Beyond Reality discussion

Hi! Welcome to the group series read for the Fionavar Tapestry. Comment here if you are reading, have read, or are planning to read The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay!

Read this many years ago and will be rereading for the group discussion... but I'm going to be late as I have another book to finish first.

Finished, and though I'm not entirely certain I liked it, I had to pick up the next volume immediately.

I'm going to read it too, not quite ready to start yet.

I don't know if I'll pull it out--I'd like to--but am interested in discussing. I remember eventually loving it. It does feel a little more dated now.

I started this morning, and am trying to decide if I like it or not....lol. But I keep reading, which is a good sign

Maggie, I've just commented after you in another group- I really am not stalking you! I started last night and I'm also feeling a bit indecisive about it so far. I'll carry on though. I don't expect it's helped by not being on my kindle:(

I've found GGK's books very difficult to get started in, but once I've passed the first couple chapters, they work. FIONAVAR, being his first, took longer for me to get into than any of the others.

I'm about a quarter through. It's picked up but not on a par with Tigana or Lions (yet).

I read a page or two and put it down so I think I am pulling out of the readalong. I do *want* to read it, but I keep finding other things to go to first. Will get to it eventually! (probably...)

I haven't felt the pull to from fantasy for some time but this intrigued me me well enough to mark it for my TBR pile this month. And it quickly grabbed me although, there was some slight confusion at first as we began to learn more of Fionavar.

Im having a hard time finding much depth to the characters, especially Kevin and Diarmuid, but I am keeping going

I've started this and 35% in.
It feels like a mashup of Silmarillion, Zelazny's Amber series and Wheel of Time (I know, the last one was written later).

Silmarillion: mythopoeic style with all the short introductions of names, hints and titbits of ancient history and landscape descriptions. Kay helped Christopher Tolkien with editing the Silmarillion before, and this influence certainly shines through. There is the one antagonist coming up.

Amber series: contemporary characters brought to a mediaeval world, a world which is at the center of things.

Wheel of Time: weaving a destiny pattern.

I love all three themes and series, especially the mythopoeic aspect. I can see where others would have problems with that one, though. Probably it is a matter of taste and background.

It is a strong contrast to Kay's newer work - Kay's style in Tigana is better developed. Lions was a step backward (not every development is a good one).

I love to see the connection with Ysabel, (view spoiler)[esp. Kim's role there (though it was a spoiler knowing that she is the same person and will survive) (hide spoiler)].

Elaine wrote: "I've found GGK's books very difficult to get started in, but once I've passed the first couple chapters, they work. FIONAVAR, being his first, took longer for me to get into than any of the others."

Similar for me with some of Kay's books. Fionavar worked for me from the first line, probably because of the mythopoeic style.

I'm listening to this on audio and I'm about a third of the way through. I found the storytelling to be very jarring to begin with, constantly jumping from one character to another with very little pause. I kept feeling like I was missing things, but I'm starting to feel more comfortable with it now.

I'm also struggling with some of the terminology. Once the characters get into Fionavar, Kay just buries you in names, history, and geography. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I was taking notes, but trying to keep track of all that while driving isn't working so well for me. Hopefully, it won't matter too much.

It becomes easier the further you get. I really struggled with the first third or so.

I started listening to the audiobook edition of The Summer Tree this morning on the commute to work. I'm loving the voice actor, Simon Vance. I've already read this book (a couple of years ago), but I thought I'd give the audiobook a try. Only 13 hours long, so I should finish it quickly, probably this week.

I read this book in the early 1990s. I can barely recall what happened. But I never went on to read the other books in the series - I think I was too busy doing other things to pay attention to when the next book was to be published. Is there any reason that I should go back and re-read the first book and finish the series? Thanks!

Boradicus wrote: " Is there any reason that I should go back and re-read the first book and finish the series? Thanks!”

I would say yes. I read the trilogy back in the late 80s when it first was published and love it. It was my introduction to Guy Gavriel Kay, who remains one of my favorite authors. I reread it with the group for this discussion and loved it all over again.

Thanks! Were there any specific reasons why you liked it?

Boradicus wrote: "Thanks! Were there any specific reasons why you liked it?"

I found it to be very emotional, very bittersweet. The first time I read it, I wascloser in age to the characters, so maybe I could identify a bit more with them. There is a connection to the Arthurian legends, which I have always loved. The second time I read the trilogy, I had read several of Kay’s other books and one can tell he has grown and matured as a writer since he wrote these, and yet, I think they hold up quite well.

I remember reading this at school, so will have to re read to see if it still holds up. Though I do find with re reads that previous readings are still quite influential.