Comments for Riverwords

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by Matt

Matt — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:53:07 +0000

I’m all for differing opinions, but let’s keep the pity limited to fictional characters. Keep it civil.

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by Bob

Bob — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:47:07 +0000

The first book was the only book worth reading. After the end of the Stark’s the series has been inundated with worthless characters doing worthless things. If your life is so bad that you have to be immersed in something as pitiful as The Game of Thrones series then you sir I truly pity.

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by Mike

Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:03:17 +0000

This book is just awful. What a waste of space. This story could have been told in 200 pages.

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by Eric

Eric — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:29:09 +0000

The similarity between Martin and Tolkien is in their realization of a world complete with mythology, politics, and a name for everything. Admittedly, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Some readers simply want to cut to the chase; they don’t care what the names of the ships are or what the passing gossip on the local prostitute is. However, for some of us, this is the strength of these books, as it immerses us, makes it all feel tangible and real. As for the violence, Martin has said he was attempting to ground fantasy in the real Middle Ages where indifferent slaughter, incest, etc. were prevalent. Part of what keeps the novels captivating is his fearlessness in dispatching characters. Some books are so safe and predictable, but real life rarely has the convenient encounters where the victim confronts and kills their assailant. The fact that the Hound will never confront his brother, something to which I looked forward, is a disappointment. But then I like to be immersed in the reality of the book, and the fact that good and bad characters die so suddenly and with unresolved journeys is a reflection of reality.
I’ve been bouncing back and forth between Dickens and these novels and there’s an astounding similarity in their storytelling.

Comment on Book Review: The Polish Officer by Alan Furst by Matt

Matt — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:29:52 +0000

Thanks for stopping by, Steve. I’ve corrected the title. I must have had Furst’s The Foreign Correspondent on my brain when I wrote that typo.

Comment on Book Review: The Polish Officer by Alan Furst by Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:17:53 +0000

Hi mate – Thanks for the review. I love all of Furst’s writing – and no offence (if you are American) but he is very subtle and light-handed for a US writer. The subject matter is very ‘European’ in all of his books but he has a very authentic voice. Charles McCarry is the other spy-writer who has a similar light touch.

Oh, and there is a small typo on para 3: The book’s title is incorrect.

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by geoff

geoff — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:19:36 +0000

By the time you get to book four in a series you get used to the authors tricks. Long lists of heraldic devices ( The family Gulpps- two fried eggs and a tomato on a white plate). Endless family trees and lists of the names of ships in harbour, 16 types of turtle etc: become boring. I wonder why the author did n’t just edit his material down to one book, could it be the publisher could make more dollars with two? More interesting is the authors increasing interest in brutality. Disfigurement comes top of his pleasures, crippling , loss of hand, nose, fingers, followed by scars by the thousand . More disturbing is the gloating pleasure in torture and sadism. Great pity, some of the characters are interesting. Another Tolkien? You must be joking, or part of the publicity campaign

Comment on Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin by kikay

kikay — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:11:04 +0000

I love the first book but the succeeding ones – I really did not enjoy them. There are so many characters introduced and totally ignored thereafter. You are left wondering whatever happened to them.

I thought the series would be comparable to Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. But I am greatly disappointed. I don’t like a book that does not incorporate justice into its plot. Martin let’s most of the plotters and his villainous characters live on while he kills most of those with a sense of right and wrong. With this book you just are just lead on and on waiting for the climax to see the protagonist triumph over evil only to experience an anti-climactic sense of frustration when they are killed by their friends-turned -enemy.

I am just so sorry I wasted my time reading these books.

Comment on About by Jett

Jett — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:53:05 +0000

Hi Matt,

I’m Jett. I really like your site, and you’re linked to a lot on other writing/book blogs. I work for Harper Collins and more specifically InkPop.com. The site just re-launched a week ago and we’re really excited about the new look and new features. HPC editors are still reviewing submitted works in our kick-ass contests, but what’s new is the fresh badge system we have to promote individual profiles.

It’s definitely still a YA/Teen writing site, but we like to think our audience is pretty diverse, and most of all, passionate. I’m writing to you to see if you’d perhaps consider writing a tweet/blurb/mention about the new digs? We care about young writers continuing to write their best work, and HPC is devoted to producing the kind of books its readers want to read most. The editors of the site are super responsive and take all complaints/concerns into consideration. Considering the hodgepodge pack of writing communities available today, InkPop is a much-needed refresher. Writing communities are the best way to get peer revision in the digital age.

Thanks so much for hearing me out. Take care.

Comment on Kickin’ it at Pancheros by Matt

Matt — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:02:07 +0000

Thanks for posting this. As I read this after I have been home for almost 24 hours it makes me feel close to my family and your joy while I was gone. love, your wife