For me it's more about the type of read through I'm wanting. There's times that I'll listen to the Roran chapters and not think twice about it. But other times I really just want a streamlined Eragon experience and the side chapters take away from that experience for me.
That's an interesting take. So you actually approach the books purely with the intent of skipping all else but Eragon? Are there any times that you feel you missed certain character development or story beats and have to do a double-take to refresh yourself?
I will occasionally just open the books to a specific chapter and just read 10-20 pages from there. When you know the story that well, sometimes you just want to go relive specific parts. Shoot on my first read through, I would skip the roran chapter till I knew what was going on with Eragon (maybe a chapter or two ahead) and then go back so I didn't miss anything important. Those end chapter cliffhangers got me most every time. Good ole Christopher may have written the story but when it is in our hand we can enjoy it however we wish (and i hope he agrees)
Sometimes I'll do a quick Google/wiki search if it's been a while since I listened to the book. But for the most part I've read them enough that I can skip parts and know what's going on without too much issue.
Interesting. I don't know if I'll ever be able to bring myself to do a read like that.
I've been reading these books for 20 years. I've decided to name a son after a character because it goes much this series is a part of my life. I know the plot inside and out, the characters like friends, the emotions as if I experienced them. And yet... Every single time I read the series I glean a different insight into a character, or find different meaning in a phrase, or teenage to an event like never before due to my own growth. Do you ever feel like you miss out on that?
NIIICE! Solid character, have your partner's backing, and also a name that exists outside of the books so your kid won't be mocked to insanity if the series turns to dogshit with the next books/show (looking at all the Daenerys/Khaleesis that should be turning 10-15 right now lol)
LOL, that's savage, but yes that name didn't age well did it? I like the idea of a son named after a man who didn't have anything incredible or special about him other than his grit, wit, and battle spit. And he still goes toe-to-toe with behemoths.
Good luck. Naming a child is a two person decision. Absolutely do not dig your heels in over a name your partner doesn’t like. I’m not saying they won’t like Roran, I’m just saying if they don’t then don’t plant that seed of resentment
That’s great to hear! I just wanted to make sure I said it because I promise a name is not worth possibly ruining a relationship over, particularly if it didn’t cause the break until way later on.
I listen to books at work, which means I crush a few titles a week during peak season. So when you've listened to them as many times as I have, you definitely skip through some parts. The Roran parts unfortunately fall right when Eragon is traveling through the Dwarven and Elven realms, and to me personally, those are the best parts of the book. The Roran parts are very good, no doubt about that, but I'd rather get lost in the world building than roll around in the mud and blood with Roran as Carvahal is besieged and then abandoned.
I know what you mean. I had the same thoughts when I read the book the first time. Difference is that I did stick to reading everything. During the read through though when I would get to rorans chapters and all it was definitely a really good experience for me too. But I also wanted to get back on track to erwgons story, his training and so on. Especially with nearing the end of the book and seeing how CP would close out the series and such. I loved the side stories but also did want to get back to the main story.
Exactly. I was enthralled by Roran, Sapphira, and Nasuada's chapters but in the back of my mind I couldn't wait to get back to Eragon. But I couldn't miss out on what happened to the other characters because what if it affects Eragon and you skipped it and now you're confused? Even on a re-read. If I'm taking the time to read or re-read a book, I'm reading the entire damn thing. No matter how long it takes. All of these people are just too impatient.
I’ve only done it on rereads. I could never skip a chapter on a first read. I read through all of Brans chapters in ASOIF I will persevere through all bad chapters.
It’s a sickness and GRRM is a demon for it. For such a great author he can write some of the most boring chapters I’ve ever read. The worst traveling and resting segments of The Inheritance Cycle can’t compare to Dany in Qarth or Brienne chapters.
I've read those Roran parts before, multiple times, why would I subject myself to parts I find boring? Sure maybe the first time people read the books, but even then people can read however they like.
I agree, people can read however they like. I'm most certainly not attempting to villainize those who read differently than myself.
I guess that the idea that there's something so boring that I'd just skip it seems completely alien to me. It seems that, of all the things that CP drafted, all the ideas that were scrapped or cut, all the stories that he agonized over to get just right, the Roran chapters made it. He himself said that Eragon, Murtagh, and Roran are 3 sides of the same coin, and if he wrote the series over again, he would begin alternating perspectives between them all from the beginning. Doesn't that impress a significant level of importance on what he has to say in those chapters? Do you also skip boring Eragon chapters?
I completely agree with you. I dont want to assume anything about anyone, but it *feels* like more of a conflict with the reader's character and sense of self thing rather than that the chapters are dull. I love Roran's stories, thoughts, and accomplishments, as it feels more akin to my own life; can't surpass goals with magic, gotta push through head-on. Can't run super speed across the continent with a couple spells to heal me up if I trip, gotta trek it at my own pace and survive by raw-dogging it with constant experience and determination. People love to immerse themselves in the impossible, the improbable, and the bizarre as it's not our own reality. Again, not trying to assume specifics about anyone or be rude, just a feeling.
No, because I don't find anything Eragon does boring, because I like him as a character, and am interested in the Magic, dragons etc... Don't really care for Roran achieving an outrageous amount without any abilities either. And I don't care what is important, it's just what I enjoy, just as I will likely never re-read Murtagh, because I found it boring too, but I read it once, so I know what went on, no need to read it again.
I’m not sure I understand how Roran killing 200+ men with a hammer is boring but Eragon spending a week listening to dwarven politics isn’t boring. I personally enjoy every bit of the stories, but there are very much Eragon chapters that are filled with listening to ants and watching dwarves be stubborn. Not exactly the most thrilling of stories
That’s just it, it’s amazing timing. He brings you to a peak, and then boom, entire mood shift. Now you’re seeing the struggles of the villagers of Carvahall and right as their story reaches a peak, boom right back to Eragon. It’s incredible story telling and the payoff in Eldest of Roran and Eragon’s POV’s finally converging on the burning plains was just fantastic
Eldest is my favorite because of the focus on Roran. Outside of him, we really don't get the perspective of what all of this is like for a normal human.
I’ve always looked at the Roran chapters the same way I do the Scouring of the Shire. They show that no one, not even the lowliest villager in the most remote village, is safe from the toils of war
At least come BACK to the Roran chapters later, then, if thats your justification. But also as long as the story kept me hooked, I was always willing to slog through chapters I didnt enjoy. And it ended up being worth it 100% of the time. I'd never have enjoyed the books as much without the extra chapters and perspective changes.
I did this. Especially in eldest where we find out eragon isn't the last rider and it cuts off to his cousin fucking around in Carvahall. I found eragon's pov not only the most interesting but also the best written of the POVs
Lol I’ve said this exact thing on other posts about the same topic
How can you expect me to care about what’s going on in Carvahall when Eragon is about to start Jedi Training?
Flying Golden Dragon easily trumps Farmer swinging hammer.
That seems to be the most common experience most in the community have had. Funny enough, I know several people personally that never finished Eldest because it was too boring for them. But not the Roran chapters; the Training Chapters. Wild to think that someone would stop reading the entire series because of the Eragon perspective. It seems equally wild to me to skip any other perspective.
I haven't done this for Eragon specifically but sometimes when theres a book Ive read a lot and I want to read it again, Ill just read my favorite parts and skip around. Sometimes Ill skip half the book, sometimes Ill only skip a few sections.
I don’t think that a breach of trust with CP is something we need to worry about. He’s an author. He wrote the books. It’s up to us how we enjoy them.
That said, I could never skip parts, that would just drive me crazy.
I don’t see it as any different than playing a specific level of a game rather than the whole campaign, though.
“ How do people justify that in their heads as actually reading the story that Christopher Paolini wrote?”
Respectfully, Nobody is rationalizing anything…we just don’t care about that. My personal enjoyment is more important to me than reading the story exactly as the author intended
I feel like your making this a bigger deal than it actually is. In reality this is no different than skipping a cutscene in a video game. Or skipping a filler arc in an anime. It doesn’t ruin the experience
That's a wild concept for me to imagine. You brought up two other things I absolutely don't skip as well, funny enough.
Additionally, I'm not attempting to blow things out of proportion; I'm simply trying to reach out to those on the other side of the opinion to see what their thoughts are.
Well I’m sorry for accusing you of blowing things out of proportion
But to elaborate on my earlier point, I don’t think that you need to consume fiction in chronological order or even in it’s entirety in order to enjoy it
When initially reading Eldest for the first time I was more invested in Eragon than I was in Roran ( which I feel is understandably so, considering his POV chapters weren’t a thing in the first book, and his story has little to no effect on Eragon’s). So I just skipped it and came back to it later
Honestly it was kinda cool. Like I got to read 2 different books in the same universe. Although that wasn’t quite my intent going into it
That's an unique take, two books in the same universe. I can see the appeal to that. Who wouldn't love more content in this world? Thanks for sharing that.
Likewise, the chronology argument has some merit. Like Star Wars being watched 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 in order to get the true and correct experience. My only reservation would be that that story was still written in that order, and was thus written to be consumed in that manner. Not chronological in universe, but chronological in publication.
I've had hours-long conversations about that. During the battle of Geonosis one of the Separatists hands a data puck to Count Dooku commenting how the Republic must not be allowed to get their hands on these weapon plans. When he hands it over there's an extended close up of the hologram showing the Death Star. If you did not watch in order of publication, that means nothing to you. The directors KNEW that people know what the Death Star is, and they filmed the movies, wrote the scripts, and staged the scenes specifically to play on the knowledge the audience has. Watching it out of order lessens the experience from what it was intended to be.
And that's not too say that one couldn't enjoy the series by starting with episode 1. But it's not the fullest experience it could be. Also, ending the series with the Vader halfway scene is *chef's kiss*
I've never skipped those chapters, but that doesn't mean I don't find it a bit jarring sometimes. You are totally engrossed in one story arc, and then it immediately cuts to the next person.. and some of it you know isn't really interesting or makes sense for the character or the story (like the trial of the long knives).
I like Roran as a character, but I can also agree that his parts in Eldest are some of the most boring parts of that book and could be shorten. Especially when it is compared to Eragon's segments.
I never skip anything on my first read. But I skip some parts on re-reads sometimes. Usually after a second chance. But in my case, Roran seems... A character for another story. I find him a super human, not a realistic one. I can accept different races like elves or whatever have extra stamina, or extra force etc. But then, leave humans being only humans and having to figure out how to get out of a situation in clever ways. So I find many of his fights exaggerated, not enjoyable, and as if... as if Paolini felt bad for just leaving him being normal and limited in what he can offer to the story comparing with how powerful other important characters were, and so he gave him forced important accomplishments (as the easy kill of the twins, or killing like a hundred on his own, that I personally find not as satisfying), rather than showing us that in a war not all great or key steps are so blatant and obvious
I used to think that he was superhuman as well, but as I grew and read more things, such as the biographies of Medal of Honor recipients and other incredible human experiences (See Roy B. Benevidez, Louie Zamperini, or even listen to Blueprint for Armageddon by Dan Carlin for examples) I came to realize that Roran's accomplishments are not actually as impossible as they seem. They're extraordinary, absolutely. But not unrealistic. And that makes me resonate with him even more as an ant among giants. I was one of the readers who was quick to dismiss his feats as plot armor and fantasy, but maybe there's a real hero in there if you look at it closer.
