Comments on: Book Review: ‘Brisingr’ by Christopher Paolini

By: Alexandra Chois

Alexandra Chois — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:56:02 +0000

I agree with Meagan. I think Christopher should publish a revised version of Brisingr and then make it as brilliant as Eragon and Eldest, for those two books were fantastically written. Brisingr did seem to be filler paper becuase nothing much was happening. I guess it was Paolini’s way of imitating the real world, becuase in the real world, things happen awfully slowly. Still, I wish he made better use of 600+ pages. After being devoted to the first two books, I was slightly disappointed. But, coming from a 14 year old 9th grader, what do I know?

By: Fabian Johnson

Fabian Johnson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:02:22 +0000

MMMM, I have to say that I’m reluctant to join the crowd bashing poor Chris. Yeah he did start (Emphasis on the word START) his series at age 15, but he is also a published author charging good money for his work. Having said that I feel it;s only right to judge that work by the same standards that we judge any other writer. Having said that, I really don’t like his story. i am a very big fan of fantasy and dragons definetly strike my interest. i think he’s a good writer. i just think that he needs his own ideas instead of stealing entire plots. i for one don’t like reading a story where I know not only the ending but all major twists. A lot of you fans of his work keep saying “Well why don’t you see if you can do better yourself?” well for that I say. I will…in fact I have. My book “A Hero’s Legacy” will be on sale late October, available for pre-order sooner. It involves dragon riders since that’s what I’m into. i’m sure that i can prove without the shadow of a doubt that a young author can in fact create something unique and fresh without the use of enyire plotlines from other great works. Chris is about a year older than me so feel free to judge us on equal terms.

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:53:35 +0000

I agree with you in the sense that it did seem like Christopher Paolini was trying to write like J.R.R. Tolkien, even though his writing skills are nowhere near Tolkien’s. However, you need to consider the audience that Paolini’s books are trying to target. They’re mostly for younger adults, or young teens. Perhaps it may not be enjoyable for a critic like yourself, but some others would find Paolini’ writing suitable, or even inspiring. I for one agree with your review, but you should go a little bit more in depth on the better parts of the book, to balance out praise and criticism. Overall good review.

By: Tradakk

Tradakk — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:42:37 +0000

This is purely opinion, but personally the sword-making was one of the more interesting parts of the book for me. ^.^
De acuerdo with the review, though I think your whole “Paolini is crap” section was a bit harsh. It really is quite difficult to write a series of this stature, if you’ve ever tried.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:58:14 +0000

I doubt anyone cares, but i personally love all the books so far. I can’t really critisize or praise the review, because for a start i’m 14 and dont really read many book, but i thought it was quite biast to opinions, and was a tad unfair. but again…Personal opinion!
Brad.

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:06:51 +0000

I noticed a lot of other really disconcerting but specific ways in which Paolini practically plagiarizes others work. In the Redwall series, and in the book Martin the Warrior (I think) the sword of Martin (which by the way can’t break) is forged with, get this, a meteorite found on the beach. While it’s forged the names of famous warriors are also invoked upon it. Similar much to how they make rider’s sword?

Secondly, the “Black Hand”? I think Paolini was learning about WWI when he was writing this because that’s the exact same name of the Serbian radical group responsible for the assassination of an Austria-Hungary heir, which sparked the beginning of WWI.

Something which i just find truly pathetic and laughable in the whole “cycle” is the attached guide to Paolini’s language. Wow. How could he even be so arrogant to include this? He in no way has had the proper teaching to even begin to think of creating some language out of thin air as Tolkien so famously did. It really makes me laugh when he presumes that people will be so utterly entranced with his works that they would actually take the time to understand his ill formed rules. Maybe he just took the guide Tolkien created and changed the order?

All in all, i think a 4 was well deserved.

