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Post by dgan on Apr 29, 2006 2:11:38 GMT -5
The first time I read Byzantium, I was entertained and intrigued, but not all that impressed. I've kind of forgotten why I felt that way, so I am about to read it for the second time. Since I am not one to keep my thoughts to myself, unfortunately for you, you'll have to hear all about it as I read.  Ahh...Chapter 1... |
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Post by Child of Immanuel on Apr 29, 2006 5:38:15 GMT -5
Awesome. Byzantium is my all-time SRL favorite.
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Post by Dred on Apr 29, 2006 7:27:58 GMT -5
It's strange to say but when I originally started reading Byzantium I just couldn't get into it. The first time I didn't get very far (maybe to where they were first leaving the Island) and then after several months I tried again. I made it further that time but still they had just met the disaster and death of their group.
Third time worked amazingly. I read through it and enjoyed every moment of it. It's a great work. When I think back now, I realize that there were so many other things going on in my life that I was more distracted and didn't get into reading much at all but that changed and I love the book.
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Post by Danath on Apr 29, 2006 7:33:06 GMT -5
It also took me a couple of tries to get into Byzantium. The first time I think I only made it as far as the arrival of the monks for the other monastery with the book of Kells. However, I believe that I also had too much else going on, and I am glad that I finished it later. Now Avalon on the other hand...
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Post by dgan on May 24, 2006 0:32:22 GMT -5
Well I'm done with "Book 1" of Byzantium, where they've just arrived at Byzantium and found out they can't just float ashore and walk off with the booty. (I know - I'm a slow reader anyway, and it has been really busy at work. I think I went two weeks without even opening the book. But I'm back in it now.)
Anyway, it is the same feeling as last time I read it. Something about it just doesn't strike a cord with me. Maybe it is because I tend to be irritated by ignorant, yet hard-headed people. Or maybe it is because his self-denial reminds me of my family, which has been such a sore subject for me these last few years. Or maybe it is my own self-denial that I don't want to believe people actually have that type of attitude. I don't know, but something about Aidan just makes me want to reach into the book and give him a good beat down.
I have other books I got for my birthday that I want to read, so I'm starting to regret starting this one. I hate giving up on stuff though (I actually watched "The Man Who Knew Too Little" all the way to the end just because I hate seeing half of a movie, no matter how awful it is) so I'll probably finish it. But I might do some skimming...
Let me say, though, that the writing is awesome. I think SRL is building the characters and the story just the way he wants, and doing it very well. It is just the personality friction I have with the main character that cause me to want to gouge my eyeballs out at times.
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Post by Janikz Rex on May 29, 2006 7:06:00 GMT -5
Patricks better!!!!
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Post by Child of Immanuel on May 29, 2006 18:50:15 GMT -5
Why don't you mosey on over to a Patrick post and tell us WHY it's better?
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Post by Janikz Rex on May 31, 2006 15:53:24 GMT -5
oh oh ... did i hit a touchy subject? lol
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Post by Child of Immanuel on May 31, 2006 16:23:12 GMT -5
YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME? HUH? HUH? Don't go bashing my book without a very good list of reasons.  |
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Post by thekingprawn on Jun 18, 2006 16:05:15 GMT -5
I just finished Byzantium for the ??th time. Yes, there should be two question marks there. It is my favorite book of all time (barring Galatians!) My love of the book probably comes from a kinship with Aidan in the personal experience of sincere failure. Recovery from shaken faith builds great bonds.
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Post by dgan on Jun 29, 2006 3:13:09 GMT -5
OK - I finished it. I battle with my opinion of this book.
Pros - I love the beginning. Characters and settings are built fantastically, yet also with so much realism. Aidan's viewpoint on life approaches the point of irritating me, however it is also very understandable. The events of the first several chapters leave you breathless, and the various characters leave you amazed.
The end does the beginning one better. Aidan's inward journey to the truth, although somewhat abbreviated in comparison to the length of the book, is also simply put and masterfully articulated by SRL. The spiritual message could not come across any clearer unless God hit you with a 2x4.
Cons - There is a point in the book where it is almost unbearable to continue reading. In my mind, it taints the entire story, leaving a bad taste in your mouth as you follow Aidan through the remainder of the story as well as reflecting on the beginning.
