The Well Of Ascension

Er. Mah. Gerd.

Beware - I'm about to go all dorky fan-girl on your asses.

I just finished The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson. Every book that I read by him I like more and more.

(Spoilers!)

This is the sequel to Mistborn. Kelsier's friends have successfully overthrown the Lord Ruler - and they are not trying to rebuild a free and equal society without him. Elend Venture is the King, his lover -and the most powerful mistborn alive - Vin - and their crew.

Their little utopia of Luthadel is about to be attacked, while not one but THREE armies march to their doorstep.  Straff, Cett, and Jastes all want to take over Luthadel, enslave the skaa again, and have all the riches that they are sure are there. What they don't know is that Luthadel is broke. The citizens are starving inside of it, and there is no atium. Elend and his crew decide to bluff, playing the waiting armies against each other to buy time and try to figure out a way out of the stand-off.

Time runs out with Elend is ousted from the thrown - the democracy that he had set up turning against him. The mists are starting to act violently, and the wanna-be kings are sending assassins almost as fast as Vin can kill them. Sazed, the Terrisman who has abandoned his people to help the crew, discovered a document that tells of the first coming of the Hero of the Ages.  Sazed begins to believe that since they over-threw the Lord Ruler, whatever power he was using over the mists has gone away. He thinks that Vin may be the new hero. Vin has been coming to that conclusion on her own.

Vin manages to figure out where the Well of Ascension is - and goes to do as the prophecy foretells. She must take the power and then release it. On the way to the well Elend is injured and is dying. Sazed discovered a missing passage that makes him realize that if Vin succeeds in setting the power of the Well of Ascension free - the Deepness will be set free - not defeated. He tries to reach her in time - but he is too late. Vin sets free the power in spite of Elend's injury, and realizes at once what she has done. She finds the elusive 13th metal - gives it to Elend - and he becomes a mistborn - and is able to heal himself with pewter.

The book ends with Sazed feeling broken and betrayed, and Vin and Elend terrified of what they have set free on the world.

I can't WAIT for the next book.

When I think back about the 600 pages I read - I realize that not much actually happened. It is mostly just a waiting game - with a few mistborn fights thrown in there. The only real action is in the last 80 pages...but I was still riveted. It is a lot of theological and political discussions and posturing - but it is still fascinating.

The first couple books that I read by Sanderson, I really liked, but I could tell that he was just getting started. His characters were either all good or all bad. His magic systems are ah-MAY-zing - and he is obviously endlessly creative - but he didn't have as easy of a time making the people as he did making the story.

The Well of Ascension is his third book - and I really feel like he has hit his stride. He manages to make his characters real and flawed. I just wanted to scream at and shake Elend and Vin until the freaking TALKED to each other. It was frustrating and perfect.

I didn't understand Zane. He was interesting, crazy, damaged and thought that God spoke to him. Then he just died. I was confused and didn't think that he was utilized to his full potential. I know the whole point of him was to make Vin have her epiphany that she did actually want Elend and that life and then to defend that choice...but still. I didn't understand who God was and why it told him he wasn't crazy as he was dying...I felt his story was a little under-done. Same with Straff - Sanderson went through all this trouble to find out that Zane's lover had been getting him hooked to this drug, and he managed to save himself and was dealing with the effects of this weed on his body - and then - boom....he is dead. It seemed like a lot of work to just end. I felt like Sanderson had a few ideas of what could happen with certain people - and he chose later in the book. The endings didn't necessarily match up with the rest of it for me.

My complaints are nothing compared to my compliments. I love the magic - I love that there are still things that we don't understand and we get to learn it with the characters. I adore Sazed. Actually - I am a big fan of the whole Terris society. I love getting to know all of the characters deeper. It is smart, its funny, its deep - its fantastic.

Here is the fan-girl in me. I don't think there is much that Sanderson does wrong. He is young and seeming brilliant. In this series he just continues to build on the magic and the characters - taking us deeper and deeper into their world.  I love the theological aspects of his book - I love that he is a Mormon but writes from an atheist/agnostic point of view. His personal beliefs don't creep in at all. He is SO YOUNG and already has an incredible amount of work to his name - his books are all amazingly different - and then he was chosen to finish Robert Jordan's epic series- Wheel of Time. I haven't read what he did there yet- I am still pretty early in that series- but still - he was like 30 when he was chosen.

I have read other reviews of some of his books - where people are not huge fans. They make valid points and with most authors I would probably agree. However, when I get attached to a writer- I tend to love everything they do and defend them to the end. Like J.K Rowling. I don't care at all that her newest book is supposed to be boring as hell. She gave me Harry Potter- so I love her! Sanderson is about to be added to my little club.  When I read a poor review of his on-line I immediately get indignant. That is how I know I love him. I also checked out his web-site. I never do that.

I'm such a nerd.

Really? Epic? Are You Sure?

Have you seen those new commercials for Quaker Oats? They are fine - they do some cute kids running around doing cute things - and then it ends with the statement: "Today is going to be epic."