By: Alex P

Alex P — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:58:59 +0000

Ok. I agree with the few things you discussed in your review. BRISINGR was NOTHING compared to ERAGON and ELDEST. I don’t know what Christopher Paolini was thinking when writing this book, it is if someone else written this book. His first two books were absolutely fantastic while this one dragged on and on. What he put in 750+ pages could definitely be condensed into around 250 or 300, and be even more cohesive than his lengthy book was. You could tell a couple things from reading this book:

He lengthened it just for the sake of saying he couldn’t finish the story, thus enabling him to create the 4th book of the TRILOGY (which by the way, means 3), thus forcing followers of the Eragon story to buy the 4th book, thus making/labeling Christopher Paolini as a SELLOUT.

It was evident that he attempted to write like JRR Tolkien while compiling his book. Some parts of the book i even imagine him closing his eyes and just typing jibberish.

This book could and definitely should have been completed with this last installment of the Inheritance Trilogy…erm excuse me, I mean Cycle.

By: Ele

Ele — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:27:56 +0000

First things first, I love fantasy, I read all the three Paolini’s books and will read the fourth. The storyline is ok. I mean a bit predictable, but that is one of the point of a certain kind of fantasy, enjoyment at how an author treats a common literary topos. Tolkien himself was not original, and he knew it.
I have attempted many times at writing fantasy, and always stopped because I felt that I could not write anything exceptional, anything not derivative, compelling.
Paolini, for all is imagination is a kid: his writing resembles his schooling and his readings. The lack of rhetorical features is appalling, the length of certain transitions is enormous, the repetitions (not to say the places where it almost feels plagiarism) are way too many. And the plot twists are actually really really boring: i mean, ok I’m going to have 2 phDs one in philosophy one in literature, so i am not your average reader, but… who had not guessed that Brom was his father from day one? Who had not guessed that Oromis would die? or that Orik would become king?
I do love Angela’s character, and even Arya is well rounded… but the plot needs to be a bit more fast and unpredictable. All in all I agree with the 4 rating, maybe a 5. Writing well… is a skill in and of itself, there are well written books that are very boring… literature is full of those… I feel Paolini is lacking exactly that humility which blocks many of a perspective fantasy writers.

By: Shilag

Shilag — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:53:58 +0000

You know, 4 out of 10 is exactly the same rating as 2 out of 5…

By: ben

ben — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:11:32 +0000

while i agree that there were parts in this book that were just plain BORING and at times i found myself skipping a whole chapter, overall i really enjoyed the book. Paolini mightnot be the best writer out there, but he has a good idea and i thouroughly enjoyed the book. i think that you were a little harsh in your review, but i wont bash you for it because im sure you have much more experience in reviewing books than i am.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:31:52 +0000

Just finished reading Brisingr, and was terribly disappointed. I really enjoyed the first two books, and was driven to read this series by the imagination factor brought up in the first review. I am also an avid Harry Potter fan, but Brisingr is the book that truly separates these two authors. The problem is that this third book contains nothing new. I can’t begin to understand why Paolini would drag out the story in such a way. Maybe he’s trying to stretch himself into the realm of other fantasy writers that have came before, if so he’s definitely stretched himself too far. Brisingr should have been the last book.

By: Clovis ( a 15 year old)

Clovis ( a 15 year old) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:21:22 +0000

Erm…. I don’t really get it
I mean what the ‘bad’ reviewers said :
“rip-off of starwars, bad writing”
First of all, frodo had an injury to ( his shoulder stabbed by the Nazgûl), second in a huge amount of books has a protagonist which has an injury ( and they’re all good writers), even in stories on Tv or books which tell non-fiction,

And….Not a good writer????
He was 15 years old when he begun to write the cycle
That is a prestation to begin with

If I start to read a cycle, trilogy, etc… then i read from the beginning to make sure i get the point.
If i should start in the middle of trilogy, i would come to the same conclusion as our enthousiastic friends.

By: Samp

Samp — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:52:31 +0000

Wonderful review!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:06:39 +0000

Let me start with – I have been waiting a long time for htis book to come out. Not with bated breath or anything, but just checking bookstore shelves two or three times a month, recommending it to my friends. etc. So, when I finally dived into it after its release, it was with that sense of sinking into a bubble bath after a long, hard day of work. That feeling did not last very long.

