Bookish Resolutionish
I finished and started another book today. The review of the completed one (which was indeed a great read) is below. But, I realized that I'd read it in only two weeks. After reading the one before in only three. So, I looked back over my semester, pulled out a reading diary someone had given me ages ago, and started charting what I'd read for pleasure over the last semester only. 11 books. Which, isn't really that many in the scheme of how many books there are to read in the world. But, considering that during that time I had a full course load of humanities (literature/history) classes for which I did 95% of the assigned reading, and worked, and maintained some consistent level of involvement at church, I feel like completing 11 novels in five months is something of an accomplishment.
So, to maintain this momentum I've decided to set a goal for myself. (Yes, the New Year and everyone else's resolving happened weeks ago, but I was feeling a little passive-aggressive/anti-authoritarian when everyone else was doing it.) So, my goal is to have read 25 un-assigned novels before January 1st of next year. I'm cheating a little bit, because I've finished two within this year (and started one of those before 01.Jan.09) but a running start may be helpful in staying motivated.
So, 09-Book 2 Review:
Enchantment by Orson Scott Card was a marvelous read! I've read only his works on writing before, and this was my first taste of his fiction. Anne McCaffrey calls card a 'master storyteller' and she was absolutely right.
The feel of Enchantment is somewhere between Sleeping Beauty, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the Mercy Thompson Series. The world building was beautiful and magnificent in scope, while never overwhelming the story. The characters were incredibly full and lifelike. I loved the heroes (flaws and quirks included) and hated the villain (even though she had moments of being truly sympathetic). Enchantment is also filled with lovely prose and truthful themes, while never feeling purple or preachy.
So, to maintain this momentum I've decided to set a goal for myself. (Yes, the New Year and everyone else's resolving happened weeks ago, but I was feeling a little passive-aggressive/anti-authoritarian when everyone else was doing it.) So, my goal is to have read 25 un-assigned novels before January 1st of next year. I'm cheating a little bit, because I've finished two within this year (and started one of those before 01.Jan.09) but a running start may be helpful in staying motivated.
So, 09-Book 2 Review:
Enchantment by Orson Scott Card was a marvelous read! I've read only his works on writing before, and this was my first taste of his fiction. Anne McCaffrey calls card a 'master storyteller' and she was absolutely right.
The feel of Enchantment is somewhere between Sleeping Beauty, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the Mercy Thompson Series. The world building was beautiful and magnificent in scope, while never overwhelming the story. The characters were incredibly full and lifelike. I loved the heroes (flaws and quirks included) and hated the villain (even though she had moments of being truly sympathetic). Enchantment is also filled with lovely prose and truthful themes, while never feeling purple or preachy.