The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, readalong
31 March 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Readalong, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
Welcome to this weeks question and answers for the Lies of Locke Lamora readalong. This readalong is being hosted by some lovely and impressive bloggers as follows:
The questions this week are brought to us by SFSignal and are below. If you haven’t read the book then I suggest you stop reading now as there be spoilers below! Also, if you haven’t read the book but have a love of fantasy then I strongly recommend Scott Lynch, I love this series.
1. In the chapter “A Curious Tale for Countess Amberglass” we learn of the tradition of the night tea in Camorr. I found that not so much fantastical as realistic – how about you?
I definitely found it had a ‘real’ feeling. Dona Salvara going to see the Countess for some ‘tea and sympathy’ not to mention a bit of gossip! What could be more normal than that. I think the normal elements are what grounds the book – it almost feels in parts as though it’s a parallel universe, things that you’re familiar with and then things that are fantastic. The tea party is definitely very normal but then there are other elements that bring it back to fantasy. I suppose the setting was rather fantastic, sitting on a glass balcony above the clouds! Probably not my ideal spot with a fear of heights! Then we move on to a rather elaborate cake that sounded a bit amazing – packed with goodies (and calories!) So a good mixing of fantasy and reality. Then on top of that we have yet another of Locke’s plans thwarted. It seemed like such a good ploy by Locke and he seemed to have almost pulled it off! Makes you wonder what else is going to go horribly wrong.
2. When Jean meets with what will become the Wicked Sisters for the first time, the meeting is described very much like how people feel when they find their true work or home. Agree? Disagree? Some of both?
It was like he’d found his soulmate! LOL. I thought that little story was brilliant, like finally Jean had found something that had been missing.
3. Salt devils. Bug. Jean. The description is intense. Do you find that description a help in visualizing the scene? Do you find yourself wishing the description was occasionally – well – a little less descriptive?
No, I didn’t want less description – particularly in this instance! Okay, I can hold my hands up and admit there’s a lot of description in this story, personally, I really enjoy it, however, okay, you could probably lose a bit of detail about the food/drink/clothing – and it wouldn’t be detrimental – but to lose the description on something like the Salt Devils – it would be criminal to have cut that down. It was such an exciting scene – massive, spider like creatures, Locke stuck in a barrel (feel like there’s a pun flying around in that statement somewhere), blue ick flying about all over the place and Jean being brilliant slashing and hacking – no, I thought it was just the right amount of detail. (Was anybody picturing Shelob from LOTR when the salt devils appeared!)
4. This section has so much action in it, it’s hard to find a place to pause. But…but.. oh, Locke. Oh, Jean. On their return to the House of Perelandro, their world is turned upside down. Did you see it coming?
Oh, this is such a sad scene – I was already prepared for it, but, and even though I hadn’t formed a real connection with Calo and Galdo, it still made me very sad. In a way yes, I did see this coming. They were out of the way, the Grey King was at large – he’d clearly been following them and knew where they lived and so it’s not rocket science to assume he’ll want to get his hands on their dosh – after all he thinks Locke is dead – and best irony of all is that he can now use the Bastard’s money to pay the Bondsmage for his services – perfectly despicable methinks.
5. Tavrin Callas’s service to the House of Aza Guilla is recalled at an opportune moment, and may have something to do with saving a life or three. Do you believe Chains knew what he set in motion? Why or why not?
I just think that Chain’s wanted his GBs to be prepared for all eventualities. You never know when something will be useful and so he’s given them a bit of a grounding in all things. And, as we can now see, its paid off.
6. As Locke and Jean prepare for Capa Raza, Dona Vorchenza’s remark that the Thorn of Camorr has never been violent – only greedy and resorting to trickery – comes to mind again. Will this pattern continue?
I think that things have the potential to become much more violent at this stage! It’s personal now!!
7. Does Locke Lamora or the Thorn of Camorr enter Meraggio’s Countinghouse that day? Is there a difference?
I think Locke Lamorra enters the counting house. I think the Thorn of Camorr no longer exists. And I think this is seen in the way that Locke has to make a few attempts before he finally succeeds in obtaining a set of clothes. He’s not being calm and collected, he’s not taking the time to study his opponents, he’s just hellbent. The Thorn of Camorr was a conman – almost playing with the rich and flaunting his brainpower, ‘look at me, look at how easily I walk among you and deceive you’ and actually not just deceiving them but also pulling the wool over the eyes of the rest of the criminal element. I think from now on we will only see Locke, I think he will still be clever, and come up with plans, after all he did succeed in the Countinghouse, but he now has a different motivation. Let’s hope he doesn’t resort to his previous reckless self – revenge is a dish best served cold (or something like that!) or – another quote – fools rush in.. etc. etc. That was very rambling and incoherent – for which apologies. Basically, I think the Thorn has now gone and Locke is in the building!
