Gunslinger Born, Stephen King

Finished this at work on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The interlude to all of this  part of Roland's past during Wizard and Glass was well loved (by me at least--I can't speak for other King fans).  But, I loved seeing it in another medium.  It actually seems to fit the tale better than the novel.  I've only ever read one other graphic novel, Frank Miller's 300.  And I have the ability in the near(ish) future to borrow Sin City from a friend, which I plan on doing.  It isn't really a medium I ever cared to read, and in fact I read 300 for an upper level Classical Literature (in Interpretation) class.

So, now to hunt down the next one on Amazon!!

Book Haul (6)

Since I'm suddenly a bit more flush in the pocket book, I did some book shopping during the previous week.  I'm actually doing all sorts of shopping--apartments, clothes, video games and other electronics.  But, first and foremost, BOOK HAUL!

So exciting, I went back to my brother's to pick up a few things, and I stopped by Hasting's.  Oh boy.  I also went to Half Price Books in Plano yesterday.  So... I'm swimming in books.

 




The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien - Mind you, I've read this a couple times now.  But, I haven't actually owned it in awhile.  I think I lent a copy to someone many years ago and never got it back.

This Side of Paradise, F. Scott Fitzgerald - I somehow ended up with several quotes in my notebook, yet have never read anything but the Great Gatsby (and sadly, don't remember much of it).  So, I'm excited about this one.

When We Were Orphans, Kazuo Ishiguro - I loved the Remains of the Day.  Never Let Me Go was good, also.  I love Ishiguro's writing--nothing is ever quite resolved in his novels.  And, I am a girl who likes her happy endings.  But, there is also the fact that his characters accept who they are, what's happened to them in the past.  They move past whatever had hurt them, and that appeals to me.

Muriel Spark, Aiding and Abetting - Okay... The theme for today must be British... But, they have the best literature.  So, don't blame me.  Blame the University of Texas system for allowing me to take so many Brit Lit classes.  Anyway, I read The Girls of Slender Means back in college.  I fell in love with the book and have reread it once since then.  I'm unclear as to why I loved it so much (as I was not overly keen on the particular class in which the book was required reading).  I did, however love the poetry sprinkled throughout its pages.  And it was around that time that I was developing a love for poetry.  I'm looking forward to picking it up again.

Choke, Chuck Palahniuk - I repeatedly rave about Palahniuk, and Invisible Monsters.  And Fight Club.  I adore both books.  I tried Rant, didn't like it.  I've also read Lullaby and Diary and liked them.  I've always wanted to read this one, plus there is a movie.  So excited!

The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie - It's on the 1001 books to read before you die list.  The premise is fascinating... Plus, controversial book?  Yes, please.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Stephen King - So, I'm not sure if I am surprised at this selection or not.  I'm not surprised at the Dark Tower/Stephen King aspect.  But, the graphic novel part of it, that surprises me.  I think I am finally succumbing to the truly nerd side.  I mean, I do already like the Marvel movies...  They're pretty awesome.  And the book is always better.  So, I guess it stands to reason that I am going to eventually gravitate towards comic books.  I am searching for a couple that I'll only find online. 



In other nerdiness, I played Star Wars: Force Unleashed and Little Big World last night.  Must.  Buy.  Playstation 3.  GAH!  Damn those nerdy podcasts.

Ender's Shadow, Orson Scott Card (spoilers)

There should be a party or something.  This book took too long to finish.  I didn't dislike it... I just happened to not enjoy it.  I don't think I ever realized there could be a difference between absolutely disliking a book and not enjoying one.  I have vehemently stated that I do not read books out of order.  That's just ridiculous to do so.  So, I was mildly irritated when the person who gave me Ender's Game recommended reading Ender's Shadow next.  Ender's Shadow is really just Ender's Game retold.  There are a few extra details and it clarified some situations that happened in Ender's Game, which is always nice.

Honestly, I did like Ender's Game.  I also enjoyed reading it.  Shadow, on the other hand...  I like it, but did not enjoy it.  The beginning and end were the best parts.  Once Bean hit Battle School, I felt like I was just muddling through the book.  Don't get me wrong, everything was written clearly.  It's almost as if Card got off tempo in the middle of the book and didn't pick up the rhythm again until after the students that composed Ender's command had left Battle School.  I wouldn't think that the difference in time between publishing dates would really make much difference, but I wonder if it does?