It is the point when he erratically and instantaneously moves from ultimate devotion to the abhorrence of God. I have seen a good many people turn away from God, often because of hardship, and it is almost always a long, painful process. I don't recall seeing anyone suddenly decide they hate God. It is a series of decisions ultimately detaching yourself from God.
Aidan's sudden, and for the most part unexplainable, change of attitude and character leaves me entirely baffled. It is difficult to identify WHY he is angry. He continues to find things later through his journeys to be angry about which are reasonable, but little indication or provocation for him to make that decision so early - as he leaves Byzantium.
It seems he was angry he did not die in Byzantium as his dream indicated, but at the time he fully expected to return. Why wouldn't he interpret that as dying there when he returns? There is just a total disconnect between the events and his attitude.
As I said, the beginning and end are simply amazing. For me, however, that key character reaction was not developed sufficiently, especially since it was the main theme of the main character, which puts a sour note on the reading experience. It is too bad that it has that effect on me, because I thoroughly enjoy 90% of the book.
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Post by silversparrow on Oct 7, 2006 22:49:34 GMT -5
I liked the way Aidan came back to faith. Esp. involving Gunnar as he did.
I know how Gunnar felt....realizing that Jesu knows how it is with me, because He had been through it Himself...
I know, it's probably stupid.
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Post by dgan on Oct 8, 2006 0:16:10 GMT -5
Not stupid at all. A fundamental truth that most people will never grasp -- congratulations on being one of the few that do!
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aidan
Student
[M:25]
Posts: 2
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Post by aidan on Dec 19, 2006 1:04:54 GMT -5
It is the point when he erratically and instantaneously moves from ultimate devotion to the abhorrence of God. I have seen a good many people turn away from God, often because of hardship, and it is almost always a long, painful process. I don't recall seeing anyone suddenly decide they hate God. It is a series of decisions ultimately detaching yourself from God. While I agree that some people fall away gradually, others like myself suddenly feel like they've hit a brick wall in their faith. Aidan's naivete is shattered in a relatively short amount of time, and his dissent is proportionately sudden. For as awkward as it sounds like the timing was for you, it made equally perfect sense to me. I grew up a pastor's son and active church participant. It was over a very short amount of time that I, in my late teens, suddenly found myself hating God as a result of my own pain. I still believed God existed, but I decided that He was cruel and uncaring, willing to abandon us to the miserable consequences of our own actions. It shocked me at the very core of my being that I could have fallen from devout Christian to God-hating cynic in such a short time. It was that very suddenness that made Aidan such a real, believable, and easy-to-identify-with character for me. And I'd be lying if I said that this very book was not highly instrumental in my journey back to faith. Nothing else could have communicated more clearly a truth that I had not realized -- that the point of Christ wasn't to take away our pain, but so that we could best know Christ in our suffering, as he was willing to suffer for us. Half a decade later, I am now a full-time worship pastor at a church community that I love dearly, husband to a wonderful wife, and father of three beautiful children. For all I thought I had lost, God never left me, and I am still discovering anew every day just what an amazing Savior we have and how close I grew to Him as a result of the pain I endured. All that to say -- I guess our life experiences would affect how we perceive the character of Aidan. I can understand how if my life had been different, I might have felt differently about this book. But for me personally, it became (and still is to this day) the most powerful and profound piece of fiction I have ever read. |
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Post by dgan on Dec 22, 2006 1:39:48 GMT -5
That is awesome, Aidan. Your testimony really hits home and brings a whole new legitimacy to the book that I was never able to grasp before. It wasn't that it was poorly written or anything - quite the contrary - just a personality trait and sudden vehemence I was not familiar with and had trouble following. Actually, I found that if I took more notice of the timeline, there is more time passing than what it first seems. All those days at sea, for example, with nothing to do but be introspective. It seems I just flat out misunderstood what I was reading first time around, which is why I read it again.
Even more importantly, WHAT AN AWESOME FIRST POST! What a great introduction to a new member! I think I speak for everyone when I say we cannot wait to learn more of you and hear more of your thoughts on Lawhead.
Welcome to the forum!
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