Shannon Hale: Forest Born

It has been a while since I read the third book in the Bayern Series, River Secrets, but I got right back into the magic. All our favorite characters were back along with the new main character Rin.

It's been a long time since I got to read a novel, so I was really excited to go to the library. This was the first book I requested and the first one I read. It was a fast read, but so enjoyable. It also wrapped up the series quite well.

I loved this series and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read. It's clean, it's fun, and it's engaging.

What did you think? Have you read any of Hale's other books?

Shannon Hale: River Secrets

After I finished listening to Enna Burning I went to the library and checked out the next book in the series, River Secrets. I read this book over a weekend and as much as I love getting into a good book like that, it was sort of a whirlwind.

I was happy to see the return of some of my favorite characters, Isi, Enna, Finn, and Razo, of course, who is the center of this book. Razo was one of the best characters from the first two books so I'm glad he got his own in the third.

This one was much easier to get through than Enna Burning and a very enjoyable read. Although it focused on Razo's character and his development, the other characters moved forward, as well. I like that Enna and Finn got to come along for the journey so we could see more of their relationship.

In the end, I'm happy with this series and look forward to reading the fourth and final book.

Shannon Hale: Enna Burning (Audiobook)

I read Shannon Hale's Goose Girl, the first book of the Bayern series, in a couple of days. This one took me a little longer. The hard copies were all checked out at the library but I was able to download the audio book. I don't listen to books very often but I've had good experiences in the past so I thought it would be fine. I wish I would have waited for the book, though. The cast of voices was not my favorite and they were very distracting.

The story was entertaining, though. Many of the same characters made an appearance in the second book but the story was told from Enna's point of view this time rather than Isi. I liked the conflict and the challenges that Enna had to overcome in discovering her own powers and how to survive using them. I also enjoyed the aspect of friendship in the book and the part it played in Enna's character development.

I am enjoying the Books of Bayern very much and will be posting my response to the third book River Secrets soon.

What did you think of this series? Your thoughts on Shannon Hale? Any recommendations?

Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time but apparently a lot of other people have the same idea and I can't seem to get it reserved at the library. When my sister heard this she gave me a copy while I was up in Utah last weekend. I finally got to read it on the road trip home and it made for a really quick trip.

Shannon Hale's style is simply beautiful. I read Austenland last year and I loved her style because it is easy to read but still engaging and entertaining. Her characters are fun and although her stories are simple they are great for that very reason.

There is only one thing that I might complain about. The end was totally predictable. However, I don't complain about this much because I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

The Goose Girl was a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to continuing the series. Although this book is usually classified as young adult or middle school but I encourage all my adult friends to read it as well.

Have you read anything by Shannon Hale? What did you think of The Goose Girl?

Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

I saw my sister in New York a couple months ago and she was enthralled in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. Much like me, she would periodically burst out laughing at something in the book. I asked her to read me a couple of the passages and decided after hearing the excerpts that I needed to read this series, too.

I got home from New York at the end of October, got the first book at the library, and started reading The Eyre Affair. Despite the fact that I also started National Novel Writing Month on the first of November, I made time to finish reading this book.

It was such a fun read, which I expected, but it was also very action packed, which I did not expect. I love Fforde's tone and humor but he also managed to throw in some great tension. It was a quick read, partly because it is not very long and partly because I could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book and I am excited to read the next one which I will be picking up from the library this afternoon. Note: there is some adult language in a couple of sections.

Have you read the Thursday Next series? Your thoughts? Have you read anything else by Jasper Fforde you see fit to recommend?

Plock plock.

Last note: The day after I finished the book I got an email from Jasper Fforde! It was through Nanowrimo, but I thought it funny to open my inbox and see his name there.

Shannon Hale: Book of A Thousand Days

My sister, along with many other readers, absolutely loves Shannon Hale. I recently read Austenland and very much enjoyed it, so I thought I would give some of her other works a try. I must admit, I think I'm hooked as well.

Book of a Thousand Days is geared toward a younger audience but it is still entertaining and enchanting. The simplicity of the story paired with the lovely characters make it one of my favorites. Plus, there's a love story - I am a girl, after all.

The novel is in the format of a journal written by a servant girl over the course of 1000 days, some of which she is locked in a tower with her mistress. I thought it would get slow after a while, but I never got bored. It only took me a couple of days to read, partly because of the level of reading, but also because I didn't want to put it down.

