Austen in August!

A few weeks ago, I was chattering with Adam of Roof Beam Reader on twitter about some reading events, and he said he was thinking about hosting a Jane Austen event in August. Count me in! I've been anxiously waiting for the announcement post, and I did a little jump and skip at work today when I saw it went up. :) And while my employees laughed at me, I jotted down the four books to pull off my shelf so I could write this post as soon as I got home.

Yes, I am very excited about reading some of Austen's works!

I only have one of her novels left on my 250 project list, so that one definitely made the cut. It is the only book I am going to make sure I read during the event. The other three below are good possibilities for reading, and since they're on my Classics Club list, I'll probably try to get to them if I can squeeze them in. Here is what I am reading:

• Mansfield Park: I have only read this title once, and it was quite a few years ago. I'm looking forward to revisiting it, since I remember enjoying it.
• Sanditon: I just picked up this copy a few months ago in my quest to get my hands on all her writing (I'm close...I think I am only missing The Watsons now...), and the premise of it sounds super interesting!
• Selected Letters: I really want to make it a point to get to this one, since I think reading her letters will be absolutely fascinating! Austen was an interesting woman!
• Catharine and Other Writings: This is actually a collection of her complete juvenilia, so I am hoping to spend some time with some of it. I haven't heard as much about these writings, so my curiosity is piqued!

I hope you'll consider joining in on the fun. To join, visit the Austen in August Sign-Up Page on Adam's blog and comment away! There is an Austen for everyone! :)

Warbreaker Post 5: Chapters 50-END.

Welcome to the fifth and final post for the Warbreaker readalong as hosted by Amanda and Naithin. I really enjoyed this group read-the weekly questions kept it interesting and the novel was AWESOME. :)

You can see my thoughts on parts 1-4 in these lovely locations:

Post 1: Chapters 1-12
Post 2: Chapters 13-23
Post 3: Chapters 24-34
Post 4: Chapters 35-49

There will most definitely be spoilers below, but I plan on putting up a spoiler-free review in the near future.

1. There were a whole bunch of character revelations in this last section of the book. We now know who Warbreaker is, and what Blushweaver's motivations are, and who was behind the war, and the intentions of several characters we suspected. How do you feel, now that everything's out in the open?

While I didn't enjoy the revelation of what Denth and crew were up to in the last section we read, I rather enjoyed the twists and turns that the final chapters brought. I was particularly struck by the choices Lightsong made in the end, especially as he acknowledged who and what he was (more on that below). I was also struck by Blushweaver and her true intention for maintaining control of the Lifeless. It was certainly interesting.

To be honest, I really didn't think that Vasher would be Warbreaker. I kind of hoped that one of the female leads-Vivenna or Siri-would gain that role. But, I'm okay with Vasher and his turn around...it was a bit of redemption, you know?

I also enjoyed learning a bit more about the priests and what they were really fighting for. I think I said in an earlier post that they were up to something other than what they portrayed. I also knew that there was a reason the God King was kept in the dark, so I'm glad all those questions were answered in this final section.

2. At the beginning of our group read, I asked if you thought the Returned actually were divine. We saw Lightsong change his mind on his own divinity, and learned a bit more about the Returned. Has your answer about divinity changed, then, since the beginning of the book?

I had to go back to read what I wrote, but I don't think my true opinions have really changed. Lightsong was right to question his divinity. For me, when I think of gods (modern and ancient and everything in between) I like to think that they are free from fault and questions about their own purpose. The Returned showed too much uncertainty in their decisions about going to war to be that kind of...exalted presence I expect of my own God...know what I mean?

But Lightsong really had an impact on me in the ending chapters. Once he realizes what he is and who he once was, he seems to lose faith. It is only when he is given the choice to wallow in pity, or save the God King and sacrifice himself that I think he realizes the true nature of his own divinity. I think he realized that he had a choice in who he wanted to be in this second life. And while he already gave his life once, he could do it again for a real and significant purpose. I was just...struck by that. And happy that Lightsong made that choice. It was honorable, you know?

Anyway, I do think that the Returned have the capability of being divine, but not all of them are truly gods, in that they sacrifice themselves wholly for the people who worship them. I mean, really, did they listen to the people of the city and their struggles while they were quarreling about war? I don't think so.

3. Now that we've seen Nightblood in action, firsthand, and know more about its history, what do you think about it as an object? What are your thoughts about Vasher's relationship with the sword?

It's an interesting relationship, isn't it? Vasher said he kept the sword to keep it away from others, but I like to think that he kept it for his own sake. Since Vasher is more than what he appears, he needed someone to talk to and the sword fit that. It understood who Vasher really was and had the ability to protect Vasher when Vasher needed it most.

So...just a twisted sort of relationship.... ;)

4. Lastly, what are your final thoughts on Warbreaker? How did it compare to other books you've read, and to other Sanderson, if you've read more by him?

The only other Sanderson I've read is Mistborn, which I absolutely loved, so I have little of Sanderson's work to compare this to. I will say that I enjoyed it. It was a fun story and while some of the little twists didn't quite fit for me with the storyline, I will say that I think Sanderson is a gifted writer. I'm definitely going to look into more of his books (after I finish the Mistborn readalong).

This title was definitely a decent fantasy novel. Like I said, there were little things that irked me. I think a large part of it was how the novel was originally written (serially on his website). That kind of writing, while thrilling for fans, doesn't allow for the writer to really revise and make significant changes. I think there were pieces that needed more clarification, etc.

But overall, good fantasy novel that is an entertaining and fast read!

Thanks for the great group read!

Warbreaker Post 4: Chapters 35-49.

 Welcome to post 4 of the Warbreaker readalong. This event is hosted by Amanda and Naithin and we've been reading for four weeks! Here are my thoughts on the earlier sections:

Post 1: Chapters 1-12
Post 2: Chapters 13-23
Post 3: Chapters 24-34

I should warn you that there will be definite spoilers if you haven't read the book, and it might be better if you just go and read the book (totally worth it!).

