Mistborn Liveblog 8

Chapter 7

It's getting to the point that I want to read a bit more of this book each day. But, I'm keeping myself to a chapter each day for this blog, though. It's a very different experience to read through a chapter and then think through it before going onto the next chapter. I'm considering and noticing things that I don't think I would have otherwise-- things like a foil character (more on that below).

In fact, I think doing this blog is actually transforming the book for me. It's not just about being entertained, it's about peering deeper. It's like one of those images that are actually made up of hundreds of tiny still frame pictures. Reading a book is like admiring the image as you walk past, but it feels like stopping and considering each chapter is like looking at each still frame picture instead.

Some may argue that it means I'm missing the real point of the story-- and there's validity to that argument, particularly since I've never read this story before, so I don't really know the bigger picture. But on the flip side, I am seeing writing construction and story pacing in a depth I never would have otherwise. Which is better? Perhaps some of both would be ideal.

Onto the spoilers:


Hey, so we finally get to meet Kelsier's brother. He makes for a nice foil to Kelsier and more than that, he put voice to a lot of things I've been thinking and some things I'd said previously. For example, Marsh asks Kelsier why he's so casual about the whole killing thing and why he just makes light of it all. I seem to recall writing those very things myself as reasons why I was not connecting to Kelsier. Of course, his answer that lightheartedness was all he had left didn't really help my connection to him, but at least now I know I'm not the only one who's wondering that.

Also, it Marsh's character helped me realize that Brandon had thought about readers like me. Knowing that, I feel more able to trust his story to take me somewhere worthwhile. If Marsh were not in the story, and Kelsier's nonchalance went unchallanged, I think I would feel less confident in Brandon's story than I currently do.

Also, the rest of the chapter we get a nice tutorial of Allomancy as Kelsier teaches Vin about the system. Yeah, it's important; yeah, it's pretty blatant, like when the narrator of an RTS game tells you to move the cursor to the edge of the screen to move the camera, or to drag-to-select units. But, hey, it's an important part of learning the new magic system and later perils will likely rely on us knowing the rules just as well as the characters.

And a well-executed, although obvious tutorial is far better than an obscured one poorly done.

More tomorrow. Happy reading.

Jameson