Sifting thoughts...

Wow.

Haven't done one of these in a long, long time.

But, I've just posted my new, probably to be revised, idea of a book chat.  Let me know what you think, would you?  Should I include more about the book itself?  Or more of my thoughts?  It's a work in progress, so let me know what you think!

It's a beautiful day here, at least from the inside of my windows.

On the outside it's 22F, which isn't bad for January, but we're still under a lake effect snow advisory.  I  have no idea how much we've already gotten, but it is substantial.  Thankfully I have an amazing sister and brother-in-law because my gout has been keeping me relatively inactive and they've shoveled my drive twice.  Bless them.  Seriously.  I'd be lost without them.

So...

What else do I have?

Last year saw the marriage of one of my nieces in October.  She was absolutely gorgeous and her husband was certainly handsome.  It was, as most weddings are, a stressful event... but it was a joyous one, too:

Lot's of smiles, plenty of laughter, good food, great music... 

And we'll be repeating it this September, when her sister ties the knot:

I can't wait.  I'm crazy proud of both these beautiful young women and of the lives they have created, for themselves and for their young men...

As for me...

My life is pretty uneventful.  I work, I write, I spend time with the furkids.  It's quiet, but at my age, quiet is a good thing.  The gout is on it's way to be controlled, despite this weekends flare.  I know that and I know I must be patient and watch what I eat... 

Not my strongest points at times.

I hope y'all have had a good weekend, filled with sunshine and happy times!

Book Chat: Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind
The Wise Man's Fear

I've heard that Rothfuss's books, known collectively as The Kingkiller Chronicles, were originally written as one book. If so, it was gigantic, because The Name of the Wind runs over 600 pages and Wise Man's Fear over 900 and there is a third one waiting in the wings.

Of course, a grand, epic tale can't be told in a few hundred pages, can it.

And The Kingkiller Chronicles are just that: A grand, epic tale filled with mystery, intrigue, wizards, witches, magic and music.

The hero is Kvothe, currently known as Kote, a mild-mannered inn keeper. When a wandering scribe known as Chronicler recognizes him, however, Kvothe agrees to tell his tale in order to set the history straight.

The mild-mannered innkeeper, you see, is something of a legend; he is both hero and villain, actor, singer, story-teller, and magician. He survives the slaughter of his parents, members of a traveling troupe of performers, by the mysterious Chandrian; survives as an orphan on the streets of Treban, and then cons his way into the university, a place where he can learn 'the name of the wind' and about the Chandrian.

The magic, as it turns out, isn't that hard; the Chandrian prove to be another matter.

Kvothe makes friends and enemies. He meets a girl who will play an important part in his life. He has adventures, successes, and failures...

And there is still another book to come.

It is a grand story, as I've said, and I'm looking forward to the next book. Given, however, that book one was published in 2007 and book two in 2011, I'm not expecting to read it any time soon.

That said...

There's something about these books that puzzles me.

If you go to Amazon and read the comments, you will find something of a controversy which, to me, seems silly.

It seems the people who like George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series believe you can't like both. They trash Rothfuss's writing, his characters, basically everything about the book, mostly without offering anything definitive as to why they don't like it. And they are rabid about their hatred. It's an 'us vs. them' mentality and I really don't get it.

For the record, I read Martin's "Game of Thrones" and found it tedious and in need of a good editor. I mean, for example, paragraph after paragraph of what sort of armor the knights are wearing? Not my idea of a grand read. I like things parred down a bit. Martin is not my cup of tea but I wouldn't go out of my way to trash him. To each his own is my motto.

Is there not room out in the book reading world for both men, both styles?  I should think there is...  I would hope there is.

One final thing about the "I hate Patrick Rothfuss" club...

One of the most repeated negative comments I've seen has to do with the inevitable 'boy wizard goes to school to learn magic' sort of comment. All I can say to that is good ideas get retold; sometimes in better ways, sometimes in worse and sometimes in different ways.

Rothfuss does an excellent job of retelling an old story... and that's good enough for me.

This wasn't what I had in mind...

I wanted to jump back in with both feet but haven't managed to do it.

Part of the reason is health-related.  I started a new medication the other day for my gout and it is playing havoc with my system.  Nausea and I have gotten to be far too well acquainted...

I have a question, if anyone cares to give me their two cents.

I don't want to do anything a professional 'review' of my books.  I think I'd rather simply discuss them.  Maybe hit the high points, or the low points, or talk about the characters.  You know, kind alike if you were sitting around chatting with some friends.

What do you think?

Well...

It's a new year, welcomed in my part of the universe with some true winter cold and finally some snow.  A lack of snow here is a scary thing to contemplate but the ground is now white.

I'd like to think we've gotten all the fluffy white stuff we're going to... but I know better.  

Anyway...

  

Since it's a new year, I'm starting off with the intent of reviving the place.  I've missed y'all and I've missed gabbing about books.  

We shall, however,  see what develops.  I hope there are a few of you still around.