#MarchMagics / #DWJMarch Readalongs

Thank you all for voting on the Pratchett Read-Along book for next month! Sixty percent of you chose The Wee Free Men so that will be our group read. And I've decided to do that one first so that the rest of the month remains open for those of us that want to keep reading through the Tiffany Aching series.

The schedule for the Read-Alongs:

Sat, March 9 - Discussion for Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men
Sat, March 23 - Discussion for Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle

I'll have a post up on each day but also feel free to write your own blog posts and/or share the book on other social media. I'll probably also have something up on Instagram and Twitter each day.

And, speaking of Howl, did you know that this year is the 15th anniversary of the Hayao Miyazaki movie version?! It will be the first film shown for this year's Studio Ghibli Fest at the beginning of April, if you're interested in seeing it in a theater (and are in the U.S. or Canada).

Are you going to join these group reads? Will it be your first time for either book or are they already favorites?

Making the cheese,

K

Goodbye RIP, Hello November

The time has come far too soon to bid adieu to RIP season. I managed to read thirteen books this year, which seems appropriate. I DNFed my most anticipated read (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street) but enjoyed many other perilous plots. A big thank you to Andi and Heather for taking up the reins on the event this year!

Looking forward, there are lots of great events happening this fall/winter. 

This week, I'll be celebrating Witch Week with Lori! There's a group read of The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter that any of you can still get in on as it's quite short.

Kim, Leslie, Katie, and Rebecca are hosting Nonfiction November. I have some reviews that I still need to post that will fit nicely and also some books to get to so I'm using this event as motivation. I think I'll start with Amy Poehler's Yes Please.

A whole host of bloggers are reading Jane Austen's Emma in December and I'm hoping to join in on that as it's my final unread Austen.

And last but certainly not least is the #potterbinge Harry Potter Readalong hosted at The Estella Society! I'm hoping to read Order of the Phoenix with Z but I'll probably sneak in as many books as I can. I'm in the mood to revisit Deathly Hallows as well.

What are your reading plans for November and beyond?

Reading all the books,

K

Invitation to Read Along: A Night in the Lonesome October

Hello again! I've been busy lately with back to school and traveling and a bunch of other stuff so I haven't been blogging. I've still been reading though and I'll be catching up with reviews in the next week or so. Anyway, I wanted to pop in now to invite all of you to a read-along and give you time to pick up the book in the next week.

I got this email from Chicago Review Press a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist --

It’s now two weeks until October 1, and that means one thing: it’s time to reignite the beloved October tradition Roger Zelazny fans have been celebrating for the past two decades. Please join Chicago Review Press in celebrating one of the greatest science fiction writers of the 20th century for our first annual A Night in the Lonesome October Read-A-Long. The book is being re-issued by Chicago Review Press for October 2014.

What better way to re-introduce readers to this spectacular dark comedy or those unfamiliar with Zelazny’s work than with a month-long celebration of the book? The book, which is split into 31 chapters, is a mix of humor, horror, mystery, and fantasy. It’s considered by many (from Kirkus to George R. R. Martin) to be Zelazny’s best novel, and there is a tradition among its fans to read the book, one chapter a day, each day in October. 

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 1, we’ll have a weekly meet up, where we’ll chronicle our read-along via Chicago Review Press’s social media (@Chireviewpress) and the hashtag #gooddogsnuff. We’d love for you to follow along, or post your own thoughts on the book (If you’re not familiar with the book, it’s narrated by Jack the Ripper’s loyal dog, Snuff).

The 31 chapters of this book are very short so this is a commitment of only a couple of minutes a day through the month of October (and if you fell behind, catching up would be easy). You could also add a read of the Neil Gaiman short story "Only the End of the World Again", inspired by Zelazny's tale. I would do that but I happen to have just read it this summer. How was that for blind foresight?

So, how about it? Is anyone up for a "humor, horror, mystery, and fantasy" read in October?

Recruiting,
K

Kickoff: Moby Dick: A Whale of a Read-Along

I'm joining Adam of Roof Beam Reader for the next six weeks or so in a read-along of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This is one of those books that is probably fated to sit on my shelves forever unless I join an event like this. I'm not sure if I'll be posting here along the way or just sharing my thoughts over on Adam's posts. But if you're in the mood to join up, there's definitely still time to get going. He's set us a pace of about 15 pages a day. I'm not sure what that is in nautical miles.

Taking the plunge,
K

#DWJMarch: Read-Along Discussion -- Enchanted Glass

I hope that a few of you found the time to read Enchanted Glass. This is one of my favorite DWJ books. It's for a bit younger of a reader than some of her other books but I think it's a good entry book for those who haven't given her a try yet. It's got quite a few of her trademark elements (magic, mythology, unconventional families) and it brings everything together in a strong stand-alone story.