Thanks for the questions
Lynn 
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, readalong
24 March 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Readalong, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
Okay, we’re on to the third week’s readalong of Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamora. This week we stopped at a particularly tense part of the book – and can I just ask who the hell came up with that stopping point!!! You raging maniac you! I have managed to not read on, but I have read this before and I want to take my time with this readalong. This readalong is being hosted by some lovely and impressive bloggers as follows:
If you haven’t read this book – then really, I would recommend it m0st heartily. Plus, come and join us all, we’re having a great time. If you have read it and want to readalong then get in touch with one of the lovely people above and they’ll add you to the info. And, be aware, ‘there be spoilers ahead’.
1. This section is where we finally get to sneak a peek at the magic in The Gentleman Bastards books. From what we read, what are your initial impressions of the magic Lynch is using? Is there any way that Locke and Company would be able to get around the Bondsmage’s powers?I guess I would say I’m more puzzled, or intrigued, by the magic we’ve seen used. There isn’t much of an explanation this far into the story about ‘why’ the Bondsmage can use magic or where they draw their power from – although I could be missing something here! I enjoyed Chains story about the Bondsmage and how they became such a force to be reckoned with. It’s all part of the world building that I enjoy so much about this book.
2. Not a question, but an area for rampant speculation: If you want to take a stab at who you think the Grey King might be, feel free to do it here. Even though I seem to have forgotten such a good deal about my original reading I’m not going to take a guess because if it turns out to be in any way remotely connected it will look like a big fat spoiler (or as though I’m trying to be a tremendous smartypants)! I am intrigued though (and I have really not a clue – how is that even possible?)
2.5 (since 2 wasn’t really a question) Anyone see the Nazca thing coming? Anyone? Do you think there are more crazy turns like this in store for the book? Would you like to speculate about them here? (yes, yes you would) Again, I would love to speculate about the crazy turns in store – but spoilery! Dang!! And, believe it or not I’d forgotten about Nazca – I knew in my tiny brain that her and Locke were not going to get it on, but I had forgotten about her being murdered. Strangely enough I remembered the whole scene with the barrel full of horse urine – what is up with me, really? The other thing about this is – I was really quite enjoying the character of Nazca and here she is getting bumped off – I think that’s a really difficult thing for an author to do and I really respect it. I’m not saying I enjoy losing the characters that I like but sometimes it is necessary and it’s a hard decision. Big respect for not being too precious to lose a character if the plot needs it.
3. When Locke says “Nice bird, arsehole,” I lose it. EVERY TIME. And not just because I have the UK version of the book and the word arsehole is funnier than asshole. Have there been any other places in the books so far where you found yourself laughing out loud, or giggling like a crazy person on the subway? I have been laughing out loud a lot – but I think you probably hit on what was, for me, the funniest scene – when Locke met the Grey King and his bondmage for the first time. ‘Nice bird, arsehole’ is pretty hilarious! I always feel really odd about using ‘asshole’ – just the whole ass/donkey thing! I did think of a couple of lines I really enjoyed: “When you don’t know everything that you could know, it’s a fine time to shut your fucking noisemaker and be polite.” and the story about the half crowns where Tesso says “because I can’t imagine that you shit-wits would really be sitting there right where we beat the trouser gravy out of you just yesterday”. Trouser gravy? LOL! There are others, but I’ll leave it now (it could become an essay!)
4. By the end of this reading section, have your opinions changed about how clever the Bastards are? Do you still feel like they’re “cleverer than all the rest?” Or have they been decidedly outplayed by the Grey King and his Bondsmage? Well, as much as I hate to say it, I feel that they’ve been ‘bested’ at this point. The Grey King knows exactly what they’re up to and how to turn the screw. They are between a rock and a hard place and don’t even have the option to run because they’ll never get away with it now. I suppose if they’d got out of there years ago – and it seems like they probably had enough money to do so, but they kept just wanting to put in one more job – then they wouldn’t be in this mess – but hindsight is a thing of beauty! (I wonder if you can buy hindsight glasses – I want a pair of those)
5. I imagine that you’ve probably read ahead, since this was a huge cliffhanger of an ending for the “present” storyline, but I’ll ask this anyway: Where do you see the story going from here, now that the Grey King is thought to be dead? Won’t elaborate on this as I have already read. Also, can’t remember and haven’t actually read ahead! And, I don’t have the first bloody clue.
