My Thoughts on A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay | Book Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 сер 2024
- Have you read A Song for Arbonne? You should!
Channels mentioned:
@jakebishop7822
@thelibraryladder
@Johanna_reads
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Amazon Wish List: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
TWITTER/X
@BooksFury
GOODREADS
goodreads.com/redfurybooks
Please LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE! And check out some of my past videos!
Thanks for watching!
We both got personal in our reviews of this book! I don’t know why A Song for Arbonne isn’t talked about more. Kay’s writing is pure magic, so he doesn’t to add much of it to his stories.
Yes, I think the music just really made this resonate so deeply for me. I called my video "My thoughts" as it was honestly a last minute decision to shoot and don't feel I gave it the full review treatment as I would have liked. But hopefully my passion for this work may rub off on others!
@@RedFuryBooks you did a wonderful job sharing your heartfelt experience of this book. You took the time to explain how Kay's balanced storytelling-attention to plot, character, and immersive settings-added to a profound reading experience. I also agree that he beautifully shares the connection that can form between people from different cultures. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts in videos and discussions!
@@Johanna_reads thank you! :)
Great review, Josh! I loved hearing that Kay is becoming one of your all-time favorites. He’s certainly one of mine. For newcomers to his works, I think Arbonne and A Brightness Long Ago are two of the best entry points.
Loved your GGK video. Looking forward to your next video, whenever it may be!
@@nikk345 Thanks! My next one should be ready in a few days.
@@thelibraryladder Woo-Hoo!
Thanks! I remembered so well your first video about Kay and it stuck with me as a priority to read once I finished Realm of the Elderlings. And I'm so glad that I did!
I would add Children of Earth & Sky as an entry point as well.
I was so happy to share this read with you. Glad it resonated so deeply with you and Johanna!
«Arbonne» was my favorite read of 2021, and I am so glad you enjoyed it: As with Johanna, I knew you would love the musical aspects! This book is a prime example of several GGK characters could be read (rather fittingly given the musical focus of this novel) as variants scales/interpretations of a musical piece: Comparing «Arbonne» to «Lions of Al-Rassan», Blaise is a warrior and mercenary like Rodrigo, but also an former assassin and in exile like Ammar, while Bertran is a poet like Ammar and a noble like Rodrigo. I agree very with my GGK Masters Bridger and Jake that this book is a perfect introduction to GGK (better written POV characters then «Tigana» (which is why I think a lot of «character driven»-readers can bounce of GGK after reading only that one, even though I personally LOVE the world building in it, heck my only videos are on how GGK used Mythology in «Tigana»!) and better villains/paced then «The Lions of Al-Rassan», though all are 5 Star Reads for me too!). Since GGK tends to have courtly artists and nobles as his POVs, «Arbonne» is a fun standout with the «manly-man» mercenary Blaise as the main POV: It is so fun to see Blaise go from being SO fed up with Arbonne, to gain respect and even healing some of his previous traumas though the women and men of Arbonne! To this day scenes from this book is vivid in my mind: I burst my gut with laughter whenever I think of Blaise and Bertram gathering sheep in Mountains (A symbolism not lost on me!), Blaise’s oneman «shootout» («bow-out»?😄) is one of the best action scenes I have ever read, and the Villa scene between Blaise and Rudel, going from banter between old friends, to tense, potentially lethal, dialogue between possible mortal enemies, and finally ending full of remorse, empathy and sadness: So tense, so heartbreaking, simply a gold standard for writing in my opinion! And Blaise’s father is such a delightful antagonist, going from a bog standard simple misogynistic and fanatic villain to a multifaceted master manipulator (or just a massive opportunist, you decide!) and Blaise's complex relationship (to say the least!) relationship to his brother had me almost weeping at the end!
While many of GGK faiths has the trappings of the Medieval/Renaissance Catholic/Orthodox Church, his faiths tends to be more inspired by Classical & Celtic Mythology in their theology: In this book, the deities of Coronnos and Rian are inspired the Celtic Deity Corannus (the «Horned Man» tied to nature and hunting) and Rhiannon of Welsh Myth (an «Otherworldly» Heroine) respectively, and their faiths are inspired by archaeologist and anthropologist Marija Gimbutas’ disputed theories (GGK loves to use her ideas!) of Matriarchal «Old Europe» Cultures centered on Fertility Cults being replaced by a migrating Patriarchal Indo-European Warrior Culture (her «Kurgan» theory of the spread of Indo-European Languages and Culture from the Ukrainian Steppes on the other hand, is the current dominant academic view): The Coronnos Cult is also clearly inspired by how the fusion of the Roman Cult of Victory and the Germania Warrior Ethos of what would become the Nobles Families of Europe after the Western Roman Empire fell, evolved the rather pacifistic (and if not quite Matriarchal, than definitely with a female majority congregation, can highly recommend Rodney Stark’s book «The Rise of Christianity» on that subject) Early Church into the faith of Knights and Crusaders, while the Culture of Arbonne is inspired by the legendary «Courts of Love» in Southern France sponsored by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (inspired by the concept of «Courtly Love» brought from both Muslim Spain and returned Crusaders from the Holy Land, with an origin perhaps dating to pre-Islamic Arabic Warrior-Poets such as Antarah ibn Shaddad, can highly recommend the «In Our Times» podcast episode on him).