Please feel free to discuss this story any way you would like on your blog or here in the comments (or anywhere else you choose). Here are a few questions to get discussion started. Feel free to answer some or all of them here or on your own site.

  1. What do you think of the relationship between Aidan and Andrew? Do you see it as more of a father/son relationship or older/younger brother or not familial at all? What do you think of the fact that they "see" magic in the same way? Did that give anything away?

  2. What are your thoughts on DWJ including a disabled character (Tarquin)? What do you think of the treatment of his disability/injury?

  3. What's the deal with Mrs. Stock? (Did anyone else want Groil to accidentally step on her?)

  4. Why do you think some counterpart pairs are opposites in personality (Titania/Stashe) while others are both "good" (Shaun/Groil)?

  5. What did you think of the ending? Too rushed or just right?

Here are my thoughts. There will be spoilers.

This was my third time through this book but I still didn't remember that last letter from Mr. Brown and didn't suspect anything about the Aidan/Andrew relationship. It was a pleasant surprise (again, I guess) except for the fact that you start thinking about Jocelyn Brandon being a creep. Up until that point, you kind of wish you had a chance to see/meet him and then, all of a sudden, you don't. Luckily, there's no chance of meeting him and so you're just left with Andrew and Stashe who are obviously going to do all the right things by Aidan.

I really liked Tarquin, both when he was living a productive life with just one leg and after, when he was (mostly) whole again. I do like that he still carried around the crutch and worried about the leg disappearing again though. It gave him more depth than if DWJ had just had Andrew wave a magic hand to make Tarquin hop and run about with no residual worries or anything. I also really like that Tarquin was such a good father. In fact, besides so many parents being dead in this story, there were actually good parents in the story (Trixie, Tarquin and Andrew as a surrogate) and the only bad one, Mr. Brown, was actually the villain. Even the foster parents were good to their children and were let off the hook about Aidan when it was revealed that he enchanted them.

As for Mrs. Stock, I still couldn't figure her out this time through. There is no apparent reason for her to be so vengeful and mean and stubborn. I guess it's just supposed to be her personality? I wish that you at least found out that she had been wronged or disappointed when she was young or something. On a side note, does anyone out there really like cauliflower cheese?

I found the counterparts to be a really interesting part of the story, especially because characters would momentarily mistake them for their friends and family, even with missing facial hair or different clothing styles or whatever, which makes me think that there was something essential in their beings that radiated a sameness that was more than just cosmetic. I've always thought of doppelgängers as "evil twins" but it does seem more likely that, when duplicating a person from faerie to the real world, there's just as much chance that they would have similar personalities as opposites, or even more likely that they would just end up being a shade different. Maybe this explains Mrs. Stock? I don't think we ever saw a counterpart for her but maybe she ended up being just as disagreeable as her faerie counterpart, just as Groil and Shaun were similarly pleasant, with no real reason?

Finally, I remember the ending seeming very rushed the first time I read this story but this time I didn't feel that at all. Either I'm finally acclimated to the pace of DWJ's endings or this one has a large finale but not necessarily a rushed one. It certainly is a big and amazing and abrupt ending but there's the foreshadowing of the racing results and also many hints that the story is going to come to its climax at the fete.

Overall, this reading just reaffirmed that this is one of my favorite DWJ stories. What did the rest of you think?

RIP Read-along: The Historian

I am really thankful to The Estella Society for hosting a read-along of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's a book that I remembered really liking but, because of its size, I was hesitant to pick it back up for a reread. So, did it live up to my sparse but positive memories? Briefly, yes.

If you still haven't read it but are curious, this book is a weaving of the stories of three generations and their experiences while researching the ultimate fate of Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler, aka Dracula. As they discover each other's stories through journals, letters and narrative, a full picture develops of a legacy of evil that might be impossible to destroy.

Despite one or two places where the history felt too much like a lesson, this was still a very compelling tale and the sense of peril was palpable. I enjoyed the black and white, good versus evil nature of the story and the characters. It was easy to know where one stood with each character, whom to trust and which to avoid at all costs. This is something that seems to have been lost in modern vampire mythology, with recent tales of romantic and far-too-human (and sparkly) holders of the eternal curse. More believable is a vampire who is self-serving and cruel, one who toys with people of interest to him like a cat with a mouse. He is also powerful and manipulative and he uses knowledge and history to his advantage. This is what you would expect from a creature who has lived for centuries, hiding and murdering and getting away with it all time and time again.

With awe and horror,
K

Stardust Read-Along: First Half

As part of the Once Upon a Time VII Challenge, Carl is hosting a Stardust Read-Along. It's a fairly short book so we're writing about the first half today and the second half next week. If you're not familiar with this book, it's about a boy, Tristran Thorn, from a town called Wall, located on the border of Faerie. To please a girl (who perhaps doesn't deserve his attentions), he sets off into Faerie one day to search for a fallen star. The story is full of colorful characters--both good and evil--and strange lands.

