The Rithmatist - February 2023 Book Club Reading

[Falselogic]

The Rithmatist is a young adult novel by Brandon Sanderson published in May 2013. The book takes place on an alternate Earth in which North America is composed entirely of islands. The islands were empty of human life when Europeans arrived, but they encountered dangerous "wild chalklings," two-dimensional creatures made of chalk. King Gregory III discovered the magic of Rithmatics, performed by drawing specific shapes with chalk, and with this magic the colonists learned to defend themselves. Several hundred years later, the continued prosperity of the United Isles of America is bought with the efforts of Rithmatists who fight an ongoing battle to contain the chalklings (and other, more mysterious creatures) on the island of Nebrask.

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity's only defense against the Wild Chalklings-merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing-kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery-one that will change Rithmatics-and their world-forever.

 

[Violentvixen]

Rithmatics, performed by drawing specific shapes with chalk

When I saw the title in my head I imagined it being pronounced it more like rhythm-atist, but I bet it's closer to arithmetic without the a isn't it?

the territory of Nebrask

lol

Sweet, my library has this. I thought this would be my first Brandon Sanderson book but looks like I read a book called Steelheart years ago? I remember absolutely nothing about that book, huh.

 

[Rascally Badger]

I don't know that I'll be reading along in February, but I'll try to post from memory from reading this book six or seven years ago. I just finished Sanderson's latest Mistborn novel, The Lost Metal, and I contributed to his kickstarter that has him sending 4 books out over the course of the year. Its just too much Sanderson.

But I recall really enjoying The Rithmatist.

 

[Falselogic]

I read the first mistborn book when it came out and maybe the one after that? He's a hard author to keep up with.

 

[Rascally Badger]

Whatever else you might say about him, there is no denying he is prolific. Newest Mistborn book came out in November, he has 4 kickstarter books coming next year and the finale of his sci-fi series is expected to be released in the fall. And he says once he finishes with his fifth book in his doorstop Stormlight Archive series (2024), he may start finally working on the sequel to The Rithmatist.

 

[Violentvixen]

Started this today, only had time to read the first chapter but I liked it and am curious where this is going.

 

[Violentvixen]

I'm kind of puzzled by this book. The first chapter made me excited but I'm now on the start of Pt 3 (chapter 15) and feel like the characters have just been bumbling/moping around since. While a couple things have happened they're offsite from where Joel is, and the main trio doesn't really seem to be doing anything or figuring anything out.

Also getting tired of the "oh my gosh women CAN do things?!" stuff. Look you've set up a fantasy word with chalk creatures coming to life. Just make it so women have always been equal in your world, don't feel you need to comment on the fact that a woman has a desk job or whatever.

 

[Lady]

I think I have a digital copy of this, so maybe I'll try reading along

 

[Positronic Brain]

I really liked this book when I first read it, what, five years ago? It takes a bit to build up but it does good things with the usual "magic school" setting. I certainly don't remember the gender inequality ViolentVixen mentioned - eager to restart my reread, as soon as the day job stops kicking my butt.

looks like I read a book called Steelheart years ago? I remember absolutely nothing about that book, huh.

I really liked that one. It's Sanderson's superhero trilogy - or rather, supervillain trilogy. as the premise of the books is that all superpowered people tend to get corrupted.

 

[Violentvixen]

I certainly don't remember the gender inequality ViolentVixen mentioned

I finished the book this weekend and it never happened again, so I'm less bothered by it now. Just came up at lot at the start of the book for some reason.

Overall I liked it, but I feel like Part 2 could have been removed/extremely condensed. I also wish his reading of the memoir of the
woman whose village was attacked by the chalkings had come much, much earlier.

I read the Kindle edition since that's what my library had, and the map of the world was at the very end of the book. I didn't really need the map but think that's a bummer of a glitch as I really like having maps of books like this early on.

It's Sanderson's superhero trilogy - or rather, supervillain trilogy. as the premise of the books is that all superpowered people tend to get corrupted.

Oooh, I looked this up and do remember it now. I also feel weirdly certain that I saw some sort of local theater or school production adaptation of some scenes of this? I have enough theater and cinema friends I wonder if someone did it as a school project or something. Hmm.

 

[Positronic Brain]

I've finally managed to start reading this. I'm in the middle of the second part and it's as fun as I remember (disclaimer: I think geometry is cool). The magic system is really interesting for me, and I enjoy all these littrle diagrams about how defenses work.

Also, now that I'm re-reading this. I've noticed Joel is a Sanderson archetype - the outsider that has expertise in a subject he can't experience himself (see also "Steelheart").

One of the things I like about this book is how much it contrasts to Harry Potter. In particular, adults acting like adults - Joel's badly-thought plan of failing his history test backfires, where in a lesser book it'd have succeeded, while adults solve the issue by talking and not by manipulating kids and making cryptic remarks. And Professor Finch is just great at his job.

Oh, I'm also facepalming myself for how obvious some clues to the mystery of the book are. In my defense, when I read it the first time I wasn't looking for them, but now that I know what I'm looking for, they are really obvious.

Really enjoying the book so far.

Two minor observations:

• There's a very enthusiastic Professor Layton in this book. Maybe it's a coincidence, but makes me wanna check the publication date of this book against the titular game and see if this reference could be an homage.
• There's a secondary character who is not called Mathilda but Hexilda. I'm fairly sure it's on purpose.

 

[Falselogic]

What a quick read! I picked it up yesterday and just sped through it, finishing it today. I enjoyed it. Though I think it really suffers from exceptional protagonist syndrome. Joel is just too good at things for a 16 year old. I get that he is obsessive about it. But he's good at all his subjects, he is perfect at math, he can draw all these very difficult things easily. Oh, and he also happens to be more clever and smart than everyone around him including the adults.

Look, I'll be the first to admit that being an adult doesn't mean you're smart and that being a teen doesn't mean you're a dummy. But, he is supposed to be at a place where the experts in this field practice.

I don't even think this is Sanderson's fault. It seems to be a requirement for the magical school subgenre. I suppose I am just tired of it.

As an aside I think the story of the girl who escaped the chalklings was based on either a specific or a genre of sorts, that described the abducting of white girls/women by Native American tribes and their ordeals and escape. I liked the double fake-out of who the baddie was. I was suspecting it all along. But it was still nice. I felt the ending with the reveal and then the defeat was a little rushed and unbelievable if totally expected.

Thanks for the recommend, I don't think I would have read this normally. And I certainly wouldn't have read it knowing it is part of an incomplete series (Every since GRRM I've sworn of series until they are complete.)

 

[Violentvixen]

I enjoy all these littrle diagrams about how defenses work.

Oh I want to call this out, I really enjoyed these too. It was weird on my Kindle though, they'd load as easy to read black lines then

I don't even think this is Sanderson's fault. It seems to be a requirement for the magical school subgenre. I suppose I am just tired of it.

Agreed, and also think this is overall a young adult novel trope more than just magical schools, but also I agree with:

In particular, adults acting like adults -

Joel's badly-thought plan of failing his history test backfires, where in a lesser book it'd have succeeded, while adults solve the issue by talking and not by manipulating kids and making cryptic remarks.

And Professor Finch is just great at his job.

There's a lot more going on with the characters in than in the average YA book.

Edit: Huh, the spoiler tags are acting weird, but looks like the text is still not readable until you click on it.

 

[Falselogic]

Thank you to everyone who participated in the February reading! March's thread on Red Harvest is now up.

 

[Lady]

I'm still working on it. Maybe similar to what you said false, a lot of the premise feels kinda eye-rolly, which I take more as a reflection on my ability to enjoy teen/YA fiction than on the writing.