This book is why I love Young Adult fiction and will continue to read it for many years to come.

David Eddings: Pawn of Prophecy

Since David Eddings passed away recently I've been meaning to pick up some of his more popular works to find out exactly what he was all about. His Belgariad series is one of his more well known and Pawn of Prophecy is the first book in that series. I am so glad I decided to read this one and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

The story is simple and the plot fits into the standard hero's journey, but it's this simplicity that I liked so much. The characters are likable and the antagonists are mysterious. I guess this hero story is so popular because it is such a good one. People, me included, love to read this plot line. We love to like a character and see how this new friend of ours overcomes challenges and saves the world. It works even after all these years.

I'll be going back to the library this week to get the next Belgariad book Queen of Sorcery.

So many people I know have read these books and learned to love fantasy because of them. Your thoughts?

Dan Simmons: Hyperion

I added this book to my list of books to read after reading a review over on a blog I've just recently began following. Side note: I love this blog Only the Best Sci-fi/Fantasy because they write great reviews. So I found a copy at the library and started reading a few weeks ago.

I was immediately intrigued by the characters and drawn in by their stories. The book is setup in sections of flashbacks or stories while the characters travel and begin their journey. I was impressed by the back story that had to go into this and how Simmons ties them all together.

This is the first in a series and the end almost feels like the first chapter rather than the first book because nothing is concluded or resolved. Despite this huge cliffhanger and the overwhelming sense of being left hanging, I don't know if I'll continue the series.

There was a lot of violence and language in this one, almost too much for me. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a conservative reader, so feel free to disregard my complaints if this sort of thing doesn't bother you. And it's almost a shame, too, because I really got into the stories when the language wasn't distracting me. The futuristic society, technology, and science was interesting and felt unique to me, which was fun. Simmons handled the politics and ethics surrounding the characters in a way that wasn't overbearing and kept me entertained, too.

As I said, if you can handle this stuff you should definitely check this one out. But I won't be recommending it to my mother...

Tim Powers: The Anubis Gates

So I actually read this over a month ago and just haven't written about my experience yet. However, I'm glad that I waited a while because I've had a chance to think more about the book and decide how I felt about it. When I finished reading The Anubis Gates I wasn't quite sure if I sort of liked it or if it was a book I could recommend with confidence. It was strange and exciting and it went places I never would have guessed. I think this might be why I was questioning, but now I can safely say that you should definitely read this book.

I love the idea of time travel and I have always enjoyed books that centered on this theme. I am intrigued by all the cause and effect and the conflict between fate/destiny and our choices. The Anubis Gates starts with traveling through time and deals with all of the associated complications. Add a little magic and it makes for a very entertaining read.

Now I also have to point out that Tim Powers is a great writer, too, which really helped me decide how much I like this one. It's entertaining but it's also thoughtful which you don't always get with good action books these days. Plus, there are some very interesting and dangerous characters.

There were a couple of parts where I felt like it moved kind of slowly and it took me a few more pages to actually get into it than I would have liked. There is also some violence that adds to the evil characters nicely but I know sometimes I am adverse to. But by the end I was glad I picked this one up at the library.

Overall, I feel I must urge you to go get this book.

Unmotivation

Feeling rather un-motivated today - just tired and bonty (yes, I know that's not a real word, but it has become one in the Woodbury household when my Dad used it to describe his tired, confused, unfocused, and general out-of-it-ness). So here are some links that might entertain if you are feeling similarly unmotivated...

One of my favorite days of the year is 'Talk Like a Pirate Day' and they have a whole website dedicated to it. Also, this translator to assist those of us that are more inclined to proper speaking.

I'm always looking for more books to read and Random House posted this list of 100 best novels that gives me a great place to start or continue.

Words I wish I could use in every day language - thanks AbeBooks for a great blog.

Some very very cool enhanced pictures of the sci-fi/fantasy type. Some of these are amazing and really spark the imagination. The second one is my favorite.

And you know you've either been one of these people in a bookstore... or at least laughed at one.

This compilation of pictures almost deserves it's own post. Some of these libraries give me chills. Anyone else want to go on a world library tour?

Tomorrow: MOTIVATION!

David Eddings 1931-2009

I only read one of Eddings books and I've been told it hardly represents his best work. Now that he has passed on I feel that I must discover what so many others have about his fantasy writing.

