The Saga of Erik the Viking.

This book received a lukwarm 6/10 from the majority of the group. Those who enjoyed it appreciated the fact that each chapter could be enjoyed as a short story. Perhaps this is the clue to the more general response. This type of narrative structure is unusual, and perhaps less satisfying than the usual 3 part  structure. It probably works best read aloud, a chapter at a time.

The saga style is a fireside style, an odyssey. Each story passed down by word of mouth, gaining embellishments with each retelling. In my view Terry Jones captures this with an authentic voice.

The group explored this idea, of adding descriptive details to a basic narrative. This would be well developed through games exploring the storytelling style.

The Court Painter's Apprentice

This blog is the collaborative work of the young adult fiction bookclub.


"The group agreed that 'The Court Painter's Apprentice' was not necessarily a bad read. It was short and easy going. However, our group found the length of the book a problem. Characters felt underdeveloped and many potential storylines were cut off and unexplored.

The writer likes to cut to the chase, for a younger reader that style is perfect, but for our group the lack of detail was disappointing. That's not to say the description was poor, it was evocative and sensuous, particularly the description of the activity of painting.

The book really lost its appeal when the writer developed the supernatural elements, where the artists power became more than that of the skill of depiction.

Overall the book was given a 6/10."