Review: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Review: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: A-

For: Fun

Even though I liked it fine, it took me forever to get this book read. Well, it was over 700 pages, so that may be it. I decided to read it because I thought it would be a fun book to take camping. So I started it then, and over two weeks later, I finally finished it!

This is the second book in the Mistborn trilogy which started with The Final Empire (which I reviewed here.) Much of the first part of this book was getting us, the readers, back up to speed with how this cool, yet complicated magic system worked, and reminding us about the intense political situation surrounding our characters. While I appreciate the reminders, sometimes it gets to be too much and I feel like saying, "Ok, Ok, I remember already!!!" Thus sparked my question which I brought up in a recent post.

But once that was all out of the way, and the current story began in earnest, I was all there. This is a wonderful fantasy full of really fascinating characters with lots of intense action scenes, and lots of great conflict and angst.

In this installment, Vin has become the most powerful Mistborn ever and has committed to protecting Elend's shaky hold on the city. The city is surrounded by two threatening armies, with a third on the way. In the process, Vin begins to wonder who she really is and what her place in the world really should be. As powerful as she is, she's a very confused girl!

So, even though it took me forever to read it, I love the story, I enjoyed the book, and I will for sure continue on with the next book: The Hero of Ages.

For more on this trilogy, check out the author's very detailed website here.

Why I Haven't Blogged All Weekend

A little dream is coming true!

A pile of packages from IKEA. (This place previously held the Barbie house, a small TV hooked to an abandoned Xbox, a rotten falling down tiny shelf holding neglected Xbox games, Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo consoles and games.... all which have been stuffed into a spare bedroom.)

The first few shelves go up.

The Mr. puts finishing touches on the big room divider shelf. (Please disregard awful toy closet in background. I'm determined to clean that thing out and throw most of it away!!!)

View from middle of the room. (Ew...I really think my camera lens needs a bit of cleaning!!)

View from doorway of the room. (Five Billy shelves on wall and in corner, two Expedit shelves under window and to divide this space from the main family room area.... just in case you are familiar with IKEA stuff. This is the first time we've ever bought anything from there, and I am happy with it all so far!)

Let the book organizing begin!

I still have many plans for this space. This is just the beginning, and it's going to take me quite awhile to figure out what books go where, so more pictures to follow as it happens! But I was too excited to not share the pictures of the progress so far.

In other news:

* Currently reading Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen.

* School starts in a week! Stressed with all the stuff I've got to stress about to get ready for that.

* Almost done with Gilmore Girls season four... then we are done for since the library doesn't have the rest of them!

* I resubscribed to EW.... very much a guilty pleasure.

I guess that's about it from around here!

What's the latest from your neck of the woods?

A BBAW Meme

Answering some questions about BBAW:

1) What was the highlight (something that happened, a post, an activity, etc.) of BBAW for you last year?

I went looking back, trying to remember all the stuff we did last year. Here's a wrap post of sorts that I did then listing what I enjoyed about BBAW. But, the interview was especially fun. And I simply enjoyed all the "assignments" and every day blogging activity.

2) What is one new blog you discovered during BBAW last year?

So here's the thing. I can't remember which blogs I'm reading now that were ones I discovered last year at BBAW! Except for one... I'd never heard of My Friend Amy until BBAW popped up last year. Weird huh, since she's like one of the biggest book bloggers out there!

3) What tips would you share to help others get the most out of their BBAW experience?

I think the biggest thing is to just get involved with it and spend the time to participate in the activities. That's why it's fun!

Go here to participate in this little BBAW meme and add your link to the list.

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Serious

Booking Through Thursday

What’s the most serious book you’ve read recently?(I figure it’s easier than asking your most serious book ever, because, well, it’s recent!)

Easy question for me this week because the most serious book I've recently read is hands down, The Road by Cormac McCarthy. In fact, I would have to say it's probably the most serious book I've read this year, perhaps even for the last few years.

Yeah, The Road is probably one of the most serious books out there. Agree? Or not?

Weekly Geeks 2009.29: Books and Music

I'm really bummed I don't have like a gazillion ideas for Weekly Geeks this week. Books and music together? What could be better? But, when I really try to think about what song makes me think of what book, nothing really comes to mind. It's making me crazy.