Now, since this is a read-along discussion, there be spoilers ahead. So, if you haven't read the book yet, leave now and take this time to add Stardust to your TBR or place a library hold.

1. We have spent a little time with Tristran and even less time with the star. What are your initial thoughts/impressions of our two protagonists?

I feel like Tristran had a lot to learn about the human world so it was strange that he went to a place that he knew even less about. So far, he's very trusting and that will likely get him into trouble -- even more than he's already experienced. But, he also seems to have a gift that will hopefully help him and balance it out. The star, on the other hand, seems very worldly and wily for someone who has just arrived hours before.

2. There are some very interesting potential villains introduced in this first half of the book. Do any of them particularly stand out to you? If so why or why not?

The villains in this book are chilling and creepy. I think they all stand out, maybe more than the protagonists at this point. The brothers Septimus and Primus have said little but their singlemindedness is obvious. The sisters Lilim are much more chatty and catty and are disturbing, verging on terrifying. Together they are very strong and I have vague memories of what is to come in the second half and I'm not particularly looking forward to reading some of it!

3. In Chapter Three, just after the section with the brothers in Stormhold, Neil Gaiman gives us a description of Faerie that includes "each land that has been forced off the map by explorers and the brave going out and proving it wasn't there...". What imaginary lands do you then hope are a part of Faerie?

This line stood out to me too. It's beautiful and I didn't think of it so much as related to imaginary lands but more of "lost lands" like the American prairies full of buffalo and wolves and wild horses or the oceans full of gentle whales and non-bleached coral, and even pollution and dam-free rivers throughout. There are, of course, unicorns and, hopefully, dodos and tasmanian tigers and all of the other species that have been "forced off the map".

4. We do not get to spend a great deal of time in the market but while there we are given a number of interesting descriptions of the wares being bartered or sold. Which if any of them caught your eye, either as items you would like to possess or ones you would most certainly hope to avoid.

Everlasting lavender sounds wonderful. The line about coats ("Coats of night! Coats of twilight! Coats of dusk!") sounded like a description of the contents of Neil Gaiman's hall closet. ;) And, after vacuuming gobs of cat hair today, the crystal cat sounds nice right about now.

5. If you have read much of Gaiman's work, particularly his short fiction, then you have come across some rather graphic and disturbing portrayals of sex. Gaiman offers up something very different in the way of a sex scene early on in Stardust. What are your feelings of the scene either in general or as a contrast to other Gaiman-penned scenes involving sex?

gratuitous Ben Barnes picture

It was strange because I've read this book before but I remembered it as much more tame than it really is. I had completely forgotten this sex scene -- which is probably a good thing because the ones that tend to stick with me are Gaiman's more horrific or graphic ones (like the beginning of American Gods). I still get really uncomfortable every time I read one of his sex scenes. His mild-mannered exterior hides a very graphic imagination, doesn't it?

6. I suspect Neil Gaiman is influenced by a number of fairy and folk tales in Stardust. Are there any elements of the story that made a particular impression and/or reminded you of other fairy stories you have read or are familiar with?

I am terrible with specific fairy tales but so many of the general ideas are there -- maidens and unicorns, long-distance travel by candle (similar to seven-league boots), witches, forests with evil intent. It's all somewhat familiar but also presented in a way that feels fresh and different.

7. And finally, which of the many side characters introduced have caught your eye and why? Or what else about the story thus far is of interest to you?

I really like the "little hairy man", Tristran's first companion in Faerie. He seems honest and kind and a bit lonely. He repays a decades old debt in an uneven manner -- meaning the things he does for Tristran seem to be of much more value and breadth than just a place to sleep, which is what he was given by Tristran's father. I hope to see him again in the second half though I don't know how Tristran will get back to him.

I'm really excited to read the second half of this book. It's a much different experience than I remember from the first time, possibly because I've read even more Gaiman now and I just feel like this strange land is still somehow familiar.

Prepping for more adventure,

K

DWJ March Read-Along: A Tale of Time City

Welcome to the A Tale of Time City discussion! I hope that a few of you got a chance to read/reread this one because it's got a complex and exciting plot with a wide variety of characters and ideas. It was my second time reading the book and, as expected, I understood and enjoyed it more this time through.

I want to make this more of an open discussion. So, tell me, did you enjoy this story? What did you think of the relationships between Jonathan, Sam and Vivian? Were you able to follow the Time City plot? Would you ever want to be a time observer?

