Cold Day, Warm Book

We've had a bit of cold weather in Texas lately. We had two ice days a couple of weeks ago and, most recently, we had a real snow day on Thursday. It was quite beautiful! On that day, I really needed a good book to warm me up after The Goldfinch left me cold and disappointed.

When I suspected we might miss another day of school due to weather, I asked a friend of mine to give me a suggestion for something I'd enjoy reading that wouldn't take long to read. I really needed something to lighten my reading mood. I just wanted a good story to keep me company on a snowy day.

I am happy to report the book she suggested is a good one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's one of those stories that I wanted to read quickly to find out what happens, but...I found myself trying to slow down once I was halfway through the book because I knew I wasn't going to be ready to let the characters go when I got to the end.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore is a wonderful book about a young woman, Katsa, who has a "Grace" she must learn to live with and control. Gracelings are people born with a particular skill they are better at than a normal human. In Katsa's case, she's a very skilled fighter. In fact, she's the deadliest killer any person or animal could come across in her kingdom. She has been raised in a castle, the niece of the king, and does her uncle's bidding when it comes to fighting. It's the only life she's known until she meets and makes an unlikely friend in Po, another Graced fighter.

Katsa is a wonderful character, and I find she's the kind of female character I like the most. She is strong and quick-witted. She is intelligent, but not in a book sense. She knows herself. Even when she's confused about her own feelings and her own thoughts on a subject, she is always aware of the struggle. Katsa knows how to pull back and analyze what is going on within herself and in her surrounding environment. She is present in every moment and is honest with herself and those around her, sometimes brutally honest.

Po is also a great character and one of those I don't mind admitting to having a 'character crush' on. What I love, too, is that Katsa is the hero,...and Po doesn't seem to mind. It doesn't hurt his ego. In fact, there are a couple of male characters in this book I like because of the way they support, and aren't intimidated by, Katsa and her Grace.

It really is an exciting adventure book. I found myself smiling after I finished it. That's always a good sign. Hugging the book close to my chest after I finish it is also a good sign. (And, yes, I really do that. I hug books, smile at them, and keep the ones I like most on a special bookcase.)

I should mention that while this book is classified as young adult fiction, I wouldn't suggest it to middle school students. Much like the book Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (which, still, remains one of my favorite books), I am surprised it is considered young adult fiction because of the adult situations and relationships in the novel. I could see an older high school student reading it, but not a middle school student.

I also think any adult who enjoys medieval fantasy books would definitely enjoy Graceling. I wish there was another book on Katsa. While the author has written a companion book to Graceling, I am told it is completely different characters and different worlds. I've been told it is equally as good, though. (And I've already ordered my copy from Amazon.)

As for the cold weather, it has passed us now. It's Texas, the weather changes quite frequently. You'd never know by looking outside today that we had ice, sleet, and snow on the ground just two days ago. It's a lovely 62 degrees and sunny right now, and...it's the first day of our Spring Break from school! I have plans for this week, some involving travel, but you can believe I'll have books with me wherever I go.

Happy reading!


      Sighing, Helda carried the dress from the bathing room. "It would look stunning, My Lady," she called, "with your dark hair and your eyes."
      Katsa yanked at one of the more stubborn knots in her hair. She spoke to the bubbles gathered on the surface of the water. "If there's anyone I wish to stun at dinner, I'll hit him in the face."

~ Kristin Cashore, The Graceling



 

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.