Michelle Posted September 24, 2006 Posted September 24, 2006 The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters GW Dahlquist Delivered in ten installments. http://www.glassbooks.co.uk Yep, I have it early.. and all ten issues! I'm planning on leaving a gap between chapters, to get a feel of reading it in installments. So this will be an ongoing thread for a while. First impressions? Each installment is a 234mm x 150mm bound issue.. each one gets thicker, and darker in colour. It certainly looks unusal, attractive, and exciting, and something a little different for the book shelf. Quote
Michelle Posted September 24, 2006 Author Posted September 24, 2006 From her arrival at the docks to the appearance of Roger's letter, written on crisp Ministry paper and signed with his full name, on her maid's silver tray at breakfast, three months had passed. Thus starts the first chapter of this unusual publication. The chapter revolves around Miss Temple, as she attempts to follow Roger. She makes a strange discovery, and ends up.. well, I won't spoil that for you! This isn't a book to speed read or skim.. you need to get involved in the style, and follow the story. I confess to still being a little confused, but I'm hoping things will become clearer as we go on. It's too early to make a decision as to whether I like or dislike this.. but I am at least intrigued to go on. Quote
Galactic Space Hamster Posted September 24, 2006 Posted September 24, 2006 It sounds really interesting. I have a great love of the Victorion style of writing. We have lost so much... What genre is it? Is this fantasy/SF or simply simply fiction? I am tempted... Quote
Michelle Posted September 24, 2006 Author Posted September 24, 2006 What genre is it? Is this fantasy/SF or simply simply fiction? That, I think, is the problem I'm having right now. I'm not really sure what genre it is.... Quote
Michelle Posted October 3, 2006 Author Posted October 3, 2006 He was called Cardinal from his habit of wearing a red leather topcoat that he'd stolen from the costume rack of a travelling theatre. Ok, I'll be honest.. during the first part of this chapter, I was almost ready to give up. You're switched to a brand new character, and for some time, it's hard to link him back to the previous chapter. There are lots of names cropping up, and without knowing who's a hero, and who's a villain, it's difficult to keep track. Then suddenly everything starts to get really interesting again.. the strange experience that was witnessed in the first chapter now seems even more sinister (we certainly seem to be stepping into the world of SF now!), and the links between the characters are starting to become more apparent. Maybe I'm finding this a little difficult because it's different to my usual reading.. it will be interesting to see what others think. Thankfully though, by the end of the chapter, the writer has done enough to keep me reading. Quote
KW Posted October 3, 2006 Posted October 3, 2006 Sounds interesting. I admire you for sticking through it as you have. It's true that we've "lost something" with much of todays writing -- but it comes along with our fast-paced, suped up special effects, disposable world. If it's not RIGHT HERE,RIGHT NOW and bigger than life, well, it's just not gonna hold some people's attention. I'm not saying I agree with that, but it certainly is in all of the guidelines I, as a writer, read from publishing houses/agents/editors out there buying. Quote
Michelle Posted October 5, 2006 Author Posted October 5, 2006 Doctor Abelard Svenson stood at an open window overlooking the small courtyard at the macklenburg diplomatic compound, gazing at the thickening fog and the few sickly gaseous lights of the city bright enough to penetrate its fell curtain. Ah! The title of this 'book' is finally starting to make some sense! There's a feeling of fantasy in the writing, as the places aren't recognisable, and some of the names are unusual.. and a feeling of SF, as we find out more about strange experiments. All in all, it just seems a strange mixture. To be honest, I'm not sure this is a good choice of book to be split into weekly supplements.. it feels like a book you need to immerse yourself in, rather than reading it in small chunks. (However, I have so many other books begging to be read, I keep finding myself side-tracked to them!) We've now met the three main 'heroes' of this tale, so maybe it will all start to come together better now...? Quote
everydayxangels Posted October 6, 2006 Posted October 6, 2006 I have the whole actual book of The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters in my TBR pile. and I think the whole book as one is 700 something pages. any way to reassure me it was worth that large amount of pages? Quote
everydayxangels Posted October 6, 2006 Posted October 6, 2006 Now I am a bit confused... I went to the site that was posted, and I was just not even sure at that point if it had anything to do with the novel The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters or if it was completely different and on it's own... Though they're both my the same author, same description, and almost the same title.. hmm... Quote