The first time I read the story, I felt a little bit lost by the end. I understood the basics but not necessarily the mechanics. This time, I had no problem following it and I appreciated the intricacies of the plot more since I wasn't struggling to keep up. I also was able to pay attention more to the details of the technology and environment that Diana created -- chairs and beds with no real surfaces, high tech belts and more -- and I really enjoyed it all. There were some things I liked less, though, and those were the instances of vengeance/punishment, or lack thereof. Anastasia recently mentioned in her post about The Game that she was annoyed that kids escape punishment a lot in DWJ's stories. I found that to be the case for one character in this story, Sam, but the opposite for another child, Vivian Lee. Sam was let off the hook with only a forced-feeding when he stole a large amount of money from a friend. He never even expressed remorse and by the end, he didn't seem to be affected by it at all, as he was already asking for more butter-pies. Vivian, on the other hand, was sent into history all alone because she was a "baddie", quite a terrible fate in the scheme of things to be a child, all alone in a strange place. Is there any action that a child of eleven/twelve can't be redeemed from? It seems harsh and unfair.

But speaking of butter-pies, there's a butter-pie recipe out there that someone created. It seems extremely labor intensive and prone to melty accidents and I'm not entirely sure of how it would hold together. Still, the chance to taste a butter-pie might be worth it! Does anyone have the kitchen skills to make these (and can I come visit)?

Finding time for good books and tasty treats,
K

DWJ March Read-Along: Howl's Moving Castle

Welcome to the Howl's Moving Castle read-along discussion! If you have written your thoughts up on your own site, please share the link in a comment so everyone can come visit.

I thought I would just start the discussion with a few questions. Answer some or all of them -- whatever you feel like doing. I want this to be an easy-going and fun discussion! And, of course, if you have any of your own questions, please add them to the comment string.

1. Was this your first time reading the story or was it a re-read? If it was a re-read, was it better this time (Jenny's Law)?

My answer: I think this was maybe my fourth or fifth time reading Howl. And yes, it was even better this time than any time before. There were more details and character traits that I noticed this time than in my previous readings. I also connected with different characters than in previous readings.

2. What did you think of all of the characters who weren't "themselves" -- Sophie, Howl, Calcifer, the Witch of the Waste, Lettie, Martha, Prince Justin, Wizard Suliman? In fact, which characters, if any, did you think were truly honest? Michael? Fanny? Mrs. Pentstemmon?

My answer: This was the first time that I really thought about this theme. I mean, obviously I thought about Sophie's situation but this might be the first time that I paid attention to this exchange at the end --

"But do you honestly think I don't know my own business well enough not to spot a strong spell like that when I see it? I had several goes at taking it off you when you weren't looking. But nothing seems to work. I took you to Mrs. Pentstemmon, hoping she could do something, but she evidently couldn't. I came to the conclusion that you liked being in disguise."
"Disguise!" Sophie yelled.
Howl laughed at her. "It must be, since you're doing it yourself," he said.

I think there are definitely two sets of disguised characters in the story -- those who want to be something other than what they are and those who only want to be their true selves again.

3. Why does Sophie never really experiment with her powers even after she accepts that she is a witch?

My answer: I have no idea! That was one of the things that really perplexed me this time through. She never tries to do anything specific with her magic except to yell at ferns to become daffodils and even that is pretty random. She never tries to use magic to clean or sew. She will use Calcifer's magic and Michael's spells and Howl's seven-league boots but her own "magic wand" is only used once and that's in a very vague way when she waves it at the WotW's servants. Any other magic that she does is accidental or inadvertent.

4. If the moving castle is the physical embodiment of Howl's "slither-outer"ness, now that he's actually managed to find real love and accomplish a few things, is it time to give up the castle?

My answer: Maybe, but that would be no fun, right?

I'll start with those. Feel free to discuss anything -- Howl's earring, the interchangeability of spells and poetry, the amazing flower garden, the idea of first children having no destiny, what part of yourself you would give a fire demon.

Looking for Howl behind every door,
K

DWJ March: Read-Along Announcement!

Thank you to everyone who voted for the DWJ March Read-Along titles! Based on votes and title availability, I've chosen two books for read-alongs next month. So dust off your copies, place your library holds or buy your copies of

Howl's Moving Castle, discussion begins on March 15th

and

A Tale of Time City, discussion begins on March 29th.

To kick-off the fun, I'm giving away two books! Just leave a comment below and I'll choose two winners. This giveaway is open internationally and will be a quick one since I want books to arrive in time for the read-alongs.

Leave a comment that includes either or both book titles (if you list both, I'll ask you to choose one if you win), a promise to participate in the read-along and a way to contact you (email or Twitter name). Winners will be chosen on Tuesday, February 26th. Books will be sent from The Book Depository or Amazon.

