Character Connection: Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicles

Since I am deeply engulfed in the second book of this series, The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, it is only fitting that I dedicate my Character Connection post this month to its hero:

KVOTHE

The Kingkiller

You may remember me mentioning him back when I reviewed the first book, The Name of the Wind, but just let me expound here on all the many ways there are to love this character:

• First of all he has red hair. Not dark and floppy, not blond and messy, but RED.  And tons of it. So that's something different.
• And there's the green eyes. Piercing, emerald ones at that! :)
• He's very very smart and clever. Like.... there's been no one at University like him before or since. 
• He not only uses his smartness to do well in his studies, but to come up with mischievous schemes, which is always endearing, is it not?
• He's a musician, one that brings people to tears with his lute playing and his song singing. What's NOT to love about that?
• He's bookish. Not only smart, but he loves books and reads like crazy and he lives and breathes for the Archives! (The library, of course.)
• He's romantic, but in a quiet, shy sort of way. He seems scared to death of the girl he likes and at this point in the story (I have tons left to read you see) he's yet to make a move. But oh, so romantic.
• He's generous. He, himself, has pretty much nothing, But when he does get a little money, he always shares with people (specifically the girl living in the Underthing) who have even less than him.
• He's reckless, especially when it comes to Ambrose! And I find myself yelling at him in my head.... KVOTHE!!! What ARE you thinking? Stay AWAY from that awful dude!!!
• He's loyal to his friends, other boys who seem to not fit in anywhere.
• He saves people from fires and other such hazards. 
• Did I mention the lute playing?
• Not only ALL of that, but he can cook too. I just read the part where they are going crazy for his apple pie. 
• Oh, and then there's the magic bit. Magic, he does it. And better than anyone else of course. 
• ETA: It's been brought to my attention (see comments) that I neglected to mention that Kvothe is not without his flaws, and since I totally meant to add this (seriously, I did!) and it's bugging me that I forgot, and now that I've been called out for it... I'm adding this P.S..... Yes, part of what makes him so awesome his is flaws, and without them he would not be NEAR as interesting, because what's a perfect character if not BORING! He has flaws galore, and in the end, it's going to cause him all sorts of problems, but I'm so worried about it, that I'm currently in denial.  

Seriously, I think I just got started on this list, but I'll stop for now. I'm sure there'll be more about him when I finish the book and do the review.  But for now, just know that this boy gets in your head and won't leave you alone. And that's a good thing.

Who's your favorite character of the month? I know you have one. Write a post and head on over to The Introverted Reader and link up.

A Bunch of Random Mini Rants

I was going to post a review today but have too much jumbling around in my head so I'm doing one of those funky rambly posts that are fun to do and which I haven't done in awhile. (Unless you count the Sunday posts which are a different sort of ramble thing.)

So here's what I'm thinking today (much of which is spawned by Twitter, for those of you who wonder what the purpose of Twitter is... it's for spawning weird thinkings) and most (all?) of which are little mini rants, so be warned:

** All this talk of a book called 50 Shades of Grey is creeping me out. I hear it's a pretty, shall we say, graphic and racy book. I don't get the appeal. Everyone (okay, nearly everyone) moans about certain other badly written romance books with abusive guys, but they love this one? I'm so confused here. Yeah, I won't be reading this one and I wish I'd stop hearing about it. Plus, it sorta makes me sad that Ian Somerhalder will be playing this dude in the movie.

** BEA is coming up and when I look at the calendar it is actually on a week that I maybe might could have probably actually gone! BUT, the more I think about it, the more I feel that it's a club to which I just don't belong and wouldn't fit in. I don't know. Maybe some day I'll go and test out that theory. But I get the feeling that I just don't have the coolness factor and the blogging biggness needed for such an event. However, I do love Armchair BEA and plan to participate! Sign ups going on now for that so do come join in if you find yourself sitting at home wondering what it would be like to play with the popular people!

