Loved: For me, the coolest thing about this book wasn’t necessarily the story itself, but how it came about. I loved that someone my age could write a fresh twist on the stereotypical quest epic and make it work.Learned: In a weird way, this book really brought home the fact that someone had written the story. Someone with a notebook or a computer, and a headful of ideas, just like me. Not those amazingly cool authors of my youth, who were seemingly unmatched in their story-telling prowess (at least in my fan-oriented mind). When Eragon came out, I had about a third of my first WIP done and had been working on it haphazardly in my free time.
This book was the fire that said, “Holy cow, if this kid can do it, so can I? What the heck am I waiting for? He’s my age, I can’t let him *gasp* beat me!”
I finished that first draft in less than a year.
I love this movie though I haven't read the book yet.
ReplyDeleteDo check out my E at GAC a-z
Whoa. I had no idea someone so young wrote Eragon! That's amazing!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's quite the accomplishment!
DeleteHaven't read it yet, but what's with all these young whippersnappers writing books before me....
ReplyDelete(BEEP! BEEP!)
Warning! ZimmerFrame reversing... Warning!
It's great when someone inspires you into action, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd I had to LOL at Mark's comment. :)
J.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
It really is!
Deleteso you are saying that if I read this book I will finish my draft? LOL
ReplyDeleteThis one is on my to be read pile. I have heard so many good things about it.
Haha, maybe not quite...but it's good motivation. :)
DeleteUnfortunately, I don't think Christopher Paolini was out of the phase all writers go through when they haven't yet found their voice and so are always half plagiarizing their favorite works when he wrote Eragon. Perhaps I noticed it because I recognized my teenage writings (safely ripped to pieces now) in Eragon, stuff where nothing was original and most of the names were stolen from my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteBut at least Eragon proved one thing. Audiences still have an insatiable thirst for epic fantasy even when it's paltry stuff, no matter what any critics say.
True - for me it was a fun, classic read.
DeleteI have to admit I'm in the "amazing publication success story, but weak writing" group of thought as to Eragon. I wish other writers nothing but success and applaud the fact that someone so young wrote the book and had such a huge hit, but I also never read more than the first chapter in the book store before deciding it wasn't for me. Sorry...
ReplyDeleteBut amazing blog and awesome A-to-Z theme! (And I also commented on "D" so I could leave a positive comment on a book, LOL!)
I actually tend to agree on the "writing" aspect, but that's part of what made it such a powerful motivator for me. I was determined to whip my own stuff into shape!
DeleteHa! I felt the same way about Paolini's success. I loved Eragon, must have read it several times, but I despised Eldest and so it kind of ruined it for me. I read Brisingr which wasn't bad, but because I'm still so leery about Eldest I still haven't picked up the last book. Even though my husband assures me it's good. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't finished the series yet...gotta get around to that!
DeleteI picked it up, couldn't get through it. It just didn't speak to me. My son, however, devoured every book in the series. Further evidence that different people need different stories.
ReplyDeleteE/Emberglow
Isn't that funny sometimes? I've had that same kind of thing happen with family and friends.
DeleteInspiration comes from the greatest places sometimes. I haven't read Eragon, but I'm so glad it inspired you!
ReplyDeleteKeep writing!
Eragon was awesome! Christopher Paolini is a fantastic writer. He was homeschooled. I agree that he had a fresh twist on an old idea and his parents actually published it first. I love how he came up with Eragon's name too. Nice post! :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah, his publication story is really neat!
DeleteI...am not one who finishes books that just don't...enthrall me. While I felt Eragon was really awesome. And I was even more amazed that a kid wrote it, self-published, toured w/ family and was picked up by a publisher, I just couldn't get through the book. Parts of it were like "Oh, this is like LotR" and then...Idk. I just didn't do it. But many of my friends did!! Awesome that you finished your book so quickly and that Eragon inspired you!!
ReplyDeleteHeehee, yeah, I get that. It is very reminiscent of other stuff at points. :)
DeleteI haven't read the book either, but I did enjoy the movie. I need to read it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun book and my reaction was similar. If he can do it so can I ...
ReplyDeleteI love the way this came about too! My son really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way about this book. I was fairly young when it came out but since then it has just amazed me that someone could write something like it so young. I'm 19 now and bound and determined to finish my draft by the end of the summer.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that the book has impressed me less in my recent re-reads than it did when I was younger. The dialogue seems a bit forced to me and he has a tendency of throwing background information in just to have it, without it really fitting with whats around it. Still a great story though.
Stopping in to say hello from A-to-Z:)
--Katie
The Fiction Diaries
My uncle handed me this book when I was 15 or 16 and told me that if I was interested in writing then I should read it because it was written by the author when he was 15. I think it was more to draw inspiration from. It took me awhile to get warmed up to the story but after the first 75 pages or so the ball started rolling and it got really good. Regrettably, I haven't read the other two books. I'm glad to see that you were able to draw some inspiration from it too. :)
ReplyDeleteSarah @ The Writer's Experiment
http://impishidea.com/criticism/wwpd-what-would-paolini-do--10-paolinisms-of-because-paolini-said-so
ReplyDeleteThis book isn't as fantastic as many seem to think.