6. What do you think of the characters Scott Lynch has given us so far? Are they believable? Real? Fleshed out? If not, what are they lacking? I really enjoy the characters so far, we get little glimpses into the history behind the relationships and I think that slowly but surely we have a world being developed with really easy to picture characters. To be honest, I think Jean may be my favourite character – I’m not sure why. I like his nature, he’s very real. But I also like that he can just totally look after himself!
7. Now that you’ve seen how clever Chains is about his “apprenticeships,” why do you think he’s doing all of this? Does he have an endgame in sight? Is there a goal he wants them to achieve, or is it something more emotional like revenge? Ha, I can’t actually remember whether Chains had any other goal such as revenge. I like Chains and I like the way he sometimes doles out his lessons – like the way he taught Locke a bit of humility when Jean first came to stay! I feel as though he thinks he’s like a master tutor and he’s giving his apprentices the best, the fullest, the most comprehensive education in how to be a trickster – he’s like the Ivy League of conman tutors!
Comments from other bloggers:
Nashville Book Worm
Rose’s thingamajig
Rememorandum / Logan K Stewart
The Hugo Endurance Project
Booky Pony
John Ayliff
Numbers Words and Ramblings
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch readalong, week 2
This is week two of the LoLL readalong. This week the questions were supplied by Dark Cargo. If you’re on twitter? use #lynchmob.
If you haven’t read the LoLL then please be aware that this post will contain spoilers. The last week’s reading took us through Chapter 3 to the end of the Interlude: The Boy Who Cried for a Corpse.
1) Do you think Locke can pull off his scheme of playing a Midnighter who is working with Don Salvara to capture the Thorn of Camorr? I mean, he is now playing two roles in this game – and thank goodness for that costume room the Gentlemen Bastards have!
I think he’s being very ambitious, particularly when you weigh is scheme against the fact that the Grey King is running around the place knocking people off willy nilly and nobody seems to know why! And, also, when you consider that for years the Gentlemen Bastards have not just been pulling elaborate cons but they are also conning Capa Barsavi who thinks they are fairly low key thiefs. There’s a lot going on with the potential for huge disaster. I love the costume room – who wouldn’t?
2) Are you digging the detail the author has put into the alcoholic drinks in this story?
I must say that I like the idea of the Brandy that doesn’t give you a hangover! Although it may be a false blessing as you would have nothing to deter you from over doing it! Pickled liver anyone?? I’m not sure about the Ginger Scald – I like things to be spicy – but do I really want to drink something that sounds like it’d take the skin off the roof of your mouth?
3) Who is this mysterious lady Gentlemen Bastard Sabetha and what does she mean to Locke?
Don’t think I should really answer this as I’ve already read the book.
4) Are you as creeped out over the use of Wraithstone to create Gentled animals as I am?
It is really creepy – I don’t like the idea of stripping every bit of personality from the animals – they seem to be little more than shells.
5) I got a kick out of child Locke’s first meeting with Capa Barsavi and his daughter Nazca, which was shortly followed up in the story by Barsavi granting adult Locke permission to court his daughter! Where do you think that will lead? Can you see these two together?
Similar to the answer to question 3 – as I’ve already read it’s difficult to answer this question without giving away spoilers. Although I will say I did enjoy Locke’s first meeting with Nazca – she’s a bit of a handful! Personally, I don’t think a relationship between the two would ever be able to get around the fact that Locke is Nazca’s Pezon and I think both of them would always be very conscious of that and couple that with the fact that neither of them seem to have any interest in the other on a romantic level then it does seem a bit of a none-starter.
6) Capa Barsavi is freaked out over rumors of The Gray King and, in fact, us readers are privy to a gruesome torture scene. The Gray King is knocking garristas off left and right. What do you think that means?
I think he’s very afraid. He’s holed himself and his children up in an attempt to stay protected but he’s fumbling around in the dark really. He’s torturing people to death who genuinley don’t seem to know anything and yet he can’t seem to see this – it’s almost as though he’s become a bit panic stricken or hysterical.
7) In the Interlude: The Boy Who Cried for a Corpse, we learn that Father Chains owes an alchemist a favor, and that favor is a fresh corpse. He sets the boys to figuring out how to provide one, and they can’t ‘create’ the corpse themselves. How did you like Locke’s solution to this conundrum?