In reading the AbeBooks blog post about Eddings' passing they quoted About.com in the following. I thought this was lovely and something about Eddings' words rang true somewhere inside me.

Eddings was famously old-fashioned, never using a typewriter or computer (he wrote out his scripts in long-hand) and was well-known for being self-effacing, once remarking, “I’m never going to be in danger of getting a Nobel Prize for literature.” He was most pleased when told that his books had turned nonreaders into booklovers. “I look upon this as perhaps my purpose in life,” he explained in a 1997 interview. “I am here to teach a generation or two how to read. After they’ve finished with me and I don’t challenge them any more, they can move on to somebody important like Homer or Milton.”

So where do I start? What are you favorite Eddings books/series? I find something very sad about myself and the world in general that it took his passing for me to decide to read his work.

Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn Trilogy

I absolutely devoured this trilogy. I was going to do a review on each of the books individually but after finishing the third this last weekend I thought it would be better to do one for all three.

I didn't even realize this was a trilogy when I started reading the first one. I was glad to learn there was more to the story once I finished The Final Empire because I was excited to read more of these characters and this world. I was immediately impressed with the magic system Sanderson created and I think it's one of the more original and unique ones I've come across.

Vin is the main character through all three books and she is a great character that I just love. She's strong, feisty, and fun to read. It was a pleasure to see her grow and change through the series.

I've been thinking about villains recently, probably because I have such a difficult time writing them myself, so I wanted to comment on the ones in this series. They are really good in the sense that they jerk your emotions around and keep you guessing. I like how Sanderson handled the opposition to his protagonists.

The story is basically about a rebellion and then search for leadership in a people lost in all the change. Sanderson does a great job with intrigue but doesn't let it overwhelm the story as in some other books I've read. It was a nice balance and flowed well with the overall plot and character development.

Probably my favorite part of the series is the magic system and the way Sanderson handles the action sequences using this magic. It isn't really magic so much of a strange science in which the chosen can 'burn' metals which give them specific powers. Some can only use one power and others can use all of them. This allows those with power to fly through the air, see long distances, and gain added strength, among other things. This makes for some very entertaining scenes.

Sanderson also introduces a couple new creatures: the koloss, big mindless brutes full of violence, and kandra, who can take any shape and serve humans almost as slaves. I love the kandra and one of my favorite characters is of this species.

I read the first two books in the series in a couple of weeks and then had to wait to read the third until it was available at the library (one of these days I will have enough money to just buy books I'm dying to read). It was well worth the wait, though, and it only took be 5 days to read it. The ending was perfectly satisfying and the next day my mind kept coming back to the story and characters - that's the sign of a great book to me. This is definitely a series I will be recommending to all my friends and I hope to add it to my personal library soon.

When I finish a series like this I always breathe a sigh of content with just the smallest amount of sadness that the magic of the story has ended. I guess that's what prompted fan-fiction. I love that feeling, though. What was the last thing you read that left you feeling that way?

Neil Gaiman: Fragile Things

I've decided I need to read as much of Neil Gaiman's work as possible so I picked up a couple of his books at the library last month. This is a compilation of short stories and poems that he's written over the years. I was looking forward to a some short snippets of enjoyment but as I got into it more I realized that I was more in the mood for in depth characters and extended plots that kept me involved. So I set it aside for a few days while I read a full-length novel that satisfied that hunger. When I came back to it, I was able to enjoy the short stories more.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm more of a conservative reader - I don't like a lot of sex, violence, or language in my reading. So, I have to admit that I didn't read every single piece in this compilation. If I got to a point where it was a bit much I moved on to the next one. I tried to give each one a fair chance because I respect Mr. Gaiman and his writing. After following his blog and his tweets on Twitter, I have to say that I think he would totally understand my choices and if he didn't, he would at least respect them. And that is one of the things I really love about him; he put his work out there and then lets his readers think what they will. He's very easy-going and slow to take offense.

So back to the reading. For every one I skipped there were two more that I completely enjoyed. His poems are fantastic! He has an amazing way of portraying so much magic and joy so quickly and in just a few lines. I just had to smile. Several of the stories really stuck with me, too. There's one he wrote Matrix-style that was just awesome and another that was the basis for his most recent Graveyard Book that I loved reading.

The other really great part about this book is that Gaiman includes a sort of preface for each piece that explains why he wrote it and some of the thinking that created the work. I like having that little behind-the-scenes view.

