So I finished the Mortal Instruments series mentioned and pictured below. Let me tell you, once you get past the absurdity of goo-dripping demons and warlocks in drag, they are really good books. By Book Three (City of Glass), Ms. Clare has almost overcome her interruptive tendencies and even - almost - developed the majority of her central cast to a point where we actually care what happens to them.
But that's not really why they're worth reading. You see, I am on a perpetual hunt for phenomenal heroes, and she wrote one. In fact, I am creating a new label for this blog. Because I intend to find more*. In these books, the hero in question is named Jace. I quibbled with such a contemporary, made-up name for our hero, until I discovered that it was a nickname hiding all sorts of fabulous identity crises. You see, Jace does not know who he is, where he has come from, or even what he was made of. Literally. Applying the phrase 'internal demons' to him is ironic in a number of ways. He's beautiful and scarred, noble and conflicted, hilariously funny and enormously grave. Of course, for about a book and a half you think you're just reading some absurd teen adventure story with little depth and little more characterization. But it's worth it. I think. :)
* some heroes already found include, but are not limited to, the following: Levin from Anna Karenina, the pig who turns about to be a dragon who is also a man in Pigs Don't Fly, of course Edward and Jacob though i am increasingly bored of the former, yes yes Horatio Hornblower, the god in Gail Carson Levine's Ever, Alec Forbes of Howglen in Alec Forbes of Howglen, and Jesus.
But that's not really why they're worth reading. You see, I am on a perpetual hunt for phenomenal heroes, and she wrote one. In fact, I am creating a new label for this blog. Because I intend to find more*. In these books, the hero in question is named Jace. I quibbled with such a contemporary, made-up name for our hero, until I discovered that it was a nickname hiding all sorts of fabulous identity crises. You see, Jace does not know who he is, where he has come from, or even what he was made of. Literally. Applying the phrase 'internal demons' to him is ironic in a number of ways. He's beautiful and scarred, noble and conflicted, hilariously funny and enormously grave. Of course, for about a book and a half you think you're just reading some absurd teen adventure story with little depth and little more characterization. But it's worth it. I think. :)
* some heroes already found include, but are not limited to, the following: Levin from Anna Karenina, the pig who turns about to be a dragon who is also a man in Pigs Don't Fly, of course Edward and Jacob though i am increasingly bored of the former, yes yes Horatio Hornblower, the god in Gail Carson Levine's Ever, Alec Forbes of Howglen in Alec Forbes of Howglen, and Jesus.
what? mercator doesn't make the list???
ReplyDeleteJust you wait!
mercator's too young to be a hero. his story is a bildungsroman, not an epic. sort of. so far. :)
ReplyDeleteJesus is at the end of a list of fictional literary characters? The same list as your twilight heroes? You're scaring me. We need to talk...
ReplyDeleteme,
m
Jesus is at the end as a climax or crescendo of literary heroism. He's a hero in real life, but being the main character of the most popular book in the world, also a literary hero. And the epitome of Hero. The source of all Hero.
ReplyDelete