Our Stories

I have a favorite quote that has become a bit of a mantra for me. I hear it in my head when people tell me something about themselves. I hear it when I teach students who don't believe in their own abilities to learn and to become whatever they want to be. And I always hear it when my own mind betrays me and tries to tell me something that isn't true about me, which is usually an old echo of something someone else has said to me.

Here's the quote:

"It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story." 

~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Powerful words. True words. Believe me, I should know. And I've seldom seen an example of this laid out as clearly as it is in the non-fiction book, Educated, by Tara Westover. It is...an incredible story. She's an incredible person and an excellent writer.

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to rewrite your own story, the one that plays in your head. As children, we grow up believing what our parents tell us. We trust them. And, while that seems like the right thing to do,...what happens if you don't have good parents? Or, what if, your parents think what they're doing is the right thing (because, in their mind, it is), but their version of "normal"...isn't quite normal? When do children, surrounded by the beliefs of others, ever find their own way...and learn to trust their own story? Ask Tara Westover.

Educated is Westover's memoir about her life, growing up in a rural area of Idaho to parents who 'homeschooled' her. By Westover's accounts, "homeschooled" meant she didn't receive schooling at all. In fact, her father pulled their family so far off the grid, his last few children didn't have birth records. To this day, Westover doesn't really know when her actual birthday is. While this may seem normal for someone born a century ago, Tara is currently a woman in her late 20s/early 30s. 

While Tara grew up in a Mormon home, this story is not about religion. In fact, her parents were extremist in many different ways and they often criticized, what they considered, "mainstream" Mormons. Tara's parents kept their family isolated and used their children for labor. All the while, their father preached to them about the horrible ways of the world and how the government was out to get them and brainwash them. Tara's father saw himself as the protector of his family and used the Ruby Ridge tragedy to prove to his family what would happen if they didn't listen to him. You know, terrorism on a "home-sweet-home" scale.

I think everyone should read this book. I worry some people won't because they'll think it's a "teacher book" about education,...when it's really a book about how to survive childhood and discover who you really are.

And here's the best way to truly discover Tara Westover's story: First, read the book. Second, research the author's current life and watch a few interviews. Third, look up her family - her parents. What you discover on this journey will either blow your mind...or confirm what you've always known.

Happy reading!

The Trying Game

I don't like to write a book review too harshly, especially when it is written by an author I like. It's why I've hesitated, several times, in writing this review. I do believe in being honest with my opinions, though, even when it makes me uncomfortable to do so.

All that being said, I tried to love The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. I swear I tried. I enjoyed her other novels In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10. I was looking forward to The Lying Game, and I am the one who suggested it as a book club read. But, try as I might, I found myself a bit annoyed with the novel...and, thus, a bit annoyed with the author. Please allow me to explain.

I am a patient reader and not quick to judge until I've read an entire novel. Even then, I'm not quick to critique. I like to 'mull over' the story for awhile. I'm also used to novels dragging at some point, or the details becoming a bit more than I prefer, but I take that in stride. I can even break out what I don't like and set it aside to consider the rest of the novel. In other words, to use an old idiom, "I don't throw out the baby with the bath water" when it comes to novels.

For example, I love The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. For me, it is one of the  most well-written novels I've ever experienced. I fell more in love with the art of writing from that novel that anything else I've ever read. However, when he wrote the next novel in the series, The Wise Man's Fear, I felt he jumped the track a bit. I saw where it could've been better. It was, once again, a fabulous novel,...but I would have taken out about 75 pages that really didn't need to be in there. Now, there could be a reason for those extraneous pages, and it may reveal itself  in some kind of 'tie in' to the third novel, buuuuut...by then no one cares. Including me. And, again (for the record), I think Rothfuss' writing is genius,...but no one is perfect.

With all of THAT being said (Do you see how I'm trying to justify what I'm about to say about The Lying Game? I don't like saying it, but it has to be said.), here's what was blatantly wrong with Ware's latest novel, in my opinion...

First, let me say what The Lying Game is about. The narrator in the novel is a woman in her 30s who is sent a text message one day by an old school friend. The same message is sent to two other women, also old school friends. These women attended the same girls' boarding school when they were 15 - 16 years old, and they became fast friends,...but have had little to no contact for numerous years. The mystery, of course, is why do all three of the women drop their lives to go running to the one who sent the text? The short answer, without revealing anything, is they all shared a part in 'The Lying Game' and the lies have finally come home to roost. What will they do next? (I'll tell you what they don't do next. They don't act like intelligent, educated 30something-year-old women. And that's part of the problem.)

At its core, when you strip away the unnecessary parts that bog down the tale, it's a good story. But as I read, I felt like Ware had a book contract with a 'minimum pages required' clause. There are elaborate descriptions that go on too long, but that wouldn't be so bad if they weren't repeated over and over again. By the end of the novel, I could perfectly describe Thea's legs, Fatima's hair and hijab, Kate's flat stomach, how a grown woman feels like a 16-year-old hormonal teenager, how a baby smells and coos and cries and smiles, and how to breastfeed. 

