The Way of Kings = INSPIRATION

Yesterday, I finished reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and I was left completely and totally amazed. It is the best book I've read in a long time. And I'm not one to go around saying that about every book I read.

I first started reading The Way of Kings several months ago when my sister brought it home from the library. I trudged through forty-four pages of destruction, death and despair. Then I turned the page, read the first line of chapter three-- and was called away. I didn't pick up the book again.

What I didn't know was that I had put down the book at the exact spot where things start to brighten up. The character that had just been introduced is a very interesting, clever and not at all depressing woman. If I had only continued for two more pages I would have been hooked. 

But I didn't. I put it down and spent months listening to my siblings rave about it. I didn't understand what they saw in such an obviously glum book, but I didn't give it much thought.

Then, on January 7th (my birthday), I read this blog post. How could I ignore the book now? We had received The Way of Kings for Christmas and I didn't have anything to do but write THE SCENE OF DEATH (which I've been working on for a month) anyway. And I was so sick of that garish scene.

So I weighed my options and ended up taking the book from Sarah.

I suppose it’s a good thing that I didn’t reach the stuff I hadn’t read yet before supper, or I wouldn’t have been able to attend my birthday dinner. The book is far far too good. Even the destruction, death and despair were interesting now. I marveled at the way Sanderson slipped in explanations of the world without ever breaking the story. I gaped at the vibrancy of even the incidental characters. He took characters from Point A to Point B quickly and discreetly, something that I can never manage to achieve. The story is astounding. A perfect blend of adventure, romance and glorious insights into human beings.

And so I stayed up until midnight reading it. I would have stayed up later, but that would entail reading on Sunday, something that I will not allow myself to do. But it was hard to put that book down. I must confess that I started banging it on my lap in giddy distress when I finished Part One and noticed that it was exactly 12:00 and I had to put the book down.

But I made up for my lack of reading on Sunday by getting up at 6:30 to read it on Monday. It might be a little stupid to annoy Lizzie by turning on the light that early, but I had to. Even with the constant craving to introduce the world to my characters, even through the suffocating depression that welds itself to my heart when I'm not writing, I had to finish reading this book. 

Then, on January 11th, something strange happened. I had been reading The Way of Kings and then I felt an all-consuming need to write. I dashed for my laptop and the words flew from my fingers. More than that, it was good. Much better than the stuff I've been wringing out of my brain lately. It was all inspired by that remarkable book.

And that's not all. Dialogue for scenes I’ve been planning for months is pouring into my brain, unstoppered by reading such a masterpiece.

I recommend this book to everyone. It’s 1001 pages of pure delight (and depression, but we pass that quickly). As I said before, I finished the book yesterday but I can’t stop running those last few chapters over and over again through my head. I devoured the story and I’m hungering for more.

Lately

I've been neglecting this blog a lot lately, haven't I? But I have been justified in this neglect. I wrote scene six of my book, which may seem to be an insignificant accomplishment, but when you've been working on a book since you were nine and you're finally on a draft that will actually stay and the whole world keeps getting in the way of writing it... then you can complain about my complaining.

I will make up my neglect now by posting a long update of everything I have been doing in the last long time.

1) Sarah's jaw surgery - True, I didn't actually do this. But I was helping her in the week or two after that when she was a total wreck. You can read about all this here. (And I really hope that link actually works because I have never tried to do something like that before.)

2) Lizzie's Birthday - (I didn't do this either so let's just pretend it said, 'everything that has been happening' instead of 'everything I have been doing'.) My Lizzie turned 12, an age of increased privileges. Not nearly as many as she would wish, she fervently wants to be allowed to wear makeup at twelve like the other girls in our ward are, but it is not to be. Some pictures (and, yeah, I know the cake dominates, but I really liked that cake):

The delicious lemon angel food cake. Unfortunately, I can't claim ownership of its exquisite delights, Mom made it.

Our family has a 'special' way of blowing out the candles. It involves snuffing the flame with our fingers. Some - Sam - find this a very exciting practice.

The last candle...

And the cake is pounced on by children eager to lick the candles.

And the present opening begins! I gave Lizzie a beautiful outfit and stayed up until midnight wrapping all her other presents the night before.

However it may appear, Lizzie is not trying to smash the Anne of Green Gables movies Mom bought her. She is, in fact, shrieking with joy. (And don't tell her I posted this, she probably wouldn't approve.)

Devoured.

3) Josh's Birthday - Josh turned 10 this Thursday. I did make this cake. Unfortunately, I didn't make it very well. We were out of icing sugar so we had to do whipped cream frosting, which is not my preferred medium. And I didn't have the tools I wanted. They mysteriously disappeared. And I was in a hurry. Anyway, here are pictures:

I made him freeze while I took pictures.


Taken just as the candles went out. Personally, I think this shot it so cool because I can still see the little dots of light. But that is just me. You are not obligated to look at this picture.

Josh is very glad that he has no girlfriends and can eat his cake now.

My hastily made cake. (And Erik's arms, removing the candles.)

So those are all the events that have been keeping me busy. Besides those, I have been doing schoolwork, cleaning, writing, talking and daydreaming. (And taking totally awesome pictures of peaches that I will post someday because they are important.)