“Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We’ll wander back to home and bed.”

This past Sunday morning dawned with a near 30 degree change in the high temperature and a taste of autumn on the wind. It was at that moment that my commitment to participate in the Lord of the Rings group read solidified. I grabbed my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring, went out in the chill air to sit on the back deck, and began my journey. By days’ end I was nearly half way through the book and realized I needed to stop and set it aside so that I could stay on course with the reading schedule so that the chapters being discussed would be fresh in my mind.

Andrea, one of the hosts, had mentioned this was her first time to read through the books. I mentioned, with utter conviction, just how cumbersome and at times difficult the first quarter or so of The Fellowship of the Ring was for me the first time I read it and encouraged her to not be dissuaded by this. And it was the complete truth. I did not enjoy the effort I was making trying to get into this book when I read it almost 10 years ago. I expected the same to be true this time and was determined to soldier on until I got to “the good part”.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered I was in “the good part” right from the prologue! I’m not sure why, maybe because I have matured in my knowledge of and appreciation for what Tolkien accomplished with his life’s work, but this first section of the book practically sang to me. There were revelations and pleasant surprises on nearly every page. I found a wickedly clever sense of humor, a number of seeds planted that will grow into bigger story elements later on, and found that I actually enjoyed spending this time with just the Hobbits by themselves, before Aragorn comes into their lives and their journey takes a decidedly downward turn.

It is my great pleasure to be posting this first of three discussions on The Fellowship of the Ring. There will undoubtedly be spoilers ahead, so please be warned.

Continue reading The Fellowship of the Ring Group Read, Part 1 →

“I must know something true about you. Tell me. The stronger the truth, the more hidden it is, the more powerful the bond. Tell me. Tell me. What are you?”

“Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination. Speak again the ancient oaths and return to men the Shards they once bore…The Knights Radiant must stand again.”

And so an epic journey comes to an end. When The Way of Kings was released and I saw how beautiful the book was, with its Michael Whelan cover and its interior illustrations, I still scoffed. The book was enormous, it was book one of an ongoing series, and there was no way that I would be reading it.

Never say never…

If all my friends jumped off a bridge, would I do it? Possibly so. I am certainly glad I took this leap of faith.

The Way of Kings is a marvelous achievement, worthy of whatever string of pretty words critics and fans alike might choose to laud upon it. The book is at once simple and infinitesimally complex. Brandon Sanderson juggles a manageable set of characters and plots and weaves them together so subtly that you don’t realize you are being ensnared in an elaborate web of masterful storytelling until it is too late–you are caught.

This post marks the final portion of The Way of Kings group read. Part 5 is a slight section but so full of substance. Suey handled this week’s questions.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 5 times (now):

Henceforth there be SPOILERS

Continue reading The Way of Kings Group Read, Part 5–The Conclusion →

“”Death is the end of all men!” Dalinar bellowed. “What is the measure of him once he is gone? The wealth he accumulated and left for his heirs to squabble over? The glory he obtained, only to be passed on to those who slew him? The lofty positions he held through happenstance?

No. We fight here because we understand. The end is the same. It is the path that separates men. When we taste that end, we will do so with our heads held high, eyes to the sun.”

And so we come to the end of Part Four of Brandon Sanderson’s novel, The Way of Kings. We are nearly at the end, only the denouement is left (though those of us who have read it know there are exciting things yet to be revealed therein). And whoa! What a breathtaking, breakneck-paced section of reading Part Four turned out to be. For anyone worried we might be left with a cliffhanger-filled, unsatisfying ending to the first volume of The Stormlight Archive, Sanderson knocked it out of the park. A grand slam. And we ain’t done yet!

Kailana had the enviable task of coming up with this week’s questions. Thank you Kailana!

My oft-repeated warnings must be brought to bear once again for those who follow after the jump: “Here there be Spoilers!”

Continue reading The Way of Kings Group Read, Part Four →