The
midsummer weekend is a time of great celebration in my country. We are far enough in the
north for there to be light almost through the night, even if the sun does set
at some point, and it drives everyone to a near frenzy. Half of the population
travels to the seaside, lakeside or poolside to take part in heavy duty
partying through a long weekend. At the end of it, they take a toll of those
who have drowned and everybody promises to behave better the next time.
My weekend
was wonderful though. The whole family gathered at my parents’ summer place –
by river – and since the weather favoured outdoors activities, we managed to
spend a summery weekend resting and relaxing. Nevertheless, just in case I
would feel inspired, I had packed quite a lot of work-related stuff
with me, but in the end the midsummer night’s dream got to me and I ended up
reading the work of others. Namely, Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera.
I
discovered Jim Butcher only recently and was instantly so taken with his
Dresden files that I read all of them back to back during the spring. It was a
very inspiring experience, but daunting as well. It is wonderful to read an
innovative and imaginative series that manages to maintain its level of
excellence a book after a book, but at the same time it is upsetting to realise that I will never
achieve the same. Inspiration won in the end and so, having devoured Harry
Dresden, I moved on to Butcher’s other series, although with trepidation. Could
it be as good?
As could be
expected with an epic fantasy like Codex Alera , it took me a while to warm
up to the characters – unlike with Harry. But once I did, there was nothing
better for whiling away slow summer days by river, or on it, than good fantasy
Jim Butcher style. Now I feel inspired and ready to tackle my own writing,
no matter how imperfect it may be.
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