Man, Galbert de Garsenc is a piece of work. He goes out of his way to be cruel and vindictive, driving away everyone close to him. And when these estrangements lead to developments that just so happen to work in his favor, he always comes forward and claims, "Oh, yeah. I totally meant to do that!"
Mac, too much to unpack in your comment but I love your always informative historical perspective with GGK's books, as I'm woefully ignorant with most of the background (except in this case, I had a fair amount of background with the troubadours).
@@samcostello2861 absolutely - a lot to consider with that character. We tackled that question in the livestream because it really is unclear his motivations. Such a subtly drawn character.
Oh and yes the sheep herding scene was classic!
GGK is my all-time favourite author - I'm so glad you're enjoying his books! I highly recommend the duology of The Sarantine Mosaic - "Sailing to Sarantium" and "Lord of Emperors". The second book is my favourite GGK work of all-time.
I'm hoping to get to the Sarantine Mosaic next year - I know many people consider it his finest work.
See, this is why I love booktube!! This story didn't really resonate with me when I read it, even though I was completely enamoured with Kay's prose. But through watching other people's reviews, I have come to appreciate it so much more in hindsight.
Super happy for you that this was such a hit! 🤩
Yes, all we can do here is give our own subjective thoughts. And A Song for Arbonne did definitely reach me on a very personal level, so I felt it important to share that part of my reading journey with this book. Thanks for checking out my video, Esmay!
I'll be starting it finally in January. Thanks to your gifting of it, Josh! Happy to see your love pour out for this book.
Awesome, Danny! I hope it works for you as well as it did for me!
I have nothing to add. Good video, good book.
Book good.
I’m so glad Kay is getting this kind of recognition from Booktubers. I have read 6 GGK novels and enjoyed them all with Children of Earth & Sky as my favorite. I still have to read Song for Arbonne & Lions of Al-Rassan in 2024. Thanks for this glowing review Josh! I hope this starts a Booktube trend for older fantasy authors like Peter Beagle, John Crowley, Jonathan Carroll, Charles de Lint or Patricia McKillip to be read by newer fantasy readers.
Yes, I find Kay criminally underrepresented on this platform. I'll do my best to help that!
I just read my first GGK book in Nov, Tigana. It was good, maybe a 3.5 or 4 star read for me. I wouldn't say it blew me away, but I'll definitely pick up another GGK book in the future. You made this one seem pretty interesting.
I've heard from Jake and others that Tigana isn't the best starting point for most people. So definitely give another one a shot! (Jake and the Library Ladder both have excellent videos about this).
Thank you for this review Josh! I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on it, and I’ll most likely read this book someday.
I hope you love it when it comes around!
When I was young I created the term "pseudo-historical fantasy" for books like Kay's. While all fantasy takes inspiration from our world, authors like GGK make it feel like it really could have been a version of our world's history. It is part of the charm of what I call his Kay-verse. Can't wait for you to read more.
I kind of like "pseudo-historical fantasy" as it's more accurate.
Great review! As ever, I appreciate your thoughtful treatment of books. This sounds right up my alley.
I'm with you regarding categorization: my understanding of this book is that it's based on the 13th-century Albigensian Crusade, in which the French monarchy crusaded against the Albigensian or "Cathar" heresy (in the parlance of the times) in the south--but of course, it's a fantasy version of that, thus the goddess-worship, etc. I picked this up on Audible, but I've decided I basically can't do audiobooks, so I'll buy it in eBook form at some point (probably next year).
I hope you love it as I do!
This is the next GGK I’d like to read because the Albigensian crusade is fun to read about. Glad to hear your love of it
I hope you enjoy it, Liam!
Fun might not be what I would call it. But does play second fiddle to the Crusades in the Holy Land and seems to be mostly forgotte.
Good one. I really like this book. I read it before learning about the Troubadour tradition, so I have an opposite connection to yours. I have a fondness for a music appreciation textbook because it reminded me of this fine novel.
That so cool - kind of an opposite experience as mine!
Your review makes the book sound so astonishing! The theme that a protagonist gradually shifted his attitude is a modern time topic important in life as stated in 'Maybe you should talk to someone' - a memoir from a therapist. You review also reminded me of one of my favorite operas - Il trovatore, which was a very romantic career in the past.
I adored this book!
Kay is my all time favourite author for many of the same reasons you give.
One of the neat things I'd like to add which Kay also does and which I have never heard anybody mention, is that each book makes references to something in a previous book. For me it's always fun and rewarding when I find these little references 🙂
I've noticed that (naturally, because it's the same setting) with River of Stars, which I'm reading now. But haven't picked up on it in his other works as of yet.
@@RedFuryBooks It's always a reference to past event, myth or person. You wouldn't recognize it if you haven't read the book the reference pertains to and it also has zero impact the current story, so you're not missing anything. If you did read the previous book/s, you will probably notice it and these little otherwise inconsequential Easter Eggs are fun to find.
