Comments on: Chalice

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:40:25 +0000

I can’t even rightly say whether I liked it or disliked it. And I had been struggling with that since I first picked up the book. And Yet! Something kept me reading.

I felt exactly the same while reading this book! Even after finishing it, I can’t tell you whether I felt it was just okay or I liked it.

The only other of the author’s books I’ve read is Sunshine. I liked it but finished it wanting more and the author has stated she will not write a sequel.

I have Spindle’s End on my TBR. I think McKinley will be one of those authors that I’ll pick up the book if it’s at the Goodwill Bookstore (books are $1 there) but I won’t seek out the author otherwise.

By: Court

Court — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:45:19 +0000

Nymeth – I’ve had my eyes on Beauty and Spindle’s End for a while now. I know that I’ve read a bunch of blog posts in the past year or two about Beauty – if I recall correctly, you had talked about it on your blog.

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:43:41 +0000

I was going to say what Memory said. I’ve only read two McKinley books (Beauty and Deerskin) and I enjoyed both a lot (my favourite thing about them was possibly the characterization, actually), but I’ve heard from several big fans that she’s hit or miss. Which ones do you have on your tbr pile?

By: Court

Court — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:13:47 +0000

Memory – Well, from what you’ve said, it sounds like I’ll be best sticking with her short fiction. So perhaps that’s what I will end up doing. It sounds a lot safer than the 50/50 with her novels. Thanks for letting me know! :)

By: Memory

Memory — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:35:06 +0000

I’ve read five of McKinley’s books so far, (four novels and one short story collection), and I find her really uneven. When she’s good, she’s very good. When she’s bad, she’s a real slog.

I’d say THE HERO AND THE CROWN is the best novel I’ve read from her. It feels like a big, sweeping legend… but at the same time, it’s very personal. I was completely involved throughout most of the novel, but there was a very strange, distanced segment near the middle. It picked up again in the end, but for a little while I was tempted to put it down.

THE BLUE SWORD, which takes place in the same world as THE HERO AND THE CROWN, was occasionally mindblowing. Most of the time, though, I had to force my way through it. I’d be completely involved one sentence, then bored stiff the next. It was very uneven.

SUNSHINE was very good, but very slow. I did enjoy it, but mostly for the worldbuilding. The characterization and plot neither attracted nor repulsed me.

THE OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD is by far my least favourite McKinley. I had a tough time getting through it; something about the syntax just didn’t agree with me. It’s probably the worst book I’ve read this year.

The short story collection I mentioned was WATER, co-written with Peter Dickinson. It’s made me eager to read more of her short fiction; all her contributions were satisfying, emotionally-charged reads.

So basically, I do think she’s worth picking up again… but be forewarned that the odds are 50/50.