Onward with the questions:

1) So, pretty much everything has been flipped up on its head in this section. Which particular revelation was the greatest shock to you and how has it impacted your view of the book as a whole?

I was quite surprised by the beginning of this section and the twist concerning Denth and the others. In some ways, I feel a bit cheated. I hate twists of that nature in books that I am reading. I feel like authors use that to be like "Look how I tricked you! Hahaha!" When really all it does it pull me away from the story-it puts more focus on the author than the story. End of rant.

Anyway, I was surprised to see that the mercenaries weren't what I was expecting...which means that nothing we've encountered so far has been honest. Now, I'm not sure what to believe about Denth (and Vasher and everyone else) as the story moves forward.

2) Vasher is perhaps one of those things who we’ve had flipped over on us. Turns out he may have once been a scholar, even! Vasher and Viveena have quite the conversation about Awakening and Returned and skate across the topic of ‘Type 4’ Awakened Objects, which the story implies to be objects like Nightblood. Vasher is completely unwilling to discuss it any further – any guesses as to why?

I really like Vasher. He seems to be much more honest of a character than I originally thought, and I am glad that Vivenna has teamed up with him a bit. I think it's obvious Vasher is not some run of the mill guy just out to start a revolution. He has deeper connections to the conflict and brewing war. He knows too much to be a random person and the fact that he refuses to discuss Nightblood? Oh yeah, he knows something's up! :)

 3) Siri’s conversation with Treledees perhaps indicated that for all the disregard he shows for Siri, that he may in fact still care for the God King. If true, does this clash with their idea of simply holding onto the Divine Breath until the return of another, or how could you see it being reconciled?

I think this connects with what I was getting at in the first question. Since Sanderson tossed everything around with the switcheroo concerning Denth and the others, you can't take anything we've read at face value. Sanderson has already shown us that things are not what they seem, and while it appears that Tredelees and the other priests are slimy little buggers, that might not be the case. Has it occurred to anyone else that Siri hasn't outright asked someone what is going on? She's talked around it, implied threats, and used her power as Vessel, but there hasn't been an honest conversation.

I really think Sanderson is just trying to mess with our heads and we're in for another twist related to the priests. Given the fact that he released the book serially on his website, I'm convinced we have more twists on the way.

(On that same note, I think we're going to see a lot from Lightsong as we near the end in this same regard-he won't be who we expect him to be either).

4) We’re so far through the book now, and the War has yet to come. Do you (still?) see it as inevitable, or do you think that it may yet be headed off?

From what I know of fantasy novels, if you have a standalone, the war better be early on. I doubt there will be a full-blown war at any point in the book. There just aren't enough pages left! I foresee a lot of political maneuvering ahead of all the characters!

I'm still waiting to see who "Warbreaker" is. I'm starting to doubt my belief that it is Siri or Vivenna, but I'm sure Sanderson will surprise me again. :)

Warbreaker Post 3: Chapters 24-34.

It's time for the third post on Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker. The group read is hosted by Amanda and Naithin. You can see my thoughts for the first set of questions here, and my thoughts for the second set are here. Needless to say, I am rather enjoying the book. :)

Be advised that I don't intentionally spoil, but if you have plans to read the book, it might be better to skim!

1. Lightsong is beginning to remember his past, or at least, what he thinks is his past. Why do you think this knowledge is coming to him now, after five years as a Returned?

I am fascinated by Lightsong. While I was wary of him to begin with, I feel like we are really getting to know the real man behind the god stature. He's a funny guy, and while he seems to enjoy being irritating and a bit of a laughing-stock, I think there is a lot more to him.

I enjoy his little quests into determining who he once was. The priests say that he has to have done something to earn the right to Return, so wouldn't it be logical for someone, like a detective, to be offered that opportunity? Honestly, I think it would be too easy for Lightsong to have had that kind of a role in his past-don't those kinds of individuals do wonderful things as parts of their jobs?

Anyway, I'm curious to see what else he thinks he remembers about who he was. I also want to know why the priests won't tell the Returned who they were when they were alive. I think that's key to getting a little more information about their supposed divinity.

2. In this section, Vivenna has learned a lot about herself, and not necessarily to her liking. How do you think the new knowledge will change her going forward?

I think Vivenna is finally learning a little tolerance towards the people around her. She grew up in a society where one way of thinking was pushed as correct and everything else was wrong. As she spends more time in T'Telir, she is realizing that her own way of thinking is narrow, condescending, and close-minded.

I'm hoping she changes as the plot moves forward because characters who stay stagnant infuriate me. :)

3. From the beginning of the book, both the Idrians and Lightsong have been telling us that the Returned aren't Gods, and that the Hallendren religion is untrue. Now, though, we've had a few other different perspectives: Jewels' vehement faith in the God King, the God King's own belief in his divinity, and finally, Hoid's collection of historical stories. Given the new information, have your ideas about religion in this book changed? How do you view it now?

First of all, I really like this question. :)

I think the system of divinity and religion in the novel is an interesting one. I mean, how often do gods themselves question their own right to be worshiped? For Lightsong, who doesn't remember his past before he was Returned, he can't put the pieces together as to why anyone would worship him. He sees himself as a lazy, irritating fellow and sees no divinity within himself. He does his job as a god because it is expected, not because he believes in it.

As for the God King, he also knows nothing beyond what he has been told about himself and the Hallendren religion.  He has been told he is a god, so he sees himself as a god. Since the only people around him are priests who tell him so, and servants who wait on him, what else can he really believe?

I really like the perspective of these two because it also made me question whether they should be seen as gods. But what Hoid and Jewels confirm is that the people believe. The fact is, these people Returned for apparently no reason. They were given a second chance after proving themselves at the end of their first life. That opportunity makes them higher than the people around them. In some way, you have to respect that these were honorable men and women before they Returned. They did something to stand out. The religion, in the context of that knowledge, has to be valid, right? But there is still something underneath all of that we haven't been told yet (regarding the God King and his heir). I'm sure we'll find out by the end.