Michelle Posted October 6, 2006 Author Posted October 6, 2006 My understanding is that it's alrady been released in the US as a book. Penguin got hold of it for the UK, and decided to release it in this way. (A book will follow in the new year here aswell.) Personally, it seems to be a publicity idea. I'm sticking with mine for now, because it was sent to me to review.. but at this point I couldn't say whether it's worth 700 pages.. it really depends if it's 'your type of thing'. Quote
SERAFINApekkala Posted October 6, 2006 Posted October 6, 2006 I'm going through the first chapter and I had no idea it would be so saucy! I'm definitely getting a Northern Lights vibe from it and overall it's been enjoyable. Miss Temple has grown on me - as has the writing style, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. Quote
Michelle Posted October 6, 2006 Author Posted October 6, 2006 I'm going through the first chapter and I had no idea it would be so saucy! That aspect of it disappears, but then starts to creep back in the third chapter. Quote
SERAFINApekkala Posted October 19, 2006 Posted October 19, 2006 Excellent! I love a good bit of Victorian romp! Quote
Michelle Posted October 19, 2006 Author Posted October 19, 2006 Boniface: Naturally enough, Miss Temple's first reaction was one of annoyance. Ministry: By the time Chang reached the end of the lane, the coach was out of sight and he could not tell in which direction it had vanished. I stick by my earlier comment.. I don't think this book lends itself well to serialisation. Having gaps in between reading means that I'm forgetting details, and have to keep popping back to check information in earlier chapters. Saying that, it has now caught my attention enough to keep reading. There is something about the style that I find different to my usual read. I would really love to hear how others are finding it. I've been reading some reactions on blogs, and it's not very favourable. I'm torn.. I love the idea, and they do look really good.. but I feel that the wrong book has been chosen. I remember buying King's The Green Mile in a serialised form, and that worked much better. Quote
Louiseog Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 I've had the first two delivered (thanks to Michelle) they look grreat but am not in the mood for them at the moment and think I'll wait and immerse myself - do love the idea though of serialisation and not being able to move on until the next one arrives Quote
Michelle Posted October 24, 2006 Author Posted October 24, 2006 I also like serialisation, but I'm not sure it fits well to this book. However, they do look good, don't they?! Quote
Michelle Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 Sigh.. I know I promised to review these, but I just can't drag myself any further. The style is making it a difficult read for me, and the storyline, which was intriguing, is starting to lose me. It's jumping between the main characters, something that I often dislike.. by the time one becomes interesting, they disappear for a few chapters, and the interest is lost. I'm still waiting to find out if anyone else agrees, or if I'm missing something? Quote
Michelle Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 Looking at the reviews on Amazon (the US one, where the book is already published), there has been a mixed reaction, but the general concencus is that it's too long and drawn out. Amazon link Quote
SERAFINApekkala Posted November 2, 2006 Posted November 2, 2006 I'm avoiding Amazon's full book reviews like the plague in case of spoilers. I'm only on second chapter and although it took me a while, I'm quite enjoying the writing style. But you're right about character swap. I did feel a bit flummoxed when I began the second chapter and had to get to grips with new characters all over again. I'm hoping it will all join to form an amazing finale, so will keep going wth it. Heard on another forum that it's offered on podcast as well, so maybe that's a better option? Quote
Michelle Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 Did you buy the serialisation, or get the book from the US? Quote
Louiseog Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 Am up to Chapter 6 and have now invested so much time and effort that I am not giving up but even in immersion I am forgetting who everyone is! Started brilliantly not ending as well Quote
Gelfling Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 This is such a shame. I have this giant tome sitting by my bed waiting for me to start it, but I've not really heard any good things about it. I bought it because it looked arcane and interesting. Perhaps this is a good example of why books shouldn't be judged by their covers (though it worked for "The Book of Lost Things.") Quote
Louiseog Posted February 13, 2008 Posted February 13, 2008 It is and the start is fantastic but now I'm bored however, I am not stopping!! (oh and its too big to read in the bath - although it is beautiful and the set that I won and will get back look great on the bookshelf) Quote
Louiseog Posted February 16, 2008 Posted February 16, 2008 Please help!! Has anyone ever finished this book, is it worth it am losing the will to live Quote
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