Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry

pick

3rd book finished for #AwesomeApril, thanks to this great audiobook recommendation by @kwmg40. An excellent audiobook read by one of my favourite narrators, Simon Vance.

This book does a good job of launching this fantasy series and I look forward to moving onto book 2 in the series. Even better it is available as a free download if you are a member of Audible.

#ReadAway2024 @DieAReader @Ghabi4Roses
#SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Awesome! 6mo

AlaMich I liked his Sarantine Mosaic books too. Unfortunately, the two other books of Kay‘s that I started just weren‘t for me. 6mo

Andrew65 @AlaMich I will check that out, thanks 😊 6mo

BarbaraJean I LOVED this trilogy! Had it recommended to me by my medieval lit professor in college, during a class on Arthurian myths and legends. It's one of those many books I want to re-read but haven't gotten to! 6mo

DieAReader 🥳Awesome!! 6mo

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PageShifter

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

so-so

Some characters were more fleshed out than the others.

I liked the atmosphere and the world. I didn't really love the writing style. It wasn't pleasurable to read but had it's moments as well.

I liked the story but there were some things that weren't really unique. And I didn't buy that someone without riding experience could do that without problems.

Worth reading but not perfect.

#SeriesRead2022 #192025 (1984) #19822022 (20/41)

Librarybelle, TheSpineView

TheSpineView Excellent! 2y

Librarybelle I love your photo! 2y

PageShifter Thank you @TheSpineView & @Librarybelle 🥰 2y

15 likes3 comments

imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

It‘s the final week of our #WyrdAndWonder read-along of The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay, with questions set by Mayri of BookForager!

(Please, no spoilers for future books - and beware, every question is a spoiler for book one at this point!)

imyril 1. Paul is now the Lord of the Summer Tree. What do you think this means/ will mean?

2. Jennifer asks herself “what was her sin, what had she done“ to deserve the TERRIBLE punishment she receives at the hands of Maugrim and his creatures. What are your thoughts and feelings on Jennifer's plight, and how have you made sense of it within the scope of the scope of the story so far? 2y

imyril 3. What did you make of the events in the throne room, from the assassination attempt to the showdown for the crown?

4. There's been a surfeit of signs, a plethora of portents in this week's reading. Now is the time to air your opinions on such things as flying unicorns, getting lost in the woods, the Cave of the Sleepers, magical Horns and unearthed Cauldrons.
2y

imyril 5. The Dwarves did it, in the darkness, with the Cauldron of Khath Meigol! What do you make of this last-minute revelation? And care to make any predictions on future developments?

6. Finally, reaction shots on Maugrim the Unraveller - go! 2y

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shanaqui I never got to it at all... :( Sigh. What a month. 2y

imyril @shanaqui it has been a heck of a month in a number of ways; I hope things improve soon x 2y

PageShifter I have not even started -.- But well. There is still days left. I am also interested to read the rest of the series. When BR for them is going to happen? 2y

imyril @PageShifter polling for interest but probably rolling straight into the sequel next month :) 2y

PageShifter Wow, that was great news! 2y

imyril @PageShifter slight shift: July - we have a couple people who haven‘t started / finished book one yet and want time to catch up :) 2y

PageShifter That works too! Thank you for letting me know 💞 2y

13 likes10 comments

imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

It‘s week three of our #WyrdAndWonder read-along of The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay! This week we‘re reading Ch9-12 (ALL THE FEELINGS FOLKS) and the discussion prompts have been set by my co-host Ariana of Book Nook Reviews

(As ever, please, no spoilers for future weeks / books - and beware, there are spoilers in the questions!)

imyril 1. We‘ve seen some extreme behaviour - we learn that Galadan‘s wants to unravel the world because it witnessed his rejection. Ysanne‘s sacrifice takes her out of the Tapestry entirely. What were your reactions to these and other character motivations?

2. Speaking of sacrifice, Paul has spent his final night on the Summer Tree and all his defences have been stripped. How are you feeling towards Paul now and what do you think might happen to him? 2y

imyril 3. Alongside (or because of?) Paul‘s time on the Summer Tree, some cosmic forces seem to be moving in Fionavar again. Last week we talked about prophecy, but how do you feel about the role of deities and mythology in the book?

4. We have (officially) met the banished prince Aileron! Impressions? And does his presence and return to court give us any further insight into the politics of Brennin? 2y

imyril 5. At last, Dave has returned to grace the pages! His absence has caused much speculation, but how do you feel about him now that we know what he‘s been up to?

6. Dave‘s time with the Dalrei gives us a great deal of insight into a previously unseen culture within Fionavar, so it‘s time for a world-building check in! Anything standing out?