Will you be joining either of these read-alongs? They're both rereads for me but I'm very excited about them. I think I might even buy a new copy of Time City for the Ursula K. Le Guin introduction!

Doubling the fun,
K

Read-Along: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Head on over to The Estella Society today to discuss The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, the second book in the 100 Chapter Books Read-Along.

Next up is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, discussion on October 15th.

Folding a fortune,
K

Worth the Wait: The Wizard of Oz Discussion

It's finally here! Come join the discussion of The Wizard of Oz at The Estella Society.

There's no place like home,
K

Come Join the Chapter Book Read-Along Fun!

If you haven't yet heard of The Estella Society, a new, happy playground for book bloggers, head on over and check it out. It launched yesterday!

And while you're there, join me for the kick-off of the Top 100 Chapter Books Read-Along! I'll be hosting the read-along of two chapter books a month starting with The Wizard of Oz.

Starting an amazing adventure,
K

Mistborn Read-Along: Chapter 35 to The End

the paperback trilogy boxset

The discussion for the final section of Mistborn: The Final Empire has moved up a couple of days because, well, we all couldn't wait to finish it! It wasn't one that I thought I would ever read and yet here I am, waiting impatiently for us to start reading the next two books of the series. Now that I've read two of his books, I think that what Brandon Sanderson excels at the most is bringing an unfamiliar world to the reader in a way that makes it feel familiar and comfortable. If you've been curious about reading fantasy and don't know where to start, he's a good choice!

Please note that this post WILL contain spoilers. These are questions about the ending of the book.

These final questions are from Carl ...


1. So, what do you think of Kelsier's plan now? Or his 'plan within a plan'? How do you feel the late introduction of the kandra and how it fit into Kelsier's plan?


It's kind of amazing how far ahead Kelsier thought things out and planned. That he really knew his friends/colleagues well is shown in the way that they immediately pick up where he left off and things really do move forward in the way he planned. It's super interesting to have the kandra revealed after we were already convinced that he was a man, an actor, who was doing an amazing job of imitating a noble. Now we have to wonder how many kandras there are and whether we can trust that anyone is themselves going forward. We already know that this kandra has abandoned Kelsier's body but who has it become now? It said it would return and be guided by Vin so when will that be and will she decide to use its services after all? It's nice to have this revealed as a fresh plot line right at the end of this book. It will serve as one way to see how different Vin and Kelsier really are.


2. The final section of the book was very Vin-centric. How do you feel about the choices she made and did you have any worries/fears about what might happen to her before everything was resolved?


I was amazed by the choices she made. She took the role that she thought was hers, that of assassin, and went all out with it. She had faith in Kelsier's plan and his belief in the Eleventh Metal. I definitely worried about her -- especially after she was stripped of all her metals. I wonder if we'll learn more about what they made her ingest and how it was able to eliminate metals. I was also worried that this would be the last time that Sazed was going to save her -- that he wasn't going to survive the rescue attempt. Now that Kelsier has died, I don't feel safe about anyone surviving the series anymore so we'll just have to wait and see!


3. After all that, we find out that the Lord Ruler wasn't the prophesied one after all. Surprised? Had you figured it out? What thoughts do you have about the big reveal, including how it tied into Sazed's people?


I was completely surprised though then everything made a lot more sense. The man who wrote the diary entries seemed a lot like Kelsier and it was hard to imagine someone like that becoming so incredibly evil. And it explains why he (the diarist) didn't seem to have any powers. The Lord Ruler's powers are based in those of Terrismen. Though I wonder if we'll ever find out how he also ended up with allomancy.


4. There was some back and forth about Elend throughout the story and we finally got to see him take a greater stand. Any predictions about what might happen in book two with Elend taking on leadership duties?


Well, Elend doesn't exactly have a lot of leadership experience so it will be interesting to see how much the different factions--noble and skaa--are able to sway him. But if anyone can stand up against pressure, it might just be him. I wonder if his father is still alive though -- that's one person that I can see trying to muscle in and take Elend's place. Lord Venture is just awful.


5. Lastly, provide a little wrap up of your experience with the book. What do you think Sanderson's strengths are? How does this book stack up against other fantasies you've read?


As I said above, I think Sanderson excels in creating a fantasy world that doesn't feel entirely unfamiliar. In a way, this reminds me of Tolkien. Though we have new names and races, they aren't hard to keep track of. This is my second Sanderson book and he's quickly becoming a trusted author for a compelling story that stretches the imagination and the intellect.

Sighing with satisfaction and anticipation,
K

Mistborn Read-Along: Chapter 25 through Chapter 34

the paperback Spanish cover

We're one section away from the end of Mistborn: The Final Empire and I feel like I'm watching a compelling miniseries and I don't want to wait until next week for the ending! Brandon Sanderson has written a world that easily comes to life in the mind's eye. In fact, as soon as I answer these questions, I'm going to read the last five chapters. Then I'm going to wait impatiently for the group reads of books two and three in June!