4. Denth says, "Every man is a hero in his own story." What do you make of this, especially given Denth and Vasher's apparent rivalry, and Vivenna and Siri's different perspectives of life in Hallendren and the Gods' court?

We all want to see ourselves on the right and moral side of things. If you believe in something strongly enough, maybe you do become the hero in your own story. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not, but Denth seems to believe in it. I just think it says a lot about tolerance the ability to change your opinion when faced with facts, but that's a tangent for another day. :)

Upcoming Reading Events.

I have two reading events to talk about-mainly to let you know that I'm participating, and you should too!

(I know you would think that given the Victorian extravaganza I have enough going on, but I don't).

First up is an event taking place this Saturday-Bloomsday.

Bloomsday takes place on the 16th of June every year, and is essentially a celebration of the day in which James Joyce's Ulysses is based. This Saturday a crazy group, including yours truly, is going to try and tackle reading Joyce's ramblings in 24 hours.

I KNOW, right?

But I think it should be fun, and during my one failed attempt at tackling Ulysses, I was mad that I didn't just power through. This will give me the opportunity to do so.

If you want to join in, go and check O's post for all the details. There is also a linky there so you can sign up for the insanity. And, if you just want to read part of Ulysses, or something else by Joyce to celebrate that day, you can do that too. ;)

The second big event is the announcement of the group read for the second book in the Mistborn trilogy. I joined in on the read for the first book a little late, but I flew through the book in no time. I have been anxious to find out what happens next, so I can't even tell you how happy I am to have this on deck!

What other reading events are going on that I should know about? You know me, I'm always looking for the next big challenge! :)

Warbreaker Post 2: Chapters 13-23.

Today is the second post for the Warbreaker readalong hosted by Amanda and Naithin. Last week I posted my response to the first week's questions, so now it is time for round 2! The book is a very fast read, so if you are intrigued, feel free to join us for the last three weeks (I read this weeks' chapters in only an hour or so).

I don't intentionally spoil anything, but be wary, just in case (and the novel is REALLY GOOD, so you should read it).

1) We’ve seen more of Vasher and Nightblood in action and heard perhaps quite a different perspective from the mercenaries. Any thoughts on what Vasher and Nightblood’s nature or motivations may ultimately be?

I was really excited to get more of Vasher's story in this section. We hadn't seen him for awhile, so I'm glad he popped back up! I'm curious to know more about Vasher moving forward, so it was good to gain a little more exposure. I'm still not exactly sure how I feel about Vasher. I'm going to assume he is a "good" guy, but I don't feel I know enough to know whether he is. Or what his true motivations might be. I'm hoping we get more from him in the upcoming chapters-I also want to learn how he acquired Nightblood (which must be an "Awakened" object, right?).

But, I actually preferred the glimpses into Nightblood (Vasher's sword) a little more. I like the fact that the sword has a personality and seems to take matters into its own hands. I'm also curious to see if Nightblood will ever be unsheathed. If it is deadly enough by just being covered, can you imagine the devastation once it comes out? I'm also going to jump out there and say that at some point, Nightblood and the Warbreaker, whoever that might be, will combine forces. If ever there was a weapon to break war, Nightblood would be it.

2) How about the mercenaries themselves? Denth seems to be spectacularly dangerous; more than we may have suspected. Then there is Tonk Fah and the recently introduced Jewels. Are they playing it level with Vivenna, do you think?

I kind of loved that when we are first introduced to the mercenaries, they seem like harmless jokers. They were cracking these sly little jokes with Vivenna and being all snarky...which I appreciate. And then, lo and behold, Denth caused some SERIOUS damage. Like Vasher and Nightblood, I think the mercenaries have more story to tell us. I also think they are "good" guys, but they must have some ulterior motive for continuing to help Vivenna. After all, she is pretty unskilled and sticks out a bit in terms of her reaction to the things she sees. I'm curious to see how their relationship continues to transform as they move forward in the plot (I kind of think that they have some knowledge of the God King, which is why they are helping Vivenna get to Siri).

 3) We – and Siri – were let in on (some of) the secrets surrounding the God King as well, and what has been done to him to keep him in check. Or at least; we’ve seen Siri’s thoughts on why it was done. Do you think she was right? What consequences do you perhaps see arising from her teaching the Godking?

Someone (I can't remember who) said last week that the priests seem to have more power than the Gods. And I have to agree based on what we read this week. When Siri starts taking matters into her own hands, and the God King doesn't react or stop her, you can tell right away he doesn't have power. And then, once we learn he has no tongue...well, the priests are up to something pretty fishy. Perhaps the Gods have no real power-they seem to be pawns of the priests-limited in their movements and actions.

I certainly think Siri is right in questioning the system and going against what is expected. How often do we stick with tradition because it is what we're told to do? I can't wait to see more of her interactions with the God King as she teaches him, and to see all the evil secrets of the priests (the only priest I like is Scoot).

4) Blushweaver seems to be working toward some end goal we’re not yet privy to, but we know she is after anyone with Lifeless commands. Any ideas what/who/where her target may be once control of the Lifeless is gained?

Part of me thinks that Blushweaver is maneuvering to take power herself. She seems to be incredibly manipulative, so I am guessing she'll use the Lifeless against the lesser gods, priests, and the God King himself (I could be, and probably am, incredibly wrong). I think the war against Siri's homeland is an excuse for her to gain power, and that she is going to show her true colors VERY soon.

A Victorian Celebration Master Post.

Welcome to the Master Post for A Victorian Celebration-a two month event focused on the writers and books of that time period! Back in March, I announced sign-ups for the event, and was blown away by the response. I have been anxious to get underway! Thank you all for participating (and you can still sign up!).

I have a lot of things planned for this month-including giveaways, guest posts, and lots of Victorian reading. I'm going to take a moment to explain the posting/linking procedure, and then I'll lay out the rules for winning prizes, etc.

