Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

This is an awesome book from one of my very favorite authors. I really loved the idea of the magic system in this book. As I read the book I kept thinking...how did the author think this up??? I feel like it is the kind of fantasy book that a guy would like...mostly because metals are involved and don't all guys like metal???

I think my favorite character is Vin. I love that she is so suspicious of everyone and although she is very independent she is also insecure and needs others companionship very much. I'm amazed that although she has been treated so horribly all her life she is able to rise above her upbringing and allow love and trust into her life. I'm also really glad that Sanderson didn't have Vin fall in love with Kelsier. When I first started reading the book I was convinced that they would fall in love. I didn't realize until about half way through the book that Kelsier is an "older" man. I think Vin feels more an equal with Elend than Kelsier which I feel is very important in any relationship. Although Vin is a super powerful woman she is still insecure and needs a man like Elend who is okay with having a powerful mistborn as a significant other (I don't want to mention how significant because it may give some of Book #2 away).

This is also a fabulous book because although it is the first book in a 3 book series it can stand on its own. It has a really good ending that gives the reader closure but also makes the reader want to go buy the second book right away. This book is great and the 2nd book Well of Ascension is just as good.

Inda by Sherwood Smith

I just started reading Inda by Sherwood Smith. Smith is the same author that wrote Crown Duel which is one of my favorite books. I'm only 150 pages into it but here are my initial "feelings". It was kind of hard to get into because there were so many names (and they aren't normal names) and so much cultural background that the author doesn't explain very well. It took me quite awhile to get through the first 50-75 pages but once I got through those I have found that I really like the book.

I think what I have found most interesting so far is the culture of war that the author portrays. Inda lives in a culture where war is everything. From the moment he is born he has been raised to both fight and defend. I think the idea of leadership in the book is interesting because in every family the oldest boy goes off to "war academy" and then is expected to teach the younger male siblings how to fight. The way that most of the older boys teach the younger ones is through fear. The older boys use fear and force in order to teach the younger boys how to fight and defend. After many generations of this tradition the King summons the younger siblings to attend the academy too. When Inda gets to the academy he becomes a leader to all the younger boys (called scrubs) but instead of using fear and force to gain leadership he uses friendship. He doesn't try to force the other boys to recognize his leadership but is instead content to let others take formal leadership roles while he leads from the outskirts. I think that Inda's leadership technics have a more powerful effects on the boys than that of their older brothers. I guess what it boils down to is that love is more powerful than fear.

I don't want to give away to much but so far I really like the book!

The Beginning of a New Thing

I've wanted to be in a book group for a long time but according to my husband book groups are places where wives get together to conspire against their husbands. As a result there have been many drives by the local bookstore, The Read Leaf, with sighs of remorse for all the great debating I was missing out on. I finally got Dustin to agree but just in case I've come up with a few rules in order to keep the conspiring to a manageable level :)

#1 no wicked comments about the male gender
#2 no wicked comments period
#3 no using big words that no one can understand...like assuage :)

For one blissfully happy month I was part of a book group but alas all the members moved on to different adventures but I'm hoping they (Ruth and Rachel you know who you are) will comment every once in awhile to at least assuage my fear that I'm simply posting in vain.So pretty much my plan is to start posting books that I've been reading and then whoever wants can comment about them and let me know what you think. If anyone has a book they want to recommend just let me know! Happy reading and happy hashing it out :)