tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767649.post115574440308641936..comments2023-03-23T12:56:01.177+00:00Comments on Scholar's Blog Spoiler Zone: Corbenic - Catherine FisherMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888298679182871669noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767649.post-33347479613970921702006-11-04T16:37:00.000+00:002006-11-04T16:37:00.000+00:00Sheila, I know what you mean about the book linger...Sheila, I know what you mean about the book lingering - I keep thinking about it every now and again, though it's a good two months since I read it. I may have to re-read it, in fact, as I continue to "binge" on Fisher's books !<br /><br />It was surprising that Cal's father's fate wasn't revealed/discussed more... <br /><br />I know what you mean about avoiding reading reviews before you've read the book - I do the same thing if I see a review for something I know I'm planning to read soon !<br /><br />And yes, Catherine Fisher has become one of my favourite living YA writers - she and Marcus Sedgwick and Alan Garner all seem to be working on my brain in the same fascinating way !Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888298679182871669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767649.post-86503115751782328672006-11-04T16:30:00.000+00:002006-11-04T16:30:00.000+00:00I hadn't read this review when you posted it, beca...I hadn't read this review when you posted it, because I wanted to read the book myself first. Now that I've read the book, I came over here to read your review of it.<br /><br />I also love Catherine Fisher; I think her writing is remarkable, and it's a shame that more people haven't discovered her books. All her books that I've read are deep and full of symbolism and can be read on multiple levels. Corbenic is one of those books that lingered in my mind after I finished it.<br /><br />I didn't know much about the Fisher King/Grail legend either, and I found that Wikipedia has good information both on Percival and on the Fisher King. From what I read, Catherine Fisher's version is very close, at least in details, to Chrétien de Troyes' story.<br /><br />I also wondered about Cal's father and thought that he must have some significance to the story. I was surprised that it never came up again.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16813084292265103896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767649.post-1156350773420462792006-08-23T17:32:00.000+01:002006-08-23T17:32:00.000+01:00You're quite right Liz, Cal never does reveal his ...You're quite right Liz, Cal never does reveal his full name, but I think, from the hints within the story, (ref. to Wagner's opera, for example, and the whole mother/refusal to ask about the Grail business) that his real name is Percival... Yes, it was Cal's mother carrying the Grail, which is why the healing took place - he saw the Grail, and acknowledged the way he'd hurt her, and things worked out...<BR/><BR/>I didn't know anything much about the Fisher King story either - just the basic outline, but as you said, it's not absolutely necessary to know masses to enjoy the story - in fact, I'd guess readers are better off not knowing too muhc, since this is a reworking not an exact retelling...<BR/><BR/>I wondered if Cal's father had been a knight and had gone off on the Grail quest himself and been killed. Fisher's story seems to be most closely based on <I>Perceval, the Story of the Grail</I> (in French: <I>Perceval, le Conte du Graal</I>), the unfinished fifth romance of Chrétien de Troyes - at least so far as I can tell, and in that poem Perceval's father is dead - but we don't know how he died...<BR/><BR/>I share your excitement at being able to talk about it as I don't know anyone else who's read it !Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888298679182871669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28767649.post-1156342016815529352006-08-23T15:06:00.000+01:002006-08-23T15:06:00.000+01:00Catherine Fisher is fast becoming my new favorite ...Catherine Fisher is fast becoming my new favorite writer. I just finished this one myself, and wow, it was great! I have only the most superficial knowledge of the Fisher King / Grail story; and I thought this was a great retelling, working well even without having the background knowledge. I also loved that it could be real; or it could be that Cal had a mental break.<BR/><BR/>So, what do you think happened to Cal's father? Do you think that is tied to the Grail? And it's his mother as the young girl with the Grail, right? Sigh, I think I have to google Perceval to find out.<BR/><BR/>I'm reading an ARC, and I know Cal liked to be called Cal but that wasn't his real name, right? Did it mention his real name -- I don't think so, but I think I was supposed to assume it was Perceval.<BR/><BR/>So excited to be able to talk to someone about this title!Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.com