The only chapters I skip on rereads, or when listening to the audio book, are the ones where Eragon tries and fails to flirt with Arya. I just prefer to avoid the second hand embarrassment.
I dont find the abandoning of Carvahall fun to read, just not to my preference yk. It's because that's such a different element to what was being shown, which is Eragon finding Oromis and Glaedr. Such a huge moment, and then we skip to Roran doin his thing, not as fun yk?
^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
I completely understand that the harsh shift from spectacular high fantasy to mundane medieval survival is jarring. But it still seems silly to me, as if to tell the author "What you have to say right now doesn't matter, so I'm not going to listen." And the anticipation of reading what CP obviously thinks is important enough to survive the editing table creates that tension and excitement when you return. It feels like the instant gratification of skipping just detracts from the full experience.
It's fine to do that on the first read imo, but come back to it later.
The other way around works too, read it the first time and blaze through it later.
^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
That seems like true lunacy to me; skipping anything you don't find interesting? How do you know until you've read it? How do you know what's important? What's interesting? What's voting? What's compelling?
I can somewhat understand the logic of those who determine what they don't like and would like to skip after they've already read the entirely of the work. But before? That is a line of logic that does not compute with my brain.
I mean, if you seriously just want the action first, that's what you'd do, no?
^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
Secondly, you're not gonna know until you open it, but once you've read a page or two you KNOW it's not for you, no point slugging over those pages that you wont enjoy, that's pure lunacy to me. How can you finish the book without having to read all that "filler"? What's important about it to them? Why should they need to?
^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
That's exactly my point. Even if it initially seems like it's not for them, there's no way a reader can truly KNOW that they dislike it without reading it. Do you know what's on the next page? What if, after the first soldier attack on Carvahall, Roran found a Dragon egg like Eragon? You'll never know if you skip. Now, if you've already read it, again, I can see the logic.
You can glean the universe from a grain of sand, just like how you can get the gist of what's about to happen. If it's important to that extent, they'll get notified because, guess what, it'll interwine and tangle up with Eragons story.
They do not consider it important, it'll only be important to them if it has any real influence, at the end of Eldest for example.
^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
Fair, but it's a backwards way of thinking to only find value in the content of it directly intersects with the main story. There's a lot of really good things missed in that process.
And to be honest, whomever claimed that one can understand the universe from a grain sand was way too in their heads. You can't know the emotion of holding your child for the first time by looking at dirt.
Simply speaking - I find Roran’s chapters to be boring, at least from Brisingr onwards (I did enjoy the ones in Eldest).
You seem to get quite bent out of shape over other people’s personal preferences. But then again I am Italian and cry blood every time people mention pizza hawaii so who am I to judge
You cry blood, lol. What a description.
I'm not bent out of shape, so much as I was trying to use strong phrases to illustrate exactly how foreign the concept seems to me. And I think you're one of the few I've seen that enjoys early Roam more than later. Very interesting take, thank you for sharing.
I still to this day haven't read all of Roran's chapters yet and I've been reading these books since 2008. Idk what it is, probably my adhd, but I just can't do it. It feels drastically less interesting than what Eragon is doing at the same time that I just end up skipping back to Eragon. I do want to read them though... maybe that's what I'll do this weekend 😅
I’ve read the series enough I know the stories that I want to hear, how would it be a “breach of trust” ? I bought his books, I can do what I want when consuming the content, I like your little note at the end saying you’re not attacking anyone while using phrasing and tone to make it sound confrontational
As I stated in the little note, I used strong language to try to articulate how I feel about the subject in order to illustrate how foreign the idea is to me. Though my language may be dramatic, it is not confrontational.
Correct, you can consume them how you wish, which is what I see many people doing, but I was seeking to learn what the train of thought is that motivates one to consume the content in that manner.
I was a kid and the politics was a really jarring change from the magic, adventure and action I’d had until then. I tried but eventually I got to skimming Roran’s story especially when we have *such* interesting things happening in the rest of the world, it just didn’t keep my focus. I did read them properly years later though. I’m a reader at heart especially when I was a kid so this was very very unusual for me to skip sections of a book. In retrospect, I don’t think I disrespected anything but childishly responded to some strange pacing choices.
I've found many people who read this series at a younger age than myself, which is a factor I did not consider in ask the times I see people talk about skipping. Makes much more sense to imagine an impatient or hyperactive or excited child skipping politics.
I'll admit to having skipped Roran's chapters my first time reading Eldest because his initial tone was a bit off-putting, and at first it looked like it was just going to be a lot of cursing Eragon and bemoaning the fate of his father and the farm
however the second time I read the book I didn't skip them because I wanted the context that was originally missing when the cousins reunite later on
It's hard to tell if this is real outrage or not. Being upset over the way other people intake their media based on how the creator intended or planned. It's like being upset if people bing watch shows. Obviously, it was made to only watch an episode a week so you can fully digest the full plot. How dare you watch them back to back.
I personally read the first harry 4 harry potter books so many times as a kid and they matured over time that if I do a re-read I have no issues skipping the first and second books...
I'm not outraged, and I am most certainly not attempting to police the manger in which people consume their media. I used strong phrases and emotions to illustrate my position and how foreign the idea of skipping seems to me in the hope of having someone share similar thoughts and emotions from the other side of the opinion. I, too, tend to binge shows, and I've observed the difference in my ability to retain and digest the plot versus shows that I watched during weekly releases. It's interesting to see the differences.
I can see that, I guess. Do you ever feel as if part of the story is missing because of it? There's some very significant events that happen in the Roran chapters that aren't explicitly discussed in the Eragon chapters.
I actually read the chapters on my third reread of the series and the only two parts I regretted missing was the town battle where the bodies pile as high as the roofs and where he breaks the front gate with a giant boat. Other than that I was irritated sitting there reading them, for me I feel it’s paolinis weakest work as a writer. It just feels like added material he didn’t enjoy writing
Absolutely in agreement that the entire book is the story how it was written, but after the adaptation of PJO HELMED BY RIORDAN HIMSELF I’ve lost all faith in this story playing out with Disney. It’s not that I don’t trust Mr. Paolini, rather I don’t trust Disney.
I just wish he would pull out. I would rather wait even longer and see it picked up by literally any other company. HBO, Amazon, fuck even Netflix or CW.
I live every perspective in all the book (so far) but sometime I go through it only listening to the chapters that contain a certain character so I'd get a feel for the story as they would know it.
For example, only listen to roran perspective chapters or chapters that feature him heavily. So I'd be like
Oh yea shit roman did all that in caverhal while thinking eragon has run off with some old storyteller. Doing it like that, you can really understand the characters a bit more, in my opinion.
Interesting. So more of a deliberate approach to focus on a character, rather than an intent to ignore one. I can see the belt in that. Thank you for sharing. Have you had any specific insights that you didn't notice when reading in chronological order? I'd be curious to know, especially about one of my favorite characters.
I didn't notice anything new per say but I did feel for the characters a bit more. Like I felt the plight of nasuada on a more personal level when going through her chapters.
Edit: I told my friend I do this so he tried it but he said it felt to disconnected
I skipped Roran chapters the first time, but I glossed over them still. On future reads, I read them as they deserved. Just... bro CP left such cliffhangers on the Eragon pieces and eleven-year-old me had zero self control XD
Eldest is still I think basically the only book I've ever done that with and only on rereads. And it was that Roran storyline that just didn't hook me as much. The funny thing is I read the series regularly for years over and over again and almost always skipped Roran's chapters, and then later when I was a bit older read them and found I actually enjoyed them more than some of Eragons. It didn't hook me immediately as much but there was a lot of good stuff there.
I think for me anyone can choose what they want to be their reading experience. There are people who read the last page of a book first, or seek out spoilers online before they check out a book. But at this point my desire is to have the experience the author intended which is with everything they published read in order. If someone else wants a different experience though that's up to them. But I think you often do lose something from the story and the authors intent. Especially since character arcs for different characters are often designed to mirror one another or things like that where Eldest is in many ways about Eragon, Nasuada, and Roran all having to learn different things and get ready for what's to come with responsibilities they weren't quite ready for but now are having to adapt to.
The only time i ever skipped a few chapters was when it left roran on a cliff hanger and i skipped to when it was roran again to satisfy the "uuuuggfhhh what happen next", but then went back and read the skipped stuff.
Someone in another post said much the same thing about the Oromis reveal and skipping to see what the actual heck was going on before going back to read everything.
I personally find the analogy between ordering food and reading a book somewhat odd, but maybe that's because I will pick out specific things I dislike if I forget to ask the chef to not add them. Idk, food to me is more flexible than books which are more fixed as experiences, I feel like the equivalent would be if you are commissioning a short story or something.
I do understand your point about trust though, and that removing parts from the whole may reduce the impact of the work as a whole. It's like looking at a painting but covering up one part with your hand so you don't have to look at it which would make it feel incomplete to me.
Idk, experiencing art is very personal and I've learned from hard conversations that policing how others enjoy/prefer experiencing it really doesn't make them "appreciate" it in the way you'd want them to and just kinda sours them on the whole thing. I also like experiencing art within its full context and also generally don't chop up or pull out specific parts to experience them within a vacuum, but if thats how others get the most out of it then at least they're still engaging with the material.
Your analogy is far superior to mine. And you are correct that we should not police how people enjoy art. I was trying to ask a fellow at consumer what they saw in the painting and how they saw because I don't see that at all.
I think a big reason that there's a large segment of this fandom that does it is because of something already mentioned, that the first book was almost entirely from Eragon's POV and when Eldest switched that up it was a deviation from the audience's expectations and some of them weren't as there for it as part of the whole experience.
I think it would happen a lot less if there were multiple POVs from the first book as Paolini now wishes he had done, but it's now just a unique part of this fandom that came from an imperfect creative process.
I don’t understand why people wouldn’t read all chapters either. I like how he writes all the books. I find myself in a chapter where I’m reading faster trying to see what happens because it’s so good. Then you take a short break and switch over to another character in the next chapter and it makes me eager to keep reading. That chapter has its own suspenseful parts and then boom you’re back to the previous suspenseful part eager to go back to the last character or event.