This commercial bugs the shit out of me. Epic. So I googled "Quaker Oats Epic" and found that this ad campaign that Quaker Oats is doing is to "celebrate life's everyday, epic adventures."

Oxymoron, much?

Just in case you don't have a dictionary handy - here is the definition of epic:

1. of, relating to, or having the characteristic of an epic
2. a. extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope
    b. heroic

And here are epic's epic synonyms:

gallant, glorious, grandiose, heroic, magnificent, majestic, monumental, noble, proud, regal, royal, splendid, stately.

True - I have no idea what happens at your house - but here I have done some dishes, paid bills, changed three diapers (one poopy), wiped the dogs' muddy feet, and ate Frosted Flakes. Any of that sound epic? I also plan on doing some dusting, fold laundry, figure out dinner and finish this post. Again - not epic.

I don't understand the need to make every single day seem extraordinary. It makes me feel like I am maybe missing out on something - but then I look at my friends and family and they don't have "epic" things happening every day. I don't understand why we can't just call a spade a spade. Day to day life is dull, boring, and it sucks sometimes. There are not magnificent, monumental things that happen all the time. I think we need to have realistic expectations so that we don't miss the little things. We need to take comfort in the day to day - because that is where we will spend most of our lives. The highlight of my week is Pants learning how to say "ball." And I am good with that.

If I go the gallant and heroic route of epic - I can't think of a single thing in the life that fits there. If I do the splendid and magnificent route - I have TJ and Pants. But that's about it.

Oh - and Harry Potter.

Gunky Eyelashes

We seriously can't catch a break.

The library has a baby story time twice a week. Pants loves it. Babies crawling everywhere, a fun yellow duck puppet, and other moms to talk to.

We have not gone since January. First we were sick. Then we picked back up a morning nap. Now we finally are napping later again and the last two weeks he has had a snotty nose and today a gunky eye. Its not majorly gunky - it was kinda gross when we woke up - but after I wiped it up, it just looks a little red.

He probably picked it up at the damn library anyway. We were there last night playing.

I can't decide. Go or not go. Go or not go?

It doesn't look that bad...I think we are going to go.

(Dodges all the pitchforks being thrown at me.)

We are off to see yellow duck.

This is Awkward...But I Don't Babysit.

We have a couple friends that we have made through TJ's work. I really like them, they are fun and I have had a really good time whenever we have spent time together. They have young children also, so its nice that we are in the same "phase" of life. The wife, Tina, works while I stay home, so I don't get to spend as much time with her as I would like.

We have struck up a deal where we will watch their kids for them when they have plans, and they will watch Pants when we have plans. It works out wonderful - the kids have playmates and we don't have to pay baby-sitters. It is a neat little arrangement...

Until last week. TJ came home from work and said that Tina and Josh's daycare was going to be closed for a couple days this week and asked if I would be interested in watching their kids for a couple days.

"Nope." I didn't even pause to think.

"Seriously?" TJ asked "It is like two days, they would pay you, and Pants would have friends to play with."

"Yeah. No."

"Well - what am I supposed to tell them??"

"Say you are sorry, but I am not interested."

I'm not. Here's the thing - and it makes me a bad person- I realize this - but I don't really care for kids. Other than mine. I adore mine - like can't get enough of him. Other people's kids though - I am just uncomfortable. I don't dislike them or anything, but I am just awkward. I don't know how to talk to them. I feel weird if I am in a position to have to discipline. The thought of being in charge of multiple meals, naps, and 7-8 hours of just me and two kids who are not mine just scares the hell out of me.

I told TJ this - and he looked at me like I had three heads. "What about Rhea's kids?" Rhea is TJ's sister. Nope- not even them. I spend lots and lots of time with them - and I love them - but I have no desire to spend an extended period of time alone with them. I have a friend - Marie - whose daughters I really do like - so TJ asked "Marie?". Still no. He was just shocked. 

I'm not even sure how to put it into words. I had to be talked into having kids. Now, of course, I can't imagine my life without him - and would love one more. Adoring my kid, however, doesn't change how I feel about the other children in the world. I would like to be on a polite - but once removed - relationship with them. I am seriously terrified at the thought of Pants being 6 or 7 and wanting to bring friends home from school. I should become a hoarder or something so Pants won't want to bring friends home at all. Yeah- that could work. Or a nudist. Whatever. I have a little time to figure that out.

I can only hope that by the time I have a 6 year old - I will be more comfortable around 6 year olds. I am guessing that is one of things about being a mom I am just going have to suck it up and do it. I will not cross that bridge, though, until I absolutely have to.

A Clash of Kings

Phew. Finally finished A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. It took me 11 days to read this book, which for me is a long freaking time.

As much as I really enjoy these books, and I do, I have a hard time just sitting down and enjoying a book like this. Its dry, its heavy, it has about 5 million things and people running around to keep straight. Not to mention the banners - ugh- the banners. How I am supposed to keep track of all of the colors and ensigns without a freaking chart is beyond me. I feels my eyes cross during the descriptions of who is where and against who.

