Lyndsy Brow Brow itibaren La Floresta Camilo Torres, Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Kolombiya
I first read this book in 7th grade then again in 1994. Guess what I found for sale???
Phew. *flaps hand weakly* What they said... I was intrigued by what Hirondelle and Emmaco said about this/The Virtu, and knew that I was likely to feel frustrated by the fascinating but insufficiently presented world's magic system(s), history and politics. Which I did! I also expected to like Mildmay more than Felix, based on Hirondelle's comments, and that was certainly the case, but more because I started to feel the anguish heaped on him was overdone by about page 20 than because he was arrogant and perfect. (I didn't see that until the very end.) Also, I felt a desire to smack someone at the number of times his sections (or sections of sections) ended with darkness descending. Or rising, for a change. Not to mention wanting to smack him when he'd done the "I know it's crucially important but I CANNOT TELL what happened to me" routine for the umpteenth time. (Not counting the times when he literally couldn't, 'natch.) But Mildmay was lovely, and the world was fantastic, and there were so many brilliant side characters and -- uh, creatures (Mr. and Mrs. Kalliphorne), and sub-settings within the setting (like the Bone-whatsit graveyard, though I'm still confused about all the people and ex-people involved in that!). I'm well addicted and definitely want to read The Virtu.
I think this book is a great resource, I am shelving it in our office library instead of selling it back. However, after having spent 2 semesters lugging it around (8 and a half pounds!), I fervently hope not to open it again anytime soon.
Quick read. Clever, witty, and full of explanations for the perceived-as-crazy-but-still-totally-lovable-because-it-makes-them-who-they-are behaviors that Italians are famous for.
"U make me want to be a better person"