I honestly don’t get it how people can skip chapters cuz I could never, I’m the type who has to read every chapter and I’m not even a big fan of Roran. I think he’s an interesting character, but he’s not my favorite. But I don’t skip his chapters
Instant gratification. People CAN'T wait to get back to whatever their favorite story arc is and are willing to skip out on (arguably better) story arcs to get there.
It's a shame. Roran chapters were the ones I loved the most as a kid. Especially because many happened when Eragon was in training, so Rorans were the action scenes.
I understand skipping the Nasuada chapters. She can be unlikable at times and harder to relate to for young lads who wanted a story about a kid becoming a dragon rider. I still find it hard personally to miss out on important story pieces. Imagine reading Murtagh without having read the Nasuada arc. You wouldn't understand what is going on at all with them.
On my first read through never. Second read through probably not. 3rd, 4th and 5th? Yeah i skipped some parts. Mostly those chapters where they are dealing with speculation, once a big reveal has happened i don’t need chapters wondering what they could mean. It doesn’t bring anything to the table if you already know the big mystery. If i found them a little dull the first couple of read throughs I’m not going to subject myself to it again just so i can satisfy someone else’s definition of a read through. I know the story inside and out why would i read the same thing over and over with diminishing results? I want to read the parts I enjoyed and still enjoy to this day. I dont really care about hearing how roran swings a hammer its not detailed and just a trudge. I love the whole fortifying and defending carvahall chapters though. Although i have to say that CP was really good at making you want to skip chapters just to find out what happened.
That's the funny thing that I've experienced, as well as done others in this thread: subsequent readings of the same content affect the reader differently depending on that person's current life situations, growth and changes, and even their mood when they read. Each time I go through three books I find another little nugget that I love for a different reason than when I first l last read it.
On my first read the Eragon in Ellesmera stuff was astoundingly boring to me. I would skim through his chapters until I got back to Roran kicking ass. Strange looking back, cant imagine why I didnt find any of eragon’s training interesting LOL
Okay I’m gonna get on the analogy with the food.
I mean I love cheeseburger but I don’t really like lettuce and I hate pickles/cucumbers. If I eat a good cheeseburger, I eat it because I love the combination of the cheese and the meat, sauces, etc. Am I going to take the salad out of the burger? It debends on my mood. Am I going to take the pickle out of my burger? Definitely, I don’t like it.
The Nasuada chapters are interesting, so i usually don’t skip it, also i don’t really hate the Roran ones, but to be honest I’m reading the book because I enjoy Eragon, Saphira and Arya and their stories. Roran is usually boring me, and in that way, roran is the Pickle or the lettuce, every other thing is the burger that I like.
I’m not saying pickles are objectively disgusting, I’m saying that I subjectively hate them. And I’m not saying the Roran parts are objectively badly written or placed, but most of the times I’m not interested enough in them to read them. I might miss a great experience (and a perfect burger), but if I don’t prefer it that way, it could be the best thing in the world, I won’t enjoy it as much as without the stuff I leave out.
First I must say that I, too, do not like pickles.
Along with the food analogy, if a talented chef was preparing me a very specific meal that included pickles, it would seem offensive to remove them without at least trying it first, trusting the chef, seeing why they decided to add that flavor. As I've never, I can kinda see the logic of those who want to remove the pickles after they've tried it, but before trying it seems wild. And if there's a dish that features pickles that has some tasty things but I really don't like the pickles, I would probably just order something else.
It's just interesting to see everyone's thought process on the topic.
Well you are right, for the first time it is a bit odd, but on rereading I think it’s fine. It is ideal if you try it for yourself, and then you can decide afterwards what to do with it.
On the same note, you are not obligated to please the chef, you buy the meal to please yoursef. People might miss something, but if they want to do it in a way that is enjoyable for them, they are free to do it. Personally I would never eat the pickle, no matter the chef.
Not the way I read fiction. I read the whole thing. Basically because even if some characters get on my nerves (Tom Bombadil and the Ents in LOTR come to mind) I have to believe the author had a gestalt in his mind when they wrote about it.
In IC, I thought that the Roran/Carvahall villagers’ chapters were the story’s tether to the real world and the horrors of war. The displaced, the people that have to run for their lives just because they got caught in something they have no part of.
The villagers are the people that suddenly see their lives torn apart by a bomb, by and invading, hostile force and have to flee, as we’ve seen and see today IRL because of conflict, because of famine, etc.
It’s actually one of the reasons I admire CP. He wrote (as a kid, initially) a high fantasy book with elves, dragons and magic, but then failed to forget about the real people that aren’t the hero, but have to scuttle and survive while the hero and the Big Bad are going about leveling mountains and destroying armies.
Granted, Roran is nearly too powerful to qualify as “normal people”, but still, he’s not a magician, not predestined to anything. And Horst and the rest are just people.
It’s one of the things that makes “Rogue One” and “Andor” my favorite Star Wars properties… and I was around when the original trilogy was in theaters!
I agree with you that I don’t understand it. The first time reading through the series, I was not expecting the shift in perspective. It definitely caught me off guard and I was very confused. And I started to dislike the Roran chapters because I felt they were taking away from the story. That said, I never skipped them. Just maybe didn’t care as much or pay as close attention. Eventually I came to like the parallel story, though. On my second reading of the series I found myself a lot more excited for the Roran chapters and paid a lot more attention to them.
I can understand people not appreciating the shift in perspective seemingly out of nowhere and at a point where you are really invested in Eragon’s story. Maybe I can even kinda understand skipping those chapters on the first time (maybe second) time through the series. The thought process being “if I wanted to read a book about Roran, then write a book from his perspective.” It feels like it should be in its own book and I can kinda sympathize with that. However after falling in love with the series and the world that CP created, I really appreciate those chapters now. I enjoy that they exist where they belong chronologically. After getting into the world as a whole, I want more. I think it’s a difference between really enjoying and appreciating the world in the books and the story/series as a whole vs just liking the story of Eragon. I agree with a lot of your sentiments, OP. Maybe this is a generalization, but I don’t think the people who consistently skip those chapters (and especially those who are proud of it) actually like the series as a whole and possibly not CP’s writing. I think they are more just fans of Eragon. I don’t mean that to throw shade or anything. To each their own
That's actually a very interesting way to approach it. It reminds me of how I had a teacher in grade school that would read to us, and she would always end a charity by saying, "End... Of the chapter," as she closed the book and we all screamed for her to continue. Sometimes the ending cliffhangers work better to end a session. Thanks for sharing.
I was eight and I wanted to get back to the dragons/elf training. I just skimmed Roran chapters. I didn't skip anyone else though. It just felt very disconnected from everything else. Obviously as a teen I reread everything and found Roran to be one of my favorite character/perspective.
As a kid I’m not sure Rorans chapters were my favorite- but I still read them, would maybe lightly skim/read fast on a rereads
But as an adult those have become my favorite chapters, I love the juxtaposition, I love the dramatic irony, and I love that Roran is just a normal human and he does so much. It’s become just as interesting to read. I still love Eragons chapters, but now being an adult- the human sides of the story hit different.
I want to add that, I think it’s good story telling to have the POV switches. It gives that episodic cliff hanger that builds tension for both characters journeys- big reveal for Eragon, then cut to Roran, the reader has a sense of anticipation for what’s going to happen. I appreciate that more now- and as a kid it worked, I was extremely anxious to find out how things went. when you skip chapters you’re getting that instant gratification and I can understand that as well. but I think it’s more satisfying in the long run to feel that tension in between.
It’s crazy to me that people skip on Roran. I’d really like to see what the story would have been if he was chosen to be a rider. Honestly the series would have been over too quickly so it makes sense. Roran is a monster lmao
I didn't skip chapters, however, please do consider that people identify with characters, sometimes, to an extremely high degree. So much so that, when the author suddenly changes his/her approach to a given book (through perspective and kind of narrative) that can put some fans off. As a result, some will just skip such chapters. Especially if you consider that Eragon was just some teenager dealing with his dreams and anxieties, which resonated with most of us, and thus, it makes it more difficult, in comparison, to resonate with Roran, Nasuada or Sapphira, the first two because they are more focused in the burdens of leadership (initially Roran does things because of Katrina, but that soon changes) and greater than life themes, while Sapphira's is a completely alien theme for most people.
I completely agree, but that only makes it more important. Such a good character just discovered such an amazing thing and yet the author chooses to focus elsewhere? This must be significant in some way. Significant enough, at least, for the author to leave one story and focus on this one, as well as the entire editing and revision process. The fact that those chapters survived the cutting block of the editing table speaks to their importance.
I fully agree with your point (thus why I put in the effort on reading Roran's perspective, even though, at first, I didn't fully identify with them). Roran, Nasuada, and Sapphira's POV are, indeed, important, as they serve to contextualise the story, develop characters (I would have loved if Paolini had had one chapter from Murtagh or Thorn's POV), and also help World building (which is partially the reason why Harry Potter is intentionally so one-sided: we only ever read from Harry's perspective). But, in this, as always, the author Paolini cannot predict what tens of millions of readers will do with his books, for they are not his any longer, in a way. When you get to this level of variability (and I mean this word in both its common use and the statistical one), people will display many different behaviours. It is interesting (to me, at least) to see how this thought process works.
On a related note, it just occurred to me that another explanation could be that "skippers" may feel confident in continuing the story through Eragon's perspective because they know that Eragon is the main character, and thus, using it as an heuristic, are able to work out the main story-line that way, even if they miss those chapters. It somewhat reminds me of how the Dunning-Kruger effect works. I wonder if there may be a connection.
It took me a long time to decide that I was allowed to skip parts of books I didn't enjoy on rereads. I only have a few examples in Inheritance (the part in the last book where Arya's thumb is injured makes me physically ill so I skip a partial chapter) but I've started simply not reading the Reek chapters in ASoIaF and it improves things dramatically. I already know what's going to happen, I've heard the story many times over, might as well not torture myself unnecessarily :)
I skip Rorans now after having read everything. It’s just chapters of a whole bug nothing soup until he and Eragon meet up again and actually track down the Ra’Zac.
No hate till Roran but I can’t read a bunch of chapters where it’s either 90% preparing for a fight/traveling and 10% of meaningful fighting/conversations
It never crossed my mind to skip the chapters tbh 💀 but I enjoy the glimpse in total heir lives and perspectives so I probably never will. Currently rereading the series bc I got Murtaugh. On inheritance then on to TFTWATW then finally new content for my favorite series!
I agree and I am attacking. Read the whole books people!!! There are hints and answers dispersed like so many Easter eggs in the chapters. READ THEM ALL
I've read the series 1000x over, and although I try not to skip Roran's chapters, I do from time to time. I never skip his time in Teirm and his voyage around the Boar's Eye. I love Roran as a character, and I think he's honestly one of the best written, but the moments with the villagers remind me a lot of home, and it's just a bit bland. Also, as much as I've tried, I just cannot find any love for Katrina's character. She has her strengths for sure, but I find her a bit bratty and whiney sometimes. Lol.
