Tuesday evening. I really hate subject lines.

[same_sky]

I really like my job on days like today. I mean, not that I normally dislike it, or anything like that, but I was busy all day long, and never felt just totally like I had no idea what was going on. I think that's probably a good sign, since I seem to like it when I'm actually working. :)

I bought a Weight Watchers cookbook--two, actually--and they arrived this weekend, so we've been eating brand-new dishes this week. We're not following WW or anything, but we kind of figure that finding light recipes is a good thing. I've learned to cook quite well, but I have the same weakness as the FoodTV chefs that I got my training from. I can make anything taste good if you give me free range on the calories. ;) So.. trying to get on the right track that way. And maybe someday I'll even use the exercise bike for something more than a clothes hamper again. It could happen. Yesterday's Potato and Asparagus Frittata was better than tonight's Pasta and Red Pepper Sauce with grilled zucchini. We'll see how tomorrow's Carmelized Onion and Mushroom Spaghetti Pie goes.

M was supposed to start work today, but apparently it got postponed until tomorrow. He's getting sick, though, which is remarkably bad timing. I'm hoping that he'll be feeling sprightly again by tomorrow morning, but he might be contrary about it and stay sick. Boys can be like that. :)

In any case, it's time to settle in with my book--New Spring, which I bought for my birthday and then completely forgot about having, what with the move and all. It has another, less-used title, but maybe you've heard it? "How to Procrastinate In Finishing a Fantasy Series That Has Already Gone On For Way Too Long Even If It Is Really Good: The Prequel to The Wheel of Time". I sometimes wonder how the man ends up with such cryptic titles when he's so vastly wordy in every other way. One of life's mysteries, I suppose. Actually, it's good so far. I read the short-story version a while back and enjoyed it quite a lot, so I have high hopes for this one. Lan and Moiraine act like semi-real people. It's fun to meet her as an Accepted--she bites her lip instead of crossing her arms under her breasts or tugging at her braid. I just wish he'd get on with the next one. I've been waiting on that man to finish writing for almost seven years, and I'm a relatively new fan. Next time, I need to pick something that's already finished.

Comments

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

My copy of New Spring is somewhere on the road between Oregon and Virginia. Like you, I've had it laying around for quite a while without ever thinking about picking it up. I'll probably read it once there is more definitive news on KoD and the WoT fever is once again gripping me.

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

It turned out to be very good, by the way.. possibly even one of his better works. It had a lot less of the meaningless wordiness that he's had going on in the last couple of books. I'm kind of thinking by now that I'd almost rather read more about Moiraine and Lan and Siuan and the search for Rand than I would the actual conclusion to the series.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but WoT is my only fantasy obsession. I've read most of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series (flaked out in the last one or two books because a) even though I'm a compulsive romance-novel reader, he was driving me crazy with all the lovey-dovey crap and b) parts of it were way too close to WoT for belief.) Those two things are almost the entire extent of my fantasy background. I have no idea why I've never really gotten into anything else but I've been thinking of finding something new to entertain myself with. Have any excellent suggestions?

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

Do I ever! I have the excellentest suggestions in the history of the world. But first I must tell you how impressed I am that you managed to read so many Sword of Truth books. I gave up after the first one.

But I digress. Suggestions, yes. I could take the easy road and just point you to our Recommended Reading page at FFF. There you will find my and other people's favorite fantasy novels and series. However, I'll make a little list of stuff you might be interested in based on your history (WoT and SoT).

Since you are C's soul twin I'd say that you should give Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts' Empire trilogy (Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire & Mistress of the Empire) a try. It's not a vast series like the ones you've read, but it's got a little bit of everything and there is a rather big romantic element. The best thing is that it's finished.

Many WoT fanatics are also fans of George R. R. Martin and his A Song of Ice and Fire series (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings & A Storm of Swords). Now the problem with Martin is that he's spent the last four years trying to write the fourth book in this series, and he is still not done. Since there will be at least another two books after that one, it might be a long time before we see the end (not that that should faze a WoT fan). Still, it is well worth reading.

Myself, I'm very fond of the Deverry books by Katharine Kerr (there are 11 so far, start with Daggerspell). The first books do perhaps suffer a bit from beginner's prose, but once Kerr finds her stride the story just gets better and better. There will be two more books, one is in the editing stage and should be out next year.

Is that enough for a start, or do you want more? :-)

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay, good suggestions. :) I will make a point of adding at least one/some of those to my next Amazon order. I must confess that I knew you could easily point me to FFF, but I like personal recommendations and I'm a tad lazy too. Mainly, though, I've read through that page once or twice but it gets a little overwhelming when you're starting from almost zero, and especially since the fantasy genre seems to have a bit of a tendency to give really stupid names to their novels. (Not that I, as a romance reader, have any room to complain.. ha.) It just makes it a little harder to inspire any sort of great desire to read any one of them. I think my biggest problem is that I totally lack vision when faced with a synopsis of a multi-book story. I only read the first WoT book because of my obsession with this online role-playing game that was loosely based on it and I was tired of not knowing what I was doing in the Amyrlin's office and what the Seanchan guild was all about and who the heck Ishamael was. Anyway, thank you very much. I'll let you know how it turns out. :)

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

I look forward to hearing what you thought about whatever you'll end up reading. I'm curious about what (if?) kind of fantasy freak you'll end up being. :-)