** Speaking of clubs... I still wonder how bloggers fit into the whole writing conference thing. There was one that just happened locally which I heard a lot about which I would also feel weird attending, only being a blogger writer. Though it sounded awesome and I know I would have loved it. Okay, fine, so it appears I have some identity crisis issues, yes? :) And so what else is new? Suggestions for me? Suck it up and get over it?

** All the memories everyone was Tweeting (and emailing at work too) about Maurice Sendek and his books yesterday was making me weepy! I don't have any particular memories beyond the fact that I've loved Where the Wild Things Are since I can remember. Oh, and the Pierre... I don't care.... book too. The others I'm not so familiar with. But yeah, he knew how to do it, and so I add my thoughts to the realm.

** Another frustrating thing that makes me sad.... the fact that I love to promote the Utah authors yet can't seem to get myself on their publishers' lists. I get lots of emails now (I think that's been bumped up because of Bloggiesta) about weird random books that I have no interest in, yet nothing from the local authors (the big ones I'm talking here) and their new and upcoming books. Except Brandon Mull, I think I'm on his list. Which is funny because his aren't my favorite! Figures. Anyway, it just makes me sad, you know?

** Here's something I saw today, "Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but gets you no where." I'm pretty much worrying all the time, like seriously, ALL THE TIME! There's truly so much to worry about! I do wish I could stop, but in the end, I guess I enjoy rocking.

My kids, twenty years ago.

** We've been watching old home movies lately. Our life at 20 years ago. I miss it. And I know that in 20 years from now if we watch movies from today, I'll think the same thing about today. Yes? So, there's something to think about.

** I just have to thank Trish and her Pinterest challenge. It caused me to go putter in my "craft" room yesterday and dig out some old projects that maybe... just maybe... I'll try to finish this summer. And maybe... just maybe... I'll get a crafty sort of bug going again and I know if I do, everything will be good.

** So I added Instragram to my phone. Now I'm wondering what's next? I follow you all and see your pictures? I  tweet more pictures? Do you all really truly like that sort of thing? It doesn't bore you silly?

Wow, I should feel better now, don't you think? I swear ranting is a necessary evil. If you listened/read... I thank you!

Now, I'm off to be productive in a different sort of way!

P.S. Where can I find pink/red m and m's when it's no where near Valentines Day?

Utah Book Month Sign Ups

Awhile back, a few of us Utah book bloggers decided it was time to try having another Utah Book Month, and we've finally figured out the details and are now asking for participants!

The details:

• promote Utah authors, bloggers and books during the month of August by.....
• reading and reviewing books written by Utah authors
• interviewing and highlighting Utah authors
• having Utah book bloggers interview and highlight each other
• giving away Utah books
• hosting mini challenges about Utah books and authors

We are so excited! This is going to be a blast! If it sounds like something you'd like to participate in, please fill out the form below and let us know what you'd like to do. (Blogger interviews will be just for Utah book bloggers, but everything else is open to everyone!) Also, be sure to follow our new Twitter account where we'll be keeping you informed of all that's going on.... @UtahBooks and #UtahBooks

If you aren't familiar with Utah authors, click here for a very small sample of some that happen to be on my list. If  there's a book there you'd like to read, join us! There's also a Goodreads list of Utah authors for even more ideas.

Sign ups will be open until the night of May 21, after which we'll take that info and put it all together, matching you up with authors and/or bloggers. You may see this form on several blogs, (Squeaky Books, Emily's Reading Room, The Reading Fever and The Bluestocking Society) but remember you only have to sign up once. 

Any other questions? Ask away! And thanks for joining us for the fun!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Quotes from Books

I love bookish quotes and quotes from books, though I am really really lousy about writing them down and remembering them. That made me a little nervous about this week's Top Ten prompt at The Broke and the Bookish which is... of course...to list our top ten favorite quotes. BUT, I googled and figured out (remembered) a few of my favorites and in fact, I couldn't stop and I think I went over the allotted number. Oh, well!

Top Ten (or so) Favorite Quotes from Books 

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” 

-- Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”

-- Ed Kennedy from I'm the Messenger by Markus Zusak

“I am haunted by humans.”

-- Death from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

-- Alice from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

"Oh my cherished preserver!"

-- Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

"Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron, shrugging, "When in doubt, go to the library.”

-- Ron from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

“There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.”

-- Sam from The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

“Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.”

-- from An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, but I can't remember exactly who said it.

“You have brains in our heads You have feet in your shoes you can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”

-- from Oh, the Places You'll Go by Dr. Suess

“I collapse in bed and fall asleep with me other hand clasped around the blue rubber band. And I dream about blue eyes and blue nails and first-kiss lips dusted with blue sugar crystals.”

-- Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

“It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.”

-- Kvothe from The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

-- Anne from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

"For you, a thousand times over."

-- Hassan from The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Fun! I love these all so much! Did I happen to list any of your favorites too?

The Rick Riordan Experience

Last year I got to see my most favorite author, but last week, we got to go see my 13 year old daughter's favorite! Rick Riordan of Percy Jackson fame came to our neck of the woods and we were there! I stood in line to get tickets for nearly two hours several weeks before, and the day of the event I stood in line for an hour outside, and then waited  for another hour in our actual seats. All this for a one hour presentation! (Usually at these events we get to meet the author afterwards and get books signed, but this guy is too big. He presigned books which we could buy, but no meet and greet afterwards.)

Anyway, the things we do for authors, huh? Officially crazy I'm thinking.

So I filmed some stuff so you could see a little of what it was like. The kids screamed like he was a rock star. It was fun to be part of. The excitement was pretty intense. And the library staff was so great too, and a little crazy as you can see.

Take a look:




And then he read from The Mark of Athena, due out in October. The kids LOVED it. Here it is, the first chapter:






Fun times. Another great author encounter to stick on our list!

The Sunday Salon: I Crafted Stuff!

Outside my window: It's dark on a Saturday night. And quite chilly I must say. But it'll be perfect sleeping temperature. I just hope to sleep. Sleep is not easy to come by lately it seems. 

 I am listening to: nothing at the moment except for a Jazz game in the background

Song of the week: I've been obsessed with the Someone I Used to Know song all week.If you haven't heard (and seen) this cover of it though, here it is. (I know I'm late to the party here, but maybe there's a few of you that are even later than me!)




TV Talk: Just caught up on  American Idol and Survivor. American Idol is just meh as I've been saying. I do like Philip now though.... ish. And I was glad to see Kat go on Survivor. She's only 22? Wow. Vampire Diaries was quite shocking this past week. When's the finale on that one? I'm sad to see it almost over for the season. But I am getting excited to start watching Falling Skies again. Tomorrow is The Amazing Race finale. Yay.

READING REPORT:
Books Finished: This week I finished Precious Bane... early for book club! Wow. I need to see if any book clubbers need to borrow it now.

Books Started: YAY! I finally started The Wise Man's Fear... here's hoping tomorrow I can knock off lots and lots of its pages!

Books Up Next: You know, I'm just not sure what'll be next. Strange feeling.

I am thinking: wow, has it been a month already since our Arizona adventure? Yeah that was fun, I want to do something like that again please.

I'm grateful for: really really cold ice water. 

Around the house: Our chair is broken... very very broken. It's time for a new one for sure.

Pinterest of the Week: Because I signed up for the Pinterest Challenge, I thought I'd report here some progress, though there will be "real" posts too. So, we are going to make this casserole for dinner tomorrow. And today we started in on the journal calendar that several of us fell in love with. (I blame Kailana for that one in particular though.) And that has been fun. Also, I bought some quilt scraps and plan to make a disappearing nine patch wall hanging from that. I played a bit with that today too. So, it's been a crafty-ish sort of day! So fun. Can't wait to make a quilty thing again. 

Favorite things of the week: There were lots of awesome things this past week. Seeing Rick Riordan was fun, getting Utah Bloggers organized (at least started) was fun (see our new Twitter here!), chit chatting with Jenny, Susan, Robin and Heidi was fun, seeing The Avengers was fun, going for a walk in the canyon was fun, crafting with the girls today was fun, having an impromptu picnic today was also fun. Lots of nice things this week. 