However, I do remember awhile back, when Twilight first came out, it was around the same time I was totally playing Josh Groban's Awake song over and over and over again. And I LOVED the lyrics... and I thought, hmmmm.... this could describe Bella and Edward's feelings at the end of Twilight perhaps, when their future together was a bit bleak.

I don't know, what do you think?




A sample of the lyrics:

So keep me awake, to memorize you.
Give us more time, to be this way.
We can't stay like this forever
But I can have you next to me today.

We'll let tomorrow wait, you're here right now with me.
And all my fears just fall away, when you are all I see.

Oh, and in keeping with the Twilight theme, because I know you all love it so much.... I always thought the song My Immortal by Evanescence described the happenings of New Moon. Beautiful song.

I don't know, what do you think?

The Thing About Sequels

So, I've been thinking about sequels a little. I think it's because right now, I'm nearly done with a second book of a trilogy, and I noticed that it took perhaps 100 pages for the story to really get going. Those first pages weren't totally a recap of the first book, but a lot of time was spent getting us back up to speed with the story and reminding us of all the particulars of the setting.

Sometimes I'm okay with that. Most of the time it drives me crazy.

This is why I usually wait awhile between reading books in a series. That is, if I'm reading it after they've come out anyway. Of course, the ones that I would love to read right away instantly are the ones I read as they are published! For instance, if Catching Fire were available last Christmas right after I finished The Hunger Games, I would have been right on it. Same with the Twilight series.

But, for the most part, I like to space out the books of a series, give it some breathing room, make it so I forget enough that when that inevitable recap happens, I appreciate it.

Still, even with a nice break between books, I'd rather that the recap be very very small and that we jump right into the next story without delay!

Do you like to wait between the books of a series? Or would you rather read them all one right after the other. Do you enjoy that recap part? Or would you rather be left on your own to remember what happened before?

Oh, another thing I'm thinking about series... it seems like the first book is almost always the best. Sort of like the movies and all it's parts 2's, 3's and 4's.

The Sunday Salon: What I'm Reading and Where Did My Last 20 Books Come From?

Yesterday and today I spent about 12 hours in a car, NOT having to drive, or worry about kids or worry about anything. I escaped from my family (where I'm the mom) and went with my family (where I'm the kid) and I was just along for the ride. I imagined reading during the whole trip and totally flying through the books! But no, I only read some of the time, and watched a movie, or slept, or talked, or listened to podcasts for the rest of the time.

So, for the time I DID read, I worked on The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, which was the same book I was reading last weekend, and all this week. Yeah, I'm not moving too fast on that book. I like it, but not as much as I liked the first book, Mistborn. Anyway, hopefully I'll get it finished this week, and move on to some more library books I have sitting around. Also, I hope a bunch of ones I have on hold become available this week too. So, next week by this time, let's hope I've moved forward on my list just a little at least.

And now, for something that's been going around... where did my last 20 books come from? A meme/survey of sorts:

1. The Monster in Me by Mette Ivie Harrison: library

2. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood: owned (I forget where I bought it, but it's not new)

3. Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld: library

4. The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris: from the publisher for a book tour

5. My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison: borrowed from book club friend

6. Fablehaven- Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull: owned (bought at book fair I think)

7. Wings by Aprilynne Pike: owned (bought at Costco)

8. Just One Wish by Janette Rallison : borrowed from book club friend

9. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: library

10. Beach Trip by Cathy Holton: from publisher for book tour

11. Beastly by Alex Flinn: library

12. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander: library

13. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski: owned (birthday present)

14. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings: owned (from Paperbackswap.com)

15. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin: owned (bought at book fair)

16. The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham: owned (bought at B&N buy 2 get 1 free)

17. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart: library

18. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: owned (bought used from ?)

19. One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke: library

20. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen: library

8 from the library

8 owned (bought from various places: 5 new, 3 used)

2 for blog tours

2 borrowed

Yep, that seems about right! Actually both the borrowed and the blog tours are unusual, because I don't do much of either one. Anyway, a fun little look into how I acquire my books!