7. And as always, any other thoughts? 2y

shanaqui Oh boy. I need to START this reread. I blame my exams. 😭 2y

imyril @shanaqui good luck in the exams! Unlike Dave you didn‘t get whisked off to another world to get more time in hand (ahem and other distractions), but the book will wait 😄 2y

12 likes5 comments

imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

It‘s week two of our #WyrdAndWonder read-along of The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay! This week we‘re reading Ch7&8 (or Ch6-8 if you‘re me, oops) and the discussion prompts have been set by the lovely team at The Fantasy Hive

(As ever, please, no spoilers for future weeks / books!)

Prompts ⬇️⬇️⬇️

imyril 1) There was a little confusion last week on whether chapter six was supposed to be included, so let‘s explore this one first. We discussed the Pervy Prince last week - would you like to weigh in on his antics across the border? 2y

imyril 2) We‘re a sizable step into the story now, so how are we all finding the pacing?

3) Loren continues his mysterious antics, have your opinions about him shifted at all? Or is there a certain other mage you‘re now more concerned about? 2y

imyril 4) Between the children‘s game and Kim‘s dream, not to mention Ysanne‘s mutterings to herself, prophecy is a key element weaving through this story. What are your reactions to the various foretellings thus far?

5) Let‘s address the massive sacrificial magical tree in the room - would you have offered yourself in Paul‘s shoes? 2y

imyril 6) There were two pretty major battles this week. The lios alfar were slaughtered by Galadan, and Paul witnessed a truly moving fight between Galadan and his mysterious canine protector. What were your reactions?

7) There‘s still no sign of Dave! First time readers - any theories? Revisitors, do you recall if you had any opinions on this before?

Any other thoughts this week? 2y

8 likes4 comments

imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

#WyrdAndWonder day 6: mythic fantasy is the obvious opportunity to talk about the Fionavar trilogy again. Yes, it‘s our readalong, yes, I love it, and omg YES it‘s mythic - both in created mythology and reinvented Norse and Celtic myths. Look, the first book has a full on tree sacrifice in progress, how much more mythic do you need? Sea monsters and flying unicorns and undead gods. Well it‘s got those too 🙃

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Readergrrl

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

I‘ll be starting this tonight! I‘ve three novels going at once, but the school year is almost over and I think I‘ll be able to juggle them easily! I‘m reading this novel as part of the #TheSummerTreeReadAlong with @imyril from #WyrdAndWonder Take a look at @imyril ‘s page for more information and to find their blog page.

imyril I do love these new editions 😍 3y

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imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

It‘s week one of our #WyrdAndWonder read along of The Summer Tree! Time to share this week‘s prompts for discussion - feel free to answer as many or as few as you like on your own post (please spoiler tag where needed) and tag with #WyrdAndWonder #TheSummerTreeReadalong!

I‘ll be posting my answers to my blog on Thursday…

⬇️⬇️⬇️ [prompts in comments]

imyril 1) How are you reading along with us? Is this a first time or a reread? Show us your book cover!

2) The prose style is as distinctive as calling the prologue an overture. How are you finding it?

3) Each visitor gets a little moment to define them before they arrive in Fionavar. What are your first impressions of our travellers? Any you particularly like or dislike?

4) …and what do you make of the characters and politics of Paras Derval? 3y

imyril 5) The obvious question: would you accept Loren‘s invitation? Given the reception from Diarmuid and Gorlaes, would you regret it?

6) How/Do you judge Loren for keeping so many secrets from the visitors?

7) There is a lot of worldbuilding so far! Intriguing or overwhelming? Anything standing out for you?

And as always: any other thoughts this week? 3y

PageShifter I still have to fetch my copy from the library! 3y

See All 6 Comments

imyril @PageShifter not to worry, we‘ll be reading all month 😊 just maybe avoid the responses until you catch up 😉 3y

Readergrrl I just got my copy too! Eager to jump in!! 3y

imyril @Readergrrl can‘t wait to hear your first impressions 🙂 3y

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imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

We do love a group read during #WyrdAndWonder and this year we have two! I am ringleading a visit to Fionavar with Guy Gavriel Kay‘s mythic portal fantasy The Summer Tree. We‘ll be reading and discussing a few chapters each week through May if you‘d like to join us!

More details: https://onemore.org/2022/04/05/even-more-wyrd-and-wonderful/

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imyril

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

#WyrdAndWonder (belated) day 30 | #ShelfieSunday

Bank holiday Monday is second Sunday anyway, right? No particular theme to these shelves but I guess they encapsulate my past decade or two of fantasy reading pretty accurately. It‘s been a journey 💖

14 likes

HeyT

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

pick

This was mostly a pick but the end made me consider a so-so. I knew going in that it was a trilogy so I‘m not surprised by the cliff hanger ending but this is the second book I‘ve read by Kay where the prettiest girl gets the saddest storyline encompassing some sort of sexual trauma. It just left a very bad taste in the end. But the beginning and middle were great.