Now, if those were the only problems with the novel, I might not complain...too much. I would have just skimmed the repetitious parts. Sadly, those are not the only problems. The narrator, Isa, is ridiculous. Now, to me, this is not the same thing as being "an unreliable narrator," as I enjoy those types of novels. Isa's thoughts are ridiculous, yes, but that's believable because we all have absurd thoughts sometimes. It is how her actions play out that I found myself shaking my head again and again at how the author expected me to believe this is how a human being would behave, especially one as obsessed with her baby as Isa seems to be. It's just not believable. And, in realistic fiction, I should believe it. For me, it was distracting how unbelievable some of the novel's scenes played out. I found myself just wanting to "get through" the novel, and I didn't care about the characters anymore. And that's never a good sign.

Will I ever read another Ruth Ware novel? Yes, of course, I will. And while some people may not agree with this review, I have to wonder if they read her other novels. By comparison, the first two were much better. Even Goodreads reviewers show the other two rank higher in star ratings.

I'm going to mark it up as a 'life happens and writers aren't perfect' and hope Ware's next novel will be better. I believe in second chances. If the next one, though, disappoints me, I won't be trying again. One 'off' novel, I understand. I just hope there isn't another 'off' one after this. I'm good for two tries,...but not three. Life is too short, and my precious reading time is even shorter.

Happy reading!

Retraction?

I've made the print a little bigger on this post because I don't normally write retractions. In fact, I've never written one. And even as I do this, I question whether I should or should not (thus, the question mark in the post title). However, when I question my own judgment, I'm not one to slither away and not own up to it. Literary analysis is subjective, which is why I love it. When I wrote my opinion about My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, I had not met with my book club to discuss the novel. We met last night.

As we began the meeting, I quickly announced that I didn't like Lucy, as a character, and I didn't like the book. I also stated that usually makes for the best books to talk about. And I was right. We had a great time discussing the confusing layers of the book, wondering if we trusted the narrator, and trying to answer questions we had about the novel.

One of the ladies informed us there is a follow-up novel, of sorts, that comes after this one: Anything is Possible. She is currently reading it and said it answers many of the questions she had about the novel we read. Some of the characters are carried over, including the Barton family, and she's finding it odd and interesting. She likes it better than My Name is Lucy Barton, but she didn't dislike Lucy as much as I did. Most of the book club said the novel was, and I quote, "Okay."

Is it genius to write a novel that doesn't make good, clear sense so you can write a follow-up novel that fills in the gaps, hoping to sell another book? Or was it just poor planning to begin with and the next book is the edited 'I did it so much better this time, sorry for the gaps' version? Based on interviews I've read with the author, I vote that it was poor planning. She said she doesn't follow an outline or path of any kind when she writes. She writes in chunks, or spells, on different pieces of paper and puts it all together later.  

Hmmm,...even one of my favorite writing geniuses, Patrick Rothfuss, will tell you, while authors don't always call it an outline (including him), everyone has to plan a path to make sure loose ends are tied up and all questions are answered in some way. Maybe she should watch some Rothfuss videos online where he tells writers the importance of these things? I show them to my students. Should I suggest this to her? ;) 

I will say this: While I hate I wasted time on a subpar novel, I greatly enjoyed picking it apart and talking about it with my friends. Was the novel "okay"? I guess. But, as I put it to one of my fellow bibliophiles, "Did it change or add something to your life?" Her answer was no. For me, that's an important question to ask after I read a book. Life is too short for mediocrity. 

By the end of the meeting, though, most of us wanted to read the second one out of varying degrees of pure curiosity. (Sigh.) Yes, even me.

Retraction? 

Need to Lighten Up?

I finished The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion last night. I've read mixed reviews on this book, so I thought I'd put in my two cents. I often rate books (1 - 5 stars) on Goodreads, but seldom post a written review. I wrote one this morning, though, because I decided some of the book reviewers were a bit too harsh on the novel, while others thought it was 'the best book ever'...and this made me question what other books they'd read. Rather than write a second review here, I thought I would just share my Goodreads review:

If I rated this book based on what it gave my brain, which was a much needed break, I would give it four stars. If I rated this book on actual content, based on the merits of great literature, I'd give it two stars or less. I decided to choose three stars with an explanation.

A friend recommended this book to me for when I just wanted a quick, easy read that would charm me and make me smile. The book delivered on that basis. I am a voracious reader and find that I need to "lighten up" in my selection of reading materials from time to time. I used this book for just that purpose, and I'm so glad I did.

