Are Eddings' works... meh?

[Iolo]

I'm curious if others have shared a similar experience with mine:

When I first read the Belgariad as a teenager, I couldn't get enough of it. I thought it was fantastic. I re-read the series several times over the years as the Mallorean, and later Begarath and Polgara came out. The last time I read them all was about 10 years ago, whenever Polgara was released. I always thought the books were great.

So now, here I am in my mid-30s, and I've decided to read this series again. I'm currently in book 5 of the Belgariad and I'm having a kind of hard time getting though it (the entire series, I mean). It just seems... well, dumb. The plot is completely transparent, there's virtually no character development (they *all* speak and act the same way!), and I can't help but feel that during the writing of these books Eddings was continually patting himself on the back for being so "clever." The whole thing seems so contrived...

Thoughts?

[HappyHippo]

the intellectual me agrees with you, Iolo, but the part of me that occasionally needs to watch 'Dirty Dancing', eat chocolate ice cream from the tub, and take selfishly long baths refuses to give them up!

They're a bit simple, very much of their time, and don't grow well, but I find them to be good brain candy, and very soothing when I've been reading heavy stuff.

I have more trouble re-reading the Elenium and the Tamuli, becasue they had a more adult tone when written, and now I find them also to be in the 'dumb' vein.

Welcome, BTW.

[The Ace]

Yes, but they're fun, unlike his later work.

[Talysia]

Admittedly, when I read back through the Belgariad now, it does seem rather simple, but as has already been said, it's a lot of fun and you know where you stand with them. I still enjoy reading Eddings' earlier works.

[murphy]

When I first read the Belgariad, I loved it. Read it several times and bought the follow up books. But there came a time, can't remember which book, when I finally realized, he was writing the same characters over and over. So now, while I have fond memories of the Belgariad, I've gone on to other readings.

[MastaMystic]

its the point of Too much of a good thing is bad... for example you watch a really good movie 100 times your ognna think its dumb. Youve just read it too much try reading something else.

Heres some suggestions for you

Forgotten Realms-Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn by R.A. Salvatore
Sword of Shannara (just the first one no more gets kinda stupid after a while)
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams
or The Color of Magic (Dont remembah the authah)

on the other side however i dont suggest

Eragon because Christopher Paolini = FLAMING PLAGIARIST!!!

heres a site on that BTW
Anti-Shur'tugal -- Where bleach is used up by the gallons!

anyone ever noticed that Eragon has the same Story Structure as Star Wars?

any way ya so that my idea

[pyan]

Welcome to the wonderful world of rational critical maturity, Iolo, where you can see the flaws, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't still enjoy most of the book!

[MastaMystic]

absolutley right