Favorite Authors, Part 1

Brandon Sanderson

His first book, Elantris, was a solid sci fi/fantasy story. Nothing grand, but very entertaining with a few twists thrown in. The most impressive thing about it, in my opinion, is that it is not part of a trilogy or a series. It is just one book. I don't remember the last time I read a novel that was not part of an epic tale spanning several years and what seems like endless books. (Not that there's anything wrong with three...or four...or five books, but sometimes the unusual is refreshing.)

The second book I read, Mistborn, was (you guessed it) the first book of a trilogy. But oh, what a trilogy. The world he created for this series (Consisting of Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, and Hero of Ages) is so very detailed it boggles the mind. (Yes, I said it. There will be boggling. Deal with it.) There is an amazingly thought out magic system (complete with a chart in the back, for those who like that sort of thing), an amazing variety of creatures, and of course, an evil nemesis. And in the midst of all of these details, there are twists. Think jaw dropping twists. Especially in the third book, where the origins of everything (and I do mean everything) are revealed. One slow, agonizing piece at a time...

This is the very same author who has been chosen to finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series (now on book 12. 12. What is that all about?). Before I discovered this fact, I thought I might, maybe, read book 12, just so I wouldn't feel as if I'd wasted all those hours reading the first 11. Just for the sake of closure. But now...I will certainly read it, because I know it will be a book I won't be able to put down.

Random Fact

The animal responsible for the most human deaths worldwide is the mosquito.

Random Lyrics

Everything about you is a picture worth a thousand words
Try as I may I try in vain
There's more to you than I could ever hope to explain
I don't think you know
I'll never be the same again
Purity stood in front of me and said "I'm clumsy and my back hurts"
And I thought "you're about as beautiful as God's creation gets"
And I've seen oceans and sunsets that took away me breath
And you remind me of everything that's precious in His sight
And I don't think you'll ever realize just how much you've touched my life
Everything I thought I knew
Redefined in the light of you
Though the white
It burns my eyes
All my shadows fall behind me
I don't think you know why I'll never be the same
Try as I may I try in vain
There's more to you than I could ever explain
I just can't find the words for you

Brandston, "Words for You"

So I Read This Book...

...and you know how one thing can lead to another. The book review shall appear later as I do not have the time or the inclination to do it justice at the moment. But the thing it led to, that you can see for yourselves. In the quest to discover the details about the sequel (not out yet, so sad), I discovered the author's website, which included a link to a blog, Merry Sisters of Fate. The blog consists of 3 authors posting fantasy-ish short stories. Each author used to do one a week, but it appears they recently changed that to 1 story a week. The only author I have read is the one who's trail I followed to said blog, Maggie Stiefvater, but the other two look to have interesting stories as well. Of those I have read, here is one of my favorites:

Mama's Angel

Enjoy!

Random Poem

Sonnet 17

by William Shakespeare

Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were fill'd with your most high deserts?
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes,
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellow'd with their age,
Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song:

But were some child of yours alive that time,
You should live twice, in it, and in my rhyme.

I am receiving a poem a day through Daily Lit and this one struck my fancy. Appropriate, since my book club is reading Much Ado About Nothing for May.

Random Quote

"Britt ate lots of chocolate but never got fat - a sure sign of demonic possession."

Erica Long

Random Lyrics

I Love the Way You're Breaking My Heart

I love the way you're breaking my heart
It's terribly, terribly, terribly, terribly, terribly thrilling
I love the way you're breaking my heart
Although you're gonna ruin it
It's heaven while you're doing it
I love the way I feel when we kiss
You're terribly, terribly, terribly irresistible
Lie to me and sigh to me
You really know how
It's gonna hurt tomorrow but it feels so good now
So darling just keep playing your part
Take your time and really finish
The things that you start
Cause I love the way you're breaking my heart

Info: Peggy Lee sang it, and I know she was at least a co-writer. She may have been the only writer, but I haven't been able to find much info. It's a pretty obscure song. Thanks Regina!