Like so many other fans of "The Big Bang Theory," I definitely thought of Sheldon as the main character almost immediately. In fact, I wondered if anyone has told Chuck Lorre about the book,...or if he may have actually put the author up to it. Either way, the results were enjoyable. As so many others have put it, it's a romantic comedy with 'Sheldon in love'.
 
I'm not surprised Sony is going to make it into a movie, I believe that was the author's intent all along. I probably won't go see the movie, but I did enjoy the book. It made me laugh a bit and allowed me a little mental vacation for a few evenings. It's not great literature, but it is good fun!

In other news: I've read some other books lately, which I haven't found time to blog about, but I still haven't finished The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory. It's no reflection on the book. It's more of a reflection on me, I suppose. My job has been more than a little stressful lately, and the content of Gregory's historical fiction novel is a bit...depressing. It isn't the writing, it's the subject. I've read five other books since starting the story of Henry VIII and his wives. I find it interesting, but...more than my heart can take when work is more difficult than usual. I've finally decided to just put it aside for awhile until my life decides to lighten up.

I will give brief reviews this weekend on the other books I've read since I blogged about Hemingway. I've still not read anything equal to Patrick Rothfuss (and, yes, I do hunt and hope), but I've read several reviews from Rothfussians that indicate I should try novels by Robin Hobb. I recently purchased my first Hobb novel, but I won't have time to give it the attention it deserves for a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, I plan to continue my "lighten up" reading phase until Spring Break swoops in to restore my overworked mind and save my reading soul!

 

Just Read It...

When I tell others about a book I've read, and I want to encourage them to read it, I usually give them as much information as I can to convince them...without giving away the story. On rare occasions, I'll say to my friends, "Trust me on this one, just read it." Those who trust me will read it, those who don't,...well,...they miss out.

You see, some books need no introduction. It's actually more fun to unravel the entire book with your own mind instead of any preset notion you may get from someone else. It doesn't usually happen this way for me, though. I usually know more about a book than I want to know before I begin reading it. Complete surprises are rare. Delightful, hard-to-describe surprises are even more rare.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman is one of those.

I like the UK cover the most.

The only reason I read this book was because three things came together for my good...

First, I knew Patrick Rothfuss (an author I adore) is a fan of Neil Gaiman's writing. I've heard him mention it several times.

Second, the book appeared on a "Best Books for 2014" list that was put together by a reading site I follow. When I looked up several other literary sites, the book was also on their lists.

And, third, once upon a time - a long, long time ago - I recalled taking some quiz that said I was most like Neil Gaiman. The name stuck in my head, but I didn't pursue his books. (I mean, it was some online quiz you take when you're bored - whoever believes those things?!)

When I take those three things and add in two weeks of Christmas vacation from work, it means I have more time to read and more time to explore books I might like to read. I was able to read several books over the holidays because I could stay up late or get up early to enjoy quiet reading time without having to worry about work, and it didn't collide with other things I wanted to do with my family and friends. It was...glorious!

OK, so, back to the book...

This is one book where you're just going to have to trust my judgment...and the judgment of many book reviewers. Don't spoil it for yourself by reading several reviews and summaries. Don't do that. I want you to enjoy it, as I did, with no preconceived notions. I assure you, though, the notion you start out with when you read the beginning of the book will not be the one you have in the middle or at the end. The book is wonderful in that way. And it is...quite wonderful.

Enough said.

Just read it.

My Addiction

I am addicted to books. Seriously. And one of the worst things an addict, like myself, can do...is go to a bookstore. I don't think I've ever left a bookstore without buying a book,...and it's usually more than one. I don't buy one "lightly" either. I don't buy...just to buy. It might take me an hour or more to decide on "just the right one" or to collect a few and then decide which ones I think are best.

I'm not complaining about my addiction, mind you, I'm just stating my case. I'm stating my case because yesterday I did something I thought was impossible...

I had plans to meet up with friends, but when my friends said we should all meet at this big, beautiful bookstore, my first words were, "Now, y'all know I can't go in there. You KNOW what's going to happen. I'm going to HAVE to buy some books." They just laughed at me and told me I'd be fine. They know me better than that - I was not going to be fine. We were going to meet at a BOOKSTORE.

I think bookstores are so beautiful. It doesn't matter what kind they are, I love them all. I love old antique bookshops, second-hand bookstores, children's bookstores, and little market square booths of books. They are precious, wonderful, magical places.

When I entered this particular bookstore yesterday, I was met with two floor levels of books. I had to pause and just...take in the full presentation of books. I could see both levels of the store from the front door. I had to breathe in deeply - nothing else smells like a bookstore. I got the biggest grin on my face. Then, the madness began...

I'm going to allow you a rare look inside the head of an addict:


Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. I LOVE this place! Bargains, bargains, bargains. Where are the bargain shelves? Gotta check those first. Let's find those hidden treasures other people overlook...

FOUND SOME!

No surprise there, right?! Dang, I'm good! 