At the bottom of this post is a "Mister Linky" widget. Whenever you review a book or write a post related to the event, please link it on this master post. Please include the title or subject of whatever your post is AND your blog name in the "Name" section of the link. It should look something like: Master Post (A Literary Odyssey). This will ensure that all the links are in a similar format, and so others know what your post is about when they click on it. I will make sure that the button on the right side of my blog will take you to this post, and there will also be a link at the very top of my blog. Please make sure to only link posts here!

So, every time that you link a post, you will be eligible to win prizes. I have some prizes spaced out over the course of the event. Sometimes links from the past week will be the only thing to count towards entries, sometimes I'll pick an author and pull a winner from there, you get the idea. The only way to be entered for those prizes is to make sure you are linked up here with any posts related to the event.

There will also be some separate giveaways. For any giveaway sponsored by yours truly, you have to be a participant in the event (to make it fair!). Make sure to read the rules on those giveaway posts carefully and enter if you are interested! I also have a few guest posts where that writer will be doing a separate giveaway on their blog. They may have separate rules, so make sure to read carefully. :)

I think that's it! I hope you are as excited as I am! Start reading those Victorians people!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett-Readalong Post.

 “And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.”

I've been craving a reread of The Secret Garden ever since Jillian read it a couple months ago. Then I saw the readalong hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, and I knew I had to join.

I hadn't read this since I was a little girl. My best friend when I was 7 or 8 was a girl named Emily. We would often exchange books back and forth, and this was one she was hesitant to give me, since she loved it so much. She finally lent it to me over a long weekend, and I cherished her copy of the book. I read the whole thing that weekend and brought it back to her in school on Monday.

I think I asked to borrow it one or two more times, but she said no and I never managed to get my own copy as a girl.

So when Puffin released their hardcover children's classics, I snapped them up and was excited to finally own a copy of a book I loved as a child. Since placing the yellow beauty on my shelf in November, I've been eying it in hopes of reading it soon.

Did it live up to my expectations? It sure did.

The Secret Garden is really the story of two spoiled and selfish children. The first is Mary Lennox. Growing up in India, Mary is spoiled and unwanted by her parents. She stays indoors and bosses around her maids. But when she is orphaned, she sent off to England to a relative's house and left to her own devices. Without anyone to listen to her whining and complaining.

The other child is Colin-the son of Mary's estranged Uncle-and a supposed cripple. Sheltered in a small room almost since his birth, Colin has been told he is sickly for almost his entire life. He has fed into that knowledge and believes himself to be far sicker than he is.

The magic of the story comes when these two children meet and begin fixing up and playing in the secret locked garden. There, Mary and Colin learn a great deal about themselves, with some help from Dickon, and grow up.

I loved reading this again as an adult. I remembered bits and pieces about the garden from my read as a child, but there were so many lovely passages and characters lost in memory. First, Dickon. I remembered him slightly as being a character I was overly fond of, but I was blown away by his appearances in the novel. Dickon was always a supportive, loving figure to Mary and Colin, and far more mature than his age.

I also forgot about the robin, who led Mary to finding the key to the garden and letting her explore:

“Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off and they are nearly always doing it.”

The pieces of the robin interacting with Mary were charming, and I loved that the robin brought about an unselfish side to Mary (the little robins on my book cover are also quite charming, aren't they?).

More than anything, I loved the magical and hopeful quality of the book. Both Mary and Colin undergo changes and maturity throughout the course of the novel. Both change from selfish, self-absorbed little creatures, to people who learn to care about something other than themselves. Together, with Dickon, they help the garden grow and flourish. They breathe new life into something once forgotten and neglected...much like how they were treated by the adults in their lives. They showed that value can be found in lonely and forgotten places, if you care to look and see the potential it has.

This is a book I can't wait to share with my own children. I can already picture reading it to them from between the yellow covers and letting them discover the magical quality of the secret garden for themselves.

“There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em.”

Warbreaker Post 1: Chapters 1-12.

I'm really excited that today is the first post for the Warbreaker readalong hosted by Amanda and Naithin. I joined in on the readalong for Sanderson's Mistborn a little belatedly, and since I loved the book, I decided more Sanderson was just what I needed (thanks Amanda and Naithin, for reading my mind). 


I ended up downloading a copy of Sanderson's novel to my Nook, Homer, since he has been feeling a bit neglected. I love that the edition I downloaded is annotated, and while I haven't really dived into the annotations yet, I foresee lots of geeking out in the future.


Anyway, Amanda sent out questions for this week, so here are my thoughts! (And while I don't purposefully spoil anything, read at your own risk).

1. All right, let's start easy - how are you liking the book so far? We've been introduced to a lot of characters and started several stories now. Any in particular catch your attention? Anything intrigue you?

This is only my second title by Sanderson, but I have already come to expect a lot from him. His world-building is simply superb. Just like Mistborn, the world has a distinct feel and tone. I was drawn into it from the first page, and I was absorbed in the smallest details from the start. One thing that I do want to mention is that I found myself drawn into the story much quicker than with Mistborn. For that title, it took me about 50-60 pages to get a firm hold on Sanderson’s style and the events in the novel. That doesn’t seem to be the case for this one (perhaps because it is a standalone title, whereas Mistborn was setting up a trilogy?).

I am also intrigued by the storylines taking place. We’ve already met a number of characters, and there seems to be 4 parallel stories taking place with four main characters: Vasher, Siri, Lightsong, and Vivenna. Siri and Vivenna are the sisters (Siri sent in her sister’s place to marry the God King), and right now, I am partial to their storylines. We’ve only seen a little from Vasher, but I’m sure he will pop up again as we continue. As for Lightsong...at first I was a little irritated with him, but the last two chapters intrigued me. The idea of a God discontented with his role and pushing against it...I’m curious to see where Sanderson takes it.

I have to commend Sanderson, again, for creating a lovely system of magic. I love that it is focused around colors, and the smallest touches of this system make me smile (the hair changes, etc). I am hoping we learn a little more about it, as well as more about the Returneds (I have to say that I REALLY got into that conversation between Lightsong and his priest in the last chapter).