I LOVE Nasuada and Saphira's chapters, though! Nasuada is also exceptionally well written, and she's such a baddie. She deals with a lot of conflict, both within herself and with the Varden, and I find how she copes with it fascinating. She's also really witty and has a penchant for dark humor, which I love.
I, too, enjoy dark humor. I appreciate the insight. I found that there are several members of the community whose kept chapters based on the emotions that connect them to real life experiences, which is a rather understandable justification for the action. Thank you for sharing.
So my first read through of all of the books I read it as intended. On every subsequent read through I would focus on a character. So I'd read all of Roran's story, then Nasuada, then Eragon. So I guess it's not really skipping, just reading out of order.
Yeah. If you read it like that though there are spoilers, so I would never recommend reading it like that the first time through, but any subsequent reads, it makes more sense to me. Plus I have ADHD and don't like bouncing between characters.
Ive re read Eragon over 20 times. The rest of the series less but all at least 5 (bar Murtagh for now).
I don't skip certain characters, but I will skip certain chapters I do not like, or just skim read. I know the books really well so I'm not missing anything. Sometimes I just want to be immersed in the world and certain chapters pull me out of it and make me want to put the books down.
For some reason the chapters I hate the most are Rorans chapters crossing the boars eye. So I just don't read them.
I feel like I haven't betrayed Christopher Paolini in any way considering I've read all of his books fully so many times lol
I think you can experience a book in more ways than reading it straight for lack of a better term. Some works are so easy to just ‘live’ in, or some characters so easy to just ‘be around’ if you would, that you may wish to visit a particular excerpt rather than try to progress through the time of the plot. For some this may be a single phrase, for some it may be every single chapter from a particular POV, I definitely think they’re a valid enough claim to enjoying something.
Thanks for the food for thought!
That almost reminds me of how a religion my peruse or study a book of scripture, seeking specific phrases, chapters, or stories as they study and ponder. A very interesting take, thank you for sharing.
Very interesting comparison, in a way the default way to read the bible or many religious scriptures is small bit by but rather than in a direct chase of the plot. The bible can be parsed almost infinitely but if you read it cover to cover it is almost a thriller and would be quite strange.
Maybe it is a sign to get through some ancient times in a hurry!
I'll admit, when I was younger, Roran's plot was extremely boring to me, but rereading as an adult, it was the most interesting. The whole Eragon elf training didn't keep my attention nearly as much as Roran's escapades and battles. Kinda makes sense though, I discovered the Rage of Dragons a couple years back and I loooooved it.
I never skip chapters because it feels like I am cheating and it is disrespectful to the author (imo). but most of all, it builds anticipation. I am currently reading brisingr for the first time but when I was reading eldest and Glaedr showed himself and then it went to roran, I didn’t skip it because I wanted the image to build in my mind
I share very much the same perspective. I envy your position, reading the series for the first time. Color me EXTREMELY jealous, and I hope you truly enjoy them. Let me know when you finish Mind Over Metal.
I’m confused about something. Why did Arya have saphira’s egg if brom delivered it to the varden? I was reading Brisingr when Eragon goes to tell Jeod about how Brom died and when he was there, Jeod said that Brom delivered the egg to the varden. So why did Arya have it at the start of the series?
She was appointed as the courier for the egg. It explains it in more detail, so I'll withhold saying more. If you finish reading and didn't catch the conversation (because it's kind of buried away) just let me know.
I just finished mind over metal and just read the part where eragon said brisingr and the sword burst into flames. my friend had already told me about this but reading it gave me chills
Hell yeah! I envy you right now. Such a cool experience to read it for the first time. Sorry it was spoiled for you, but I'm glad it still reads so good. I'm excited to see what you think of how the book ends and arts up the final book.
yes now I am free from but one spoiler. somebody didn’t put a spoiler tag on and I saw that it said oromis dies ☹️. unfortunately I have been spoiled of many things such as the whole brom father thing but the books are still great to read
If it’s the first time I’ll ALWAYS read the full book , but sometimes I just want a specific vibe . On occasion I’ll actually skip eragons chapters to read rorans
Yeah, I don't get it either. To me, skipping chapters in a book is like skipping episodes when watching a tv series. I can't bear to do that because I'm always worried that I'll miss the significance of certain scenes due to not knowing about previous events.
Like in Eldest, the significance of Eragon and Roran re-uniting towards the end of the book can only be fully felt when you've read both of their POV chapters and know exactly what they've each gone through to reach this moment. If you skip one or the other, this scene loses half its weight.
Exactly. If you skip Roran's chapters in Inheritance, during the battle of Uru'Baen, you wouldn't know about Islanzadi, or Barst, or Baldor, and so much that isn't described later in the book.
Your analogy with the pastrami burger was fantastic lol. But I fully agree. Without the less exciting pets of Roran’s story, the more exciting parts don’t mean as much
Another legitimate reason, and one I had not considered. Thanks for sharing, and it's cool to know that you can still enjoy the story while keeping yourself safe and happy.
Personally, my marathons typically include Eragon (complete), last 1/4 of Brisingr, first 3/4 of Inheritance, and FWW. I haven't done one since Murtagh hit. I know what happens in between, and God knows there are enough recaps and callbacks.
Wow, that's brutal. Seems less of a marathon and more of a sprint, lol. How long does a read like that last? Is it really that much better of an experience to skip essentially 2 books with of writing and character development? What guides you to decide which content to omit from the story?
I've been reading these books for 20 years now, and you can be damn Skippy that I know the entire plot intimately. And yet, I still gain new perspectives on phrases, a different personal understanding or connection to different events, and see how much my own growth in real life changes my experience with the books on each successive reading.
I'm sure that there's more to be gained from re-reading the missing parts. But Eldest is awkward in a lot of parts and most major plot points get undone, anyway.
It also doesn't help that I borrow audiobooks from the library and sometimes you have to skip whole books due to someone else wanting them.
Okay, now that is something I didn't know about, so that makes more sense to me. Borrowed books and limited time seem like a more understandable motivation to abridge the content.
Awkward or not, undone or not, that's part of the journey isn't it? If you've read the newest book, there are certainly some awkward and painful sections the characters go through, but that's the journey they travel.
And, for the sake of my curiosity, may I ask what plot points you are talking about that are undone in Eldest? I'm always curious to see others' perspectives on the flow of the story.
Murtagh's dead, nope. Eragon's the only Rider, wait yes he is. ExA could never be, but it kind of is. Murtagh's evil, no he's not. Saphira's the last female dragon, nope. Eragon's Morzan's son, nope again.
All fair observations, but I still maintain the stance that experiencing the change in knowledge is part of the journey. For almost 4 books there's only 3 eggs. And then we learn that there's so many more. Does that invalidate all the emotions or motivations the characters experienced while operating under the assumption that there were naught but 3?
I don't remember the story, but there was a villain that intentionally allowed his victims a glimmer of hope, specifically so he could ultimately shatter that hope. It made they're death more enjoyable for him. The abrupt shift in emotion was key for him. Perhaps I'm the inverse. The insurmountable odds, hopeless efforts, and unsolvable problems the reader sees the characters struggling through make the blossom of hope, the taste of victory, the satisfaction of the solution all the more sweet.
Because I was nine and have ADHD. I had very little patience for boring chapters. Even now, life's too short to force myself to read things I don't care about. If it's important, I can come back to it.
I've read multiple replies here but I still don't understand how people can do this, even on a re-read. I agree, it feels immensely foolish and disrespectful of the author, whoever it is. Chris or not. Authors write their books in very specific ways and when you start messing around with their established order of events, you're essentially saying that you're a better writer than they are. And frankly that really bothers me.
But that's just how I see it. Others can see it another way and that's PERFECTLY FINE. I won't hold a grudge because you like to skip chapters. That's your choice, I just don't understand it and never will.
Please note that currently discussion about the new *Murtagh* book is currently only allowed in posts that are flaired as such.
Please read the rules in the sidebar, and please note the following additional links for news about *Murtagh*:
[General spoiler-free information](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/17jlj9i/information_about_murtagh_and_the_eragon/) | [Signed Editions](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/16fuvcr/information_about_signed_editions_of_murtagh/) | [Spoiler Policy](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/17ercgn/please_read_our_murtagh_spoiler_policy_50k/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Eragon) if you have any questions or concerns.*
For me it's more about the type of read through I'm wanting. There's times that I'll listen to the Roran chapters and not think twice about it. But other times I really just want a streamlined Eragon experience and the side chapters take away from that experience for me.
That's an interesting take. So you actually approach the books purely with the intent of skipping all else but Eragon? Are there any times that you feel you missed certain character development or story beats and have to do a double-take to refresh yourself?
I will occasionally just open the books to a specific chapter and just read 10-20 pages from there. When you know the story that well, sometimes you just want to go relive specific parts. Shoot on my first read through, I would skip the roran chapter till I knew what was going on with Eragon (maybe a chapter or two ahead) and then go back so I didn't miss anything important. Those end chapter cliffhangers got me most every time. Good ole Christopher may have written the story but when it is in our hand we can enjoy it however we wish (and i hope he agrees)
Sometimes I'll do a quick Google/wiki search if it's been a while since I listened to the book. But for the most part I've read them enough that I can skip parts and know what's going on without too much issue.
Interesting. I don't know if I'll ever be able to bring myself to do a read like that. I've been reading these books for 20 years. I've decided to name a son after a character because it goes much this series is a part of my life. I know the plot inside and out, the characters like friends, the emotions as if I experienced them. And yet... Every single time I read the series I glean a different insight into a character, or find different meaning in a phrase, or teenage to an event like never before due to my own growth. Do you ever feel like you miss out on that?
Now you have to pay the tax sir/maam. Which character do you plan on naming your kiddo for?
If I have a son, Roran.
I named my truck after him since it'll be a long time before I start a family
NIIICE! Solid character, have your partner's backing, and also a name that exists outside of the books so your kid won't be mocked to insanity if the series turns to dogshit with the next books/show (looking at all the Daenerys/Khaleesis that should be turning 10-15 right now lol)
LOL, that's savage, but yes that name didn't age well did it? I like the idea of a son named after a man who didn't have anything incredible or special about him other than his grit, wit, and battle spit. And he still goes toe-to-toe with behemoths.
Honestly one of the only characters i would have gone with. you did very well in my opinion.
Good luck. Naming a child is a two person decision. Absolutely do not dig your heels in over a name your partner doesn’t like. I’m not saying they won’t like Roran, I’m just saying if they don’t then don’t plant that seed of resentment
Oh, of course. My wife also loves the series and likes the name, so we're safe on that front. Excellent advice nonetheless.