Oops, there's another. Let me see...don't know the author, but...(reading the summary)....sounds good. Nice set-up. No praise quotes from the ignorant magazine book reviewers...that's a good sign....yep, it's a keeper.

Now, let's find the speciality tables that are set up for browsing: New Fiction, New in Paperback, Classics, Seasonal, Readers Recommend, New Authors, Staff Recommends,...oh, goodness, it's delightful!

OK,...OK,OK,OK...I have two books. Yes, I know I don't need them - but I really DO. Ooooh, this one looks interesting! Kim, you do NOT need another book. You have PLENTY at home to satisfy your need to read....WAIT - I don't have THIS one. Ooooh, and the summary looks really good! Whose the....ah, yes, who told me about this one? Said it was a must read! OK, I'll put back the other two and just get this one,...but the price on the others are bargains and they look like GREAT reads - how can I pass THAT up? Obviously, this store is aware of my particular addiction, and they enjoy tempting and teasing me. I'm sure of it! I want almost everything I see! Crap, there's the new Hosseini book I MEANT to read over the summer! I forgot about that one...

The school year just started, HOW I am going to read them ALL?!?!

(Deep breath)

Wait.

Wait.

I can't. I can't read them all...right now. I'm turning into Burgess Meredith from an old Twilight Zone episode. Breathe, Kim, breathe. Pace yourself. Think this through.


Now, normally, I don't try to resist. I do try to budget, but I'm never happy leaving a bookstore empty-handed. Oddly enough, something in me decided it was time to fight my addiction. It was getting a bit out of hand.

How did I do it?

I began to think of all the wonderful books I have at home that have been on a long waiting list to be read. I thought about how many times I put another book, a recent purchase, in front of a book I had owned awhile. I thought of Patrick Rothfuss. I remembered how long I'd owned his book before I opened it up and found the wonderful world he'd created in The Name of the Wind. It sat on my shelf far too long before I gave it the time it deserved. I had ignored it for lesser books.

I have many wonderful books at home that deserve to be read.

I decided to walk around the bookstore and enjoy the atmosphere. I walked around every part of it, and I really enjoyed watching other people find books they wanted. I loved looking at the displays and browsing bookmarkers, magnetic quotes, and beautiful journals.

In the end, I put back the two books I had picked up. I did note them on my phone for something I might like to purchase and read at a later date. I smiled a sad smile at the two books as I placed them back on their proper shelf.  I had given them false hope by carrying them around. I felt I was abandoning them when they begged to be read. I knew, though, someone else would discover them. I was happy to see so many people in a bookstore on a Sunday afternoon. I felt sure those books would find a good home with another bibliophile.

Now, did I conquer my addiction? I did for this one day. I take some satisfaction in that. I also take satisfaction in knowing that it gave me a renewed appreciation for my own personal little bookshop at home. :)

Happy Reading!

If you've never had the great pleasure of seeing this Twilight Zone episode, here's your link:

 "Time Enough at Last"

I am very thankful my older brothers raised me right. While I was not born when this Twilight Zone episode originally aired in 1959, I have seen it (and appreciated it) many times over thanks to my big brothers. I also have them to thank for exposing me to other fabulous shows such as Night Gallery, Alfred Hitchcock, Star Trek, Hogan's Heroes, M.A.S.H., and Saturday Night Live. :)

Planes, Trains, and Books

I have so many stories I would like to share with you from my recent travels. I write them in my head as I go about my days, but haven't quite decided the order in which to tell them...

Why not start with what I already promised you (a book review), along with a bit of a story from my travels? Yes, I like it - let's go with that. :)

I had a difficult time with the thought of leaving my Patrick Rothfuss book behind unfinished when I left for England. I have the large, soft cover edition,...and it IS rather heavy. My husband encouraged me to "just download the book" on my Kindle and take that instead. From the look on my face, he knew there were just some things you don't "download"...and a book I have already started reading in print form, which already has a numerous collection of sticky notes, is one of them. Smart man that he is, he just shrugged his shoulders and told me to figure out how I wanted to pack it for a carry-on bag - along with sticky notes, highlighter, and pen/pencil. Like I said, smart man. ;)

I knew I would have good reading time on my plane and train travels, but little did I know my book would spark such interesting conversations. Although, in all fairness, I think my numerous tabs drew more attention to the book than anything else. Most people who approached me began with some reference to why I had so many pieces of paper sticking out of my book. Still, I enjoyed each and every conversation about my book...and my stickies!

On one of the trains in England, I had a lady ask me about my sticky notes. When I explained to her they mark great quotes, delicious words, and things I want to research later, she began to tell me about her love of words and the things she studies. She told me she studies translations and old Hebrew language. She explained how the language is so concrete - so literal. I found it very interesting and had her write down a couple of the language symbols in my notebook.