Utah Book Bloggers: So maybe I'll add a section here to report this sort of stuff each week. We'll try it and see. So here's the thing. we want to have what we've decided to call Utah Book Month in August. The idea is to promote authors, bloggers and books from Utah. We have lots of fun things planned, so stay tuned for more details that will hopefully be coming up next week. If you aren't from Utah, there are ways for you to participate also... if you want! Yay! :)

Least favorite thing: I ate a lot of crap this week. And I tried to get back into the exercise routine, but failed. And my hair is bugging me. Yes, that's probably my least favorite thing of the week for sure!

Family Matters: The big college daughter has been going to a high school prom tonight! They went with her boyfriend's little sister and participated in all the stuff except the actual dance. Too funny, yes? The big college son helped his girlfriend sell her car. That was quite the exciting evening around here. The 17 year son played in a tennis tournament today (Regionals) and took 2nd place and is now going on to State. How cool is that?  And the youngest got to go to see her favorite author with me!

The coming week: Ummm... so what IS happening this next week? Mother's Day on Sunday. You know what I want for Mother's Day? A center speaker and a sub woofer speaker for my TV. No kidding. Once and for all, I'd like to set up the surround sound correctly. 


And now, I'm going to go read. Have a lovely Sunday!

Movie Review: The Avengers

Movie: The Avengers
Genre: SiFi Adventure
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and tons more! 
Rating: PG13
MY Rating: Two thumbs up

We got to go to this yesterday with my husband's work group as a celebration for a deadline they made... or something. But that was cool! I figured I'd get to it eventually, but not on opening day!

So, as you may (or may not) know, this movie was a sort of mash up of several other movies based on Marvel comic characters. (I'm not Marvel comic savvy, but I'm guessing there are comics of The Avengers? Someone?  Yes? So the mash up idea is not a movie industry creation? I'm not sure.) Anyway, in this one, they all come together to save the world from Loki, the bad guy from Thor. Let the special effects, the fights, the explosions and the one-liners begin!!

My random thoughts:

• My favorite parts were for sure the interaction between the heroes themselves. Such funny stuff! How they tried to get along... or not.... and how they played off each others strengths and weaknesses. It was great fun.
• There were plot bits that were a little hard to follow, but I always find this is the case with me and these types of movies. I figure, though, that the story itself isn't really the important part, but it's about the action. Yes?
• I really love Loki! Dang, what is it about him? He's one of those sympathetic villains to me. You know, the ones you feel quite sorry for? The ones you kinda want to help? Anyone else feel this way? 
• Usually I notice the music, as you should know by now if you read stuff here, but I didn't notice the music this time. What does that mean? Probably because....
• ......this movie is FULL of crazy awesome action! Lots of fighting, and not just bad guys and heroes, but heroes against heroes. 
• I didn't realize The Hulk was so, so, so scary! I never did see this movie, but am very familiar with the old TV show which I loved. Was he that scary then? Can't remember.
• I did find that it was nice to be familiar with all the other movies and to know the back stories of these guys. They referred to that quite a lot.
• And who was that bow and arrow dude? Coolness. Hawkeye I'm told and I've never heard of him. Let's have his movie please!
• One more thing... just a LITTLE romance? Hello.

And now to rank them in order of my favorites, because you know, it just screams to be done:

1. Iron Man (it goes without saying!)

2. Thor (I love how he talks!)
3. Captain America (his old fashion-ness is endearing.)
4. Hawkeye (but he may move up once I get to know him!)
5. Black Widow (you go girl!)
6. The Hulk (though I quite enjoyed Dr. Banner)

Did I get them all? Who's your favorite Avenger?

Bottom line: I really enjoyed this movie! It's a blast and funny and crazy and all the good superhero stuff we love.

Have you seen it? What'd you think?

Speaking of superheroes... I'm really quite excited about the new Spiderman... and I know I know... the others are still quite recent but still, I can't help it. It looks awesome. And then there's Batman coming up and he's my favorite one of all. Yay for the summer superhero movies!

Trailer for The Avengers: