Why do you keep reading??

[JagLover]

Originally Posted by Talysia

Yes, sadly the latest series, The Elder Gods, was definitely not one of his best. I read them only because I'm the sort of person who rarely leaves a series unfinished, and partly because I'm an optimist. As it was, though...

Still, welcome to the Chronicles, JagLover!

Thank you

[YeOldeWolf]

I read the Belgariad, the Malloreon, the Belgarath and Polgara books and the Rivan Codex. I enjoyed reading them all. I do not do plot analysis per se, just if I enjoy a book or do not enjoy it. I take what the author wrote and accept it as his or her work and try with all my might not to judge it by my own standards (the only way one can judge anything) because I would be judging using my opinion which is really only mine and certainly does not need to be forced on anyone else. I enjoyed Edding's writing style (Which was David and which was Leigh I have no idea and could care less so I will refer to both of them as "Eddings" in the collective sense) and found it very entertaining and quite humorous. I have read all of the books twice and will probably some day read them again. They are a pleasure to read and very relaxing after a long day. I must say that I tried to read some of their other series but I could never warm up to them. In that sense I would have to agree with Harleyquin, the same thing only different. Not that it's bad to do that; just that I couldn't finish the books. So I just put them down and didn't buy the rest of them. A simple solution. David and Leigh Eddings gave me a great time with those two sets of novels and I am thankful to them for that.

[white_wanderer]

I find the books easy to read. I've read Tolkien, and the Ghormengast series by Mervyn Peake, as well as others who's writing style takes a lot to get in to, but I always seem to come back to Eddings.

He writes in a style similar to Steinbeck - simple to read and easy to understand, but as you read it more, you tend to find things that you missed or overlooked the other times.

[madinno]

Because they're good books. 'nuff said.

[Tribble]

Because I'm a romantic at heart, I guess ... and I like to read stories in which the characters have to go on a quest and do something exciting ... because otherwise they'd have to sit at home and grow potatoes or something ... and reading about potatoes growing ... to me isn't all that exciting

[dreir]

Welcome, Tribble!!

- Dreir -

[Nesacat]

They bring back good memories and have some very memorable characters. I stopped after the Tamuli and Elenium but have a soft spot for Belgariad and Mallorean.

And the big plus is that these books are easy to read. There's a quest, some romance, eccentric characters. All the things fantasy is 'expected' to have and therefore make a good place to start in the genre. I've managed to get several friends reading fantasy by lending them these to start with.

And on those days when you're just too tired to do anything .... these books and a cuppa chai work like a charm. They are familiar and comfortable.

[Relsoh]

I thought The Redemption of Althalus was brilliant, and yes I can see the same personalities in different characters from different books. I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or a bed thing.

[Talysia]

Admittedly, I haven't read any Eddings in quite a while, but like Nesa says they're familiar and comfortable.

And welcome to the Chronicles, Relsoh!

[Clansman]

I devoured the Belgariad as it came out when I was a teenager in the early eighties. Similarly, I thought the Malloreon was a continuation of that story, but it was stale. I loved the first bit of Elenium, but then I realized, hey, isn't that guy exactly the same as so-and-so from The Belgariad? I thought Sparhawk was a great character that was wasted in that series.

I quit halfway through the first book of the Tamuli. I read The Redemption of Althalus as a test, to see if Eddings had changed, and unfortunately, he had written the same book again. I have not read any of the extras, like Belgarath or Polgara, because I knew it would only take away from my enjoyment of The Belgariad, of which I have very fond memories.

Needless to say, I won't read another Eddings book, but I will read The Belgariad again some time. I think the problem is that I grew up, but Eddings' writing didn't. He simply does the same thing, in different settings, over and over again, and as a result, The Domes of Fire hit my trash bin. The same inane banter between the characters was getting so tired, I wondered "why the heck am I reading this stuff?" It was a frustrating waste of time, so I stopped.

Instead of Eddings, I have graduated to GRR Martin, Raymond Feist, Janny Wurts, Steven Erikson, Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss, among many others, whose writing is grown up and challenging to the reader. However, I will always have a soft spot for Eddings and The Belgariad. Fantasy has grown a great deal in the last twenty-five years, but that series was just plain fun, and it is a modern fantasy classic, though the test of time has been a bit harsh on its staying power.