I only give that prologue to justify the fact that this isn’t me downing a book or series I am not in to. I think Eragon is imaginative and fun, and the story – as the reviewer says – is fantastic. But it is so bogged down by the inexpert use of language that became almost unenjoyable. I found myself commenting to my husband, by the time I got to around page 600 – he’s really not going to even see the bad guy. I can’t believe I read 600 pages and he doesn’t even SEE the bad guy.

I actually googled “Brisingr reviews” to see if I was the only one – I mean, I’m not an expert, maybe I am too shallow to appreciate it (perhaps similar to my unsuccessful attempts with War and Peace). I enjoyed the other two books so much – was this a fluke? No – apparently not.

Thanks for sharing an honest review – because sometimes life is about disappoinments.

PS – I will still read the fourth book. And if he doesn’t at least meet Galbatorix by the middle of the book, woe to Paolini! :)

By: Anon

Anon — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:35:08 +0000

I agree and disagree. Paolini is a horrible writer true, but I don't agree that the plot was anything special or very interesting as a matter of fact. It's actually very derivative and smacks of bad LOTRxSW fanfiction. Here's a review that I saw that you might be interested in checking out: Brisingr Book Review

By: Barry Dingle

Barry Dingle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:04:05 +0000

Mee tinks yoo id stoopid. Paolini right reel gud. Yoo kin suck it!

By: Adam The Underdog

Adam The Underdog — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:43:10 +0000

once again the childishness of you statements is shown, there is no need to bring childishness into andult arguement

By: "paolinite" lol

"paolinite" lol — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:57:57 +0000

um excuse me while i drivel
but yes iam a Poalinite or whatever you call it
and yes you writeit
and anotherr thing paolini did study Old Norse as a backgrround for his book
anywat enough crap go jump in a black holr or somthing

By: sonata

sonata — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:01:37 +0000

The review was generally fine. It’s complexity and slow progression is the downside of Brisingr. And as most readers, we expect better from a sequel. It’s the slander pointed towards the writer that I don’t like since we are reviewing the book, not the writer.

I agree with POSEIDON, a great writer can not survive without strong imagination, and Paolini definitely have plenty of imagination. He may not be as good as the ancient TOLKIEN; but if he is truly attempting to mimic the master, then he is heading on the right path and we can expect better from him in the future. Christopher Paolini is a young writer, he has room for improvement. I’m sure Tolkien will say the same if he’s still around, being an encouraging professor that he was.

And MajorJJH, if you really are a Tolkien reader like you claim, you should know that HUMILITY is one of his greatest teachings.

By: Adam The Underdog

Adam The Underdog — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:35:38 +0000

I am in complete agrrement with the review, while the earlier books were interesting there really was alot that was ripped of from many stories, star wars, LOTR, and possibly a few others. I first read eldest and thought in my young self that it was a a good book 3 years later after waiting for the drivel to be finally released, i am told about 2 months before it is released that there will be 4 books, this infuriated me more because ive read several books, an none of the authors seem to take half as long as paolini to actually write a book.I mean lets look at the book really half of the book seems to want wax eloquently about the countryside, paying not very much attention to the story itself, simply there to fill the pages. I mean looking at star wars how many of the charachters can you actually think have something in common with a charachter from the inheritance series? we have brom, the obvious obe wan figure, galbatorix the emperor palpatine, oromis has to be yoda, and arya princess lea, you could even liken saphira to han solo because she is so over confident and murtah has elements of darth vader, the bad but really wants to be good. As for people who want to defend this book to a tea, then be my guest, its a good tale but nothing more, its not unique and the list of words that i cant pronounce seems to grow evermore,this is afterall my opinion, as is the review. People who dont agree could counter argue without having to go into childish rants about the review, i mean if you look at most reviews they all mostly are saying the same thing. As for good books the forgotten realms are great books but i do prefer some of the warhammer ones, gotrek and felix is still a classic, and malus dark blade is definitely always a good read, and with the added bonus dan abnet and graham mcneil dont take the best part 3 years writing 1 book normally 6 months