Mistborn Liveblog 20

Chapter 19

While I don't know how I feel about the pacing lately, I realize it may be a product of reading the story one chapter at a time. I've discussed this earlier, but I definitely feel the effects of my stuttering pace through this book. It seems the more I stop to think about the book, the less fluid the story feels.

Normal readers don't force or limit their reading arbitrarily like I am. Normal readers continue out of interest, concern, curiosity or sheer will. Normal readers stop with they run out of time, fall asleep or hit a mini-resolution and can put a book down-- unless they stop out of boredom or disinterest. Normal readers do not limit themselves to a chapter-a-day, so they don't suffer this kind of stuttering effect.

So, I'll give Mistborn the benefit of that knowledge. Onto some spoilers:

Since I was thinking about pacing, let's take the current chapter for an example, it was a good chapter, filled with interesting tidbits like Kelsier having some 'other plan' of which he doesn't even dare think. Plus, the nobles have rumors of his presence in Luthadel and about the Eleventh Metal. Even the instant conflict between Vin and Kelsier about Elend could really build some suspense for the story, planing some of the urgency I've discussed previously (though now's the time for urgency to be sprouting-- though perhaps it is and I just don't feel it because of my reading pace).

Looking at pacing more analytically, the last major action scene was Vin and Kelsier's fight with the Inquisitors. Since then, we've had mostly lulls-- Kelsier's guilt, Vin's recovery, her first ball and Kelsier's rumor-hunt. For this kind of story, there's not going to be frequent action-- I'm guessing even the end of the book will be less action packed than I originally thought. It's not a story about action or fights, it's about plans and plots; it's about carrying out the plan.

If I stop thinking about action in the sense of battles and fights and start thinking of it more in terms of carrying out the plan, there has been more action. I think that's important to remember-- not all action is about fighting.

Enjoy the weekend. Happy reading.

Jameson