4-26-10
Dear friends,
I have recently finished reading The Sight by David Clements-Davies. I rated it an 8 out of 10 stars for a couple reasons. I usually don’t enjoy books that are written in the perspective of an animal, but this was only half true. Otherwise this was an amazing book.
I was reluctant to start this book, because it was from the perspective of an animal, in this case a wolf. It also had to do with mystical attributes, which typically brings down the value of the book in my opinion. The first chapter enhanced that opinion. I mainly only read this book for a lack of anything to read. However, the book soon began to lay the setting and the book was starting to take off. This is not a quick read by any means. I read it over a span of several weeks.
The narrative voice came from several beings, but all of them wolves. They came from Larka, Hutser, Morgra, and Kar. Even though there are two opposing forces narrating, it gives little away to the plot and increases the suspense. Although it took a while to get used to, it did enhance the book.
There is a big idea that comes from 517 pages of text, and I think it is stated by the spirit of Larka, which says that love is what shields us from the pain and fear and loss. What shields us from ourselves too. I think that is somewhat self-explanatory, but for the purpose of this letter essay, I think that with love, all evil, pain, and suffering is balanced in the world. Without pain, there is no relief. Without rain, there is no sun. Without sadness is no happiness. With out hate, there is no love.
There is a quote in the book that describes what they call “The Vision”, that will enslave all the Lera (animals) forever. It also includes what we know today. “At first in crouched, its vack furred wih hair like the coat of the wolf. In its paw it held a club and, as the animals watched, it rose on its back legs. Straighter and straighter it stood, and as it did so, it began to change. The fur dropped from its body, and its hiad lifted higher and higher. As it looked around, the nearby Lera ran in terror from its angry gaze. Suddenly Larka knew what they were witnessing as they watched this creature that had been an animal and now stood before them transformed.
“The great secret,” she gasped. “You are Lera too”. Before them was a human. The secret was a vision of the ancient past. Of the dawn and ascent of Man.”
The vision is an image that comes in all nearby animals’ mind. The reason they say that they will be imprisoned by Man forever because the knowledge that they will be wiped out forever soon by Man. Then Man will be wiped out by an ice age. Then there would be nothing on the earth at all. The vision also describes that Man was also an animal, but forgot their instincts, and began creating buildings and destroying the forests.
I gave this book 8 out of 10 stars for just a couple reasons. The author makes up a few to many words to substitute other words. It also has a beefed up cheesy plot. Almost classic bad guy-good guy fight, good guy wins, both die, ending neutral. Otherwise this is a great book. I would only recommend this to people want a challenging book to read that will take a while to finish. Happy Reading!
Sincerely,
Brandon Reitsma