2. The Returned are all treated as Gods, but at least one of those Gods doesn't believe in his own divinity, despite seeing potential visions. Do you think the Returned will prove to be divine? How do you feel about the religion built up around them?

I think that Lightsong is right to question his role as a “God.” It wasn’t as if any of the Returneds really make a conscious decision to take on that role, but were forced into it. Lightsong seems to hate it more than he enjoys it-the constant petitions, rules, and demands on his time irritate him (obviously). But I think that I understood more of the system of their divinity during that last conversation he had-about those who were Returneds coming back for a reason-to issue a warning or to save an individual’s life. I am hoping we learn more about that as the story progresses.

As for the religion...well, religions have been formed out of need, in a historical sense. Gods serve to guide and help humanity through all aspects of life...so I think it would be odd for a whole society to believe in nothing as opposed to a faulty system of Gods.  As for whether the Returneds should be seen and exalted as Gods? I’m not sure yet. I want to know more about their roles and how others see them (Siri and Vivenna mainly).

3. The God King didn't turn out to be the way he's presented and thought of in this world. any ideas on what his role will be in this story?

We have only seen the God King through Siri’s eyes as she waits for him to use her as his wife, so he hasn’t really developed as a character. However, I don’t think the God King is what the other Gods, priests, or people think he is. Obviously, there is a story there and we haven’t heard what it is just yet. I have a feeling we’re going to learn more about him soon, and what his real role in the kingdom is. I’m sensing that he doesn’t have the power everyone thinks he does, or, if he does have power, he refuses to use it the way others want him to. But who knows...knowing what I do of Sanderson, it will all be a calculated surprise.


4. The title - Warbreaker - what do you think it might refer to?

I’m assuming the title has something to do with one of the individuals we’ve already met. Since war is looming...I’m going to assume that someone (I’m thinking Vivenna or Lightsong) is going to take on a more powerful role to break up the chaos and discontent between the kingdoms. I'm kind of pulling for Siri, since I think she is the most interesting so far, but I could be wrong. :)

Upcoming Events and Readalongs.

Since I seem to be in a fickle mood when it comes to books, I have decided to just cave into utter insanity (I am now in the middle of 11 books. I know, I know). I've been joining events as I stumble across them in the blogging community. And since I need a way to keep track of everything, i figured I would just put them all in one big post. Then you can decide to join in on the craziness too. :)

I am actually late to the party on this one. Carl is hosting a readalong of the Mistborn trilogy. The group already finished the first title, but Amanda convinced me to join in on the fun. I really love high fantasy, and it is something I have been missing since I started my project. I just love the world-building, the grandeur, and the surprise of diving into a world built by a talented author. The reading schedule hasn't been announced for the second two books, but you can still join in! I started the first book a few nights ago, and let me tell you, it is a page turner for sure!

The second readalong I am joining in for is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. The readalong is a "read as you will but finish by the end of the month" kind of gig, which I always enjoy. :)

I have been wanting to read The Secret Garden since Jillian read it, so this was a perfect excuse. I didn't own a copy of the book until just recently, but I remember borrowing it from a friend to read on more than one occasion. I have already finished it, but my thoughts will be up at the end of the month. Again, you have plenty of time to join in, so please do! Sheila will be hosting a garden party on her blog on the 31st. And from what I hear, there will be lots of fun things, including giveaways, etc-all garden themed!

I also decided to join in on the Andrew Smith extravaganza hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader, Smash Attack Reads, Not Now...I'm Reading, and Lady Reader's Bookstuff (I linked to the sign-up on Adam's page, since that is where I signed up, but you can sign up at any of their blogs). 

I haven't read anything by Andrew Smith, but since I respect Adam's opinion on books, I decided to go for it. I'm kind of at that point where I need something else to focus on beside my project, and this seems like a great way to learn more about an author I've never read before! Go and sign up if you're interested-it is going to be a great time, I'm sure of it!

Then, Amanda convinced me to join yet another high fantasy readalong. :) This time it is a standalone novel, and it was a free ebook download. Count. Me. In.

Inspired by the Mistborn readalong, Amanda and Naithin are hosting a readalong of Warbreaker. Amanda lovingly linked to the free ebook download on her sign up post, so go there if you are interested in reading a lovely high fantasy novel!! (you know you want to).

Phew. Done.

So glad that I've got all of this information in one place. Let me know if you're joining in on any of these lovelies, OR if you know of any others I should join!

Clarissa in April: Failure.

Well, it is officially the end of April, and I should be posting about how amazingly wonderful it was to read all of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa in one month.

If you didn't guess by the title, I should clue you in. My attempt to read Clarissa this month was a total failure. I think that the three of us who were attempting this (Adam and Jillian were my partners in crime) all felt like we "could" do it, but none of us did. I think Jillian made it the furthest before setting it aside, and by stalking Adam on Goodreads, he only made it to page 165. My Goodreads isn't up to date (I should fix that), but I only made it to page 450 or so.

So why did we all seem to fail?

Personally, I had way too much going on in the month of April to concentrate on such a BIG book. Since my copy is so massive and heavy, it didn't fit easily in my purse (in fact, it doesn't fit at all), so it stayed home a lot of the time and smaller books were brought with me. I also had a really hard time reading it in bed, which is where I spend a lot of time reading. I usually read while on my back, but after being smacked in the face once by not holding the book steady, I gave up. It also killed my hands to hold it open for long periods of time.

I also think I simply misjudged my abilities to plow through it as I intended. The first 200 pages or so are incredibly repetitive, so I struggled to get past that point (now it is A LOT better). The font is small, and the pages are large.

More than anything else, I was simple too busy to read it in April. I had some new units to prep for school that required me to reread those books, and since I was so worn out, I could only read 20 or so pages of Clarissa at a time before throwing the towel and moving on to something easier.