On another train, while I didn't have any conversations about my book, I was pleased to find an extension to my tray which held my book quite nicely. I said to my friend, Arhonda, "Wow, isn't this nice? They give you an extension to hold your book!" Then, I had to kind of chuckle at myself as I realized that the extension was probably there for a laptop - I noticed the little rubber stoppers on the square edges. In my opinion, though, it is best used for a good book! ;)

As for the good book itself, I thoroughly enjoyed The Wise Man's Fear! In all honesty, there was a couple of places in the book where I thought the pace could have been picked up a bit (or a journey not taken quite so long), but I think that is a preference to be determined by each reader. For instance, a battle scene may seem too long to me in an action film but, to someone who loves that type of thing, it may seem too short. You know what I mean?

Overall, I was very pleased with the book and love Kvothe all the more! Who wouldn't? I enjoy reading about him, his adventures, his friends, and the things he learns about life as he goes along. While it is a medieval story, it is more about the human heart than it is anything else. Rothfuss has a way with words that makes me lay my hand across my heart sometimes when I read. He also makes me smirk with a sarcastic gleam in my eye and makes me giggle like a silly school girl. To read his words is sheer delight to me. I wallow in them. (If you don't believe me, look at the pictures of the tabs in my book. The hot pink ones are used to mark favorite quotes. Does that tell you anything?)

By the way, I finished the book on my flight back home from England. I had a flight attendant approach me, point to my sticky notes, and ask, "Are you doing homework or reading?" I smiled, as I always do, and said, "I am reading for pure, unadulterated pleasure,"...which began another conversation about the book and why I tab. This conversation ended up involving a couple of other passengers and another flight attendant.

I am happy to say that the end result was a small group of readers sharing what books they like and why. It's amazing the wonderful people you meet on planes and trains with just a big book and some hot pink post-it notes. I'd say it was well worth the extra weight I had in my carry-on bag. ;)

A quote! A quote! I must have a Patrick Rothfuss quote:

     The wood was the color of dark coffee, of freshly turned earth. The curve of the bowl was perfect as a woman's hip. It was hushed echo and bright string and thrum. My lute. My tangible soul.
     I have heard what poets write about women. They rhyme and rhapsodize and lie. I have watched sailors on the shore stare mutely at the slow-rolling swell of the sea. I have watched old soldiers with hearts like leather grow teary-eyed at their king's colors stretched against the wind.
     Listen to me: these men know nothing of love.
     You will not find it in the words of poets or the longing eyes of sailors. If you want to know of love, look to a trouper's hands as he makes music. A trouper knows.

Extra, Extra!

Today is an extra day off for me, so I thought I'd write an extra post. Well, that's not entirely true. I didn't plan to write another post, but since I have the luxury of additional time to pleasure read...the writing just comes naturally when thoughts persist and wish to be expressed.

I've figured out another one of the many reasons I enjoy Patrick Rothfuss' books. I am currently in the middle of reading The Wise Man's Fear, and the banter between the characters has, once again, got me chuckling...and thinking.

Denna

Rothfuss likes intelligent women. You can tell it from the way he writes. How many male authors do you know that would allow the women characters to have the greatest wit? the sharpest tongues? and be the experts in their field of study? Not many, I assure you. It's too intimidating for most of the male species. 

 

Devi

It's not just the way the women are intelligent, either. It's that they are also beautiful, in their own ways. He describes them as different body types, hair color, eye color, but...all attractive in their own right. This author loves women, and you can tell it in the way he writes his female characters. While he writes them as having intellect of varying kinds (some of "the University" and some "street smart"), he never fails to appreciate what they bring to the table of life...or a good fiction story. 

Often times, female characters are viewed as either smart or pretty - seldom both. While Velma and Daphne of "Scooby-Doo" are merely cartoon characters, they characterize much of the stereo-type you see in written form when the author is male. Need I also mention the three women characters in "The Big Bang Theory"? - one of my favorite shows, by the way. The sexiest is the dumbest. The smartest is the least attractive, wears glasses, and doesn't know how to dress fashionably. 

You see my point??

Rothfuss doesn't stick to that old, out-dated formula. His women characters are smart and sassy...and sexy. They also have flaring tempers and are very quick-witted. Some of them have a side that has been made tough and prickly because of what life has done to them, but they are resilient and resourceful. They are also tender and gentle and compassionate. Others, like the one I'm reading about right now, do not pay much mind to their appearances because they have placed their time and energy into their studies. However, when the occasion causes - and they take time away from their academics - they are found to be not only intelligent,...but beautiful.

Auri

There is one character that I love which Kvothe calls "Auri," and she has been one of my favorite from the beginning. She is magical and mysterious. She has an incredible imagination, and you don't really know what is going on with her most of the time, but...you understand - or, at least, I do. She is like a pixie come to life. To me, it is another way that Rothfuss celebrates all the many facets of females and the special brand of magic we add to this world.

