My First Easton Press Order

 I recently made my first, and quite possibly my only, Easton Press book order. Long have I lusted after the Easton Press editions of The Lord of the Rings. Years. On my journey to a life as a minimalist I have gotten rid of not only a lot of books, but also a lot of non book related possessions as well. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite books, and my previous edition was nothing special. A hardcover of The Hobbit with dust cover, and a Huffington Mifflin 50th anniversary slipcase edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in one. I sold these to help fund this investment. I figured that such a beautiful story deserved to have a equally beautiful edition. And lets just admit it, I wanted to treat myself ..

"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

"I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me."

This is the story of Kvothe, told to us by Kvothe over the course of three days. The book begins in the present, and switches back and fourth from present to past as Kvothe meets the Chronicler through seemly ill fate, and consents to tell him his story, on one condition. It must be his entire story, and told in his words only. Only here in the present, he is known at Kote to the townspeople. Posing as a innkeeper, he appears to be running from his past. He begins the story as a young boy, in his families troupe of traveling performers. This is where he is first introduced to Sympathy, and finds that he has a talent for it. Tells of his years as a orphan on the streets of Tarbean. His desperate attempt to gain admittance at the University, and later his struggles and hardship during his attendance there. He possesses talent that not many of the other students can claim, but is at a disadvantage because of barely managing to scrape by on the high tuition costs. We see here that the rumors and stories surrounding him are true, but see how the stories really were as they unfold. The rumors being perhaps a little far fetched, and more ignorant then the truth, but the real events being impressive none the less. This is the real story of Kvothe.

To me this book started off very strong. It captured my attention, and held it. I'll admit that my attention started to wander a bit by the time that we came to Kvothe's childhood, and started to spend some time with the traveling performers. It picked up again while we were trying to survive on the harsh, cruel streets of Tarbean. Although I was feeling a distinct lack of the fantasy genre during this phase, it all made sense as to the backstory of Kvothe. This is a slow build up to our present, and not only a necessary part of the story, but a carefully crafted one. My original attention was caught again once we actually reached the University. The University is the heart of the magic system in this book. The magic system here, of binding and naming to work magic, is one that I have only seen used a few times before now. It works, it is done beautifully. I like how in this setting seemly anyone can learn the use of Sympathy, but in order to get accepted into the University you must be not only intelligent, but have the talent of Sympathy. The less talented being weeded out. Magic here is something that must be learned, rather then something that just is.

The slower parts of this book did slightly lower my rating, but I would still rate this as a solid 4.5 stars. Towards the end it did actually pick up.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

I listened to this as a audio book.

This book evoked emotion from me, and that is not easily done. I experienced some sadness, but mostly anger and frustration. And not directed towards the book, but because of the book and the events that were taking place. It drew me in despite the horror of it.

We are seeing things unfold through the eyes of a eleven year old boy who is soon to become twelve. This life of his is perfectly normal in every sense. This is the only way of life that he knows, and what his parents, and their parents, and so on, knew as a way of life. You become exasperated during the introduction of the book, but you are seeing it through his eyes. The eyes of a child. The events taking place are somehow lessened because of them being seen through the innocence of the child, despite you realizing the reality of what is happening. The brain washed society, with their disturbing methods. Its not until our character matures slightly, and is suddenly given a task that opens his eyes that we see the magnitude of it all. Suddenly the horror of it all floods into your senses.

I wasn't overly satisfied with how it concluded, but was content. 

Rating: 4 Stars

"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

I was listening to this as a audio book. I cannot even fathom how the experience would of been if I had been reading the actual physical book, as I have heard that how the book is laid out causes massive grimaces from readers. As it was, I had to stop listening to it by disc two.

I almost feel as though people look too deeply into this book. Taking the simplistic writing style as a part of the genius of this book, while I tend to see it merely as poor writing, and dare I say? Lazy. 

No, I shall pass on this one.

Rating: 1 Star - Did not finish

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

I read the entire series in printed form a few years ago, but this time I listened to it as a audio book which is narrated by Stephen Fry. Such a lovely way to spend the time going and coming from work each day, and the narration itself was top notch. It made the listening experience a pleasure, and really drew you into the story.

I adore Douglas Adam's witty sarcasm, and some of his characters, such as Marvin the depressed robot, is pure genius.

