Comments on: Book Review: ‘Brisingr’ by Christopher Paolini

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:07:48 +0000

I disagree with most of the reviews, you lacked specifics about what was bad about the writing style. Although I do agree with that in general, he focuses on things such as the country side too often which does seem similar to Tolkien in an attempt to immerse the reader. His command of language is again not near as eleoquent as tolkien but look at the target audience. This series is a tolkien style book directed at young to middle aged children while Tolkien is more of a young adult to adult reading.

While I know younger people are capable of reading tolkien’s books they are not capable of understand the concepts and the depth behind tolkien. Paolini makes it half way his writing flaws make it somewhat incomprehensible at points while in the majority it is accesible to children.

As for idea not much is derived from pure ingenuity anymore most stories take elements from others.

As for writing a book, I have to say I have read some things that were just horribly written but even if you are capable you still have not done it. So props for those who have.

Overall I really enjoyed this series so far 1 to 10 scale it would be at about a 7.5 so far as I am viewing the series as a whole and not as individual books, wait for the last book to come. The characters may not have grown that much but no one is sure what will happen in book 4. If the last book is a complete success and he fixes a few of these mistake in my opinion i could give the series an 8 or 8.5

(P.S. Tolkien wrote MANY books before the Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit, if you go look at the stories that Aragorn mentions on weather top those were all written in the mid to late 20s and early 30s i believe and were Tolkiens first endeaver to go into middle earth lore.)

P.P.S. sorry for bad grammar and spelling I am currently at work and have been up for almost 30 hours now.

By: Chenes

Chenes — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:11:31 +0000

I agree with robphycus. It is much easier for a frail man to bash a somewhat stable man’s work, completely ignoring the ‘praise’, as stated, than for a frail man to see the iridescent nature of an argument.

By: Lmvalle

Lmvalle — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:54:55 +0000

I agree entirely with this review, though I have given him a six out of ten. the main problem with Paolini’s work is that he doesn’t reign in his ideas into a coherent form that maintains the rhythm and theme of his story. If he weren’t so successful, I’m sure he probably would’ve been dropped for not meeting his own schedule.

By the way, Rowling’s work, while not exceptionally grand, is some of the best plotted writing I’ve encountered and deserves its place in Children’s literature. Paolini’s doesn’t, for its wanton gratification of gore and violence.

By: Rokutenchi

Rokutenchi — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:40:08 +0000

It is completely pointless to try and write like Tolkien. He studied for YEARS before he wrote his ‘Lord of the Rings’ series (which I am only beginning to read, but I’ve done plenty of research on him.) True, he would have been able to finish the story in Brisingr, but I will continue to read the series despite his failure with his third installment. For those who call his work ‘playgerized’ you are right, and you are both wrong.
I’ve the first three books nearly three or four times, and found that crtics normally compare the major parts of his work. Such as the sword making, opening the gates at Feinster with magic, and Brom dying. The way I see it, is many are forgetting the minor parts that take away from that ‘playgerism’,such as Roran getting sent on misions, being flogged in front of the entire Varden, Eragon and Arya (But that bored me to tears), I am a fan of Paolini, and am extremely dissapointed with his latest ‘wast of paaper’ book. If he does not actaully start writting something good in his fourth book, it’s likely that everyone who bought a book from him will tear out the pages, burn them, then through the ashes in the streets. However, I will read his fourth book because for one: I enjoy reading his books (minus the poor ideas)and two:i’m interested on how the ending will turn out. I just prey that it is not something easily predicted. If his fourth and final book doesn’t give me any or other readers interest, I will personally go to Random House and Alfred A. Knopf and convince them to take it off the top ten bestselling series.
Rokutenchi.

By: Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:43:56 +0000

It is difficult to write books of this genre and stature, yes, but that does not mean Christopher Paolini gets any credit for not reading over and editing his story before first letting it out into the public to be read.
“He’s only a teen, give him a break!” Actually, he’s not. Sure, the MEDIA claims he’s the greatest child writer and whatnot, but he’s in his twenties now. He shold be judged in the same light as any other “regular” fantasy writer – and not as a teenager.
It does so happen that he has stolen many ideas from other stories such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but has anyone noticed the small stolen snippets of lovelies stolen from the Forgotten Realms fantasy world? Just look up their word for dwarves (Duerger) and compare it to Paolini’s (Dverger).
It seems to me that Paolini has bitten off just a bit more than he can chew, and that he should simply take a little more time in thinking through his plots and ideas. The readers catch everything, no matter how big or small.
And also, I believe Paolini thinks that filling pages with “Interesting, lengthy, and BORING descriptions” (Quote -Amber P. B.) gets old after reading them over and over again. Sure, it adds volume to the book, but it’s volume a reader really doesn’t care for when it does not add to the story. Due to the descriptions, I skimmed through many parts in the book, not wanting to bore myself with words I could really care less about. It took me a lengthy two weeks to finish Brisingr, but mainly because I could not get into the story. I mud-trudged through the chapters with the attentiveness of a four year old. I was simply not impressed.

By: Alexandra Chois

Alexandra Chois — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:56:02 +0000

I agree with Meagan. I think Christopher should publish a revised version of Brisingr and then make it as brilliant as Eragon and Eldest, for those two books were fantastically written. Brisingr did seem to be filler paper becuase nothing much was happening. I guess it was Paolini’s way of imitating the real world, becuase in the real world, things happen awfully slowly. Still, I wish he made better use of 600+ pages. After being devoted to the first two books, I was slightly disappointed. But, coming from a 14 year old 9th grader, what do I know?