The questions for this week's reading come from Lynn --

Please note that this post WILL contain spoilers.

1. Well, we finally got our long awaited view of the Lord Ruler, firstly just a brief glimpse during the executions and then during the fight with Kelsier. What do you now think about him and the myths surrounding him? And, given his strength do you think he can be beaten?


Well, we thought the Inquisitors couldn't be beaten but we just saw one killed so I don't think the Lord Ruler is invincible. However, it turns out that he's every bit as young and strong as the myths implied and I think that it's going to take something amazing to bring him down. I wouldn't be surprised if another prophecy is revealed soon.

2. We seemed to suffer a number of set backs to the plans this week. The army had already been all but destroyed and following a bit of a rethink/regroup/coming up with a Plan B things still have gone disastrously astray. What do you think the Crew will do now??


Oh, things have gone so incredibly wrong! The only thing that has gone right is that Elend has come after Vin -- which is not at all relevant to the plan. :) I have no idea what they will do now. I think it depends on if Vin steps up as a leader. The others already seemed to be deferring to her a bit and I think that if she gave them the right cause, they would willingly step up to support her.

3. What was your reaction to Kelsier’s response to finding Marsh dead? I can’t help feeling that there are going to be some serious economic repercussions to destroying the crystals – what sort of impact do you think this will have, not just on the nobles but on the skaa?


This was the moment when Kelsier truly had nothing else to lose. He thought he was at that point already but never realized that he wasn't alone--not yet--because he had his brother. But this was the moment that he was truly alone and I think it broke something in his mind. I think destroying the crystals was an amazing idea although the Lord Ruler still has stockpiles and he's not going to be willing to part with any of it now. I can see the collapse of the entire house system, which affects both nobles and the skaa.

4. Finally, each week we learn a little bit more of the Lord Ruler’s history. And each week it has a different impact. This week’s snippets had the same impact – I was really interested in the excerpt when he mentions that the Darkness is not as oppressive when higher up in the mountains – do you have any more ideas about the Darkness?


It seems like the Darkness should be related to the ash and brown plants but it was defeated so I'm not sure if the way the world is now is just the aftermath or if there's something else going on. We still know very little about the Darkness.

5. (I did have another query – but it might be too much??) I was wondering about Elend and Vin – they’ve also had their ups and downs this week but seem determined to work round them – can you see anything of a future for these two or is there too much history between the nobles and skaa and too much difference and prejudice between the two?


I can definitely see a future between Elend and Vin. They are young and are breaking free of those things they've always believed and I think they could be the Adam and Eve of a new generation. I see a lot of potential for them as long as Elend can deal with what is obviously Vin's destiny -- destroying the Lord Ruler.

Thinking only of revenge,
K

Fire and Hemlock Read-Along Discussion

I'm so excited to have a chance to trade ideas about Fire and Hemlock with some other readers! It's a complex and somewhat confusingly-ended book that is completely awesome. For those of you who haven't read the book and intend to, this post isn't for you. Spoilers will be plentiful. Instead, go get a copy of the book, devour it quickly and then come back and discuss it with us! If you haven't decided if you want to read the book yet (you do) or if you haven't heard of it (really?), here's a brief synopsis --

Nineteen year old Polly is cleaning out her room, about to head back to Oxford, and is reading an old book of hers when she starts thinking that years ago, when she first read the same collection, it possibly had a different title, different authors and even different stories in it. Slowly, that feeling spreads as she notices more things in her room that seem out of place in her current memories until she starts recovering an entirely different set of memories from when she was ten years old. How could she have forgotten Thomas Lynn, the cellist that she met when she gate-crashed a funeral on Halloween? How did the eerie photograph titled Fire and Hemlock that is hanging over her bed get there? And more importantly, what happened four years ago that made her forget all of it?

Doesn't that sound awesome? Well, it is. So, get out, buy the newly re-released book and get to reading. For those who have read it, let's discuss!

Here are some recent(ish) posts from Iris, Teresa, Jenny, Kerry, Amanda, Jean ... (more will be added)

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I know we will all have different things that stood out or that didn't make sense for us so here are a few of mine. Feel free to answer all or none of my questions and add more of your own below.

First, I read many versions of both Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer in preparation for this reread. It definitely enhanced the experience of reading this time through when I could actually catch a tidbit and know why it was there. Have you read either ballad or a related story? Is F&H a retelling of Tam Lin or is it far too original to be called that? Side question: Did it bother you that the quotes at the beginnings of each chapter from the ballads didn't really match up with what is happening in the story at the time? I kind of feel now like those could have been left out.

