters 3 and 4. Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:53:34 PM 755 Views
Initial thought: Rebekah - 18/06/2013 02:55:52 PM 745 Views
This is another one with messed up timelines. Nate - 24/06/2013 04:47:16 PM 2961 Views
Re: This is another one with messed up timelines. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:01:35 PM 2594 Views
It's funny - your comment above had spoiled me so... Legolas - 08/08/2013 05:25:31 PM 854 Views
Re: Sabetha Nate - 08/08/2013 05:42:18 PM 791 Views
The first part of the book is a little slow, I've decided. Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:05:45 PM 736 Views
It does really pick up, doesn't it? Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:37:26 PM 666 Views
Chapters 5 and 6. *NM* Rebekah - 25/06/2013 05:06:10 PM 329 Views
Things really pick up now. Rebekah - 28/06/2013 04:04:27 PM 800 Views
Re: Women (spoilers) Nate - 01/07/2013 04:56:07 PM 788 Views
Re: Things really pick up now. Legolas - 13/08/2013 10:56:37 PM 827 Views
Chapters 7 and 8. Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:02 PM 840 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 827 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 349 Views
I think this is where I became quite impressed with Lynch's plotting. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:20:31 PM 1311 Views
Chapters 9 and 10. *NM* Rebekah - 10/07/2013 06:22:22 PM 383 Views
Lynch can be such a tease. Nate - 16/07/2013 04:35:51 PM 853 Views
I love Doña Vorchenza Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:28:30 PM 868 Views
Chapters 11 and 12. *NM* Rebekah - 24/07/2013 06:34:25 PM 348 Views
Lynch is ruthless in these chapters. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:40:19 PM 880 Views
Poor everyone. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:04:34 PM 803 Views
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These are very satisfying chapters, on the whole. Rebekah - 30/07/2013 03:11:28 PM 822 Views
Locke's scheme is probably one of my two favourite sequences in the book. Nate - 02/08/2013 11:13:40 PM 807 Views
Those interludes suddenly started to remind me very strongly of Lost. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:01:04 PM 1408 Views
Chapters 15 and 16 and the epilogue. *NM* Rebekah - 30/07/2013 02:09:39 PM 345 Views
Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Legolas - 14/08/2013 09:25:31 PM 842 Views
I liked parts of it, but you make good points. Nate - 15/08/2013 05:45:14 PM 931 Views
Yeah, I liked parts too - but still. Legolas - 15/08/2013 06:54:19 PM 767 Views
I enjoyed it enough to overlook any deficiencies, apparently. Rebekah - 21/08/2013 08:09:54 PM 929 Views
Re: Disappointing, on the whole, I felt. Aviendha - 22/09/2013 11:22:19 PM 863 Views
Oh my. Legolas - 23/09/2013 06:00:44 PM 751 Views
Re: Oh my. Aviendha - 09/10/2013 10:12:55 PM 805 Views
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