I don’t know if it counts as reading a sequel when you read the third book first thinking that you’ve read the first one, but you actually haven’t, and then eventually you read the first one second, and then you go and read the second one. Third. Or something.
Anyway, I read Enna Burning, the second book in Shannon Hale’s series of Bayern books, and I liked it OK, but not as much as the other two, and not anywhere near as much as Princess Academy, which I still think is just an awesome book.
One of the things that Ms. Hale does very well is the encroaching sense of loneliness and betrayal felt by her characters when they are, well, betrayed and alone. She evokes the heartbreaking feeling that solitude is the only proper solution to the problem, and the conviction that the characters have to withdraw from any proffered help or sympathy, as either they are insincere offers that will lead to more misery, or worse, they are sincere offers that will be revoked once the sympathetic possible-friend discovers the real situation. Very depressing stuff, but of course in the end there is redemption, true friendship, self-worth, achievement and hot cider. So that’s all right.
The question for me is whether that depressing bit comes along with enough interesting and compelling stuff (usually plot stuff) that I enjoy feeling depressed along with the character, that the emotional content heightens my bond with the character and her predicament, or whether it’s just depressing and I would rather play Dicewar. Or reread Bleak House. Did I mention I’m rereading Bleak House? I’m reading it nice and slow, this time, to make it last.
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.