13 likes

ontheBL

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

bailed

I did not like it at all. Kay's repetitive, which can be a great literary device, but it came across like he was suffering from short term memory loss. I hated Kay's inability to write compelling, round women; I question if he‘s ever talked to a woman. The sexual violence was unrealistic; Fantasy or not, sexual violence should make sense and be done in a way that mimics reality. https://onthebl.org/2019/11/07/the-summer-tree-by-guy-gavriel-kay/

9 likes

heikemarie

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

bailed

I couldn‘t do it. The writing style is so self-indulgently lofty without adding any beauty to the work. It‘s cringe-worthy. I didn‘t even make it past the part where some Canadian college students don‘t blink twice before traveling with some strangers to Narnia.

35 likes

xicanti

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

so-so

Early on, I fell so in love with THE SUMMER TREE that I couldn't believe 11-Years-Ago Me hadn't felt the same. It was a perfect blend of Robertson Davies and Robin McKinley, and it was also uniquely Guy Gavriel Kay.

As I read on, though, the balance between the personal and the mythic skewed to the latter. There were still flashes of that early beauty, but I needed more on an emotional level. I often struggled to connect with the story. ⬇️

xicanti Hell. I couldn't even begin to fit everything I feel about this book into Litsy's character limit. When it was on, I LOVED IT. When it wasn't, it took me ages to read each page. And I could see all the ways it was me, not the book, even as I thought about why others love it so much and how FUCKING AWESOME Kay is at balancing the personal and the mythic in his later books. 7y

xicanti And I HATE that marking it as So-So has reduced its Litsy percentage so much, because I really did love the loveable scenes with all my soul. I trot out So-So when a book lost me more often than it delighted me, though, so here we are. 7y

TobeyTheScavengerMonk Some day in my life I will read this. 7y

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xicanti @TobeyTheScavengerMonk you'll probably love it. Every single Guy Gavriel Kay fan adores the Fionavar Tapestry, except me. 7y

TobeyTheScavengerMonk To my chagrin I have never read any Kay, but I bought pretty hardcovers of the Tapestry trilogy at a used bookstore once. Time will tell. 7y

Chrissyreadit I read as a teen and it broke my heart. Maybe I would react differently as an adult. 7y

xicanti @TobeyTheScavengerMonk he's one of my absolute favourite authors, my response to this trilogy aside. 7y

xicanti @Chrissyreadit I'm pretty sure you'll love it even more as an adult. I know many people to whom this trilogy means the world, and I really thought I was gonna become one of them when I started my reread. 7y

45 likes8 comments

xicanti

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

I'm ready to make my final push through THE SUMMER TREE, with help from Loreena McKennitt.

I have no idea how I'm gonna review this book in 451 characters. Sometimes I'm so hard into it I can't believe I didn't love it the first time, but sometimes it loses me and I completely understand Past Me's lack of enthusiasm. I have a ton of thoughts on why that is and how my experience differs from other readers'.

40 likes

xicanti

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

I listened to a goodly chunk of READY PLAYER ONE while I shopped for reading snacks. Now I hope I can finish THE SUMMER TREE while I chow down on part of this tasty, tasty Kit Kat.

Lreads That Kit Kat looks so good! 7y

xicanti @QuietlyLaura it's delicious! I think I liked the Tiramisu kind a little better, but it's not like I'll suffer while I finish Cookies & Cream. 7y

Lreads Tiramisu, too! Where are all these yummy variations?! I swear we never get anything tasty in Indiana! 7y

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xicanti @QuietlyLaura a bunch of the ones at my grocery store have those NEW! badges on the packages, so I think they've just started to roll more flavours out in Canada. We only ever used to get the regular ones. Hopefully they'll make it to Indiana, too! I also looked at Kit Kat tablets with caramel, mint, or espresso creme on top of the wafers, and they sounded delish. 7y

xicanti @QuietlyLaura oh, and I highly recommend the regular sized New York Cheesecake Kit Kat Chunky if you ever come across it. It's my new favourite. I sort of forgot Kit Kats existed until all the stores had Green Tea ones before Lunar New Year, but now I want to try them all! 7y

Lreads I need to start stalking the candy aisles! Thanks for sharing this info. I think it's always nice to have a small treat. ☺️ 7y

CouronneDhiver No way - that sounds like my kind of chocolate treat... I‘ll have to look for it at the store! 7y

xicanti @QuietlyLaura I'm always happy to promote chocolate! 7y

xicanti @CouronneDhiver the creme between the wafers is darker than in the regular bars, too! It's so good! 7y

sloanghost I'm. So hungry. 7y

xicanti @sloanghost you should totally have a Kit Kat or the equivalent. 7y

42 likes11 comments

xicanti

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

It feels like every time I tell someone how much I love Guy Gavriel Kay's work, they start gushing about the Fionavar Tapestry. It's their FAVOURITE. They've read it FOUR TIMES. It's the BEST.