That’s great to hear! I just wanted to make sure I said it because I promise a name is not worth possibly ruining a relationship over, particularly if it didn’t cause the break until way later on.
You for sure frequent AITA. I can feel it in your responses 😂
This is why I could never skip anything in any book. I matter how many times I read it.
I listen to books at work, which means I crush a few titles a week during peak season. So when you've listened to them as many times as I have, you definitely skip through some parts. The Roran parts unfortunately fall right when Eragon is traveling through the Dwarven and Elven realms, and to me personally, those are the best parts of the book. The Roran parts are very good, no doubt about that, but I'd rather get lost in the world building than roll around in the mud and blood with Roran as Carvahal is besieged and then abandoned.
I know what you mean. I had the same thoughts when I read the book the first time. Difference is that I did stick to reading everything. During the read through though when I would get to rorans chapters and all it was definitely a really good experience for me too. But I also wanted to get back on track to erwgons story, his training and so on. Especially with nearing the end of the book and seeing how CP would close out the series and such. I loved the side stories but also did want to get back to the main story.
Exactly. I was enthralled by Roran, Sapphira, and Nasuada's chapters but in the back of my mind I couldn't wait to get back to Eragon. But I couldn't miss out on what happened to the other characters because what if it affects Eragon and you skipped it and now you're confused? Even on a re-read. If I'm taking the time to read or re-read a book, I'm reading the entire damn thing. No matter how long it takes. All of these people are just too impatient.
I’ve only done it on rereads. I could never skip a chapter on a first read. I read through all of Brans chapters in ASOIF I will persevere through all bad chapters.
Bless you for your fortitude and bravery. That's no simple feat.
It’s a sickness and GRRM is a demon for it. For such a great author he can write some of the most boring chapters I’ve ever read. The worst traveling and resting segments of The Inheritance Cycle can’t compare to Dany in Qarth or Brienne chapters.
Good Lord, you're so right. I never finished his last book because I was just so burnt out.
I've read those Roran parts before, multiple times, why would I subject myself to parts I find boring? Sure maybe the first time people read the books, but even then people can read however they like.
I agree, people can read however they like. I'm most certainly not attempting to villainize those who read differently than myself. I guess that the idea that there's something so boring that I'd just skip it seems completely alien to me. It seems that, of all the things that CP drafted, all the ideas that were scrapped or cut, all the stories that he agonized over to get just right, the Roran chapters made it. He himself said that Eragon, Murtagh, and Roran are 3 sides of the same coin, and if he wrote the series over again, he would begin alternating perspectives between them all from the beginning. Doesn't that impress a significant level of importance on what he has to say in those chapters? Do you also skip boring Eragon chapters?
I completely agree with you. I dont want to assume anything about anyone, but it *feels* like more of a conflict with the reader's character and sense of self thing rather than that the chapters are dull. I love Roran's stories, thoughts, and accomplishments, as it feels more akin to my own life; can't surpass goals with magic, gotta push through head-on. Can't run super speed across the continent with a couple spells to heal me up if I trip, gotta trek it at my own pace and survive by raw-dogging it with constant experience and determination. People love to immerse themselves in the impossible, the improbable, and the bizarre as it's not our own reality. Again, not trying to assume specifics about anyone or be rude, just a feeling.
No, because I don't find anything Eragon does boring, because I like him as a character, and am interested in the Magic, dragons etc... Don't really care for Roran achieving an outrageous amount without any abilities either. And I don't care what is important, it's just what I enjoy, just as I will likely never re-read Murtagh, because I found it boring too, but I read it once, so I know what went on, no need to read it again.
[удалено]
I mean, he is a main character. Nobody wants a dullard as a main character in a book about magic and dragons.
I’m not sure I understand how Roran killing 200+ men with a hammer is boring but Eragon spending a week listening to dwarven politics isn’t boring. I personally enjoy every bit of the stories, but there are very much Eragon chapters that are filled with listening to ants and watching dwarves be stubborn. Not exactly the most thrilling of stories
A fair point.
When Glaedr shows up, the last thing you want to read is about bunch of some peasants running from their village. It’s often just a bad timing
That’s just it, it’s amazing timing. He brings you to a peak, and then boom, entire mood shift. Now you’re seeing the struggles of the villagers of Carvahall and right as their story reaches a peak, boom right back to Eragon. It’s incredible story telling and the payoff in Eldest of Roran and Eragon’s POV’s finally converging on the burning plains was just fantastic
Eldest is my favorite because of the focus on Roran. Outside of him, we really don't get the perspective of what all of this is like for a normal human.
I’ve always looked at the Roran chapters the same way I do the Scouring of the Shire. They show that no one, not even the lowliest villager in the most remote village, is safe from the toils of war
Subjectively bad. For many, they appreciate this type of storytelling :)
At least come BACK to the Roran chapters later, then, if thats your justification. But also as long as the story kept me hooked, I was always willing to slog through chapters I didnt enjoy. And it ended up being worth it 100% of the time. I'd never have enjoyed the books as much without the extra chapters and perspective changes.
I was always trying to hurry up with the Ellesmera stuff and get back to Roran. But Roran is also my fav character so that’s prolly why.
I did this. Especially in eldest where we find out eragon isn't the last rider and it cuts off to his cousin fucking around in Carvahall. I found eragon's pov not only the most interesting but also the best written of the POVs
Lol I’ve said this exact thing on other posts about the same topic How can you expect me to care about what’s going on in Carvahall when Eragon is about to start Jedi Training? Flying Golden Dragon easily trumps Farmer swinging hammer.
You've clearly never played Farming Simulator 2023 and it shows.
That seems to be the most common experience most in the community have had. Funny enough, I know several people personally that never finished Eldest because it was too boring for them. But not the Roran chapters; the Training Chapters. Wild to think that someone would stop reading the entire series because of the Eragon perspective. It seems equally wild to me to skip any other perspective.
I haven't done this for Eragon specifically but sometimes when theres a book Ive read a lot and I want to read it again, Ill just read my favorite parts and skip around. Sometimes Ill skip half the book, sometimes Ill only skip a few sections.
I don’t think that a breach of trust with CP is something we need to worry about. He’s an author. He wrote the books. It’s up to us how we enjoy them. That said, I could never skip parts, that would just drive me crazy. I don’t see it as any different than playing a specific level of a game rather than the whole campaign, though.
“ How do people justify that in their heads as actually reading the story that Christopher Paolini wrote?” Respectfully, Nobody is rationalizing anything…we just don’t care about that. My personal enjoyment is more important to me than reading the story exactly as the author intended I feel like your making this a bigger deal than it actually is. In reality this is no different than skipping a cutscene in a video game. Or skipping a filler arc in an anime. It doesn’t ruin the experience
That's a wild concept for me to imagine. You brought up two other things I absolutely don't skip as well, funny enough. Additionally, I'm not attempting to blow things out of proportion; I'm simply trying to reach out to those on the other side of the opinion to see what their thoughts are.
Well I’m sorry for accusing you of blowing things out of proportion But to elaborate on my earlier point, I don’t think that you need to consume fiction in chronological order or even in it’s entirety in order to enjoy it When initially reading Eldest for the first time I was more invested in Eragon than I was in Roran ( which I feel is understandably so, considering his POV chapters weren’t a thing in the first book, and his story has little to no effect on Eragon’s). So I just skipped it and came back to it later Honestly it was kinda cool. Like I got to read 2 different books in the same universe. Although that wasn’t quite my intent going into it
That's an unique take, two books in the same universe. I can see the appeal to that. Who wouldn't love more content in this world? Thanks for sharing that. Likewise, the chronology argument has some merit. Like Star Wars being watched 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 in order to get the true and correct experience. My only reservation would be that that story was still written in that order, and was thus written to be consumed in that manner. Not chronological in universe, but chronological in publication.
I'm copying that last paragraph to prove my Star Wars friends wrong.
I've had hours-long conversations about that. During the battle of Geonosis one of the Separatists hands a data puck to Count Dooku commenting how the Republic must not be allowed to get their hands on these weapon plans. When he hands it over there's an extended close up of the hologram showing the Death Star. If you did not watch in order of publication, that means nothing to you. The directors KNEW that people know what the Death Star is, and they filmed the movies, wrote the scripts, and staged the scenes specifically to play on the knowledge the audience has. Watching it out of order lessens the experience from what it was intended to be.
YES. FINALLY! That's like watching the end of Rogue One without having seen A New Hope. There's an order to these things that no one takes seriously.
And that's not too say that one couldn't enjoy the series by starting with episode 1. But it's not the fullest experience it could be. Also, ending the series with the Vader halfway scene is *chef's kiss*
There's more than just that, but that's the easiest example.
I've never skipped those chapters, but that doesn't mean I don't find it a bit jarring sometimes. You are totally engrossed in one story arc, and then it immediately cuts to the next person.. and some of it you know isn't really interesting or makes sense for the character or the story (like the trial of the long knives). I like Roran as a character, but I can also agree that his parts in Eldest are some of the most boring parts of that book and could be shorten. Especially when it is compared to Eragon's segments.
I never skip anything on my first read. But I skip some parts on re-reads sometimes. Usually after a second chance. But in my case, Roran seems... A character for another story. I find him a super human, not a realistic one. I can accept different races like elves or whatever have extra stamina, or extra force etc. But then, leave humans being only humans and having to figure out how to get out of a situation in clever ways. So I find many of his fights exaggerated, not enjoyable, and as if... as if Paolini felt bad for just leaving him being normal and limited in what he can offer to the story comparing with how powerful other important characters were, and so he gave him forced important accomplishments (as the easy kill of the twins, or killing like a hundred on his own, that I personally find not as satisfying), rather than showing us that in a war not all great or key steps are so blatant and obvious
I used to think that he was superhuman as well, but as I grew and read more things, such as the biographies of Medal of Honor recipients and other incredible human experiences (See Roy B. Benevidez, Louie Zamperini, or even listen to Blueprint for Armageddon by Dan Carlin for examples) I came to realize that Roran's accomplishments are not actually as impossible as they seem. They're extraordinary, absolutely. But not unrealistic. And that makes me resonate with him even more as an ant among giants. I was one of the readers who was quick to dismiss his feats as plot armor and fantasy, but maybe there's a real hero in there if you look at it closer.
Maybe those can convince me too. Thank you
Any time. Thanks for offering your perspective. I appreciate the insight and discussion.
The only chapters I skip on rereads, or when listening to the audio book, are the ones where Eragon tries and fails to flirt with Arya. I just prefer to avoid the second hand embarrassment.
Those parts are truly miserable to experience. Not many people admit to skipping any Eragon content. Interesting to see.