So many times in my life I have met men who say they appreciate an intelligent woman. So few of them are actually telling the truth. What most of them really mean is that they're glad to meet a woman who is 'not as dumb as the rest,' can carry on a decent conversation, but...isn't quite as bright as themselves. Foolish, foolish men. I'm sorry, I just have to laugh at their ignorance. They don't know what they're missing,...

ahhhhh,...but Rothfuss does! 

Kvothe

Write on, Patrick, write on! :)

A quote, a quote,...I must add a quote:

   Fela flushed, ducking her head a little, causing her long hair to cascade off her shoulder. "Candles. When you make colored candles you can't use a water-based dye. It needs to be powder or oil. It's a solubility issue. Polar and nonpolar alignments."
   "I love the University," Sim said to Wilem on the other side of the fire. "Educated women are so much more attractive."
   "I'd like to say the same," Mola said dryly. "But I've never known any educated men."

SiZe Matters

I know sometimes people like to debate whether size matters or not. I've given it some thought recently, with good reason, and decided to weigh in on this issue.

When I'm trying to decide what I want and what will satisfy my needs, I do look at size. I mean, how can I not? The bigger it is, the more time I know it will require. Before I choose, I tend to ask myself if I have the time and energy to invest in a large one, or if I need to choose a smaller one because I can do it quicker with less effort. Depending on my work schedule, and what else is going on in my life, I choose the size to fit my mood and according to what I think I can handle at the moment. I mean, life is busy - sometimes a big one is just more than I have time to handle.

Most of the time, I sprinkle a few smaller ones in between the bigger ones. I do like variety and, normally, I would be hard-pressed to choose a definite favorite. I have never believed that bigger is always better. Many times I have found myself in the middle of enjoying a large one only to discover it was far too shallow for my taste. I have also been known to find small treasures with great depth. What they lacked in size, they made up for in heart,...and I found myself wishing the experience wasn't over so soon.

Recently, though, something has changed. I don't know if I've gotten so used to the big ones that the smaller ones don't satisfy me as much, or if it's just my recent choices that have left me wanting. Either way, I was longing to lose myself in a big one and not have to come out for awhile. I knew what I needed, but I had been putting it off. I wanted to save the next large one for some time later in May and savor it for as long as I could. I had a strong need, though, and there was only one big one that was going to satisfy me.

I needed Patrick Rothfuss! I needed HIS big one! I was left completely satiated the last time I allowed him to pull me in, and I knew I would find satisfaction again if I would just give myself over to the pleasure. The truth is, knowing how much pleasure I was sure to gain from my next experience with him, I actually wanted to enjoy the anticipation for awhile.

I finally gave in yesterday, I couldn't wait any longer. I smiled a deliciously wicked smile when I reached for his treasure. It was beautiful, and I loved the weight of it in my hands. I wanted to devour it immediately, but I chose to take my time. After the last two small, weaker ones I had finished off quickly, Rothfuss' big one was a sight for sore eyes. I was ready for the ride, I had longed for it since February!

While there is no way to describe the heady experience Rothfuss has already brought to me with this second novel (and we have only just begun), I already feel the sweet satisfaction of his words settling in to my bones. It is impossible to describe unless you give yourself over to it. I will, however, leave you with a small morsel from an incredible feast...



   "I touched the loose peg gently, running my hands over the warm wood of the lute. The varnish was scraped and scuffed in places. It had been treated unkindly in the past, but that didn't make it less lovely underneath.
    So yes. It had flaws, but what does that matter when it comes to matters of the heart? We love what we love. Reason does not enter into it. In many ways, unwise love is the truest love. Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect."

~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear

Привіт! Дякую за читання моє blog!

The Wise Man's Fear is the second book in the The Kingkiller Chronicle series. The softcover edition I have is 1000 pages. The smaller paperback edition has 1120 pages. The first book in the series is The Name of the Wind, which I wrote about in a post on February 13, 2013. The author, Patrick Rothfuss, is currently working on the third book in this trilogy. 

I tried to make myself wait until the third book came out before reading the second, but I really needed it now. It is medicine to my soul...

Twofer

I learned a good lesson after reading two very different books back-to-back. I'd like to tell you about the books but, more importantly, I'd like to tell you the lesson they taught me.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to read The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle because an author I really like, Patrick Rothfuss, was quoted as saying it's the best book he's ever read. In fact, his actual quote is now on the front of the reprint edition of the book. The original book was published in 1968. I had high expectations for this book because, even with as many books as I've read and love, I could never imagine naming just one book as the best book I've ever read. I thought there must be something quite amazing about this book!