Perfect? Well no. But it was entertaining, and it was side splitting funny. I do believe that the audio version tops the printed form .. which feels like a act of blasphemy for me to say so.

As for some of the less savory bits ..

Douglas Adam was a atheist. I am a Christian. He made his atheism very well known during the duration of the book. Such things don't bother me per say, and I was even able to see the humor in it, but what did bother me to a certain extent was the way that several times throughout the book he belittles religion, and even mocks God. It's fine if you see yourself as a atheist, but can one who focuses so much time and energy on the subject, really say in all certainty that they don't even have the slightest doubt that maybe there is a God? And that that doubt nags them into their lashing out? I see no reason to mock something that one does not believe to exist.

Don't Panic

The words Don't Panic imply that quite possibly there is a reason that you would, in fact, be panicking. Could that reason be because planet Earth just happens to be in the way of the new hyperspace bypass plans, and therefore must go? That's the first of Arthur Dent's problems. Earths eradication sets off Arthur's wacky, utterly insane, and hold your sides laughable adventures through the galaxy.

Douglas Adams has a sharp, witty, sarcastic way of writing that makes for a very pleasurable read. Word of advice, that humor comes through so much nicer when read with a British accent. ;)

Rating : 4 Stars

"A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

It was coincidence that I picked up "A Wizard of Earthsea" and "The Name of the Wind" at the same time as one another. One I owned, and was for my leisure time. The other I checked out from the library and it was intended for reading during my lunch break at work. The last mentioned being this book. Finished first not only because It is far shorter in length, but also because I ended up bringing it into the house with me tonight in order to finish it, because the author was able to draw me in enough that I desired to see how it played out.

You may be wondering why I mentioned "The Name of the Wind" in this particular review, and why I deemed it a coincidence that I chose to read these two books together. If you have read both of these books then you will probably already be aware of what I am about to say. They are both very similar. The magic system, the protagonist to a extent, and the magical school element. It is clear that Rothfuss was inspired by this book. I say inspired, because it is also clear that he was able to make it his own and take it in a different direction. The differences are not only in the story, but in the writing.

Le Guin has a beautiful way of writing, and her books obviously inspired many authors of fantasy. And with that being said, the story was there, but the characters never felt fleshed out to me. It was all very one dimensional. Her story telling tended to follow the path of telling you, rather then showing you. Rothfuss creates such fleshed out characters, that I couldn't help but compare the two.

I did actually really enjoy the read however, and I am rather impressed by her impact on the genre. If you think about it, she not only inspired Patrick Rothfuss, but also possibly authors such as J.K. Rowling based on the magical school element within both books.

Overall rating, a solid 3.5 

That's Not Me Anymore

The last time that I posted anything on this blog was back in February of last year. A recent notification of a comment being made on one of my posts lead me back here today. I haven't pulled up this page for so long, and started to wonder why, as I truly did enjoy the entire experience. One of the biggest reasons that is coming to me however, is simply because I am no longer that reader. I have shared pictures of my book collection, as well as pictures of my many book hauls .. would it shock you to know that I now only own one of those three bookcases full of books? Would it surprise you to hear that I have not bought a single book since last year? Because it's true. I embraced a minimalist lifestyle earlier this year, and although I still am not where I want to be, it has changed me as a reader.

I am still a avid reader, as well as lover of books. But the reader that I was, that's not me anymore.

The entire method and reason of a minimalist lifestyle is only surrounding yourself with that of which you truly love, and eliminating the needless clutter in your home and in your life. Therefore also eliminating mind clutter, and being able to enjoy other things in life more. It has also effected me as a reader. In a positive note. I cleared out my book collection, going through the entire thing book by book. I eventually narrowed it down to one, not even full, bookcase. Because I got rid of so many books I was also able to eliminate two entire bookcases. My smaller book collection now brings me so much more happiness then my larger one ever did. And once you start becoming more selective about what you surround yourself with, you also become more selective about what you chose to spend your time doing. That involves reading. Not reading in itself, but rather the quality of that content that you are dedicating your time to. This has been one of my best reading years, and you know what that has consisted of up to now? Re-reading the entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, re-reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and re-reading The Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien (I've nearly completed The Return of the King at this point). Only about eleven books in total, and all re-reads, but I loved every second of it.

That is the kind of reader that I am now.