This was Locke’s first con! It was great. He accomplished the task he was set and actually made money as well. I suppose I did feel a bit badly for the people in the district of Videnza though – they didn’t seem like a bad lot really.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch readalong, week 1
For the next few weeks I will be joining a number of other people taking part in a readalong of the Lies of Locke Lamora, followed by another readalong of Red Seas Under Red Skies. I’m so excited to be doing this because Scott Lynch’s third novel is due to be released this summer and so this acts as a perfect reminder of all that has already taken place.
I love these books! They’re dark, gritty and brutal. They’re populated by great and complex characters. Definitely unflinching and not for the YA market!
If you haven’t already read these books and don’t want to read spoilers please don’t continue with the rest of this post (and, really, if you haven’t read these books what exactly are you waiting for – really, just read them). If you want to join this readalong follow this link:
littleredreviewer.wordpress.com
1. If this is your first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, what do you think of it so far? If this is a re-read for you, how does the book stand up to rereading?
I’ve already read the Lies of Locke Lamora but it was some time ago now and so rereading all the detail again is amazing. I think I’m noticing so much more this time because I think the first time I read a book I read it very fast and am totally on a mission to find out what’s happening next so I don’t tend to savour the writing as much as I should. With this reread I’m taking my time and absorbing properly all the information about the place, the food, the descriptions of the orphans and being introduced again to the Thiefmaker (who I can’t help picturing as Fagin from Oliver Twist) and Chains.
2. At last count, I found three time lines: Locke as as a 20-something adult, Locke meeting Father Chains for the first time, and Locke as a younger child in Shades Hill. How are you doing with the Flashback within a flashback style of introducing characters and the world?
I’m really enjoying the flashbacks and the slow reveals of what actually took place with Locke that led to the Thiefmaker finally reaching the end of his tether and deciding to dispose of him. I think the way the time lines jump back and forth make it more interesting. One moment we’re looking at Locke and his crew and what their next job is, then just as they reach a critical point we bounce back to Locke telling his story to Chains. One part of me is thinking what – no, I want to see what happens next, but then pretty rapidly I’m absorbed in ‘younger’ Locke’s tail and then I’m equally as eager to carry on reading that story. I think writing like this and jumping inbetween helps to focus your attention, plus, it’s like you’re reading more than one story so it’s double or even triple the excitement.
3. Speaking of the world, what do you think of Camorr and Lynch’s world building?
At the risk of appearing to just automatically like everything that Scott Lynch does I’m going to admit that I love the world building. What I particularly enjoy is the detail – maybe it’s not to everyone’s liking – but, I find it really easy to build up the world in my own mind’s eye. I have my own idea of what the place actually looks like (which might not be the same as everyone else’s but that’s the beauty of reading). I like the fact that traditions, lifestyles, even food have all been thought about. It makes the whole reading experience rewarding. I even have my own picture of what I think Locke looks like, the twins, Chains – I’ve got it all pictured. Plus, I like the fact that SL has thought about it all. He doesn’t just say ‘okay, here’s the world and this is what it’s like and expect you to be wowed – he builds it up gradually, he introduces you to the unsavoury elements and explores the underground, he gives you a bit about the history, just enough to keep you going, I can practically taste the food and the wine. I can imaging the squalor of certain elements and the richness of others. There are loads of layers that gradually build to give you a perfect picture. It’s like a work of art
4. Father Chains and the death offering. . . quite the code of honor for thieves, isn’t it? What kind of person do you think Chains is going to mold Locke into?
Well, it seems a contradiction in terms, but I guess that Chains is going to mold Locke into a thief with honor! He’s not just going to be a ‘grab and run’ or sneak in the night. He’s going to use his cunning and intellect. Chains is going to develop him and teach him the ways of the world so that he can blend into any setting with ease. He’s going to help develop him to think on his feet and be quick witted. He’s going to help him to become an actor of sorts.
5. It’s been a while since I read this, and I’d forgotten how much of the beginning of the book is pure set up, for the characters, the plot, and the world. Generally speaking, do you prefer set up and world building done this way, or do you prefer to be thrown into the deep end with what’s happening?
I enjoy reading either way, providing the writing is good and in this case it is. Sometimes when reading a novel I just feel like I’m suddenly reading a huge info dump, which doesn’t blend in well with the story and feels quite literally as though the author is thinking ‘okay, let’s get this over and done with’. I don’t enjoy that and it can be distracting and take you away from the plot which is just annoying. The start of this book helps you to see how Locke is as a boy and gives you an appreciation of how is character has come along to reach where he is as an adult. You can see that even at a very young age he was going to be a lot more than just a regular pickpocket – he likes to succeed and has a lot of ambition.
