(Cross-posting to myself what I wrote in a comment on another journal; some repetition of things mentioned in a previous post.)

Regarding the opinion that The Sharing Knife is a plot-deficient romance novel:

I agree that Bujold is generally either more epic (eg. Chalion) or explosive (anything in the vicinity of Miles) so TSK is a bit of a departure. I think, though, that some of the epic and explosive stuff may turn up in the second volume to surprise us -- keeping in mind that Beguilement was really only half a book.

That said, I'll be quite happy even if Legacy is just more of the same -- I got the feeling, while reading Beguilement, that I was reading Fawn/Dag shippy fanfic, in that expound-the-romance, PWP kind of way. I think the way Bujold described her experience of writing TSK explains it (fake cut to interview):

("Really, there's no excuse for this book; I just wrote what I liked.")

Okay, I'm spelling out my theory on how things will pan out for Fawn and Dag in the second volume of "The Sharing Knife" (Legacy) before I actually read it.

( Cut for spoilers. Do not read if you don't want to be spoiled for TSK:Legacy; although what follows is pure conjecture on my part. )

I've been waiting for so many months for this book. I thought it was only coming out in the latter part of July, but have discovered that it's already out. Only 2 problems: a) the library doesn't have a copy yet, so I'll need to fork out cash for the hardcover. This would not be such a major problem, only I've bought the paperback of Beguilement, and the idea of the asymmetry irks my OCDness (I want a matching pair); and b) I have an exam in less than 3 days! and hence must restrain myself from going out right now to get the book, as it would then completely take over my brain, leaving no more space to store (even temporarily) the ten dozen causes of mild/moderate/massive splenomegaly, or the (please don't ask me!) stages of papilloedema.

In other news, ophthalmoscope battery is well and truly dead. Sigh. Dilemma -- is it worth venturing to Mustafa's for something which takes up less than 5% of the marks for this exam (then again, every mark counts)? Or should I take a risk and hope that the exam centre will provide one which is of the same model I'm used to ("used to" being a relative term)?

After a rather depressing session at the Eye clinic this morning, I'm beginning to hope that they won't ask me to do an ophthalmoscopy at all! Please give me a thyroid eye disease, or a Horner's, or an INO!

Ah, well, time to head back to the books.

I've just read Beguilement, by Lois McMaster Bujold. These are my thoughts. I've written my general comments first, and spoilerish details follow behind the cut.

First off, I *loved* this book. I read the sample chapters on the Eos website -- and then *had* to go to the library immediately and get the book so that I could read the rest of it -- this, on a day when I was supposed to be packing and rushing to catch a flight! I should have known that was going to happen, since Herself usually manages to hook me with the first paragraph. (No pun intended ;) You'd think I'd have learnt by now.

That said, this book was excellent company on the trip. I read it through, enjoyed it the whole way, and the moment I reached the end, I turned right back to the beginning and started again. I don't usually do this, since reading an LMB novel generally makes me want to sit down and catch my breath once I get to the end. It takes me a while before I feel I can tackle another round. I think the difference this time is that we're actually only halfway in the book, and the breath-taking parts are yet to come.

Another reason for the immediate re-read is that the incompleteness of the story leaves me wanting more, and if I can't get more-different-new, then I'll settle for more-same-again. Certainly, it's a very pleasant read. I liked the romance. Usually, when I read a book which focuses mainly on the plot and doesn't fully explore the relationship between the characters, I end up resorting to fanfic to fill in those holes. But this book was a guilty pleasure for me, because it was as if LMB herself wrote the fanfic and put it in the book.

Nonetheless, I beg to differ with the people who feel that this volume is all about the romance and no plot. The seeds of the plot have been strewn throughout, hidden in the romantic "interludes." This is LMB we're talking about. The guns are on the wall, guys :) I think that one would have to read Legacy in order to realise how much of the plot has already been set up in Beguilement.

( Spoilerish )