I recommend you pick this one up at the library and don't feel bad if you feel the need to skip one or two. No one can please everyone all the time.

Chillin'

So I've totally been slacking on the whole post thing but I'm sitting here at home by myself watching a chick flick and felt like jotting some things down.

I'm watching Twilight for the second time, and I like it better this time, too. It's been cloudy today and it made me realize how much I miss that kind of weather. I like a cold rain every once in a while because it makes me reflective and cozy. I'm more prone to feel like writing when I feel cozy and thoughtful.

I've been slacking a bit on reading recently. I read a novel on WEbook.com by Rob Hansen called Sonnet Harbor. I finally finished it last night and it was really good. I'm hoping it gets selected for publishing because I think it was really well done. The characters are sincere and I liked the story a lot. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I've also been spending some time watching Stargate SG-1 on hulu.com. They have season 1 and season 2 posted right now so I got to start from the beginning. I love the stories - they are such great sci-fi plots. And the characters are growing on me now, too, although I thought they were a little cheesy at first.

So now I think maybe I'll do some writing and then get back to the book I've been reading on and off the last little while. The Chronicles of Amber have been highly recommended so I thought I'd give them a try. I'm only a little way in but I'm intrigued.

What have you been reading recently? Find anything fun to read or watch?

Inkheart

I will be the first to admit that Brendan Fraser isn't the best actor out there, but I also think he's fun to watch on screen. I knew I wasn't going to get to see this movie for a while after it came out due to my husband's tastes, but he took me to see it when it went to the cheaper theater. He was not impressed, no surprise there, but I enjoyed it enough that I will probably watch it again.

This is the first time I have felt that I liked a movie on principle. Inkheart is about the power of the written word, books, and reading. How could I not like it? It really is a lovely story and if I can ever find a copy of the original book by Cornelia Funke at the library I will definitely pick it up. I wish they would have done more with the movie, though, because I think it could have been better.

Brendan Fraser is just who he is and usually plays very similar characters, so I'll just brush over that part. Paul Bettany plays a wonderful character that was probably my favorite, and he is an actor I always enjoy watching. Andy Serkis plays the villain and he is an awesome opponent so no complaints there.

I loved the story and some of the characters were great, too. And while I enjoyed the movie, I left it feeling like there should have been more. Maybe it was the ending; the climax was a big fight at the end, as expected, and the good guys won, but it wasn't satisfying enough. Also, most of the movie took place in one setting. They started out there, moved on, but then went back and I think this gave me a feeling that the characters weren't progressing so much as running in circles.

So, in the end, I would advise you to see this movie only if you love stories as much as I do and can tolerate Fraser (which I can). But I would love to hear your opinion of the movie, so rent it and then let me know what you think.

Christopher Paolini: Brisingr

It has been a really long time since I read this one. I know that a lot of people don't really like Paolini's work, but I enjoyed Eragon for what it was. It was entertaining and there were enough things I liked about it that I didn't give up when Eldest came out. I will admit that I was actually kind of excited for this third installment. I realize that this may undermine my credibility with some people, but I will be the first to admit that I like a lot of different things in my reading. I also like dragons for some reason or another, not sure why.

Brisingr follows Eragon and Saphira on more adventures in their goal to conquer Galbatorix (more summary here). You have to admit, that is a great name for a villain. It was an interesting experience reading this book. I kept going because I wanted to know what happened next, but there were several places where I felt like skipping ahead to the next action. It was mostly just one thing happening after another. I remember thinking 'oh, here's the climax' a couple of times before the end. It was good as a volume of the series to move on to the final book, but I don't think it would have done well as a stand alone book.

In conclusion, it was okay - it kept me interested enough to get through to the end - and I will probably still read the next book in the Inheritance Series. But I'm glad I didn't run out and buy the book right when it came out because I would have been disappointed.

What do you think? Is there anyone else out there who thinks this series is worth reading?

Elizabeth A. Lynn: Dragon's Winter

I started this book with high hopes because it came highly recommended. I was disappointed. It was enough to keep me interested and coming back to the book even with everything else I'm doing right now, but I was not happy with the experience when I finished.

It seemed to me that there were too many scenes and characters there just to fill the pages. And the ending was so drawn out that it completely ruined the climax. There were also some scenes that seemed unnecessarily violent to me and just a little too graphic. The villains were good and some of the characters were interesting but now that I really think about it, so many of them had characteristics that leave me wondering. The main hero, for example, is homosexual but it seemed such an unnatural choice for the character that I end up not even liking him. Lynn also kills off several of the main characters, which never makes me happy but where I can usually look past the fact, I couldn't in this case. Definitely not a satisfying read.