Second, what was the deal with the necklace? It was protection (how?) and then it wasn't. How do they start using it against her? Is it a tracking device?

Third, was Thomas musically gifted before Laurel or did she give him that talent? I know that the horse couldn't help him at the end because it wasn't "truly his" -- it came from the gift of having things come true. But why didn't the cello work? Did he become a world class player because he believed he would?

I think that's a good start. Those are the things that I thought about for more than a few minutes anyway -- well, besides the confusing anywhere/nowhere/somewhere word play at the end -- but I don't even know how to put together a coherent question about that!

And we're off,
K

Mistborn Read-Along: Chapter 16 through Chapter 25

the hardcover cover

This has been a crazy busy week for me and still will be going forward. I barely finished the reading for this week in time to post! So, here are my very brief answers to this week's questions ...
(Update: I forgot to mention that the questions come from Grace this week!)

Please note that this post may contain spoilers.


1. During the past week there's been a lot of speculation as to the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Now that we finally know the answer, does it change anyone's opinions of the Lord Ruler?

I honestly think it makes him worse -- because he used to be a normal man and he used to have at least somewhat good intentions. But now he's an awful murderer and oppressor. Although he always seemed to be a bit off-kilter. I would really like to know more about what he's like now. I wonder if we will even meet him in this volume.

2. What did you think of Elend's group of subversive nobles? Do you think that Kelsier is right to dismiss people who could be potential allies, or is this another case of his anti-nobility biases showing?

I think it's hard to trust the nobles even if they are willing to rebel because they have a lot to lose. Could you trust them not to give you up, not to give the movement up if they are found out, not to be pressured by friends or family into backing off? I understand why Kelsier is wary.

3. What's your favorite part of the book so far?

I think my favorite part is probably just any time Kelsier's team is together -- with their plotting and their banter. It was nice to finally see a scene of it where Vin is starting to relax and join in. When she accepted that glass of wine from Kelsier, that was a really big deal!

4. Now that Kelsier's plan has hit some major stumbling blocks, what do you think will happen next? Do you think he can still succeed in defeating the Lord Ruler?

Well, the fact that there are two more books in this series was a strong hint that things weren't going to go smoothly. So, I think that I have the same amount of faith in this group that I did before. If anyone can defeat the Lord Ruler, it's these guys (and gal).

Sticking with Team Kelsier,

K

Mistborn Read-Along: Chapter 7 through Chapter 15

the cover from the Nook version of the trilogy

I'm still greatly enjoying my Mistborn read. The story is really compelling and I have no idea which direction it's heading in. I'm sure that I will read the two remaining books in the trilogy before the summer is out!

The questions for this week come from TBM -

Please note that this post may contain spoilers.

1. The nobility, the skaa, and the Lord Ruler have integral roles in the novel and yet we haven’t really interacted with them much. Do you think there is a reason for this? Have you formed an opinion about them?

I'm not sure that the nobility or the skaa will have an integral role in the story -- especially since Kelsier's plan seems to be more about some mysterious "other" motivation than the skaa rebellion. I do think that there is a reason we haven't seen the Lord Ruler yet. I think it's all about fearing what you don't know. Although, based on what he did or had done to Kell the first time they met, it sounds like he's still very much in power and will be quite menacing and scary when we finally get to see him.

2. Religion plays a vital role in the story. What is your opinion about the role of religion under the Lord Ruler? What do you think of Sazed's role as a Keeper.

I think that the role of Keeper is a fascinating one. The fact that Sazed not only remembers every religion that existed before the Lord Ruler but also believes them all is as bewildering to me as it is to Vin. It makes sense that the Lord Ruler would have the most control over the world by combining government with a compulsory religion. This makes him the one and only authority figure. It will be interesting if he is indeed overthrown what will happen with religion going forward and what role the Keepers will play.

3. Are you for/against/or ambivalent about Kelsier’s plan to overthrow the Lord Ruler? Do you think his heart is in the right place or is it just revenge?

I'm sure it's a mixture of revenge and something else that we don't know about yet. I don't think he necessarily cares at all for the skaa other than disliking seeing anyone giving up on their lives. I can't say I'm against the plan except that I think there will be a lot of casualties tied to it. But I do think that the misery of everyone in this world means that the overthrow must happen.

4. Vin and Kelsier are the main characters of the novel, yet there are many characters. Is there a certain character who intrigues you more than the others?


Elend Venture is probably the most intriguing character right now. I can't wait to see if he's really rebelling against the nobility or if he's onto Vin's deception from the start, especially since Vin seemed to have an instant connection with him. I also enjoy Breeze for some strange reason. I know he's cocky and he drives Vin crazy but maybe he's working some of his magic on me!