When I first began reading it, I couldn't figure out what was so great about it. I mean, I liked it enough to continue reading it, but I really wasn't all that impressed. It was slow in a few places in the beginning and had me wondering where the story was leading. I found that I enjoyed it more half way through and towards the end of the book. I can honestly say the ending stuck with me, and I've mulled it over quite a bit. I even shed a tear or two, at one point, and felt my heart ache for the characters. However, I still wouldn't classify it anywhere close to 'the best book I've ever read'. I thought about what a wonderful fantasy writer Rothfuss is and scratched my head over what he finds "best" about it. 

Then,...I picked up the next book I wanted to read: The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke

If you read my previous post,...you know why I chose to read the book. I had no idea Hawke was a writer! Come to find out, he actually wanted to be a writer before he was discovered and went into acting. The minute I saw the book in the bookstore, I previewed it and decided I wanted to read it. 

I really liked the first person narrative style of the book, and you get the feeling Hawke is working out a lot of his own past in the story even though it is a fiction story. The main character, William, is an up and coming actor who has recently moved to New York. While living there, he meets a girl. The novel follows him through the relationship with the girl, while he also works out issues in his head about his parents divorcing when he was five and how his mother moved him out of Texas and away from his father when he was young.

I absolutely loved the book. I felt like I bathed in it. My heart went out to William and everything he was going through in the novel. I related it to times in my life when I had felt that way. His emotions are strong and his reactions to what is going on around him are strong, as well. I also related to it because I know, from my own experience, that no matter how long your parents are divorced, that mess stays in your head. It really loves to kick up dust when you're starting out in a relationship with someone...and even when you've been in a relationship for a long time. 

To tell you the truth, I had already decided halfway through the novel I wasn't even going to mention the book in a blog because, well, it was just one of those books that felt too personal. It conjures up all those feelings of first love and things you can't change and broken relationships in families. For someone like me, though (who stays in her head a lot), it's like getting a look inside someone else's brain and being relieved to say, "Oh, hey, I'm not the only one!" 

Then, I began thinking about Rothfuss and his love for The Last Unicorn.


He has this love, this connection with a book that I just didn't share. I wondered what experiences or feelings or memories he had attached to that book. Was it the first fantasy book he ever read? Did it inspire him to write fantasy? Is it that he loves it because it is almost like a "how to write a perfect fairy tale" outline (it even jests about 'the formula' of the princess/hero stories towards the end). There is a reason he is moved enough by that book to give it the recommendation he does. I trust his judgment as a good author, so maybe I missed something?

Then, I thought about Hawke's book again.

I assure you that I didn't love it just because Ethan Hawke wrote it, although it was fun hearing his voice in my head. I loved it because he did what he set out to do - "take very real feelings and turn them into art." It is what he says he loves reading in novels, and I find it is what I love most about his novel. There are many passages I love in the book, most of which I will never quote on here because, taken out of context, some people might get the wrong idea. For me, some books are made to be more of a personal journey than a book club discussion. For me, The Hottest State is one of those books.

So, to sum up the lesson (just in case I lost you): Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.  Yes, yes, I know this is an old saying and an old lesson, but it is also what makes reviewing a book so challenging: "Best Book" is in the Mind of the Reader. We tend to enjoy reading what we relate to the most. We should keep that in mind when we praise a book...or criticize one.

Keep the reader in mind when you suggest a book. For my close friends, I tend to know which books I read that they will and won't like. I know their preferred tastes and authors, just as they know mine. It is one of the joys of having close friends who love to read and having book club discussions. When I mention a book in a blog, I try to keep in mind why I liked it or disliked it and share that with you so you can decide for yourself if it's something that would interest you or not. Just because I loved it doesn't mean you will.

As for my A Tale of Three Men post, I shared that with you as a "full disclosure" kind of thing so that when I recommend things later on, you'll have one more weird, quirky thing to know about me and know why I like the things I like. (I could have also revealed that I was one of the numerous young girls who collected all kinds of glass unicorns back in the 80s, but my daughters already give me enough grief about that! ;)

Speaking of unicorns, I have decided to read The Last Unicorn again. I get the feeling I should. Perhaps there is something I missed on the first go-round? I'm also going to read Hawke's other novel Ash Wednesday. I guess you could call it additional research. Will I like this one as much as I did the first? We'll see...

Happy Reading! :)

Kvothe Defines Love

"My parents danced together, her head on his chest. Both had their eyes closed. They seemed so perfectly content. If you can find someone like that, someone who you can hold and close your eyes to the world with, then you're lucky. Even if it only lasts for a minute or a day. The image of them gently swaying to the music is how I picture love in my mind even after all these years." 

~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Finishing What I Started

The Name of the Wind sat patiently waiting for me to read it while I was busy reading other books. I went through a lot of changes in my life last year. I faced a lot of truths - truths about other people in my life and truths about myself. I had known these truths inside my own heart and head for a long time, but I needed to change my life on the outside to reflect what I knew on the inside. This was not an easy task. It was a long year.