Although there were a few things I liked (the dragons were pretty good) the book left me wanting more on many levels. I won't be reading the second one because there are so many others I would rather spend my time enjoying.

A Great Reading Opportunity

Just a heads up that for the next 30 days you can read Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere for free by going to this link through his journal. I've had this on my list of books to read for a while now, so I'm definitely going to download this and do some major reading for the next 30 days.

And now, a quick synopsis from Amazon.com:

Neverwhere's protagonist, Richard Mayhew, learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished. He ceases to exist in the ordinary world of London Above, and joins a quest through the dark and dangerous London Below, a shadow city of lost and forgotten people, places, and times. His companions are Door, who is trying to find out who hired the assassins who murdered her family and why; the Marquis of Carabas, a trickster who trades services for very big favors; and Hunter, a mysterious lady who guards bodies and hunts only the biggest game. London Below is a wonderfully realized shadow world, and the story plunges through it like an express passing local stations, with plenty of action and a satisfying conclusion.

Brandon Sanderson: Elantris

I first heard of this book on the forums at BookandReader and added it to my list of books to read. Then I was on GoodReads.com updating my 'bookshelves' and started reading some of the reviews about it and got excited about reading this book. So I took a trip to the library. I read it in a matter of days, as is usual with the fantasy books I read. Although it was a good book and I will recommend it, I wasn't drawn in quite as much as some others I've read. I love when I get so involved in a book that I just look forward to picking it up again when I have to put it down and can't stop thinking about the characters until I'm with them again. I was definitely involved in Elantris but it didn't grip me as I hoped it would. Of course, this could be because I just started a new job while I was reading it so I had to force myself to focus on other things.

The story starts 10 years after the magical Elantrians have somehow fallen and become walking corpses. Their city is forbidden and all those who become cursed are cast into the city and considered dead. The country struggles economically and they face impending invasion by a neighboring country. The main characters fight to preserve their freedom and to restore Elantris to it's former power and glory.

I love the main characters and the little love story they live. Sanderson also incorporates the concept of religion and it's affects on the government and the people. Some of the reviews I read were critical of the magic system, but I like it because it was simple. And the villain was great, probably one of my favorites.

Overall I really liked this book and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I'm looking forward to reading more of Sanderson's work.

Stephenie Meyer: A Fast Favorite

Author of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Host Stephenie Meyer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Every one I know has read the Twilight books and I'm recommending them to everyone else I don't know.

My little sister actually got me started on Twilight a couple years ago after she heard Meyer speak at an afternoon seminar at BYU where she is attending school. I read the first book in about 2 days and didn't get much sleep. What struck me most about this book is Meyer's writing style. Unlike some other fantasy and science fiction authors, she doesn't use really elaborate and overwhelming words. Her writing is simple but efficient. I loved how real the story seemed because of this writing style. Bella seemed like a girl I knew at school - she had characteristics I enjoyed and disliked just like normal people. Yet I was drawn to her and her story. Just brilliant and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Although her Twilight series ending with Breaking Dawn, which was released just a couple months ago, is geared to young adults they are still entertaining and engaging for adults.

The Host is Meyer's first adult targeted novel that came out earlier this year. Once again, this is a fantastic novel that I just could not put down. Not only did I devour it, but I keep thinking about it months later. I love the characters and the whole premise of the plot is just fantastic. This is definitely one I want on my shelf for future enjoyment.

The common thread through all of Meyer's book so far is the fundamental dynamic of good vs. evil. No story is complete without it and Meyer has done a wonderful job exploring this eternal battle in all of her novels. What makes something, or someone, good or evil? I love the way she illustrates this topic and I also love that she does it in a way that so many can be comfortable with. Her novels are clean - little violence, no sex, reserved language (I think there was one explitive in The Host), and strong in morality and the importance of values.

If you can't tell by now, I'm a big fan of Stephenie Meyer. I think part of it is that I feel we have a lot in common and it inspires hope that I might one day publish some of my work.

If you're not on the Meyer bandwagon yet, read these books, check out the website and the article below then hop on while the wagon is in town!

Stephenie Meyer Website
Article