It's awkward, is what it is, because the trilogy's my least favourite Kay.

Or it was. Yesterday I got this weird craving, so I pulled THE SUMMER TREE off the shelf and tucked in. Now I might be in love.

I sure hope this keeps up.

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lycomayflower

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

It's a good thing I'm content to stay put, I think

#catsoflitsy
#dogsoflitsy

rubyslippersreads ❤️😸🐶❤️ 7y

21 likes1 comment

Vinjii

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

I'm in love with Guy Gavriel Kay's writing. This is a portal fantasy where a group of normal Canadians from the modern day (well, 1980s) get transported into a magical world. 31% in and enjoying it a lot.

Leniverse I read that trilogy 20 years ago. I found it an epic and mesmerising retelling of British myths. Parts of it are still quite vivid in my mind. 7y

coffeenebula Oooh. Stacked! 7y

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Foragingfantasy

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

I am not in the mood for the YA or middle grade fantasy that usually perks me right up... I want something heavier with more meat on its bones. I was thinking how much I wish I could read LOTR again for the first time. Those books captivated me, I think I was 18 when I read them. The Kay is compared to LOTR on the cover... But the Zafon is calling me too... #whattoread

BethM Ive never read Kay but heard great things! 7y

heikemarie Zafon is amazing! 7y

BookswithTea Shadow of the Wind is one of my all-time favorite books! 7y

40 likes3 comments

Chessa

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

Apparently my seasonal collection is summer only! 😂 ☀️ 🏖

I have yet to read any of these - and I've owned The Summer Tree for probably a decade. 😬 #MarchIntoReading #ASeasonInTheTitle

RealLifeReading

BarbaraJean Oooh, The Summer Tree! I loved that trilogy--read it as additional "suggested reading" for a class on Arthurian legends. It was so much fun to recognize references to the texts we were reading in class. 8y

55 likes1 comment

Midnightyell

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

pick

Guy Gavriel Kay wrote the Fionavar Tapestry as if it was a prime World that echos or causes echos of myth and Lore in similar worlds.
Thus his world is strongly similar to Tolkien's First Age & Poul Andersen & Tailesen & Arthurian Legend.

That said, he has a beautiful writing style of High Fantasy reminiscent of Tolkien (and since GGK was a editor on the Lost Tales it's no surprise.)

1 like

Midnightyell

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

This series has been on my to-read since @BrandSanderson recommended it at a signing at @murderbooks! Excited to start it!

1 like1 stack add

Seonjoon

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

pick

Jae and I are kicking around Natick--our new home in two weeks--and found a vintage shop with this *beautiful* edition of The Summer Tree, one of my all time fav fantasy novels/series! (We will be decorating almost exclusively with books in our new apartment, naturally.)

LeahBergen Nice!! 8y

BookHermit Love that cover. Keep meaning to read this series but it's on my TBR for the year so fingers crossed! 8y

CherylDeFranceschi Excellent! 8y

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GatheringBooks have fun building book cases in your new apartment!! 8y

Seonjoon @BookHermit Definrely try to read this if you can! In re-reading it I've often felt the style is a bit dated (like some of LeGuin's early Hainish cycle stuff) but the characters and story remains compelling for me. I also really liked his Sailing to Sarantium duology. 8y

Seonjoon @GatheringBooks Definitely will! 🤓 8y

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Chrys

Summer Tree, The: Book One of the Fionavar Tapestry | Guy Gavriel Kay

Due to technical difficulties posting my #secretsantagoespostal a day late. Thank you so much to kspenmoll my gifts. I haven't read this series yet, and the coloring book is absolutely gorgeous. 😍 @kspenmoll

BookishMarginalia 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝 8y

kspenmoll 💚❤️🎄🎁 8y

28 likes2 comments

Booksbooksbooks

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

bailed

No one read this. I could not force myself to read this. The characters go on an unpredictable adventure and their reactions aren't realistic. When you would expect shock or awe they complained and whined. It was obviously written by someone who doesn't understand people....

3 likes

LittleBowBook

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay

bailed

This was the worst book I have ever attempted to read. I hear this guy's other books are good, but this one made no sense. There were so many "main" characters that you couldn't keep track of them, their personalities didn't exist and what ever happened to their sense of wonder when entering a completely new world?! Hard bail.

4 likes

Foragingfantasy

The Summer Tree | Guy Gavriel Kay