Book One in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever trilogy
Plot: Thomas Covenant had a loving wife, a beautiful baby, and a happy life, until the unthinkable happened. He contracted leprosy. Thomas lost everything; his wife fled with their son to escape the fatal disease, his neighbors stayed away, he lost his will to write. So when he is abruptly transported from Earth to a foreign land that desperately needs his help, he is not so quick to accept.
Comments: this book is not meant for young readers. I would rate it PG13 because of some swearing and "romance", but that's not the only reason. This book is very dark and grim, and very difficult to read. It is NOT a book to read if you want to pass time, or for a rainy night, or to take your mind off things. Thomas Covenant is not a perfect person, very far from it, and he does things--and doesn't do things--that could make you feel pretty angry at him. So beware, and don't be depressed at the contents of this book. Remember, it's only a story.
I love the way all the people speak in this book. It's all very formal, very refined, and everyone speaks fluidly and prettily (compared to our modern speech) no matter if they are plain villagers or Lords of Magic. Sometimes the length of the conversations was a little tedious, and I often skipped a paragraph or two that were rather dull. However, this was probably what lead to my constant use of the glossary in the back. There's a lot of names of people, places, and things, so either pay strict attention to every detail, or use the glossary.
I was angry with Covenant for not helping the Land at all, but towards the end he was a little better. I don't really understand why he won't help, but I think that's part of the point. His story is so sad, and bits of him didn't survive the harsh treatment from his neighbors and the constantly aching hole where his heart used to be.
Rating: I rate this book a six and a half out of ten.
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