So, I sadly have to admit that I failed in reading this in April. I'm not sure I can actually set a date for finishing it, but ideally, I'd like to be done with it by the end of August. It is the perfect book for rainy summer days, so I hope that at some point I can say, "Hey! I finished that really big book I was talking about!"


(I also have plans to read Richardson's Pamela this year, so we'll see how that goes).

Announcing Clarissa in April: A Readalong and Sign-ups.

I'm happy to finally announce "Clarissa in April," a group readalong hosted by myself, Jillian, and Adam for the month of April.

Jillian and I have been talking about Clarissa by Samuel Richardson for months, so I am glad we're finally nearing the month we decided to read it. I think we made our plans last October! We recruited Adam in our evil plan a couple months ago, so the three of us are set and primed to dive into one of the English language's longest books.

At close to a million words, nothing else really comes that close to this chunky brick of a book. And what better challenge for ourselves than to dive in and read it in 30 days?

You know that I'm always game for a challenge!

All three of us have the Penguin paperback edition (Seen at left). Our graphic for the event, above, was taken from the cover as inspiration (the image is the 1740 painted called "Sir Edward and Lady Turner"). The book is massive at 1499 pages (1533 with notes) and pretty tiny print. When my book was shipped to me, my packing slip told me it was over 5 pounds.

This is going to be fun. :)

We want to extend an invitation to anyone who wants to join in on the fun. We're going to approach this in a very low-key manner. After talking about it, we don't want to have a posting or reading schedule, which will give us the freedom to go at our own pace and post as we wish to (If you do want a strict schedule, it works out to reading 50 pages a day, or 350 pages a week).

If you feel like joining in, feel free to grab the graphic and post about it. The more the merrier! :)

And if 30 days is a bit too much for you, there is a year-long group read of the book taking place with Lakeside Musing and Tip of the Iceberg.

See you in April!

Book 120: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (November Group Read).

“I couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, had I been robbed of a belief or had missed my destiny in life...”

I have a long history with this title, and I have to tell you about it before I can even think about writing about my recent read of this title.

This was my fourth read of the book, having read it in high school for my AP English class, and twice in college. The first time I read it, in high school, I had picked it at random from a list (THAT makes me chuckle in light of what I am doing now), thinking that with such a lovely title, I was in for a treat.

I did not like it. In fact, I rather sort of hated the novel as a high school senior. It didn't make sense to me, didn't seem like a story, and the ending made me angry. But I kept my copy and decided I would read it when I was older and more mature. Maybe I just missed the importance?

Then, I had to read it twice in college-in the same school year. The first time was for a class I hated and the professor didn't really discuss the book. It seemed like he tossed the title on there so we would have something else to read. And while I read the whole thing, again, I didn't enjoy it, again. So when it was on the book list for a class the following semester, I had a mini panic attack and swore that I would read it again and like it.

Turns out that the class it was assigned in ending up being my favorite English literature class I ever took at MSU. And while we read a few other things I didn't enjoy at the time (The Pioneers by Cooper and Hard Times by Dickens), the professor had the ability to make me see what was valuable in each title. So even though I may have disliked a book, I could understand and appreciate it for what it was. This professor had the ability to make me see the beauty in everything. This is the class where I fell in love with Whitman. So if anyone could help me see the depths of Heart of Darkness, it would be this professor.

Ummm, no. I listened attentively to every word, I took pages upon pages of notes. I read my copy, the same from high school, diligently, but I was still not amused. I was frustrated, angry, and in a lot of "hate" towards this book. I vividly remember staying after class one day to talk to the professor. I told him a little of what I am sharing here and all he asked was, "Do you think that perhaps Conrad's style just isn't to your liking? That happens, you know." He smiled and left.

That comment has stuck with me since then. I have avoided Conrad since then and the title has languished on my shelf. Two years ago, when I made my list, I debated only putting titles I had never read on my list just to avoid Heart of Darkness (okay, and Great Expectations, but mostly Heart of Darkness). But I convinced myself to keep it on the list. After all, I would grow as a reader and as a person during this process. Maybe that missing piece that didn't "get it" the first three times would get it now.

Well?

No, absolutely not.

I went into my recent read with an open mind. It had been almost 5 years since the last read of it, and a lot of great literature had popped up in the middle. During that time, I read a lot of things by authors I previously detested. I had given Hard Times a try and not only did I appreciate the story, but I also enjoyed it. I read my first Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, loved it, and moved on to read two more of his books. I conquered Cooper, Tolstoy, Rand, and others. I figured, hey, if I can read their work and like it, why not Conrad?

Oh no, I just can't.

I didn't like it this time around, and I doubt I will if and when I ever decide to torture myself again. And there are two things that really bother me about not liking it;

1. I am the one who picked it for the group read. So I feel guilty I made you all read this with me.
2. I still don't understand why I don't get it. I really don't.

For anyone who doesn't know, Heart of Darkness is narrated by Marlow. He is telling the story of what happened to a group we are never really introduced to. But the key is that he is telling us a story, in his own voice, throughout the entirety of the novel. He paints us a picture of what is going on and what it important throughout.

I don't like him. If he was a friend of mine and told me a story this...droll, I would tell him so.

I found myself, on this reading, to be annoyed with the method of telling the tale. I suppose you could say that the story itself was interesting-a man sick and in the depths of the jungle. He is a legend and needs to come back to society. Well, that's interesting. But I didn't need all the rest-Marlow's little "insights" on what is important to note about the journey-his comparison of the jungle to being the "heart of darkness." It was all too much for me.

And what's worse, I can't seem to pinpoint what didn't work for me. Not at all.

The novel does have elements that I like. For instance, there are some places with beautiful statements. This, for one;

“It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream--making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation, that commingling of absurdity, surprise, and bewilderment in a tremor of struggling revolt, that notion of being captured by the incredible which is of the very essence of dreams...No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream-alone...”

I also like this one;

“Anything approaching the change that came over his features I have never seen before, and hope never to see again. Oh, I wasn't touched. I was fascinated. It was as though a veil had been rent. I saw on that ivory face the expression of somber pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror--of an intense and hopeless despair. Did he live his life again in every detail of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision--he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath:
The horror! The horror!”