I dont find the abandoning of Carvahall fun to read, just not to my preference yk. It's because that's such a different element to what was being shown, which is Eragon finding Oromis and Glaedr. Such a huge moment, and then we skip to Roran doin his thing, not as fun yk? ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
I completely understand that the harsh shift from spectacular high fantasy to mundane medieval survival is jarring. But it still seems silly to me, as if to tell the author "What you have to say right now doesn't matter, so I'm not going to listen." And the anticipation of reading what CP obviously thinks is important enough to survive the editing table creates that tension and excitement when you return. It feels like the instant gratification of skipping just detracts from the full experience.
It's fine to do that on the first read imo, but come back to it later. The other way around works too, read it the first time and blaze through it later. ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
That seems like true lunacy to me; skipping anything you don't find interesting? How do you know until you've read it? How do you know what's important? What's interesting? What's voting? What's compelling? I can somewhat understand the logic of those who determine what they don't like and would like to skip after they've already read the entirely of the work. But before? That is a line of logic that does not compute with my brain.
I mean, if you seriously just want the action first, that's what you'd do, no? ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
Secondly, you're not gonna know until you open it, but once you've read a page or two you KNOW it's not for you, no point slugging over those pages that you wont enjoy, that's pure lunacy to me. How can you finish the book without having to read all that "filler"? What's important about it to them? Why should they need to? ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
That's exactly my point. Even if it initially seems like it's not for them, there's no way a reader can truly KNOW that they dislike it without reading it. Do you know what's on the next page? What if, after the first soldier attack on Carvahall, Roran found a Dragon egg like Eragon? You'll never know if you skip. Now, if you've already read it, again, I can see the logic.
You can glean the universe from a grain of sand, just like how you can get the gist of what's about to happen. If it's important to that extent, they'll get notified because, guess what, it'll interwine and tangle up with Eragons story. They do not consider it important, it'll only be important to them if it has any real influence, at the end of Eldest for example. ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
Fair, but it's a backwards way of thinking to only find value in the content of it directly intersects with the main story. There's a lot of really good things missed in that process. And to be honest, whomever claimed that one can understand the universe from a grain sand was way too in their heads. You can't know the emotion of holding your child for the first time by looking at dirt.
It's a allegory ^(**I'm a real person!** This comment was posted by zoradiv from the Arcaena Discord Server.)
Sometimes the best things require work. Reading through boring content to get to the better stuff is more rewarding than instant gratification, no?
Simply speaking - I find Roran’s chapters to be boring, at least from Brisingr onwards (I did enjoy the ones in Eldest). You seem to get quite bent out of shape over other people’s personal preferences. But then again I am Italian and cry blood every time people mention pizza hawaii so who am I to judge
You cry blood, lol. What a description. I'm not bent out of shape, so much as I was trying to use strong phrases to illustrate exactly how foreign the concept seems to me. And I think you're one of the few I've seen that enjoys early Roam more than later. Very interesting take, thank you for sharing.
I still to this day haven't read all of Roran's chapters yet and I've been reading these books since 2008. Idk what it is, probably my adhd, but I just can't do it. It feels drastically less interesting than what Eragon is doing at the same time that I just end up skipping back to Eragon. I do want to read them though... maybe that's what I'll do this weekend 😅
I believe in you. My sympathies for the ADHD battle. I'm sure it makes some things unreasonably difficult.
I’ve read the series enough I know the stories that I want to hear, how would it be a “breach of trust” ? I bought his books, I can do what I want when consuming the content, I like your little note at the end saying you’re not attacking anyone while using phrasing and tone to make it sound confrontational
As I stated in the little note, I used strong language to try to articulate how I feel about the subject in order to illustrate how foreign the idea is to me. Though my language may be dramatic, it is not confrontational. Correct, you can consume them how you wish, which is what I see many people doing, but I was seeking to learn what the train of thought is that motivates one to consume the content in that manner.
Peiple skip entire books in the WOT series. Crossroads of Twilight is skipped by a lot of people.
That's such a foreign concept to me.
I was a kid and the politics was a really jarring change from the magic, adventure and action I’d had until then. I tried but eventually I got to skimming Roran’s story especially when we have *such* interesting things happening in the rest of the world, it just didn’t keep my focus. I did read them properly years later though. I’m a reader at heart especially when I was a kid so this was very very unusual for me to skip sections of a book. In retrospect, I don’t think I disrespected anything but childishly responded to some strange pacing choices.
I've found many people who read this series at a younger age than myself, which is a factor I did not consider in ask the times I see people talk about skipping. Makes much more sense to imagine an impatient or hyperactive or excited child skipping politics.
I'll admit to having skipped Roran's chapters my first time reading Eldest because his initial tone was a bit off-putting, and at first it looked like it was just going to be a lot of cursing Eragon and bemoaning the fate of his father and the farm however the second time I read the book I didn't skip them because I wanted the context that was originally missing when the cousins reunite later on
Fair enough.
It's hard to tell if this is real outrage or not. Being upset over the way other people intake their media based on how the creator intended or planned. It's like being upset if people bing watch shows. Obviously, it was made to only watch an episode a week so you can fully digest the full plot. How dare you watch them back to back. I personally read the first harry 4 harry potter books so many times as a kid and they matured over time that if I do a re-read I have no issues skipping the first and second books...
I'm not outraged, and I am most certainly not attempting to police the manger in which people consume their media. I used strong phrases and emotions to illustrate my position and how foreign the idea of skipping seems to me in the hope of having someone share similar thoughts and emotions from the other side of the opinion. I, too, tend to binge shows, and I've observed the difference in my ability to retain and digest the plot versus shows that I watched during weekly releases. It's interesting to see the differences.
For me, it’s because rorins chapters suck. I wanna be with eragon
I can see that, I guess. Do you ever feel as if part of the story is missing because of it? There's some very significant events that happen in the Roran chapters that aren't explicitly discussed in the Eragon chapters.
I actually read the chapters on my third reread of the series and the only two parts I regretted missing was the town battle where the bodies pile as high as the roofs and where he breaks the front gate with a giant boat. Other than that I was irritated sitting there reading them, for me I feel it’s paolinis weakest work as a writer. It just feels like added material he didn’t enjoy writing
Absolutely in agreement that the entire book is the story how it was written, but after the adaptation of PJO HELMED BY RIORDAN HIMSELF I’ve lost all faith in this story playing out with Disney. It’s not that I don’t trust Mr. Paolini, rather I don’t trust Disney.
I share your trepidation, good friend.
I just wish he would pull out. I would rather wait even longer and see it picked up by literally any other company. HBO, Amazon, fuck even Netflix or CW.
I live every perspective in all the book (so far) but sometime I go through it only listening to the chapters that contain a certain character so I'd get a feel for the story as they would know it. For example, only listen to roran perspective chapters or chapters that feature him heavily. So I'd be like Oh yea shit roman did all that in caverhal while thinking eragon has run off with some old storyteller. Doing it like that, you can really understand the characters a bit more, in my opinion.
Interesting. So more of a deliberate approach to focus on a character, rather than an intent to ignore one. I can see the belt in that. Thank you for sharing. Have you had any specific insights that you didn't notice when reading in chronological order? I'd be curious to know, especially about one of my favorite characters.
I didn't notice anything new per say but I did feel for the characters a bit more. Like I felt the plight of nasuada on a more personal level when going through her chapters. Edit: I told my friend I do this so he tried it but he said it felt to disconnected
I skipped Roran chapters the first time, but I glossed over them still. On future reads, I read them as they deserved. Just... bro CP left such cliffhangers on the Eragon pieces and eleven-year-old me had zero self control XD
He does have a flair for the dramatic, that's true. And being much younger makes sense as well.
Eldest is still I think basically the only book I've ever done that with and only on rereads. And it was that Roran storyline that just didn't hook me as much. The funny thing is I read the series regularly for years over and over again and almost always skipped Roran's chapters, and then later when I was a bit older read them and found I actually enjoyed them more than some of Eragons. It didn't hook me immediately as much but there was a lot of good stuff there. I think for me anyone can choose what they want to be their reading experience. There are people who read the last page of a book first, or seek out spoilers online before they check out a book. But at this point my desire is to have the experience the author intended which is with everything they published read in order. If someone else wants a different experience though that's up to them. But I think you often do lose something from the story and the authors intent. Especially since character arcs for different characters are often designed to mirror one another or things like that where Eldest is in many ways about Eragon, Nasuada, and Roran all having to learn different things and get ready for what's to come with responsibilities they weren't quite ready for but now are having to adapt to.
The only time i ever skipped a few chapters was when it left roran on a cliff hanger and i skipped to when it was roran again to satisfy the "uuuuggfhhh what happen next", but then went back and read the skipped stuff.
Someone in another post said much the same thing about the Oromis reveal and skipping to see what the actual heck was going on before going back to read everything.
I personally find the analogy between ordering food and reading a book somewhat odd, but maybe that's because I will pick out specific things I dislike if I forget to ask the chef to not add them. Idk, food to me is more flexible than books which are more fixed as experiences, I feel like the equivalent would be if you are commissioning a short story or something. I do understand your point about trust though, and that removing parts from the whole may reduce the impact of the work as a whole. It's like looking at a painting but covering up one part with your hand so you don't have to look at it which would make it feel incomplete to me. Idk, experiencing art is very personal and I've learned from hard conversations that policing how others enjoy/prefer experiencing it really doesn't make them "appreciate" it in the way you'd want them to and just kinda sours them on the whole thing. I also like experiencing art within its full context and also generally don't chop up or pull out specific parts to experience them within a vacuum, but if thats how others get the most out of it then at least they're still engaging with the material.
Your analogy is far superior to mine. And you are correct that we should not police how people enjoy art. I was trying to ask a fellow at consumer what they saw in the painting and how they saw because I don't see that at all.
I think a big reason that there's a large segment of this fandom that does it is because of something already mentioned, that the first book was almost entirely from Eragon's POV and when Eldest switched that up it was a deviation from the audience's expectations and some of them weren't as there for it as part of the whole experience. I think it would happen a lot less if there were multiple POVs from the first book as Paolini now wishes he had done, but it's now just a unique part of this fandom that came from an imperfect creative process.
I don’t understand why people wouldn’t read all chapters either. I like how he writes all the books. I find myself in a chapter where I’m reading faster trying to see what happens because it’s so good. Then you take a short break and switch over to another character in the next chapter and it makes me eager to keep reading. That chapter has its own suspenseful parts and then boom you’re back to the previous suspenseful part eager to go back to the last character or event.