Gotcha. That's how they were treated in River of Stars (I'm halfway through that one)
This is the one book of his i own so I'm extra excited to get to it next year!
I hope you love it as I do!
A Song for Arbonne was probably my favorite book of the year as well, and I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed it! I found it exciting, compelling, well written, etc. But beautiful is really the best word I could use to describe it. I was really left with a sense that I had read a beautiful story, and I still think about it.
I'm glad you loved it as well! Just a beautiful book.
ok now I really can't wait for February.
I hope you love it as I do!
@@RedFuryBooks Sounds like it may be up there with Zola’s book Masterpiece for me. 🤞
Great review. Love your open mind/heart. Kay is my favourite fantasy author, seems like I can compare every facet of his writing to the best in the game at each and he at least holds his own. And possibly more than any author he leaves you wishing you walked amongst the kinds of individuals he portrays.
Yes, yes and yes! Kay indeed seems to excel at every area of writing.
Awesome review! I love this book. I really connected with Blaise's journey. Blaise's experience in Arbonne broadens his view of the world and people, allowing him to move past his traumatic upbringing and realize his full potential. Wonderful story!
Blaise is definitely the strongest protagonist I've read from GGK.
There is a scene in Outlaw by Angus Donald that involved singing which moved me so much it is unforgettable! It is a shortish popcorn read about Robin Hood that I highly recommend as a palette cleanser. It is book 1 in a large series but I stopped at the first book as it wraps up like a stand alone.
Music in books usually rings false for me - so often authors try to demonstrate a level of competence and overdo it and because they lack the expertise, they get some detail wrong, but Kay did very well here.
Just leaving a like 👍 for book review 📕
Thanks, Al!
Thanks very much for this great review. Troubadours plus fantasy, that's a potent mix. For me troubadours are connected with my study of Dutch literature. In my early years I even wrote a song called 'Alba', which is the troubadour word for the 'wachterlied' (watchman song?) (One of the most beautiful alba's is from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, where in the background Brangaene warns the two lovers of the coming of dawn.) By the way, I just started reading my first GGK: Tigana. About 200 pages in I'm loving it! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for this author.
I hope you love Tigana! I've read 4 by him now and Tigana will likely be the fifth at some point next year as I already have it on the shelf.
I love the Tristan und Isolde reference BTW - I'm a huge fan of Wagner's operas. I saw Tristan in Dallas a few years ago and have seen Das Rheingold there and Die Walkure at the Met in New York. A bucket list item would be to see the entire Ring Cycle at Bayreuth!
@@RedFuryBooks So far Tigana is a direct hit! Today I ordered 9 of his other works, so I'm very confident I'm sold on GGK. Yeah, Wagner is by far my favorite opera-composer. I've seen Tristan twice here in Amsterdam, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Meistersinger (which is not my favorite) and the entire Ring as well (not in Bayreuth though). The alba is the 'Habet acht! Habet acht! Schon weicht dem Tag die Nacht.' but you probably knew that already 😀
I am glad hear you are enjoying “Tigana”! I absolutely love the world building and perhaps GGK’s best antagonists, I am amazed that not more have been done on it on booktube, so much I that felt compelled to make three short videos on the myths GGK reference (the only videos on my channel)! 😄
@@MacScarfield So far I’m very much impressed by GGK’s writing, worldbuilding and character work. The story has some touches of the oppressed Cathars in the French Languedoc in Medieval times. I interrupted my reading of Hobb’s Fareseer Trilogy. A good choice. I’ll check out your video’s! 🙏
@@DutchGreyBeard that's awesome about GGK! And glad to hear we have this Wagner connection. His music seriously changed my life when I was introduced to him in music school.
Will be picking this up soon. GGK is a nice filler between series reads. He has a good blend of a classic fantasy with modern themes.
I hope you enjoy it!
This was probably my favorite book of all time! At least in the top three
I haven't done my top 10 books of all time video yet, but I have zero doubt this makes the list.
I read and enjoyed this book a couple of years ago. Every time I read the title "Arbonne", it feels like there is a typo. I live in southern France, and it is obvious to me that Guy Gavriel Kay is talking about the city "Narbonne", located in the Languedoc region. The kingdom of France, during a good part of the Middle Ages, used to be a small region in the north of today's France. And to this day, there is still a big cultural difference between northern and southern France (the north is more "Germanic", and the south is more "Latin"). Even the languages are different (people used to speak Occitan, and not French... the language is dying nowadays).
By the way, the Troubadours of the south gave birth to the Trouvères in the North ("Trouveresses" when talking about women) : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trouv%C3%A8re
It's interesting to me that there are still the cultural difference today!
@@RedFuryBooks The Loire river is a natural border that roughly divides France in two halves. And since it is a dangerous river, so hard to cross with ancient boats that even the Romans struggled to do it, the Loire kept for centuries north and south isolated from each other ; so much so that there are even genetic differences between northern and southern populations.
@@EuropaPhoenix so very interesting - thank you!