See? I can appreciate the language and the beautiful way Conrad expresses his thought and ideas. I just didn't like the overall delivery.

So what's next for me and Conrad? I'm not really sure. I have Lord Jim on my list, and you can bet I will be avoiding it for quite some time.

But, my usual rule is to give an author three chances to impress me before writing them off. That has kept authors like Dickens from being completely ignored because I know that we continually grow as readers, and as readers, our tastes change from day to day, week to week, month to month, and year to year. Who we are changes, so it makes sense that our desires as readers also changes. Who is to say that 20 years down the road I won't be squealing like a fangirl and clutching Heart of Darkness to my chest?

(It COULD happen...maybe).

But I also have to think about what my professor told me that day. Perhaps Conrad just isn't my style and never will be. A part of me wants to jump for joy and scream "yes" at the top of my lungs about that possibility, but the nerdy, intelligent, "I want to read everything and love everything" part of me is dying a little.

So I leave it to you. Are there authors or books you have completely written off? Why or why not? Should I give Lord Jim a shot or replace it with some other worthy title?

Purgatorio Group Read Link-In.

Welcome to the link-in post for the November Group Read of Dante's Purgatorio, the second volume in The Divine Comedy.

Here is the link for thoughts and impressions on the first volume, Inferno. We will also be reading Paradiso in December-think about joining us (Here is where you can sign up).

I will not be posting my own thoughts here (I will put them into their own post in a couple more days), but instead we will use this space to link to everyone's post.

What you need to do is leave a comment with the link to your post on the book. I'll link it here, so that other participants can come and see what you had to say.

Come back over the next week to see what everyone else had to say!

Thank you for participating!

Heart of Darkness Group Read Link-In.

Welcome to the link-in post for the November Group Read of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness!

I will not be posting my own thoughts here (I will put them into their own post in a couple more days), but instead we will use this space to link to everyone's post.

What you need to do is leave a comment with the link to your post on the book. I'll link it here, so that other participants can come and see what you had to say.

Come back over the next week to see what everyone else had to say!

Thank you for participating!

December 2011 Group Reads: Sense and Sensibility and Paradiso.

I figured it was about time to announce the two reads for December Group Reads. I have really enjoyed the new format-less constricting than a readalong-but it is still up in the air at this point whether I will continue to host in the future as a regular feature.

I love hosting, but a very (selfish) small part of me just wants to read whatever I want in the new year AND participate in other events. :) We'll see. I can't resist community aspects of blogging!

Anyway, here are the two books I selected for December's Group Reads:

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen:

I ended 2010 with an Austen title (Emma), and haven't read any other Austen in 2011. I adore her, so it seems like I should create a yearly tradition of reading her around the holidays. There is nothing like Austen to put a smile on my face.

Sense and Sensibility is the Austen title I know the least. I have only read it once, and it was so long ago that I have a hard time remembering details. And Jillian has been raving about it since she finished it, so I feel like I finally need to pull my copy off the shelf, dust it off, and read it.

"Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love—and its threatened loss—the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love." (from Goodreads.com)

I will put a master post up on the 22nd, and you will have until the end of the month to link your post there. Once you have your post up, come back and check in on other participants to see their thoughts and reactions!

Paradiso by Dante:

The second Group Read for December is the third and final volume of Dante's The Divine Comedy. I'm not sure who is still hanging in there with me in this three-month read of the three titles, but I hope you'll consider joining in, especially if you've only read Inferno!

In this third and final volume, Dante will travel to Paradise, meet those who have found their way there, and end his travels through dominions not on earth.

I am excited and happy to be reaching the final volume. I am also excited about being able to cross off The Divine Comedy on my list. :) Like the Austen, a master post will go up on the 22nd. You'll have until the end of the month to link your thoughts there!


Thank you all for participating in my various readalongs and group reads this year! I had a blast, and I hope you did too!

October 2011 Group Read: Dracula by Bram Stoker.

“Oh, the terrible struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late; the pain of the sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown horror as it has for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives have no fears, no dreads; to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams.”

Oh Dracula. I have fond memories of you from the first time I read you. My high school offered a lot of electives in the English department, and one of the favorites was the "Mystery, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy" class. Dracula was the horror title that the class read (I feel like I should also tell you that we watched Poltergeist in that class as well. And everyone laughed at me when I started screaming and freaking out. My teacher took pity on me and let me sit in the hallway and read instead of watching the end).

But Dracula? I really enjoyed reading it for that class. This was back in 2001/2002, so it was before the vampire craze that seems to be everywhere now. I remember distinct moments from that class, like our teacher demonstrating how to "stake" a vampire. And her making a garlic necklace. It was FUN. I even remember our final project for the class...in groups, we had to create a skit based off of one of the scenes in the novel. Our group chose the "chase" scene at the end and ran around our downtown shooting images. It was a horrible skit, but it was a fun experience anyway.

Yes, fun. Because if I were to choose one word to describe Dracula, fun would be it. And on this read, I was reminded why I enjoyed it so much the first time around.

There are portions that are slightly frightening. The opening chapters, where Jonathan Harker is in Dracula's castle freaked me out this time around too (at one point I was reading in bed while Matt was in the living room shooting zombies, and I SWORE I saw red eyes staring at me from outside the window). The mystery and suspense of it all as Harker chronicles his thoughts in his journal are unnerving. As a reader, you aren't sure if he will make it (although, you assume he does because hey, we're reading his journal). When he begins to piece together what is actually going on in the castle, you get nervous for him. And then the narrative drops off and you get transported to London.

In London, we meet the rest of our characters-our two ladies and a host of handsome gentlemen who all love them ever so much. This is the one (big) critique I have of the novel. WHY do all the men LOVE their women so much? Why are they frail and sappy and in need of rescue? Blegh. No thank you. I like strong female characters and men who see them as such. not this nonsense:

“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights"

“No one but a women can help a man when he is in trouble of the heart..."

