The Book of the Dead

Book Review: Sabriel by Garth Nix

Sabriel is the first book in Garth Nix's "Abhorsen Trilogy". It's one of those books I had always glanced at while trying to find what I was looking for in the fantasy or young adult sections because it had such an interesting title; but for whatever reason, I never picked it up. When my friend Katie started reading it and recommended it, I was quick to agree and soon after found that many of my friends had already read it (one even admitting she had debated whether or not to recommend it to me, as it seemed like a book I would like but it would perhaps give too much fuel to my already vivid nightmares). 

However, I was not dissuaded and soon enthusiastically dove into the river of the Dead, following the necromancer Sabriel on her journey (which I will not be spoiling ;3 )

I really liked the book Sabriel for a few different reasons: 

First, I had never read a book specifically about a necromancer before, and so I appreciated the different light they were shed in and their ability to quiet the Dead as apposed to the usual power-hungry sorts simply seeking cheap guards or servants. 

Secondly, the style of the writing was very effective. It seems I've read too many poorly emotive first person narratives that become dull part-way through, or omnisciently narrated fantasy novels that use too modern of a vernacular. Sabriel had omniscient narration that seemed to fluidly shift in and out of a particular character's mind at any given time, and also kept consistent the speech and thought patterns of the characters and the general narration. 

Furthermore, the relationships between the characters and how they viewed themselves did not seem forced, or haphazardly constructed. Evidence of their circumstances and upbringing made their personalities ring true (and they never broke down into a whining wreck because "things in the real world were so much harder/scarier/tiring/etc."; which is always appreciated. I understand those characters are usually supposed to be empathized with, but I usually just lose respect for them...)

Overall it was exciting to read and had one of the most fast-paced last 1/3 of a book I have ever read ^^;; I'm excited to pick up the second in the series, Lirael, and see how the Kingdom has fared since Sabriel left off~

Journey to the South

Well folks, she's officially beyond slight interest and has now actually committed to yet another adventure abroad, though this one being of a more spiritual than academic nature. That's right, she's headed on the Mexico Mission trip~

She's always felt that she's been living a pretty selfish life. She takes for granted the people and the opportunities college life grant her and usually just scrapes by instead of really flourishing. To that effect, mission work has always been appealing to her in that it would force her to live solely and sacrificially for other people and to completely disregard her own comfort. More importantly, it would force her to make God her sole source of peace instead of constantly using escapist tendencies like reading to superficially feel better moment by moment.

Her church announces and goes on this house building trip to Tijuana every year, and yet for some reason this year she actually felt like she could go (expenses aside...). One of the main goals of the trip is to teach first time mission goers what mission life is like and what's happening around the world. She's excited to get her feet wet with something she feels God's really trying to get her attention with!

They still have a bit to go before the Thanksgiving week departure, and she still has to figure out/raise support for the mandatory $850 travel/housing/food fee and then as much of the cost of a house (~$800) as she can get. Bring on the extra work shifts ^^;

Summer Book List (take VI: final)

("Summer" having technically started on Friday, May 4th)

READ:

A Discovery of Witches

Percy Jackson: TheLightning Thief

A Well Timed Enchantment

Heir Apparent

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Hunter’s Moon
Library Wars (vol 1-7)
Divergent
Wildwood Dancing
Percy Jackson: The Titans Curse
Ender's Game

American Gods
Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian

Trickster's Choice
Trickster's Queen
Graceling
The Graveyard Book
Wicked Lovely
Carnival of Souls
Shadow of Night
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

READING:
The First Confessor

PLANNING TO READ:

The Eyes of the Dragon
The Talisman
Black House


"Carnival of Souls" is the second book by Melissa Marr I've read, and I liked it a lot better than "Wicked Lovely" (not that it was that bad ^^; ). Her use of multiple perspectives made the other world and creatures she created seem much more believable in their motivations, while still maintaining a mystery as to what was going to happen next. And I like not knowing~

Oh my goodness, Deborah Harkness PLEASE write the next book in the All Souls Trilogy soon, because "Shadow of Night" was amazing! Her way of weaving in historical facts and personas, as well as growing the main characters and answers to questions that lead to two more questions... It was quite the engaging read~

Oh Harry, how I missed your snappy comments! Re-reading the Sorcerer's Stone for the first time since grade school (and the movies were being churned out)  was a lot of fun! Everything went by much faster than I remembered it!

(a short caveat: I also read 18 books in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy-->Song of Solomon) and a seven part fanfiction, with each of the seven stories averaging the same number of pages as a Percy Jackson book (~130 pgs). I didn't add these during the updates, but they are the reason why there might have been differences in the amount of books I read each segment of the summer.)

There's a website I've started using called Goodreads.com that let's you track the books you've read and gives you recommendations for the different genres. I highly recommend it, it helps me satisfy the obsessive compulsive desire for cataloging (and we can be friends, if you want~).