The Way of Kings

One month.  That is how long it took me to read this monster of a book.  It is also how long it took me to realize, once and for all, that Brandon Sanderson is the greatest author of today.  I cannot begin to express in coherent words how spectacular his work is, but I will try to at least show you a sliver of the greatness of this one book.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson is more than daunting, with 1001 pages of story, followed by an Ars Arcanum, and a note from the author.  Additionally, it is only the first book in The Stormlight Archive.  There is no word on when the next book will be out, but I can promise you I'll be one of the first in line to purchase it.  On his website, he says this book is a basically a dip-of-the-toes into this fascinating world, called Roshar.  That's hard for me to process, as there was plenty of magic, religion, war, and history in this tome.  His writing is styled in a way that it slowly reveals the answer to every question.  There's no volley of information in which you lose eighty percent of the details.  It is well-thought out, completely creative, and told in a way lets you enjoy the story just as much as the mythology, the intrigue, and the individual characters.

I would love to give you a synopsis, but it would take a couple thousand words to do it justice.  I don't really have the time for that, and I doubt you would have the time for reading my mundane summary.  However, I'll tell you that it is very basically about a war, and a coming war that is said to wipe out the entire world.

The three main characters are incredibly deep, and very entertaining.  Sanderson's ability to constantly create, create, create is a never-ending amazement to me.  All of his worlds are so different, but detailed!

Perhaps my excitement over this soon-to-be series should be taken with a grain of salt, seeing as its the only epic fantasy I've ever delved into.  Sadly, the only thing I have to compare it to is Harry Potter, which it surpases in complexity and creativity.  (Did you ever think such a thing was possible?  Believe me, I never even considered it.)  One month ago, I'd have told you that Harry Potter could never be surpassed in the world of fantasy.  I stand corrected.

Go and read this book!

Always,
Krista

Alice in Wonderland

This book is absolutely, positively ridiculous.  And I love it.  Everyone needs to read this book.  It's completely magical!  Having finished it a couple of weeks ago, I don't actually remember much about it (see? memory like a freaking goldfish), but you should at least try to give this very short, whimsical book a try.

I never liked the old animated Disney movie of the same name.  It didn't have a direction, or motive for anything at all!  One might say the same for the book, but I disagree.  Everything is still pretty much pointless in the book (if you're not dissecting it and looking into the subtext that is really quite obscure), but makes a whole heck of a lot more sense than the movie.

My friend Megan made a point about reading the classics that I completely agree with, though I'm not as dutiful at reading them as she is.  However, I'm starting to get there. :)  I like to think that Alice is a step in the right direction.

Overall, I enjoyed it very much!  I give this one a 10/10... which is unheard of.  So go read it.

Forever is a Long Time

And here it is!  The finished product of my creative sample for my film application.

I don't know what I'd do without the people that helped me with this.  My heart goes out to Rhonda Gray, Samantha Arellano, Richard Dennis, Paul, Nita, Ken, and Karen Caldwell, and the random people here and there that made suggestions.  Thank you!

Robert Frost

I'm not really a big fan of poetry.  A lot of it is just lost on me, because I don't understand obscure metaphors right off the bat like everyone else seems to.  However, every now and then I fall across a poem I can appreciate, even come to love.  This is one of those poems.  One day I hope to have it memorized. :)

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

Walking Encyclopedia of Weirdness

When you’re first getting to know someone, there are always the inevitable questions of, “Where are you from?” “What are you majoring in?” “What’s your favorite color?” and, sometimes, “What color is your toothbrush?”  (Thank you, EFY!)  Every now and then, however, you get a question that’s actually kind of thought provoking.  One such question came to me very recently: “What is your favorite thing about yourself?”

            In middle school, I got the nickname of “The Walking Encyclopedia.”  Since I’ve been able to read, I’ve been reading everything I can find on things that interest me.  I probably wouldn’t know the answer if you asked me something about starfish (though I could tell you dissecting them in the seventh grade was simultaneously gross and exciting), but I’d definitely know every Robin Batman has ever had (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damien Wayne), and why vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies (particular to four different mythologies).

            In the TV show “Supernatural,” Dean Winchester says to his brother (in season 2, episode 16 “Roadkill”) , “Dude, you are a walking encyclopedia of weirdness, do you know that?”  I laughed when I heard that line, and my best friend looked at me and said, “You know, that totally applies to you.”  The more I’ve thought about it, the prouder of that fact I become.

            I love that I know just about everything there is to know about at least three different TV shows, four book series, and the mythologies of several different creatures and stories.  I love that in one specific online community, I’m to go-to girl for 1,200 people when they have questions about anything ranging from vampires in general to the TV show The Vampire Diaries.

            I love the fact that I am a Walking Encyclopedia of Weirdness.

            Then again, that’s probably not the answer someone is looking for within five minutes of meeting you.  Giving them that little spiel would be like saying I adhere to the five-second-rule after two minutes, or that I wear some of my jeans several times before washing them (which I’m, um, not admitting to).  So, I’m pretty sure I told him I like the color of my eyes.  Oh, well.  He’ll find out eventually!