By: Fabian Johnson

Fabian Johnson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:02:22 +0000

MMMM, I have to say that I’m reluctant to join the crowd bashing poor Chris. Yeah he did start (Emphasis on the word START) his series at age 15, but he is also a published author charging good money for his work. Having said that I feel it;s only right to judge that work by the same standards that we judge any other writer. Having said that, I really don’t like his story. i am a very big fan of fantasy and dragons definetly strike my interest. i think he’s a good writer. i just think that he needs his own ideas instead of stealing entire plots. i for one don’t like reading a story where I know not only the ending but all major twists. A lot of you fans of his work keep saying “Well why don’t you see if you can do better yourself?” well for that I say. I will…in fact I have. My book “A Hero’s Legacy” will be on sale late October, available for pre-order sooner. It involves dragon riders since that’s what I’m into. i’m sure that i can prove without the shadow of a doubt that a young author can in fact create something unique and fresh without the use of enyire plotlines from other great works. Chris is about a year older than me so feel free to judge us on equal terms.

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:53:35 +0000

I agree with you in the sense that it did seem like Christopher Paolini was trying to write like J.R.R. Tolkien, even though his writing skills are nowhere near Tolkien’s. However, you need to consider the audience that Paolini’s books are trying to target. They’re mostly for younger adults, or young teens. Perhaps it may not be enjoyable for a critic like yourself, but some others would find Paolini’ writing suitable, or even inspiring. I for one agree with your review, but you should go a little bit more in depth on the better parts of the book, to balance out praise and criticism. Overall good review.

By: Tradakk

Tradakk — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:42:37 +0000

This is purely opinion, but personally the sword-making was one of the more interesting parts of the book for me. ^.^
De acuerdo with the review, though I think your whole “Paolini is crap” section was a bit harsh. It really is quite difficult to write a series of this stature, if you’ve ever tried.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:58:14 +0000

I doubt anyone cares, but i personally love all the books so far. I can’t really critisize or praise the review, because for a start i’m 14 and dont really read many book, but i thought it was quite biast to opinions, and was a tad unfair. but again…Personal opinion!
Brad.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:06:51 +0000

I noticed a lot of other really disconcerting but specific ways in which Paolini practically plagiarizes others work. In the Redwall series, and in the book Martin the Warrior (I think) the sword of Martin (which by the way can’t break) is forged with, get this, a meteorite found on the beach. While it’s forged the names of famous warriors are also invoked upon it. Similar much to how they make rider’s sword?

Secondly, the “Black Hand”? I think Paolini was learning about WWI when he was writing this because that’s the exact same name of the Serbian radical group responsible for the assassination of an Austria-Hungary heir, which sparked the beginning of WWI.

Something which i just find truly pathetic and laughable in the whole “cycle” is the attached guide to Paolini’s language. Wow. How could he even be so arrogant to include this? He in no way has had the proper teaching to even begin to think of creating some language out of thin air as Tolkien so famously did. It really makes me laugh when he presumes that people will be so utterly entranced with his works that they would actually take the time to understand his ill formed rules. Maybe he just took the guide Tolkien created and changed the order?

All in all, i think a 4 was well deserved.

By: Alex P

Alex P — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:58:59 +0000

Ok. I agree with the few things you discussed in your review. BRISINGR was NOTHING compared to ERAGON and ELDEST. I don’t know what Christopher Paolini was thinking when writing this book, it is if someone else written this book. His first two books were absolutely fantastic while this one dragged on and on. What he put in 750+ pages could definitely be condensed into around 250 or 300, and be even more cohesive than his lengthy book was. You could tell a couple things from reading this book:

He lengthened it just for the sake of saying he couldn’t finish the story, thus enabling him to create the 4th book of the TRILOGY (which by the way, means 3), thus forcing followers of the Eragon story to buy the 4th book, thus making/labeling Christopher Paolini as a SELLOUT.

It was evident that he attempted to write like JRR Tolkien while compiling his book. Some parts of the book i even imagine him closing his eyes and just typing jibberish.

This book could and definitely should have been completed with this last installment of the Inheritance Trilogy…erm excuse me, I mean Cycle.

By: Ele

Ele — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:27:56 +0000

First things first, I love fantasy, I read all the three Paolini’s books and will read the fourth. The storyline is ok. I mean a bit predictable, but that is one of the point of a certain kind of fantasy, enjoyment at how an author treats a common literary topos. Tolkien himself was not original, and he knew it.
I have attempted many times at writing fantasy, and always stopped because I felt that I could not write anything exceptional, anything not derivative, compelling.
Paolini, for all is imagination is a kid: his writing resembles his schooling and his readings. The lack of rhetorical features is appalling, the length of certain transitions is enormous, the repetitions (not to say the places where it almost feels plagiarism) are way too many. And the plot twists are actually really really boring: i mean, ok I’m going to have 2 phDs one in philosophy one in literature, so i am not your average reader, but… who had not guessed that Brom was his father from day one? Who had not guessed that Oromis would die? or that Orik would become king?
I do love Angela’s character, and even Arya is well rounded… but the plot needs to be a bit more fast and unpredictable. All in all I agree with the 4 rating, maybe a 5. Writing well… is a skill in and of itself, there are well written books that are very boring… literature is full of those… I feel Paolini is lacking exactly that humility which blocks many of a perspective fantasy writers.

By: Shilag

Shilag — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:53:58 +0000

You know, 4 out of 10 is exactly the same rating as 2 out of 5…

By: ben

ben — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:11:32 +0000

while i agree that there were parts in this book that were just plain BORING and at times i found myself skipping a whole chapter, overall i really enjoyed the book. Paolini mightnot be the best writer out there, but he has a good idea and i thouroughly enjoyed the book. i think that you were a little harsh in your review, but i wont bash you for it because im sure you have much more experience in reviewing books than i am.