For the next few weeks I will be joining a number of other people taking part in a readalong of the Lies of Locke Lamora, followed by another readalong of Red Seas Under Red Skies.  I’m so excited to be doing this because Scott Lynch’s third novel is due to be released this summer and so this acts as a perfect reminder of all that has already taken place.

I love these books!  They’re dark, gritty and brutal.  They’re populated by great and complex characters.  Definitely unflinching and not for the YA market!

If you haven’t already read these books and don’t want to read spoilers please don’t continue with the rest of this post (and, really, if you haven’t read these books what exactly are you waiting for – really, just read them).  If you want to join this readalong follow this link:
littleredreviewer.wordpress.com

1. If this is your first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, what do you think of it so far?  If this is a re-read for you, how does the book stand up to rereading?

I’ve already read the Lies of Locke Lamora but it was some time ago now and so rereading all the detail again is amazing.  I think I’m noticing so much more this time because I think the first time I read a book I read it very fast and am totally on a mission to find out what’s happening next so I don’t tend to savour the writing as much as I should.  With this reread I’m taking my time and absorbing properly all the information about the place, the food, the descriptions of the orphans and being introduced again to the Thiefmaker (who I can’t help picturing as Fagin from Oliver Twist) and Chains.

2. At last count, I found three time lines:  Locke as as a 20-something adult, Locke meeting Father Chains for the first time, and Locke as a younger child in Shades Hill. How are you doing with the Flashback within a flashback style of introducing characters and the world?

I’m really enjoying the flashbacks and the slow reveals of what actually took place with Locke that led to the Thiefmaker finally reaching the end of his tether and deciding to dispose of him.  I think the way the time lines jump back and forth make it more interesting.  One moment we’re looking at Locke and his crew and what their next job is, then just as they reach a critical point we bounce back to Locke telling his story to Chains.  One part of me is thinking what – no, I want to see what happens next, but then pretty rapidly I’m absorbed in ‘younger’ Locke’s tail and then I’m equally as eager to carry on reading that story.  I think writing like this and jumping inbetween helps to focus your attention, plus, it’s like you’re reading more than one story so it’s double or even triple the excitement.

3. Speaking of the world, what do you think of Camorr and Lynch’s world building?

At the risk of appearing to just automatically like everything that Scott Lynch does I’m going to admit that I love the world building.  What I particularly enjoy is the detail – maybe it’s not to everyone’s liking – but, I find it really easy to build up the world in my own mind’s eye.  I have my own idea of what the place actually looks like (which might not be the same as everyone else’s but that’s the beauty of reading).  I like the fact that traditions, lifestyles, even food have all been thought about.  It makes the whole reading experience rewarding.  I even have my own picture of what I think Locke looks like, the twins, Chains – I’ve got it all pictured.  Plus, I like the fact that SL has thought about it all.  He doesn’t just say ‘okay, here’s the world and this is what it’s like and expect you to be wowed – he builds it up gradually, he introduces you to the unsavoury elements and explores the underground, he gives you a bit about the history, just enough to keep you going, I can practically taste the food and the wine.  I can imaging the squalor of certain elements and the richness of others.  There are loads of layers that gradually build to give you a perfect picture.  It’s like a work of art 😀

4. Father Chains and the death offering. . .  quite the code of honor for thieves, isn’t it? What kind of person do you think Chains is going to mold Locke into?

Well, it seems a contradiction in terms, but I guess that Chains is going to mold Locke into a thief with honor!  He’s not just going to be a ‘grab and run’ or sneak in the night.  He’s going to use his cunning and intellect.  Chains is going to develop him and teach him the ways of the world so that he can blend into any setting with ease.  He’s going to help develop him to think on his feet and be quick witted.  He’s going to help him to become an actor of sorts.

5. It’s been a while since I read this, and I’d forgotten how much of the beginning of the book is pure set up, for the characters, the plot, and the world. Generally speaking, do you prefer  set up and world building done this way, or do you prefer to be thrown into the deep end with what’s happening?

I enjoy reading either way, providing the writing is good and in this case it is.  Sometimes when reading a novel I just feel like I’m suddenly reading a huge info dump, which doesn’t blend in well with the story and feels quite literally as though the author is thinking ‘okay, let’s get this over and done with’.  I don’t enjoy that and it can be distracting and take you away from the plot which is just annoying.  The start of this book helps you to see how Locke is as a boy and gives you an appreciation of how is character has come along  to reach where he is as an adult.  You can see that even at a very young age he was going to be a lot more than just a regular pickpocket – he likes to succeed and has a lot of ambition.

6. If you’ve already started attempting to pick the pockets of your family members (or even thought about it!) raise your hand.

No, I wouldn’t be any good at this as I’m a total wimp.  I think that there is a pickpocket in the making in my house however – I usually have to buy a new set of headphones every month (why?  I dunno!) plus little things have a mysterious habit of going missing – or I’m losing the plot and can’t remember where I put them.  Perhaps we have Borrowers under the floorboards – which would explain why I have 50 pairs of odd socks.

Great questions.  Loving it.

Thanks 😀

On a totally superficial note : I love this cover (I can’t help myself from just going there!)

The Lies of Locke Lamora