I am not even going to try to give a synopsis of this book. Its huge, and there is so much going on that it would take forever. Suffice it to say that the Seven Kingdoms are in shambles, four men have claimed the crown - and the rest is basically a big game of Risk with everyone jockeying for men and position and trying to claim what they think is theirs. Oh - and Daenerys has the three dragons over the ocean and is trying to plot her own little way back over to the seven kingdoms to avenge the "theft" of the crown from her family.

I really like the books. I love the sweeping worlds, the history, the long lineages, and just the depth and completeness of the world. Plus, its long enough that you can get lost in the world for a while. I am also very intrigued by the supernatural and magic that is slowly coming to the forefront. Martin did this just brilliantly, slowly letting us discover it as the individuals around the Seven Kingdoms do. I can't wait to see how it ratchets up in the next book.

I love epic fantasies- I enjoy having characters and stories that I REALLY get to know. I have a hard time with stand alone novels for that reason. I just don't feel like I get enough time with the people in those books. The flip side there is that I go through some serious mourning when a series is over. But I figure its better to have loved and lost, right?

My only foibles here are how dry it is and the teeny mundane details.

Oh - and how much I hate the Lannisters - especially Cersei and Joffrey. I wish miserably slow and painful deaths on them.

Here is my theory on authors like Tolkien and Martin. They are just brilliant, they come up with this whole world and this whole story. They know their worlds down to the smallest creature, the farthest tree- the most insignificant village person - and they get so excited to share that whole world, and make sure that nothing gets left out - that they just lay it all on you. And it gets heavy. Its hard to breathe under the weight of it all - and even though you like it - you can't stay there for too long. Then there are authors like Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Neil Gaiman, and Rick Riordan - who have the worlds - but give you the info as you need it. I prefer the second method. I understand and can appreciate the first but I have more fun reading the second. I need breaks after a Martin book. I could read Sanderson forever.

I just need a little rest - and I will ready for A Storm of Swords. Bring it on.

Winter is coming.

Evil Nurse Lady

Pants had his 15 month check-up this morning. Which is sailed through with flying colors. The doctor confirmed what we already knew - that Pants is perfect and gifted! I'm kidding - but she said he looked great...and he only threw a medium sized fit when it was time for her to do the poking and prodding.

Then the Evil Nurse Lady walks in. She brings her nasty vaccines...three nasty vaccines. Poor Pants. I was just really happy TJ was there so that he got to do the mean holding down and I didn't have to do it. Pants screamed and cried of course - the big fat tears that break my heart. When the shots were over, TJ cuddled Pants to his chest - where Pants proceed to curse out the Evil Nurse Lady.

Not even kidding. His voice was stern and he was spitting out what I am sure was the worst language he knew. She apologized and as she opened the door to leave the room Pants got silent and glared at her. He stared her down until the door shut - then he got sad and cuddly again. It was like he was not going to let the Evil Nurse Lady know that she had hurt and scared him. He pulled his tough baby act. TJ and I had a really hard time not laughing while he was obviously so upset.

The good news is that we don't have to see Evil Nurse Lady for three months. She will return though - nasty vaccines and all.

I Hate Facebook

I do. I hate it.

I hate that people think every thought that flits through their head needs to be heard. I hate that it makes everyone feel they are entitled to every little detail of your life. I hate the fake bragging notion of it. As much as I don't like all of that...you know what I really hate?

Finding out about health crises on Facebook.

I found out today about a family member with cancer. Which is horrible and scary and I feel absolutely horrible for her. I feel for her children. I hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

But here is the thing - if I don't participate in this big outpouring of support on Facebook - I look like an asshole. My family, however, was not important enough to let us know about their struggle before the random people that you went to high school with and the co-workers you don't like.

And the thing that really grates me is this the SECOND time I have found out about cancer on Facebook.

Here is the deal - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, shit even text messaging - lets us all be all show and no go. It is all about the APPEARANCE of a close relationship or support, without having to actually back any of that up. We know crazy details about everyone - but never have to actually interact with them.

I also have to wonder - now - at the beginning, they feel like putting this on Facebook. But what happens after a surgery doesn't go well? Or chemo makes you feel like death? Or your hair falls out? Or you just get tired and you don't want to talk about it? Now - everyone knows. And not just the people who care about you and are close to you and who you are fine with them seeing you at your worst. Nope - its everyone. So you have to worry about how you come off - when you should just be trying to heal. Then if you decide to take a step back - people are angry because they feel like they DESERVE to know what is going on with you. Because you put all that info out there.

I wish dignity and privacy were still protected. People are so quick to give it all up - and it is next to impossible to get back.

So, if you are my Facebook friend - and I get sick - and you don't find out about it. Trust me - its not about you. I won't be thinking about you at all.

Hope you understand.