Until next week,
K

Mistborn Read-Along: Prologue through Chapter 6

the paperback cover

Today is the first posting day for the Mistborn: The Final Empire read-along, hosted by Carl. I didn't really have free reading time but I've been wanting to try another of Brandon Sanderson's novels after really liking Warbreaker a couple of years back. So, here I am and, I have to say that this book is off to a good start! We read the Prologue (an unnumbered first chapter) and then six more chapters -- about 115 pages. Carl wrote the questions for this week and I think they cover most of my thoughts about the reading so I'll just answer them --

Please note that this post may contain spoilers.

1. This first hundred or so pages was packed! What things are standing out for you in the story thus far?

What stands out most are the descriptions of the major city, Luthadel. I can picture it perfectly from the towering, metal-roofed houses of the nobility to the three-story wooden abodes of the skaa. Strangely, though, I don't have much of a mental picture of the main characters of the story. There just aren't many personal descriptions except for clothing. I'm not sure if there's anything physical at all that separates the skaa from the nobility or if they are just recognized by their dirtiness, simpler attire and general defeated demeanor. Are they two classes or are they slightly different species? They can obviously interbreed so I'm leaning toward classes but it hasn't been specifically said. The other thing to stand out is that there are some terrifying baddies in this novel (like the as-yet-unrevealed koloss) and I'm sure there will be some points where I'll be reading with all of the lights on!

2. What are your thoughts on the magic system that Sanderson is unveiling in this novel?

I think allomancy is really inventive and I like the way that it's slowly explained and reinforced for the reader. There's never a "copper is for x, zinc is for y, tin is for z" list -- which wouldn't have stuck with me at all. Instead, we start with a couple of metals, find out what powers they imbue by "seeing" them used and then move on to a few more in a later scene. It's really well done, especially describing how Kelsier moves between metal objects. I hope we find out more about the physiological basis behind the ability to use metals. Right now it's just "the Lord Ruler gave some people this power" but I'm guessing that's just the legend and it's more than that. The Steel Inquisitors are creepy and I hope we find out more about why they can sense allomancy.

3. Kelsier and Vin have held most of the spotlight in these first 6 chapters. As you compare/contrast the two characters, how do you feel about them? Likes? Dislikes?

I can't help but really like Kelsier. A hero who smiles constantly in a world full of grim faces is bound to win hearts. And the fact that he smiles in the face of the loss of his wife years before shows he's either enlightened or crazy. I'll be waiting to find out which one! Vin is a much more obvious product of her environment and it's easy to see her motives (because we keep reading her internal dialogue). I'm not sure about her because, since she's been raised to be untrusting, I'm worried that she will betray Kelsier or others in their group. It will be interesting to see how she progresses as a character when she's taken out of her thieves' den and becomes a "noblewoman".

4. Finally, how would you assess Sanderson's storytelling abilities to this point?

I think that one thing that Sanderson excels at is grabbing your attention right from the first pages of his books. Even in the middle of the prologue, I had to know what was going to happen going forward. Also, Sanderson uses a lot of "fantasy speak" but somehow it's not as daunting and confusing as in other high fantasy novels. He picks names and words that still sound sort of familiar somehow. I'm really looking forward to moving on in this story and, presumably, the entire series!

Burning carbs, not copper,

K

April Read-Along: Fire and Hemlock

There was a lot of interest in a Fire and Hemlock read-along during Diana Wynne Jones Month but, since it is being re-released this month (YAY!), I decided to wait to schedule it so that the book was easier to get. The release date is April 12 in the U.S. and I wanted to also work around Carl's Mistborn read-along and work with the Once Upon a Time Challenge and Dewey's Read-a-Thon on April 21. What a busy month!

I was thinking that we could start the reading on or around April 19th and start our discussion on Friday, April 27th (and likely continue it through that weekend). We're lucky to have a couple of Fire and Hemlock devotees that are planning to join in the discussion too! I'll probably be asking each participant for a question or discussion topic because I think this will work best if each participant can get opinions and thoughts on their own nagging questions. This is a book that leaves many readers a bit confused!

Since this is a re-read for me, I wanted to expand the experience a bit and hopefully have a more informed experience with F&H. Because the story is based on two Scottish folk tales--Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer--I plan on doing some preliminary reading during the first half of the month. If any of you would like to join me for that, please do! These are the books I got from the library --

Tam Lin by Susan Cooper (picture book)
Tam Lin by Jane Yolen (picture book)
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Stories from Scotland by Barbara Ker Wilson (Oxford Children's Myths and Legends series)
The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess

If you want to join in the read-along, simply leave a comment below. I'll have a list of participants below. If you want to discuss the book on Twitter before April 27th, use the hashtag #fireandhemlock. This is definitely a book that benefits from having reading buddies!

Participants:
1.

Preparing for an adventure,
K