On the fateful day I chose The Name of the Wind from my bookshelf, I was feeling almost like myself again. I only needed a little more balm to help some old wounds heal enough for me to count them as new scars. I needed something that day, something that would refresh my soul and make me believe in something again. I needed a magical distraction, an escape, for awhile. I needed a break from all the reality I had been handling.

I remember reaching for the book, running my hand over it, and reading the back cover - reminding myself of why I had originally bought it. I smiled a sad little smile at it and hoped it was the medicine I needed. I curled up in my favorite chair with my soft, purple blankie and a hot cup of coffee. I could have selected any unread book from my shelf, but I'm so glad I chose that one...or, perhaps, it chose me.

The Name of the Wind is a medieval tale about a man named Kvothe. The novel is written as a story inside a story. In other words, there is "present day" going on in a medieval inn where a man is telling a story. The story he tells is about Kvothe's life, and how Kvothe became a legendary hero. It is a great adventure story, but on its edges (and at its core) it is a love story. I didn't say 'romance,' I said 'love'. (There's a difference, you know.) Love of family. Love of friends. (and, yes, eventually...) Love of one woman.

The author, Patrick Rothfuss, has a way with words that makes me laugh and sigh and smile and re-read. He also has a quick wit and is great at writing banter between characters. It is the way he turns a phrase that had me tabbing passages because I just loved the way the words fell together. The scenes with Kvothe and a minor character, Auri, are some of my favorite and always ended up with tabs because I enjoy the way they talk to each other.  Trust me, there is a lot to enjoy about this novel.

In the end, I found much more than the balm I was looking for when I started the book. I found a writer I could admire. I have become a fan of Patrick Rothfuss. I love to read his facebook page, watch his podcasts, and hear him interviewed. He seems to be a down-to-earth kind of person with a wicked and warped sense of humor who doesn't take himself too seriously. How can you not like a guy like that? He is currently working on the third book to The Kingkiller Chronicles.

Oh, yes, I should tell you this book is the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle series. I didn't know that when I began reading it. As I have said before, I don't like to read series of books until they are all out - if I can help it. The second book is The Wise Man's Fear. I already own it, but keep putting off starting it until I have an idea of when the third is coming out. No one knows when it's coming out - including Rothfuss - which is kind of a good-hearted joke to many people. Everyone gives him crap about it. :)

While I'm waiting, I have read other books. However, once I decided to blog about this book and looked at my tabbed quotes, I began reading it again. I couldn't seem to help myself. It's unusual for me to re-read a book so soon. That should tell you something. (Translation: It should tell you to read the book!)

I'll leave you with one of my favorite passages from the book:

...He hesitated, struggling to find the words he wanted. "You see, there's a fundamental connection between seeming and being. Every Fae child knows this, but you mortals never seem to see. We understand how dangerous a mask can be. We all become what we pretend to be."

     Chronicler relaxed a bit, sensing familiar ground. "That's basic psychology. You dress a beggar in fine clothes, people treat him like a noble, and he lives up to their expectations."

     "That's only the smallest piece of it," Bast said. "The truth is deeper than that. It's..." Bast floundered for a moment. "It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story."

Let's Talk Fantasy

I have stated before that I like all genres of books, and I do, but - just like music - I have my preferences. Typically, I enjoy reading non-fiction or historical fiction. I am a big fan of Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Henry James, Joan Didion, Sandra Cisneros, and Stephen King (less of the scary stuff, more of the insightful stuff). I'm happy to add Ernest Hemingway to the list, after my readings over the last year. Those may seem like an odd sample group to put together of the numerous authors I love (and, trust me, they are numerous), but those are the names that first come to mind when I hear the word "author".

Before finding The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, I would have said that I like fantasy books, but they aren't at the top of my list. Yes, I realize I have Lewis and Tolkien on my list,...and I know those are fantasy but, let's be honest, who doesn't love Lewis and Tolkien? You don't have to be a big fan of fantasy to love those two. You just have to be an intelligent reader. Great writing is great writing, regardless of genre.

Of course, my opinion of fantasy changed when I found The Name of the Wind. It was one of my random choices when I was at the bookstore one day. I was scanning shelves to see what stood out to me. There was no rhyme or reason to my search, just hoping to find some hidden treasures. I had never heard of the book or the author until the moment I pulled it off the shelf. I previewed the book and was intrigued.

I was intrigued enough to buy the book, but I didn't hurry home to read it. In fact, I put it on my favorite little bookshelf to be enjoyed at a later date. I knew why I wanted to read it, but figured I would read it after the two books I already had stacked up to read. Little did I know,...a lot of things would happen in the year I owned that book.

That's right, The Name of the Wind sat on my shelf, unread, for a year before I reached for it one fateful day...

(I'm sorry to say I have to stop here for now. It is not for dramatic pause, it's because I have to get ready for work, or I'll be late! I promise to finish this tonight and tell you why I love this book.)