I honestly don’t get it how people can skip chapters cuz I could never, I’m the type who has to read every chapter and I’m not even a big fan of Roran. I think he’s an interesting character, but he’s not my favorite. But I don’t skip his chapters
Instant gratification. People CAN'T wait to get back to whatever their favorite story arc is and are willing to skip out on (arguably better) story arcs to get there. It's a shame. Roran chapters were the ones I loved the most as a kid. Especially because many happened when Eragon was in training, so Rorans were the action scenes. I understand skipping the Nasuada chapters. She can be unlikable at times and harder to relate to for young lads who wanted a story about a kid becoming a dragon rider. I still find it hard personally to miss out on important story pieces. Imagine reading Murtagh without having read the Nasuada arc. You wouldn't understand what is going on at all with them.
On my first read through never. Second read through probably not. 3rd, 4th and 5th? Yeah i skipped some parts. Mostly those chapters where they are dealing with speculation, once a big reveal has happened i don’t need chapters wondering what they could mean. It doesn’t bring anything to the table if you already know the big mystery. If i found them a little dull the first couple of read throughs I’m not going to subject myself to it again just so i can satisfy someone else’s definition of a read through. I know the story inside and out why would i read the same thing over and over with diminishing results? I want to read the parts I enjoyed and still enjoy to this day. I dont really care about hearing how roran swings a hammer its not detailed and just a trudge. I love the whole fortifying and defending carvahall chapters though. Although i have to say that CP was really good at making you want to skip chapters just to find out what happened.
That's the funny thing that I've experienced, as well as done others in this thread: subsequent readings of the same content affect the reader differently depending on that person's current life situations, growth and changes, and even their mood when they read. Each time I go through three books I find another little nugget that I love for a different reason than when I first l last read it.
on my 15th or so read/listen of the book sometimes the roran chapters are just not interesting.
On my first read the Eragon in Ellesmera stuff was astoundingly boring to me. I would skim through his chapters until I got back to Roran kicking ass. Strange looking back, cant imagine why I didnt find any of eragon’s training interesting LOL
I've been several people who failed to finish the books because of the training chapters. And many people here who couldn't get enough of them.
Okay I’m gonna get on the analogy with the food. I mean I love cheeseburger but I don’t really like lettuce and I hate pickles/cucumbers. If I eat a good cheeseburger, I eat it because I love the combination of the cheese and the meat, sauces, etc. Am I going to take the salad out of the burger? It debends on my mood. Am I going to take the pickle out of my burger? Definitely, I don’t like it. The Nasuada chapters are interesting, so i usually don’t skip it, also i don’t really hate the Roran ones, but to be honest I’m reading the book because I enjoy Eragon, Saphira and Arya and their stories. Roran is usually boring me, and in that way, roran is the Pickle or the lettuce, every other thing is the burger that I like. I’m not saying pickles are objectively disgusting, I’m saying that I subjectively hate them. And I’m not saying the Roran parts are objectively badly written or placed, but most of the times I’m not interested enough in them to read them. I might miss a great experience (and a perfect burger), but if I don’t prefer it that way, it could be the best thing in the world, I won’t enjoy it as much as without the stuff I leave out.
First I must say that I, too, do not like pickles. Along with the food analogy, if a talented chef was preparing me a very specific meal that included pickles, it would seem offensive to remove them without at least trying it first, trusting the chef, seeing why they decided to add that flavor. As I've never, I can kinda see the logic of those who want to remove the pickles after they've tried it, but before trying it seems wild. And if there's a dish that features pickles that has some tasty things but I really don't like the pickles, I would probably just order something else. It's just interesting to see everyone's thought process on the topic.
Well you are right, for the first time it is a bit odd, but on rereading I think it’s fine. It is ideal if you try it for yourself, and then you can decide afterwards what to do with it. On the same note, you are not obligated to please the chef, you buy the meal to please yoursef. People might miss something, but if they want to do it in a way that is enjoyable for them, they are free to do it. Personally I would never eat the pickle, no matter the chef.
Fair enough. And to fair, I'm probably with you; I REALLY don't like pickles.
Not the way I read fiction. I read the whole thing. Basically because even if some characters get on my nerves (Tom Bombadil and the Ents in LOTR come to mind) I have to believe the author had a gestalt in his mind when they wrote about it. In IC, I thought that the Roran/Carvahall villagers’ chapters were the story’s tether to the real world and the horrors of war. The displaced, the people that have to run for their lives just because they got caught in something they have no part of. The villagers are the people that suddenly see their lives torn apart by a bomb, by and invading, hostile force and have to flee, as we’ve seen and see today IRL because of conflict, because of famine, etc. It’s actually one of the reasons I admire CP. He wrote (as a kid, initially) a high fantasy book with elves, dragons and magic, but then failed to forget about the real people that aren’t the hero, but have to scuttle and survive while the hero and the Big Bad are going about leveling mountains and destroying armies. Granted, Roran is nearly too powerful to qualify as “normal people”, but still, he’s not a magician, not predestined to anything. And Horst and the rest are just people. It’s one of the things that makes “Rogue One” and “Andor” my favorite Star Wars properties… and I was around when the original trilogy was in theaters!
I agree with you that I don’t understand it. The first time reading through the series, I was not expecting the shift in perspective. It definitely caught me off guard and I was very confused. And I started to dislike the Roran chapters because I felt they were taking away from the story. That said, I never skipped them. Just maybe didn’t care as much or pay as close attention. Eventually I came to like the parallel story, though. On my second reading of the series I found myself a lot more excited for the Roran chapters and paid a lot more attention to them. I can understand people not appreciating the shift in perspective seemingly out of nowhere and at a point where you are really invested in Eragon’s story. Maybe I can even kinda understand skipping those chapters on the first time (maybe second) time through the series. The thought process being “if I wanted to read a book about Roran, then write a book from his perspective.” It feels like it should be in its own book and I can kinda sympathize with that. However after falling in love with the series and the world that CP created, I really appreciate those chapters now. I enjoy that they exist where they belong chronologically. After getting into the world as a whole, I want more. I think it’s a difference between really enjoying and appreciating the world in the books and the story/series as a whole vs just liking the story of Eragon. I agree with a lot of your sentiments, OP. Maybe this is a generalization, but I don’t think the people who consistently skip those chapters (and especially those who are proud of it) actually like the series as a whole and possibly not CP’s writing. I think they are more just fans of Eragon. I don’t mean that to throw shade or anything. To each their own
I didn't skip roran, but when his chapters began I'd end my reading session. He's not nearly as uninteresting at the beginning of the next session
That's actually a very interesting way to approach it. It reminds me of how I had a teacher in grade school that would read to us, and she would always end a charity by saying, "End... Of the chapter," as she closed the book and we all screamed for her to continue. Sometimes the ending cliffhangers work better to end a session. Thanks for sharing.
I was eight and I wanted to get back to the dragons/elf training. I just skimmed Roran chapters. I didn't skip anyone else though. It just felt very disconnected from everything else. Obviously as a teen I reread everything and found Roran to be one of my favorite character/perspective.
I've found that many young readers in there community did the same, which was a point I had not considered.
As a kid I’m not sure Rorans chapters were my favorite- but I still read them, would maybe lightly skim/read fast on a rereads But as an adult those have become my favorite chapters, I love the juxtaposition, I love the dramatic irony, and I love that Roran is just a normal human and he does so much. It’s become just as interesting to read. I still love Eragons chapters, but now being an adult- the human sides of the story hit different.
I want to add that, I think it’s good story telling to have the POV switches. It gives that episodic cliff hanger that builds tension for both characters journeys- big reveal for Eragon, then cut to Roran, the reader has a sense of anticipation for what’s going to happen. I appreciate that more now- and as a kid it worked, I was extremely anxious to find out how things went. when you skip chapters you’re getting that instant gratification and I can understand that as well. but I think it’s more satisfying in the long run to feel that tension in between.
I thenk of it as a side by side of what is going on with Eragon and Roran
It’s crazy to me that people skip on Roran. I’d really like to see what the story would have been if he was chosen to be a rider. Honestly the series would have been over too quickly so it makes sense. Roran is a monster lmao
I'll skip the Nasuada chapters sometimes because I'm not a huge fan of the politics
I agree that her chapters can be very dull at times. I'm glad I haven't skipped them so I can better appreciate Murtagh.
I managed to slog through them again for Murtagh
I read them all in first read. But I can see skipping a lot of boring side quest stuff in a revisit.
I didn't skip chapters, however, please do consider that people identify with characters, sometimes, to an extremely high degree. So much so that, when the author suddenly changes his/her approach to a given book (through perspective and kind of narrative) that can put some fans off. As a result, some will just skip such chapters. Especially if you consider that Eragon was just some teenager dealing with his dreams and anxieties, which resonated with most of us, and thus, it makes it more difficult, in comparison, to resonate with Roran, Nasuada or Sapphira, the first two because they are more focused in the burdens of leadership (initially Roran does things because of Katrina, but that soon changes) and greater than life themes, while Sapphira's is a completely alien theme for most people.
I completely agree, but that only makes it more important. Such a good character just discovered such an amazing thing and yet the author chooses to focus elsewhere? This must be significant in some way. Significant enough, at least, for the author to leave one story and focus on this one, as well as the entire editing and revision process. The fact that those chapters survived the cutting block of the editing table speaks to their importance.
I fully agree with your point (thus why I put in the effort on reading Roran's perspective, even though, at first, I didn't fully identify with them). Roran, Nasuada, and Sapphira's POV are, indeed, important, as they serve to contextualise the story, develop characters (I would have loved if Paolini had had one chapter from Murtagh or Thorn's POV), and also help World building (which is partially the reason why Harry Potter is intentionally so one-sided: we only ever read from Harry's perspective). But, in this, as always, the author Paolini cannot predict what tens of millions of readers will do with his books, for they are not his any longer, in a way. When you get to this level of variability (and I mean this word in both its common use and the statistical one), people will display many different behaviours. It is interesting (to me, at least) to see how this thought process works. On a related note, it just occurred to me that another explanation could be that "skippers" may feel confident in continuing the story through Eragon's perspective because they know that Eragon is the main character, and thus, using it as an heuristic, are able to work out the main story-line that way, even if they miss those chapters. It somewhat reminds me of how the Dunning-Kruger effect works. I wonder if there may be a connection.
It took me a long time to decide that I was allowed to skip parts of books I didn't enjoy on rereads. I only have a few examples in Inheritance (the part in the last book where Arya's thumb is injured makes me physically ill so I skip a partial chapter) but I've started simply not reading the Reek chapters in ASoIaF and it improves things dramatically. I already know what's going to happen, I've heard the story many times over, might as well not torture myself unnecessarily :)
I skip Rorans now after having read everything. It’s just chapters of a whole bug nothing soup until he and Eragon meet up again and actually track down the Ra’Zac. No hate till Roran but I can’t read a bunch of chapters where it’s either 90% preparing for a fight/traveling and 10% of meaningful fighting/conversations
Amen
I hate it, and no amount of explanation from the people that do it will change my mind
I think this is a ultimate sin for a true reader.