So, the parts I did like...  The beginning was fantastic, actually.  I do like the Bean character, quite a bit.  Granted, his intelligence did not make much sense at the beginning of the book.  It seemed a bit ludicrous until the explanation about Anton's Key.  But, I don't fully appreciate the manipulation of Bean's genetics to unlock his intelligence and dexterity.  Just feels a bit like deus ex machina to me... I know it isn't, but it has that same feeling of lameness.  Felt sloppy in comparison to Ender's Game, where the fiction was believable.  Ender's intellect is believable.  I mean, science can be pretty incredible, I know.  But, I still want it to be believable.  I don't want to feel the urge to argue with the book, or feel like it is a tad ridiculous.  No matter how advanced Bean's intelligence is, I still have trouble looking at him as a seven year old boy.  I had trouble at the beginning of the book when he is age four.

Ender's Shadow was published in 1999.  I really love the political and social implications within the end of the book.  They feel so accurate, so reflective of so much of what is wrong with our world.  Some quotes:

We are, when the cause is sufficient, insane.

And yet, we who command them, we children in these elaborate game machines, have no idea of their courage, their sacrifice.  We cannot give them the honor they deserve, because we don't even know they exist.

Quotes (1)

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

 -Jane Austen

My good opinion once lost is lost forever. -Jane Austen

New Releases!!

Color me excited.  I know I'm a complete and total slacker, but here are a few titles I happen to be gleefully dancing over.  Apologies if I've mentioned them before...

1.  Alice in Zombieland, Gena Showalter: Showalter is a guilty pleasure for me.  Paranormal romance, which I will vehemently deny reading to anyone that really knows me.  But, I think she's quite clever.  And I usually giggle at her dialogue.  This one is a version of Alice in Wonderland.  With zombies.  What's not to love?

2.  Crucible of Gold, Naomi Novak: The latest Temeraire novel (seventh one).  I have the first three, I just haven't gotten around to finishing them up yet.  I really enjoyed the first one, though I generally stay away from historical fiction as a general rule.  This series is set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but with DRAGONS.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Freaking dragons.  Plus, I got the first one as a freebie on my Nook.  And who doesn't love a free book?

3.  The Last Threshold, R.A. Salvatore: We know why I get excited about Salvatore...  Fan-freaking-tastic writing.  Plus, I love all the characters.  This will be the last book in the Neverwinter Saga.

4.  The Companions, The Sundering Book 1, R.A. Salvatore: I so need to catch up.  I really want to read this one--it's Drizzt's remembrances about the Companions of the Hall.  However, I can't very well read Drizzt's reminiscing when I haven't finished more than six or seven of the books.  I have til August.  Plenty of time...  Maybe.

5.  Bannon and Clare Series, Lilith Saincrow: Hmmm, I've got a few reservations here since I loved Dante Valentine in the beginning of that particular series and ended up being a bit disappointed in the character.  I like women writers who give their female characters some depth.  Dante didn't have enough to suit me, and I am quite afraid it's not just something to do with Dante in particular.  But, this series sounds quite interesting.  Seems like a fantasy version of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which would suit me perfectly...  Hopefully Emma Bannon isn't a repeat of Dante (for me, at least).

The Sparrow

I'm not quite done yet, but thought I'd post anyway.  I'm allowed, as I've read it twice before. 

I love this book.  It could possibly surpass Swan Song on my favourite book list.  Perhaps I'll read Swan Song after, and we'll see.  I'm not much on religion of any kind.  I've got a...  Loose grasp on how I feel about God, and I'm pretty comfortable with that.  My faith fluctuates, but seems to endure for the most part. 

The Sparrow, though...  It always seems to restore my faith.  And not just in God, but also myself and humanity (though the humanity aspect never lasts long--usually that's gone after one good span of awful traffic).  I find myself questioning so many things in my life every time I read this...  I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad.  But, today I am finding myself to be a restless mess. 

So, a run is in order.  And then a nap.  Finishing a good book with a cup of tea should sort me out.

Ender's Game

I started Ender's Game a few days ago.  Absolutely ahh-mazing.  Some of the best writing I've ever seen.  It certainly goes on my "to be admired repeatedly" shelf.  On a side-note, I feel the need to re-read The Sparrow sometime soonish.  I'm off my rhythm when it comes to reading steadily lately.  Shall need to lay off the Warcrafting.

Card's writing is...  Well, just fantastic.  I am thoroughly in love with it.  The pace is neither too slow to overly fast, perfectly steady.  There are some books that just swallow me whole, they move so quickly and are so damn engrossing.  Ender's Game doesn't do that--it reminds me of The Sparrow (which is why I am eager to read it again), in that it is engrossing, but not to the point where I'm done in a day.  it gives me the opportunity to think and to reflect.  And those are the best kinds of books.

It's going to take me years of reading this over and over before I ever fully wrap my head around it.  I suppose that is why it goes on the favorites shelf.  One of the better gift's I've gotten...  Minus the Kindle.  That's by far, the most awesome ever.  But, that is neither here, nor there.

Also, if you're interested, Ender's Game will be a movie towards the end of this year.  I am quite excited, now that I've read the book.