It is probable that this is intended to demonstrate a point about the transience of things, especially weather, which isn't only transient, but capricious as well. Started on EE, approximately 500 words done, or an eighth of the whole thing. Then of course, there's TOK and CAS and History IA and World Lit but that's for another day. A tinge of the holiday malaise, that boredom and lack of purpose, contrasted by stark pictures of clinical classrooms; to the extent that going to school is an exciting departure from the routine. Great weather doesn't help, bad weather makes it worse.
The Scavenger series is not easy to read. It is written not as a formulaic epic fantasy, but a character study, and an exploration on the nature of evil. It is dark, subtle, and almost metaphorical. In the end one realizes that one does not read the Scavenger series for light entertainment, something I must confess was my assumption at first. Still, the books manage to be supremely interesting reading, not the least because of the central mystery of the series - the identity of the main character - is slowly and tortorously revealed over the course of the entire series. It is almost depressing to see how the main character, Poldarn, is forced or manipulated into committing evil and objectionable acts, either for the sake of a greater good, or some strange expediency. And yet, there is this lingering goodness that remains despite the truths of his dark past. In any case, however, I get the feeling that Parker was improvising and retconning things as the story goes on. It is unfortunate that I can't seem to find the other books in the Fencer Trilogy, or the second book of the Engineer trilogy, which is in my opinion much more balanced a story, and actually contains elements of traditional epic fantasy (rather, alternative history) encapsulated within the usual character studies and delicately constructed conspiracies.
Next, Robin Hobb. Then R. Scott Bakker. Then all the texts. I shall buy more books.
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