“Good women tell all their lives, and by day and by hour and by minute, such things that angels can read. ”

“She is one of God's women fashioned by His own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that its light can be here on earth.”

I have more, need I go on? The fact is, all of the male characters fawn over these two women. They act like big saps and the women..it is all "Oh, I am so frail and fragile. I need you to protect me." It is just too much. Once I realized how ridiculous some of the "speeches" were to the women, I had to chuckle. Again, I like my strong female characters, so the mooning and sappiness of it all was just too much. And it never lets up. Ever.

Even when Van Helsing, Harker, Seward, and the other men are chasing after Dracula, it is all about poor little Mina. Because she is beautiful, smart, and everything a man could want in a good woman.

As for the rest of the story, it has its highs and lows. I do think, that as a modern audience, we are spoiled by the countless versions of the story in various forms of media. Had we read this when it was first published, I think it would seem far scarier and out there than it does to us (in the world of Twilight and film). Vampire lore and legend isn't anything new, so as a modern reader, I think we expect a little more gore!

I can only imagine how some of the scenes must have terrified readers way back upon publication. There is a scene where Dracula is feeding on Mina (and vice versa) and the men (our dear heroes) barge in. THAT was horrifying! I can only imagine the reaction of readers back then!

Another of my favorite parts about this novel is the way in which it is told. I like that as a reader, we are learning as we go with the characters. Being able to read their journals, letters, and other bits as they discover who Dracula is really adds to the suspense and drama. I'm not sure if it would be as successful if we knew more than they!

In all, it was a fun story. It does seem to drag in the middle as the menfolk begin to put together the pieces, but the action picks up. I couldn't put the book down once I got to the halfway point! It was the perfect choice for a fall Group Read, and I hope all of you who participated enjoyed it!

“Once again...welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring."

October 2011 Group Read Link-In Post: Dante's Inferno.

Welcome to the Group Read Link-In post for Dante's Inferno!

I hope you all enjoyed your read of the first chunk of Dante's The Divine Comedy and might consider signing up for the next two as well (no pressure!).

At the time of writing this, I am still working my way through hell with Dante, so my link will be up later this week. Be sure to check back often to see who else has posted-it is always fun to see what others had to say about a book!

Please fill out the Mr. Linky with a link to your post, your name, and comment below! I would appreciate any suggestions, criticisms, or hurrahs. :)

Hope to see you in November for Purgatorio!!

October 2011 Group Read Link-In Post: Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Welcome to the link-in post for October's first Group Read on Bram Stoker's Dracula. Starting today and ending on the 22nd, you can link your post on Stoker's vampire novel here. You can also revisit to see others' posts as well!

Since I am trying a new format with this Group Read format, I am going to refrain from using this space as a place for my own thoughts on the novel. Instead, I will also link my post here when it goes up.

I am also attempting to use Mr. Linky. I am a first-timer, so if I fail to set this up right, you all have permission to laugh at me....or sic a vampire on me (haha).

I hope you all enjoyed your read of Dracula and will consider participating in more Group Reads!

Please fill out the form with a link to your post and comment below! I would appreciate any suggestions, criticisms, or hurrahs. :)

November 2011 Group Reads:

While the first posts for the October Group Reads still haven't gone up yet, I had great response. It seems as if the idea of posting once for a book during the broad span of a week was more appealing than multiple posts per book on a specific day.

Maybe I am being premature in launching the next set of sign-ups, but I am going ahead with them anyway. :) Like I have said countless times before, I really enjoy the community aspect of reading a book "together." It also helps me get through some books that I would otherwise shy away from.

Here are the two November Group Reads:

Group Read #1: Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

I have read Conrad's "masterpiece" three times now. The first time I picked it for a read off the AP English list as a high school senior. The second two times were for college courses.

I had a really hard time with this book each time I've read it. I don't know if had to do with experience, reading tastes, or something else, but I always came away feeling like I was missing something. It has been a number of years (5?) since I have read it, so perhaps my feelings towards it have changed. I know that it is one of the titles on my list I have been avoiding and I am hoping that someone, somewhere, will want to read it with me.

If you don't know what it is about, here is a little summary from Goodreads:

"A masterpiece of twentieth-century writing, Heart of Darkness (1902) exposes the tenuous fabric that holds "civilization" together and the brutal horror at the center of European colonialism. Conrad's crowning achievement recounts Marlow's physical and psychological journey deep into the heart of the Belgian Congo in search of the mysterious trader Kurtz."

See? It sounds interesting!

If I haven't scared you off, here is what you need to do to join in on the fun! First, you need to comment here saying that you want in on the fun. Second, you need to read the book and write a post. Then, during the week of November 20-26, you need to link your post back to the master post here. Visit other participants and comment away. Easy enough, right? It would also be wonderful if you spread the word so we can have more participants!

Group Read #2: Dante's Purgatorio

One of my goals for the fall was to read The Divine Comedy, and since I am reading the Inferno during this month, it is only right to carry on right into the second of the trilogy-Purgatorio. I know less about this one than the first, since it seems everyone generally reads the first and skips the other two!

Here is a description from Goodreads:

"As Dante ascends the Mount of Purgatory toward the Earthly Paradise and his beloved Beatrice, through "that second kingdom in which the human soul is cleansed of sin," all the passion and suffering, poetry and philosophy are rendered with the immediacy of a poet of our own age."

I know I am excited to carry on in my journey with Dante, and I hope that many of you will join in, even if you aren't participating in our current read of Inferno.

To join in, you need to comment below to let me know. Then, read the book and formulate your thoughts into a post. During the week of November 20-26, come back here and link your post on my master post. Then you can visit other blogs, comment, and discuss throughout the week as more participants link up!



I hope you all consider joining in on the fun! I know that in December I will be read the final book of The Divine Comedy as one of the Group Reads. I think I will put up a poll in another couple of weeks to vote on the second book for that month. Be on a lookout for it!