Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
15% off new books on Powells.com!*
Spring Sale
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
Nodosaurus has commented on (2) products
Runes Of The Earth Last Chronicles
by
Stephen R Donaldson
Nodosaurus
, January 02, 2013
The Runes of the Earth is Stephen Donaldson’s continuation of the Thomas Covenant saga, a six-book series completed in the early 80s. After twenty years, he has returned to the series. Over a thousand years have passed in the Land, and ten have passed on Earth for Linden Avery, who will now continue Thomas’s quest to protect the Land. With so much time between the books readers are apt to forget details, but Stephen Donaldson does a good job of refresh the reader’s memory through the narrative. Stories are recounted within the context of the current situation, and they serve to remind the reader of important details. There is also a glossary at the end that I found quite useful after well more than 20 years of having read the previous books. The Land is under threat from Lord Foul again, and the efforts of its inhabitants are inadequate to do anything. Linden, bearing Thomas’s white gold, returns to the land and must understand the threat and address it. It is further complicated since her son, Jeremiah, was kidnapped on Earth, and born to the Land. For the first half of the book, Linden seems to wander and just allow things to happen to her; she is indecisive and seems confused. Her doubts and inabilities reminded me very much of Thomas Covenant. Jeremiah was taken by Roger Covenant, Thomas’s brother, to the Land. Roger, is somehow serving Lord Foul across the worlds and wants the white gold, he makes a play for it on Earth, then takes Jeremiah and the conflict to the Land. Once in the Land, Linden realizes that she is willing to sacrifice the Land for the safety and rescue of her son, this knowledge complicates her abilities in the land as they foster distrust among its citizens. So, like many of Stephen Donaldson’s characters, she is deeply conflicted and full of doubts. Her companions include Stave, a Haruchai, Liand, a local stonedowner, Anele, a man from the past, and a few Ramen. These characters are interesting and complex in a way that Stephen is fond of, and each have their own coflicts. His world is rich, it feels very normal, and still has unusual properties such as the healthsense that make it special.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Shadow of the Wind
by
Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Lucia Graves
Nodosaurus
, January 31, 2012
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, is set in Barcelona. It starts in the 1950s and spans several years, with the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop. There is a backstory that starts after World War I and spans the Spanish Civil War. The story is about a boy, Daniel, who is invited to take a book from the Cemetery of Lost Books. He is drawn to a book which sets him on a long adventure that begins when he wants to find more works by the books author, Julian Carax. There are none to be found, and he is possessed with the curiosity to learn whatever he can about Julian. As he proceeds, he receives some very large offers for the copy of the book he possesses. As Daniel uncovers fragments of Julian Carax’s life, the author gives us the story of Julian as the second story in the book. This story starts prior to the Civil War and starts to weave the house of mirrors with Julian and Daniel at the center. The two stories, and many of their characters show a lot of similarities. It is like a house of mirrors, where aspects of one person are reflected in another, sometimes stretched, sometimes distorted, and sometimes reversed. Toward the middle of the book, this made it a bit difficult for me to follow and keep the characters straight. The middle of the book seemed to flow rather slowly. Some promising events from early in the book seem forgotten and lost, my wife and I just wanted it to move along. With all the characters and similarities being thrown about, it became confusing. As I reached the second half of the book, it started to get engrossing again. The events pick up and information becomes understood making the book difficult to put down. As much as it is the story of Daniel and his investigations, it is also a story about human emotions and what they do to us. I felt the book was an exploration of love and hatred as much as it was a mystery about the book and its author, Carax. I learned of the book from a BBC podcast on book reviews. It was so enticing I had to get the book to read. The book was originally published in Spanish, some of the pacing seemed more appropriate to their lifestyle. I think the translator did an excellent job. Although a difficult read at times, I enjoyed it and believe most readers will, as well.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment