I love reading. My perfect day is reading a book, under a blanket, eating chocolate, drinking root beer, and listening to my favorite songs on my Ipod. I don't know if I've ever had an afternoon like that but still, I can always hope. Looking back at my teens and 20's I realize that I was a book snob. I accepted that there were a few books written in the last 100 years that were good like 'To Kill A Mockingbird', or 'Lord of the Flies'. They were classics so they were deemed worthy. I thought the really good stuff had to be Jane Austen, Shakespeare, E.M. Forester, the Bronte sisters. In other words anything that the BBC or Masterpiece Theater could make into a period drama. Now I did like Harry Potter years ago so that doesn't quite fit in but like I said, I made certain allowances.
I didn't do this on purpose or consider myself a literary snob. I just happened to spend my time reading and researching authors who have long been dead. Then I married Bryan. I read 'Lord of the Rings' on his encouragement. I read 'Ender's Game' and in return Bryan read 'Pride and Prejudice.' (I liked 'Ender's Game' much better than Bryan like 'P &P'. He thought it unrealistic that Darcy would change so much.) What I learned is that there is great literature all around me and by not reading it I was depriving myself. Then we moved to Utah and I became part of a book club. Most of my favorite books from the last few years have come from their suggestions. I still love all those books and authors that I used to read that are over 100 years old, (I've even found a few more to love) but I've expanded my horizons and I like what I've found.
Finally, I get to the reason for this long, long post! If you love getting lost in another world then read the Mistborn series. I got so emotionally involved in the characters of these books. I cringed through their struggles and wars. I yearned for their hopes and dreams to come true. The series made me laugh, cry and sob uncontrollably, and ponder my own faith and beliefs. Brandon Sanderson is a true storyteller and if I could ever motivate myself this is the kind of book I would like to write. Fantasy but with a realism that stays true to who we are as humans and individuals.
One favorite quote from the book: "Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days, I think. What is belief--what is faith--if you don't continue in it after failure."
I have a desk in the kitchen where I work. My computer is on this desk. There is also a small spot on the wall--just enough room for a calendar. Each year I get a new calendar and the last two years I've had a Twilight and New Moon calendar. Laugh if you must but it is there. And yes, I know this opens me up to all sorts of jokes but if you know me then you know I am secretly (or not so secretly) obsessed. I don't like all the pictures in the New Moon calendar. The above picture is July. Why would I want to look at the human friends all month?
So Lucas has drawn me a replacement. I love it and would much rather look at it! However, next month is Edward and I won't mind looking at that one for 31 days.