6. If you’ve already started attempting to pick the pockets of your family members (or even thought about it!) raise your hand.
No, I wouldn’t be any good at this as I’m a total wimp. I think that there is a pickpocket in the making in my house however – I usually have to buy a new set of headphones every month (why? I dunno!) plus little things have a mysterious habit of going missing – or I’m losing the plot and can’t remember where I put them. Perhaps we have Borrowers under the floorboards – which would explain why I have 50 pairs of odd socks.
Great questions. Loving it.
Thanks
On a totally superficial note : I love this cover (I can’t help myself from just going there!)
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
7 September 2011
Filed under Book Reviews, Challenges for 2011
Tags: Red Seas Under Red Skies, Scott Lynch
Just finished reading Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch. The first book in this series (The Lies of Locke Lamora) was an excellent addition to the fantasy world of reading that was an absolute pleasure to read. That being said I wasn’t as keen as I thought I would be to pick up this installment and it has in fact sat on my shelf for a long time. I think the idea of Locke and Jean becoming pirates put me off somewhat. But, I was very pleasantly surprised. Although it’s probably fair to say that Book No.1 is the better of the two this is no shabby addition. I think Scott Lynch is almost a victim of his own success in that respect. The LoLL was such an outstanding novel, rich in detail and populated with such great characters and dialogue that it was always going to be a tall order to surpass it and add to that the fact that your follow up novel is no longer as unique as when it first appeared, plus not all of the characters made it to book two and added to that you have a bit of a feel for the characters and how they will behave – given all that this second book is no small achievement.
I won’t go into too much detail about the plot. Basically Locke and Jean have moved on to new shores. They have left Camorr and are now in Tel Verrar where they are busy laying the foundations for their latest heist. This involves them spending a lot of time at the Sinspire – basically a huge gambling joint run by a ruthless man called Requin. Nobody steals from Requin – unless they want to pay the ultimate price and so of course our two gentlemen have set their sights and made it their next target. Added to this, we have an alternative story revolving around internal politicis and double dealing which seas Jean and Locke themselves being duped and resulting in them putting out to sea as pirates.
I really enjoyed this book and it seemed to take no effort at all to complete in spite of it being quite a large novel. I love the world building of Scott Lynch, I suppose some people may find it overly detailed but I love it. I thought Camorr was brilliant in the LoLL and it reminded me of an ‘alternative’ Venice and then again in this story we have Tal Verarr where once again the author’s imagination has simply run riot. The Sinspire is an enormous gambling tower (a sort of mini Las Vegas all located in one building) with each successive level of the building becoming more impressive, decadent and difficult to gain access to. Then, just as we start to come to terms with Tal Verrar everything is tipped on it’s head and the two are desperately struggling to learn the ways of the water. I liked this, it threw both of them out of their comfort zone, particularly Locke who really struggled to find his sea legs and learn all the correct nautical terms. Although in fairness I waned a little when reading about their training the story soon picked up when they put to sea and frankly some of the dialogue which then follows is really amusing (particularly the scene where they first run into the Orchid).
From there onwards we have a number of plots, and plots within plots, that twist and turn quite wonderfully. We are introduced to the pirate fraternity and intrigued by the Ghostwind Isles reached by the intriguing Parlour Passage and it’s creepy inhabitants. The story fairly races along packed to the brim with action, betrayal and even love. We have a really good look at Jean and he gets to really shine in this novel – I find him an excellent character who I enjoy reading about. Added to that we have the richly climatic ending topped off with even more twists in the tale.
Sorry, this is all very vague but it would be so easy to simply ruin this book by giving anything away.
So, on the whole, whilst this might not have been quite as good as the first book I put that down to the novely card having been played already. I actually enjoyed the ‘at sea’ element and thought the pirates, whilst a bit cliched, were a great addition.
In terms of criticisms I thought the ending was maybe a little rushed and I thought the loss of one character in particular was a little predictable. That aside, if you’re looking for great entertainment in a new and imaginative fantasy world this could be your book. Be warned however this is not a light read, it also contains a few scenes of violence and the use of a few expletives here and there – although I didn’t find it to be gratuitous or overly done.
I really liked this story and can’t wait to see where Scott Lynch is taking us to next. His imagination seems to know no bounds!
Rating -A
Red Seas Under Red Skies
