Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Originally published in 2003.
Unabridged audio edition published in 2004; read by Gerard Doyle.


When we saw the movie version of Eragon last Christmas, my daughters had already read the book. My sister Emily had also read it - and raved about it. So I decided that I ought to read it. I put it on my Spring Reading Thing list in March - but didn't get to it. Then several weeks ago, I started listening to the Book on CD version while commuting. I put Eragon on my Fall into Reading list - and today, on the way home from the office, I finished it!

Because I'd already seen the movie, as I listened to the book I had the pictures in my mind already created from the images on the screen. I think it would have been fun to read the book first and create my own mental pictures. On the other hand, I enjoyed the movie version, and I heard that many adults who had already read the book despised the movie. So - I guess you'll have to decide whether you want to read the book or watch the movie first! I'm not making a recommendation.

I do think that Gerard Doyle did a great job reading the book. His various voices for the many characters were excellent - except for the voice of Saphira, who is a female dragon, but who had a very deep, raspy voice.

I didn't love this book enough to go right out to look for Eldest - the second book in the trilogy - but I suspect that I'll get to it at some point - maybe by listening to it during my commute.

You can check out the trilogy's website here.

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