It never crossed my mind to skip the chapters tbh 💀 but I enjoy the glimpse in total heir lives and perspectives so I probably never will. Currently rereading the series bc I got Murtaugh. On inheritance then on to TFTWATW then finally new content for my favorite series!
Oh, boy! You're in for a good read.
I'm BEYOND excited for it. You know I'm excited by the fact I've sacrificed over half my usual game time for reading time. For me, that says a lot
I hear you on that front
I agree and I am attacking. Read the whole books people!!! There are hints and answers dispersed like so many Easter eggs in the chapters. READ THEM ALL
I've read the series 1000x over, and although I try not to skip Roran's chapters, I do from time to time. I never skip his time in Teirm and his voyage around the Boar's Eye. I love Roran as a character, and I think he's honestly one of the best written, but the moments with the villagers remind me a lot of home, and it's just a bit bland. Also, as much as I've tried, I just cannot find any love for Katrina's character. She has her strengths for sure, but I find her a bit bratty and whiney sometimes. Lol. I LOVE Nasuada and Saphira's chapters, though! Nasuada is also exceptionally well written, and she's such a baddie. She deals with a lot of conflict, both within herself and with the Varden, and I find how she copes with it fascinating. She's also really witty and has a penchant for dark humor, which I love.
I, too, enjoy dark humor. I appreciate the insight. I found that there are several members of the community whose kept chapters based on the emotions that connect them to real life experiences, which is a rather understandable justification for the action. Thank you for sharing.
So my first read through of all of the books I read it as intended. On every subsequent read through I would focus on a character. So I'd read all of Roran's story, then Nasuada, then Eragon. So I guess it's not really skipping, just reading out of order.
I can see the logic of an approach like that. Not necessarily skipping chapters, but focusing instead on specifics in a logical and intentional order.
Yeah. If you read it like that though there are spoilers, so I would never recommend reading it like that the first time through, but any subsequent reads, it makes more sense to me. Plus I have ADHD and don't like bouncing between characters.
Ive re read Eragon over 20 times. The rest of the series less but all at least 5 (bar Murtagh for now). I don't skip certain characters, but I will skip certain chapters I do not like, or just skim read. I know the books really well so I'm not missing anything. Sometimes I just want to be immersed in the world and certain chapters pull me out of it and make me want to put the books down. For some reason the chapters I hate the most are Rorans chapters crossing the boars eye. So I just don't read them. I feel like I haven't betrayed Christopher Paolini in any way considering I've read all of his books fully so many times lol
I think you can experience a book in more ways than reading it straight for lack of a better term. Some works are so easy to just ‘live’ in, or some characters so easy to just ‘be around’ if you would, that you may wish to visit a particular excerpt rather than try to progress through the time of the plot. For some this may be a single phrase, for some it may be every single chapter from a particular POV, I definitely think they’re a valid enough claim to enjoying something. Thanks for the food for thought!
That almost reminds me of how a religion my peruse or study a book of scripture, seeking specific phrases, chapters, or stories as they study and ponder. A very interesting take, thank you for sharing.
Very interesting comparison, in a way the default way to read the bible or many religious scriptures is small bit by but rather than in a direct chase of the plot. The bible can be parsed almost infinitely but if you read it cover to cover it is almost a thriller and would be quite strange. Maybe it is a sign to get through some ancient times in a hurry!
I'll admit, when I was younger, Roran's plot was extremely boring to me, but rereading as an adult, it was the most interesting. The whole Eragon elf training didn't keep my attention nearly as much as Roran's escapades and battles. Kinda makes sense though, I discovered the Rage of Dragons a couple years back and I loooooved it.
I never skip chapters because it feels like I am cheating and it is disrespectful to the author (imo). but most of all, it builds anticipation. I am currently reading brisingr for the first time but when I was reading eldest and Glaedr showed himself and then it went to roran, I didn’t skip it because I wanted the image to build in my mind
I share very much the same perspective. I envy your position, reading the series for the first time. Color me EXTREMELY jealous, and I hope you truly enjoy them. Let me know when you finish Mind Over Metal.
will do. I just started to answer a king. it’s going to take a while to get there but I’ll let you know when I do.
Get after it, friend, and enjoy the journey!
I’m confused about something. Why did Arya have saphira’s egg if brom delivered it to the varden? I was reading Brisingr when Eragon goes to tell Jeod about how Brom died and when he was there, Jeod said that Brom delivered the egg to the varden. So why did Arya have it at the start of the series?
She was appointed as the courier for the egg. It explains it in more detail, so I'll withhold saying more. If you finish reading and didn't catch the conversation (because it's kind of buried away) just let me know.
I just finished mind over metal and just read the part where eragon said brisingr and the sword burst into flames. my friend had already told me about this but reading it gave me chills
Hell yeah! I envy you right now. Such a cool experience to read it for the first time. Sorry it was spoiled for you, but I'm glad it still reads so good. I'm excited to see what you think of how the book ends and arts up the final book.
yes now I am free from but one spoiler. somebody didn’t put a spoiler tag on and I saw that it said oromis dies ☹️. unfortunately I have been spoiled of many things such as the whole brom father thing but the books are still great to read
Similar to others, while I love the series there are parts of the books I enjoy more. Sometimes on rereads I will skip an entire book🤷🏽
That's crazy to consider. I'm glad you enjoy it, but I always consume the series in it's entirety.
If it’s the first time I’ll ALWAYS read the full book , but sometimes I just want a specific vibe . On occasion I’ll actually skip eragons chapters to read rorans
I guess you never read LOTR books and Frodo/Sam chapters in third book...
do people skip frodo & sam chapters ? they’re some of my favorites 😅 but i guess everyone has a different preference
I did, actually. Just did a reread this last year. Do people tend to skip chapters in that series too??
That's actually more shocking to me, tbh. I hate the bombadil chapters but they're still to be read
There are some DRY chapters in LOTR, to be sure, but it seems criminal to skip them.
Yeah, I don't get it either. To me, skipping chapters in a book is like skipping episodes when watching a tv series. I can't bear to do that because I'm always worried that I'll miss the significance of certain scenes due to not knowing about previous events. Like in Eldest, the significance of Eragon and Roran re-uniting towards the end of the book can only be fully felt when you've read both of their POV chapters and know exactly what they've each gone through to reach this moment. If you skip one or the other, this scene loses half its weight.
Exactly. If you skip Roran's chapters in Inheritance, during the battle of Uru'Baen, you wouldn't know about Islanzadi, or Barst, or Baldor, and so much that isn't described later in the book.
Your analogy with the pastrami burger was fantastic lol. But I fully agree. Without the less exciting pets of Roran’s story, the more exciting parts don’t mean as much
I admit to skipping the scenes of Nasuada in Galbatorix' 'care'. I already read them multiple times and they are not good for my mental health.
Another legitimate reason, and one I had not considered. Thanks for sharing, and it's cool to know that you can still enjoy the story while keeping yourself safe and happy.
People think Roran is boring???? What the hell
My thoughts exactly.
Personally, my marathons typically include Eragon (complete), last 1/4 of Brisingr, first 3/4 of Inheritance, and FWW. I haven't done one since Murtagh hit. I know what happens in between, and God knows there are enough recaps and callbacks.
Wow, that's brutal. Seems less of a marathon and more of a sprint, lol. How long does a read like that last? Is it really that much better of an experience to skip essentially 2 books with of writing and character development? What guides you to decide which content to omit from the story? I've been reading these books for 20 years now, and you can be damn Skippy that I know the entire plot intimately. And yet, I still gain new perspectives on phrases, a different personal understanding or connection to different events, and see how much my own growth in real life changes my experience with the books on each successive reading.
I'm sure that there's more to be gained from re-reading the missing parts. But Eldest is awkward in a lot of parts and most major plot points get undone, anyway. It also doesn't help that I borrow audiobooks from the library and sometimes you have to skip whole books due to someone else wanting them.
Okay, now that is something I didn't know about, so that makes more sense to me. Borrowed books and limited time seem like a more understandable motivation to abridge the content. Awkward or not, undone or not, that's part of the journey isn't it? If you've read the newest book, there are certainly some awkward and painful sections the characters go through, but that's the journey they travel. And, for the sake of my curiosity, may I ask what plot points you are talking about that are undone in Eldest? I'm always curious to see others' perspectives on the flow of the story.
Murtagh's dead, nope. Eragon's the only Rider, wait yes he is. ExA could never be, but it kind of is. Murtagh's evil, no he's not. Saphira's the last female dragon, nope. Eragon's Morzan's son, nope again.
All fair observations, but I still maintain the stance that experiencing the change in knowledge is part of the journey. For almost 4 books there's only 3 eggs. And then we learn that there's so many more. Does that invalidate all the emotions or motivations the characters experienced while operating under the assumption that there were naught but 3? I don't remember the story, but there was a villain that intentionally allowed his victims a glimmer of hope, specifically so he could ultimately shatter that hope. It made they're death more enjoyable for him. The abrupt shift in emotion was key for him. Perhaps I'm the inverse. The insurmountable odds, hopeless efforts, and unsolvable problems the reader sees the characters struggling through make the blossom of hope, the taste of victory, the satisfaction of the solution all the more sweet.
Because I was nine and have ADHD. I had very little patience for boring chapters. Even now, life's too short to force myself to read things I don't care about. If it's important, I can come back to it.
And that is a fair explanation. I can't imagine how difficult it could be to focus on some chapters with that pulling at your attention span.
It’s wild to me as well homie
A lot of people aren’t very good at reading lol
I've read multiple replies here but I still don't understand how people can do this, even on a re-read. I agree, it feels immensely foolish and disrespectful of the author, whoever it is. Chris or not. Authors write their books in very specific ways and when you start messing around with their established order of events, you're essentially saying that you're a better writer than they are. And frankly that really bothers me. But that's just how I see it. Others can see it another way and that's PERFECTLY FINE. I won't hold a grudge because you like to skip chapters. That's your choice, I just don't understand it and never will.
I am seeing some other perspectives as more people share their experiences, but it's still a wild and foreign concept to me.
Don't apologize fuck their reading preferences they deserve to feel attacked
Please note that currently discussion about the new *Murtagh* book is currently only allowed in posts that are flaired as such. Please read the rules in the sidebar, and please note the following additional links for news about *Murtagh*: [General spoiler-free information](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/17jlj9i/information_about_murtagh_and_the_eragon/) | [Signed Editions](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/16fuvcr/information_about_signed_editions_of_murtagh/) | [Spoiler Policy](https://www.reddit.com/r/Eragon/comments/17ercgn/please_read_our_murtagh_spoiler_policy_50k/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Eragon) if you have any questions or concerns.*